It Ends with Us
When a woman's first love suddenly reenters her life, her relationship with a charming, but abusive neurosurgeon is upended and she realizes she must learn to rely on her own strength to make an impossible choice for her future.
Despite a respectable budget of $25.0M, It Ends with Us became a commercial juggernaut, earning $351.0M worldwide—a remarkable 1304% return.
1 win & 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Lily Bloom
Ryle Kincaid
Atlas Corrigan
Allysa
Marshall
Main Cast & Characters
Lily Bloom
Played by Blake Lively
A young florist navigating her first serious relationship while confronting patterns from her traumatic past.
Ryle Kincaid
Played by Justin Baldoni
A successful neurosurgeon who becomes Lily's romantic partner, struggling with anger and control issues.
Atlas Corrigan
Played by Brandon Sklenar
Lily's first love from her teenage years who reenters her life, now a successful restaurant owner.
Allysa
Played by Jenny Slate
Ryle's sister who becomes Lily's best friend and business partner in the flower shop.
Marshall
Played by Hasan Minhaj
Allysa's supportive husband who works with Ryle and provides stability in their friend group.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lily Bloom returns to Boston for her father's funeral, establishing her complex relationship with her abusive father and supportive mother. She's a florist starting a new life.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Lily meets Ryle Kincaid on a rooftop. Their instant chemistry and his charm disrupt her settled, independent life. He's a neurosurgeon who "doesn't do relationships.".. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Lily actively chooses to pursue a relationship with Ryle, letting him into her life and heart. They begin dating seriously, crossing the threshold into committed relationship territory., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat First incident of violence: Ryle accidentally (or "accidentally") hurts Lily - possibly burning her hand or pushing her during an argument. False victory becomes false defeat as the perfect relationship cracks., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 97 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ryle severely assaults Lily (likely pushing her down stairs or a major violent incident). She ends up injured. Her illusions about him "changing" or it being "different" die completely., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Lily discovers she's pregnant. This revelation synthesizes everything - she must break the cycle not just for herself, but for her child. She gains clarity and resolve to leave., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
It Ends with Us's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping It Ends with Us against these established plot points, we can identify how Justin Baldoni utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish It Ends with Us within the drama genre.
Justin Baldoni's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Justin Baldoni films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.3, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. It Ends with Us exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Justin Baldoni filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Justin Baldoni analyses, see Five Feet Apart.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lily Bloom returns to Boston for her father's funeral, establishing her complex relationship with her abusive father and supportive mother. She's a florist starting a new life.
Theme
Lily's mother or a character speaks about the cycle of abuse and the difficulty of leaving toxic relationships, foreshadowing the central thematic question: "When do you stop trying?"
Worldbuilding
Lily opens her flower shop in Boston, establishes her friendship with Allysa, and flashbacks reveal her teenage romance with homeless boy Atlas. Her ambition and past trauma are established.
Disruption
Lily meets Ryle Kincaid on a rooftop. Their instant chemistry and his charm disrupt her settled, independent life. He's a neurosurgeon who "doesn't do relationships."
Resistance
Lily debates getting involved with Ryle despite his no-relationship policy. Allysa (Ryle's sister) encourages her. Lily resists, remembering her father's abuse and wanting something different.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lily actively chooses to pursue a relationship with Ryle, letting him into her life and heart. They begin dating seriously, crossing the threshold into committed relationship territory.
Mirror World
Atlas reappears as the owner of a restaurant, representing Lily's past and the theme of genuine love vs. dangerous passion. He embodies the kindness and safety she deserves.
Premise
Lily and Ryle's passionate romance blooms. Flower shop thrives, they move in together, life seems perfect. The "promise of the premise" - the romantic relationship the audience expects.
Midpoint
First incident of violence: Ryle accidentally (or "accidentally") hurts Lily - possibly burning her hand or pushing her during an argument. False victory becomes false defeat as the perfect relationship cracks.
Opposition
Ryle's jealousy over Atlas intensifies. More incidents of violence occur, each with apologies and excuses. Lily makes excuses, remembers her mother staying with her father. The abuse pattern escalates.
Collapse
Ryle severely assaults Lily (likely pushing her down stairs or a major violent incident). She ends up injured. Her illusions about him "changing" or it being "different" die completely.
Crisis
Lily processes the reality of her situation, paralyzed by the recognition that she's become her mother. She grapples with love, shame, and the difficulty of leaving, just as her mother did.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lily discovers she's pregnant. This revelation synthesizes everything - she must break the cycle not just for herself, but for her child. She gains clarity and resolve to leave.
Synthesis
Lily leaves Ryle, gives birth to her daughter, and confronts him with the divorce. She reclaims her power, breaks the generational cycle of abuse, and chooses her daughter's future over her past.
Transformation
Lily with her daughter, possibly encountering Atlas again, showing she's broken free. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows transformation: she's become the mother who leaves, not the one who stays.