Just Like Heaven
Shortly after David Abbott moves into his new San Francisco digs, he has an unwelcome visitor on his hands: winsome Elizabeth Masterson, who asserts that the apartment is hers -- and promptly vanishes. When she starts appearing and disappearing at will, David thinks she's a ghost, while Elizabeth is convinced she's alive.
Working with a respectable budget of $58.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $102.9M in global revenue (+77% profit margin).
1 win & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Just Like Heaven (2005) exemplifies strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Mark Waters's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elizabeth Masterson
David Abbott
Jack Houriskey
Darryl
Katrina
Dr. Brett Rushton
Main Cast & Characters
Elizabeth Masterson
Played by Reese Witherspoon
A driven, workaholic doctor who dies in an accident and returns as a spirit tied to her former apartment, unable to remember her past.
David Abbott
Played by Mark Ruffalo
A lonely landscape architect subletting Elizabeth's apartment after losing his wife, who initially thinks he's going crazy when he sees Elizabeth's ghost.
Jack Houriskey
Played by Donal Logue
David's best friend and coworker who tries to help him through his grief and supports him despite thinking he's losing his mind.
Darryl
Played by Jon Heder
A quirky psychic bookstore owner who helps David understand what's happening with Elizabeth's spirit and provides mystical guidance.
Katrina
Played by Ivana Milicevic
Elizabeth's younger sister, a free-spirited woman who struggles with Elizabeth's perfectionism and later helps uncover the truth about her condition.
Dr. Brett Rushton
Played by Dina Spybey-Waters
Elizabeth's former colleague and fiancé, a successful doctor who has moved on with his life after her accident.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elizabeth Masterson is introduced as a driven, workaholic doctor at San Francisco Memorial Hospital, constantly on call and sacrificing personal life for her career. Her sister tries to set her up on a date, but Elizabeth is too consumed by work.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Elizabeth appears as a spirit in her own apartment, shocking David. She has no memory of what happened to her and believes it's still her apartment. David thinks he's hallucinating or going crazy.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to David takes Elizabeth to see a psychic/spiritual expert (Darryl) who confirms she's a real spirit. David actively chooses to help Elizabeth figure out who she is and what happened to her, committing to the supernatural mystery., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat David and Elizabeth discover the truth: Elizabeth is in a coma at the hospital after a car accident. They share a breakthrough moment of intimacy and connection. False victory - they think if they can wake her body, everything will be fine., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elizabeth is scheduled to be taken off life support. David realizes he's losing her and there's nothing he can do. Elizabeth begins to fade and disappear. The "death" of their relationship and Elizabeth's impending literal death converge., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Elizabeth remembers the crucial truth: before her accident, she discovered she was pregnant. This is why her spirit remained - to save her unborn child. David now has the information needed to prevent them from taking her off life support., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Just Like Heaven'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 Just Like Heaven against these established plot points, we can identify how Mark Waters utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Just Like Heaven within the drama genre.
Mark Waters's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Mark Waters films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Just Like Heaven takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Mark Waters filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Mark Waters analyses, see Mean Girls, Freaky Friday and The Spiderwick Chronicles.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elizabeth Masterson is introduced as a driven, workaholic doctor at San Francisco Memorial Hospital, constantly on call and sacrificing personal life for her career. Her sister tries to set her up on a date, but Elizabeth is too consumed by work.
Theme
Elizabeth's sister tells her "You need to start living your life" - the core theme about choosing to truly live rather than just exist. Elizabeth dismisses this, claiming her work is her life.
Worldbuilding
Establishes Elizabeth's world as a dedicated ER doctor and introduces David Abbott, a landscape architect grieving his wife's death, who has become withdrawn and isolated. David sublets Elizabeth's apartment through her previous tenant.
Disruption
Elizabeth appears as a spirit in her own apartment, shocking David. She has no memory of what happened to her and believes it's still her apartment. David thinks he's hallucinating or going crazy.
Resistance
David tries to ignore Elizabeth and get rid of her through various means (sage burning, exorcist, etc.). Elizabeth is confused and frustrated. David debates whether she's real or a product of his grief-stricken mind. Both resist the situation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
David takes Elizabeth to see a psychic/spiritual expert (Darryl) who confirms she's a real spirit. David actively chooses to help Elizabeth figure out who she is and what happened to her, committing to the supernatural mystery.
Mirror World
David and Elizabeth begin working together as partners, discovering clues about her identity. Their relationship shifts from antagonistic to collaborative, and romantic chemistry begins to develop despite the impossibility of their situation.
Premise
The "fun and games" of a ghost romance - David and Elizabeth investigate her past, discover she's Dr. Elizabeth Masterson in a coma, visit locations from her memories, and fall in love. David comes alive again while helping her, and Elizabeth learns to open her heart.
Midpoint
David and Elizabeth discover the truth: Elizabeth is in a coma at the hospital after a car accident. They share a breakthrough moment of intimacy and connection. False victory - they think if they can wake her body, everything will be fine.
Opposition
David tries to prevent Elizabeth's family from taking her off life support. Elizabeth's ex-boyfriend and family complicate matters. Time is running out. David's feelings deepen but the impossibility of their relationship becomes clearer. External forces close in.
Collapse
Elizabeth is scheduled to be taken off life support. David realizes he's losing her and there's nothing he can do. Elizabeth begins to fade and disappear. The "death" of their relationship and Elizabeth's impending literal death converge.
Crisis
David grieves the loss of Elizabeth, facing his inability to save her just as he couldn't save his wife. Elizabeth has a revelation about why she's still tethered - there's something important she needed to remember. Dark night of despair before the revelation.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Elizabeth remembers the crucial truth: before her accident, she discovered she was pregnant. This is why her spirit remained - to save her unborn child. David now has the information needed to prevent them from taking her off life support.
Synthesis
David races to the hospital to stop the procedure and save Elizabeth and her baby. He faces opposition from her family and ex but persists. Elizabeth awakens from her coma. David must let her go to live her own life, having learned to love again.
Transformation
Three months later, Elizabeth (now awake and recovered) and David meet again in the "real world" for the first time. Both have been transformed - David has opened his heart to life again, Elizabeth has learned to value love and connection. They begin anew.