Me Before You
A small town girl is caught between dead-end jobs. A high-profile, successful man becomes wheelchair bound following an accident. The man decides his life is not worth living until the girl is hired for six months to be his new caretaker. Worlds apart and trapped together by circumstance, the two get off to a rocky start. But the girl becomes determined to prove to the man that life is worth living and as they embark on a series of adventures together, each finds their world changing in ways neither of them could begin to imagine.
Despite a respectable budget of $20.0M, Me Before You became a runaway success, earning $207.9M worldwide—a remarkable 940% return.
6 wins & 6 nominations
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%)
Me Before You (2016) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Thea Sharrock's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lou Clark in her small-town life, working at a café, wearing quirky colorful outfits. She's cheerful but living small, stuck in a safe routine with boyfriend Patrick.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Lou is offered a job as caregiver to Will Traynor, a formerly adventurous banker now quadriplegic after an accident. She meets the angry, bitter Will who clearly doesn't want her there.. At 11% 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Lou decides to stay and actively tries to engage Will, showing him a movie and refusing to be driven away by his bitterness. She commits to breaking through his walls., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Lou overhears Will's parents discussing that he still plans to go to Dignitas (assisted suicide) in six months. False victory revealed as false defeat: despite their love and all their adventures, Will hasn't changed his mind about ending his life., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Will gets a serious infection and nearly dies. When he recovers, he tells Lou directly that he's still going to Switzerland. Despite loving her, he cannot live this half-life. Lou's dream of saving him through love dies., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 87 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Lou decides to accompany Will to Switzerland. She realizes loving him means respecting his choice, even though it breaks her heart. She chooses to be with him to the end rather than abandon him in anger., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Me Before You's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Me Before You against these established plot points, we can identify how Thea Sharrock utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Me Before You within the drama genre.
Thea Sharrock's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Thea Sharrock films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Me Before You exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Thea Sharrock filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Thea Sharrock analyses, see Wicked Little Letters.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lou Clark in her small-town life, working at a café, wearing quirky colorful outfits. She's cheerful but living small, stuck in a safe routine with boyfriend Patrick.
Theme
Lou's father tells her "You only get one life. It's actually your duty to live it as fully as possible." Theme of truly living versus merely existing is established.
Worldbuilding
Lou loses her café job, needs work desperately to help her unemployed father. We see her loving but financially struggling family, her athletic boyfriend Patrick who takes her for granted, and her limited small-town world.
Disruption
Lou is offered a job as caregiver to Will Traynor, a formerly adventurous banker now quadriplegic after an accident. She meets the angry, bitter Will who clearly doesn't want her there.
Resistance
Lou debates whether she can handle this job. Will is hostile and cruel, trying to drive her away. She nearly quits multiple times but needs the money. Nathan the nurse mentors her. She learns about Will's former life of adventure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lou decides to stay and actively tries to engage Will, showing him a movie and refusing to be driven away by his bitterness. She commits to breaking through his walls.
Mirror World
Will begins to soften toward Lou. Their relationship shifts as he shows glimpses of his former wit and charm. This relationship will teach Lou what it means to truly live while she tries to give him reasons to live.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Lou and Will's growing connection. She takes him on outings - to the races, concerts, to experience life. They fall in love. Lou blooms, becoming more confident and adventurous. Will seems happier.
Midpoint
Lou overhears Will's parents discussing that he still plans to go to Dignitas (assisted suicide) in six months. False victory revealed as false defeat: despite their love and all their adventures, Will hasn't changed his mind about ending his life.
Opposition
Lou desperately tries to change Will's mind through increasingly ambitious adventures and experiences. Tension with her boyfriend Patrick grows. Will's ex-fiancée Alicia appears, now engaged to his former best friend, reinforcing Will's sense of loss. Lou's efforts seem futile.
Collapse
Will gets a serious infection and nearly dies. When he recovers, he tells Lou directly that he's still going to Switzerland. Despite loving her, he cannot live this half-life. Lou's dream of saving him through love dies.
Crisis
Lou is devastated, feels her love wasn't enough. She breaks up with Patrick, who never understood her transformation. She must process that she cannot save Will, only choose how to love him in the time remaining.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Lou decides to accompany Will to Switzerland. She realizes loving him means respecting his choice, even though it breaks her heart. She chooses to be with him to the end rather than abandon him in anger.
Synthesis
Their final days together in Switzerland. Tender, heartbreaking moments. Will dies by his choice. Lou must face life after this transformative love. Will leaves her money to pursue her dreams and truly live.
Transformation
Lou sits at a Parisian café, having used Will's gift to travel and pursue her dreams. She's transformed from the small-town girl in the opening - now confident, adventurous, truly living. She reads Will's final letter: "Live well."