St. Elmo's Fire
Seven friends - Alec, Billy, Jules, Kevin, Kirby, Leslie and Wendy - are trying to navigate through life and their friendships following college graduation. Alec, who aspires to political life, has just shown his true colors by changing his allegiance from Democrat to Republican, which freaks out girlfriend Leslie, who he wants to marry. Budding architect Leslie, on the other hand, has an independent streak. She believes she has to make a name for herself to find out who she is before she can truly commit to another person in marriage. But Leslie and Alec have decided to live together. Because Leslie refuses to marry Alec, he believes that justifies certain behavior. Kirby, who wants to become a lawyer and who pays for his schooling by working as a waiter at their local hangout called St. Elmo's Bar, and struggling writer Kevin are currently roommates. They are on opposite extremes of the romance spectrum. Kirby has just reconnected with Dale Biberman, a slightly older woman he knew in college who is now a doctor. He is madly in love with her and will do *anything* to impress her. Kevin, on the other hand, doesn't date and states he doesn't believe in love, making his friends speculate that he's a closet homosexual who is secretly in love with Alec. Kevin will eventually open himself up to the one friend who matters the most. Billy, married with a child, is the irresponsible one of the group who would rather sleep around and play the saxophone than face the realities of being an adult with family commitments. He still lives for the memory of his fraternity glory days. Virginal and sheltered Wendy, who comes from a wealthy family, works in a low paying social services job. Her family provides for all her financial needs. She is in love with Billy, who in turn takes advantage of her adoration of him. And most are concerned about Jules, who works in a bank, lives a life of excess in all facets and doesn't have the financial means to live that lifestyle. The question for all seven becomes whether their friendship can survive adult real life.
The film earned $37.8M at the global box office.
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%)
St. Elmo's Fire (1985) exhibits precise story structure, characteristic of Joel Schumacher's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The group of seven recent Georgetown graduates celebrates outside the hospital after visiting their friend Billy, who crashed his car. They're united, optimistic, and standing on the threshold of adulthood together.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Billy shows up at Kevin's apartment disheveled and desperate, revealing he's been fired, has no money, and his wife Felicia kicked him out. The perfect post-college image begins to crack as reality intrudes on their idealism.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Kirby makes the active decision to pursue Dale seriously, quitting his law school classes to work at her political office. This choice represents the group actively entering their adult dilemmas rather than just talking about them., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Leslie discovers Alec's affair when she finds evidence at their apartment. This false defeat shatters the illusion of their perfect relationship and raises stakes—the facades are starting to crumble for everyone, not just Billy., 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 (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Billy crashes his car again in a drunken, suicidal display, nearly killing himself in front of his friends. This literal "whiff of death" moment forces everyone to confront how badly they're all failing at adulthood. The group's unity and optimism dies., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Kevin confronts Billy in the hospital with brutal honesty about taking responsibility for his own life. This moment of truth-telling represents the synthesis: real friendship means honesty, not enabling. The group realizes they must stop clinging to college and face reality., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
St. Elmo's Fire's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping St. Elmo's Fire against these established plot points, we can identify how Joel Schumacher utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish St. Elmo's Fire within the drama genre.
Joel Schumacher's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Joel Schumacher films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. St. Elmo's Fire represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joel Schumacher filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Joel Schumacher analyses, see Batman Forever, Phone Booth and The Client.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The group of seven recent Georgetown graduates celebrates outside the hospital after visiting their friend Billy, who crashed his car. They're united, optimistic, and standing on the threshold of adulthood together.
Theme
At their celebration at St. Elmo's Bar, Kevin tells the group: "We're not gonna be those kind of people who just let things happen to us. We're gonna make things happen." The theme of taking control versus drifting through life is stated.
Worldbuilding
We meet the ensemble: Kevin (aspiring journalist), Jules (career woman), Kirby (law student pining for Dale), Leslie and Alec (the engaged couple), Wendy (insecure virgin from wealth), and Billy (the troubled one). Their interconnected lives, relationships, and struggles with post-college identity are established.
Disruption
Billy shows up at Kevin's apartment disheveled and desperate, revealing he's been fired, has no money, and his wife Felicia kicked him out. The perfect post-college image begins to crack as reality intrudes on their idealism.
Resistance
The group debates how to handle adult responsibilities. Kevin lets Billy stay with him. Alec questions his pending marriage. Kirby pursues Dale despite her being with another man. Jules struggles with work pressure. Each character resists growing up while trying to maintain their college-era bonds.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Kirby makes the active decision to pursue Dale seriously, quitting his law school classes to work at her political office. This choice represents the group actively entering their adult dilemmas rather than just talking about them.
Mirror World
Kevin begins seriously pursuing his writing career and his attraction to Leslie, who represents the mature, stable life he wants. This relationship subplot will mirror the theme of authentic connection versus fantasy and facade.
Premise
The "fun" of navigating young adulthood plays out: romantic pursuits, career moves, parties at St. Elmo's Bar. Kirby chases Dale, Jules climbs the corporate ladder, Alec cheats on Leslie, Wendy pines for Billy, and Billy spirals while living with Kevin. The promise of adult freedom is explored.
Midpoint
Leslie discovers Alec's affair when she finds evidence at their apartment. This false defeat shatters the illusion of their perfect relationship and raises stakes—the facades are starting to crumble for everyone, not just Billy.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies on all fronts. Leslie confronts Alec but he won't commit to change. Jules has a breakdown from work stress and cocaine use. Kirby's obsession with Dale becomes destructive. Billy's recklessness escalates. Wendy's father cuts her off financially. Everyone's flaws catch up with them.
Collapse
Billy crashes his car again in a drunken, suicidal display, nearly killing himself in front of his friends. This literal "whiff of death" moment forces everyone to confront how badly they're all failing at adulthood. The group's unity and optimism dies.
Crisis
In the hospital aftermath, the group fractures. Hard truths emerge: Kirby finally hears Dale reject him clearly, Jules admits her breakdown, Leslie leaves Alec, Wendy confronts her enabling behavior. They sit in the darkness of failed dreams and broken illusions.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Kevin confronts Billy in the hospital with brutal honesty about taking responsibility for his own life. This moment of truth-telling represents the synthesis: real friendship means honesty, not enabling. The group realizes they must stop clinging to college and face reality.
Synthesis
The finale shows each character making authentic choices. Billy goes to rehab and reconciles with Felicia. Leslie ends things with Alec definitively. Kirby lets Dale go and returns to law school. Jules gets help. Wendy stands on her own. Kevin commits to his writing. They execute growth, not through grand gestures, but honest acceptance.
Transformation
The group reunites at St. Elmo's Bar, but transformed. They're no longer pretending or clinging to who they were. The final image shows them together but individuated—connected by genuine friendship, not desperate need. They've accepted adulthood.