The Fault in Our Stars
Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a patient named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.
Despite its small-scale budget of $14.0M, The Fault in Our Stars became a runaway success, earning $307.2M worldwide—a remarkable 2094% return. The film's fresh perspective found its audience, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
The Fault in Our Stars (2014) exemplifies deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Josh Boone's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 6 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 Hazel Grace Lancaster narrates her life with terminal cancer, attending support group grudgingly. She describes herself as a grenade, waiting to explode and hurt everyone around her.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Augustus reveals he contacted Peter Van Houten's assistant and received a response. Hazel shares her questions about the book's ending, opening herself emotionally for the first time.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Hazel is medically cleared and chooses to accept Gus's wish - traveling to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten. She actively decides to embrace life and love despite knowing the pain it will cause., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: Van Houten is a cruel, drunken disappointment who refuses to answer Hazel's questions and insults both teens. The dream of finding meaning in her favorite book collapses., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Literal "whiff of death": Gus calls Hazel from a gas station, confused and covered in his own waste, unable to help himself. His dignity and independence are gone. Hazel sees the brutal reality of his dying., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. At the pre-funeral, Hazel eulogizes Gus beautifully, synthesizing her fear of being a grenade with her love for him: "I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity." She chooses gratitude over fear., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Fault in Our Stars'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 The Fault in Our Stars against these established plot points, we can identify how Josh Boone utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Fault in Our Stars within the romance genre.
Josh Boone's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Josh Boone films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Fault in Our Stars takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Josh Boone filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Josh Boone analyses, see The New Mutants.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hazel Grace Lancaster narrates her life with terminal cancer, attending support group grudgingly. She describes herself as a grenade, waiting to explode and hurt everyone around her.
Theme
Augustus Waters quotes Peter Van Houten: "Some infinities are bigger than other infinities." Theme stated - the quality of time matters more than quantity, foreshadowing their brief but meaningful relationship.
Worldbuilding
Hazel's isolated world with cancer: oxygen tank dependency, overprotective parents, her obsession with "An Imperial Affliction," resistance to connection. Augustus pursues her despite her emotional walls.
Disruption
Augustus reveals he contacted Peter Van Houten's assistant and received a response. Hazel shares her questions about the book's ending, opening herself emotionally for the first time.
Resistance
Hazel and Gus grow closer through email exchanges with Van Houten. Hazel debates whether to let herself fall in love. Gus uses his wish to take her to Amsterdam. Hazel's health crisis forces medical intervention.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hazel is medically cleared and chooses to accept Gus's wish - traveling to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten. She actively decides to embrace life and love despite knowing the pain it will cause.
Mirror World
First kiss in the Anne Frank House. Hazel fully enters the romantic relationship, the Mirror World that will teach her about living fully despite death's inevitability.
Premise
The promise of the premise - two cancer patients experiencing romance in Amsterdam: fancy dinner, champagne, Anne Frank House, falling deeply in love. The beautiful, fragile infinity they create together.
Midpoint
False defeat: Van Houten is a cruel, drunken disappointment who refuses to answer Hazel's questions and insults both teens. The dream of finding meaning in her favorite book collapses.
Opposition
Despite Van Houten's cruelty, Hazel and Gus deepen their connection. They return home strengthened. Then Gus reveals his cancer has returned aggressively - he's dying. The antagonist (death) closes in.
Collapse
Literal "whiff of death": Gus calls Hazel from a gas station, confused and covered in his own waste, unable to help himself. His dignity and independence are gone. Hazel sees the brutal reality of his dying.
Crisis
Gus deteriorates rapidly in the hospital. Hazel processes the imminent loss. Gus requests a pre-funeral so he can hear his eulogies. They face his death together in darkness.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
At the pre-funeral, Hazel eulogizes Gus beautifully, synthesizing her fear of being a grenade with her love for him: "I cannot tell you how thankful I am for our little infinity." She chooses gratitude over fear.
Synthesis
Gus dies. Hazel attends his funeral. Van Houten appears with explanation and redemption. Hazel discovers Gus wrote her a eulogy through Van Houten. She reads his final words affirming their love was worth the pain.
Transformation
Hazel looks at the stars, accepting her grief and the beauty of what they shared. No longer afraid of being a grenade, she embraces that some infinities, though small, are enough. Transformed from isolation to gratitude.