The Lovely Bones
After being brutally murdered, 14-year-old Susie Salmon watches from heaven over her grief-stricken family -- and her killer. As she observes their daily lives, she must balance her thirst for revenge with her desire for her family to heal.
Working with a mid-range budget of $65.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $93.6M in global revenue (+44% profit margin).
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 Lovely Bones (2009) exemplifies deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Peter Jackson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 16 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Susie Salmon narrates from the afterlife, showing her happy suburban life in 1973 Pennsylvania - a typical teenage girl with loving family, first crush, dreams of photography.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when George Harvey lures Susie into an underground den he built in the cornfield. She is raped and murdered. This irreversible tragedy shatters the ordinary world.. 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 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Susie's body is confirmed dead (elbow bone found). The family must irreversibly cross from hope into grief. Susie accepts she cannot return to life and must navigate the In-Between., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Jack confronts George Harvey directly, accusing him of murdering Susie. Harvey denies it convincingly. The stakes raise - Harvey is aware he's suspected, making him more dangerous. False defeat: justice seems impossible., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lindsey breaks into Harvey's house and finds evidence of his murders, but he nearly catches her. She escapes barely. Meanwhile, Susie realizes she must let go of earth - metaphorical death of her earthly attachments., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 108 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Susie realizes she can briefly return to earth to kiss Ray goodbye - combining her In-Between knowledge with earthly connection. She accepts she must let go to truly reach heaven and allow her family to heal., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Lovely Bones'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 The Lovely Bones against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Jackson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Lovely Bones within the fantasy genre.
Peter Jackson's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Peter Jackson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.3, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Lovely Bones represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Jackson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever. For more Peter Jackson analyses, see King Kong, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Susie Salmon narrates from the afterlife, showing her happy suburban life in 1973 Pennsylvania - a typical teenage girl with loving family, first crush, dreams of photography.
Theme
Susie's father tells her "You make your own choices" while discussing her future and photography, establishing the theme of agency, choice, and how life continues after loss.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Salmon family dynamics: mother Abigail, father Jack, sister Lindsey, brother Buckley. Susie's crush on Ray Singh, neighbor George Harvey's unsettling presence, the innocence of suburban 1970s America.
Disruption
George Harvey lures Susie into an underground den he built in the cornfield. She is raped and murdered. This irreversible tragedy shatters the ordinary world.
Resistance
Susie arrives in the "In-Between" - not quite heaven, not quite earth. She watches her family search for her, struggle with her disappearance. The family debates whether to hold out hope or accept the worst.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Susie's body is confirmed dead (elbow bone found). The family must irreversibly cross from hope into grief. Susie accepts she cannot return to life and must navigate the In-Between.
Mirror World
Susie meets Holly, her guide in the In-Between, who helps her understand this new existence. Holly represents acceptance and the thematic question of letting go versus holding on.
Premise
Susie explores the In-Between - a beautiful, surreal world shaped by her desires. Meanwhile, her father becomes obsessed with finding her killer, her mother withdraws, and Lindsey grows stronger. Ray grieves. Harvey hides evidence.
Midpoint
Jack confronts George Harvey directly, accusing him of murdering Susie. Harvey denies it convincingly. The stakes raise - Harvey is aware he's suspected, making him more dangerous. False defeat: justice seems impossible.
Opposition
The family fractures under grief: Abigail has an affair and leaves, Jack is beaten by someone he mistakes for Harvey, Lindsey grows distant. Harvey plans to flee. Susie's grip on earth weakens as the In-Between pulls her toward heaven.
Collapse
Lindsey breaks into Harvey's house and finds evidence of his murders, but he nearly catches her. She escapes barely. Meanwhile, Susie realizes she must let go of earth - metaphorical death of her earthly attachments.
Crisis
Susie processes that she can never return, never grow up, never be with Ray. She faces the dark truth that Harvey will likely escape justice. The family sits in their darkest grief.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Susie realizes she can briefly return to earth to kiss Ray goodbye - combining her In-Between knowledge with earthly connection. She accepts she must let go to truly reach heaven and allow her family to heal.
Synthesis
Susie possesses Ruth's body briefly to kiss Ray. Harvey flees but years later falls off an icicle-laden cliff to his death. The Salmon family slowly heals. Susie releases her earthly attachments and prepares for heaven.
Transformation
Susie enters her heaven fully - now peaceful, complete, no longer watching earth. The family gathers together, healing. Mirror to opening: instead of a girl with her whole life ahead, a spirit who has found peace.