The Menu

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Margot sits alone in her apartment, smoking and looking disconnected, waiting to be picked up by Tyler for their date to an exclusive restaurant. She seems detached from this world of privilege she's about to enter.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Chef Slowik notices Margot and asks Elsa, "Who is she? She wasn't on my list." Margot is an unexpected variable—she replaced Tyler's original date—and this disrupts the Chef's meticulously planned evening. His reaction suggests something darker is at play.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Chef Slowik serves "The Mess" course while revealing that sous chef Jeremy will shoot himself in the head because he failed in his craft. Jeremy does so in front of everyone. The guests realize this is not a normal dinner—they are trapped in something deadly. There's no going back., moving from reaction to action.

At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Chef Slowik reveals his plan: everyone will die tonight, including the staff, in a final course. He shows a photo of the building on fire with everyone inside. What seemed like punishment for individual sins is actually a mass suicide-murder. The stakes are raised—this isn't about justice, it's about nihilistic destruction. False defeat: there's no escape., 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, Margot tries to escape by boat but finds the Coast Guard officer is part of the staff—there is no outside help. She returns defeated. The Chef tells her she must choose: guest or staff. Her hope of escape dies completely. She must face the reality that cleverness and effort won't save her., reveals 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 80% of the runtime. Margot has a realization from her discovery in the Chef's apartment: he used to love cooking simple food, before it became art and obligation. She asks to send back her food and orders a cheeseburger with fries—the kind of simple, joyful meal he made before fame corrupted him. This breaks through his nihilism by reminding him of pure pleasure., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.