The Next Best Thing
A comedy-drama about best friends - one a straight woman, Abbie, the other a gay man, Robert - who decide to have a child together. Five years later, Abbie falls in love with a straight man and wants to move away with her and Robert's little boy Sam, and a nasty custody battle ensues.
The film disappointed at the box office against its moderate budget of $25.0M, earning $24.4M globally (-3% loss).
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 Next Best Thing (2000) exemplifies meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of John Schlesinger'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 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Abbie, a yoga instructor, and Robert, a gay gardener, are established as best friends living separate but intertwined lives in Los Angeles. Their close platonic friendship defines their worlds.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when After a night of drinking following bad breakups, Abbie and Robert sleep together. This one night disrupts the clear boundaries of their platonic friendship.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Abbie and Robert make the active decision to keep the baby and raise him together as co-parents, creating an unconventional family unit. They commit to this new life structure., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 48% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Abbie meets and falls in love with Ben, a successful businessman. This appears to be a positive development - she can have romantic love AND her family with Robert. False victory., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (72% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, A brutal custody battle erupts. Robert fights for his rights as Sam's father. The friendship "dies" as lawyers get involved and years of trust dissolve into legal warfare., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Sam's distress makes both parents realize that their love for him and each other is more important than winning. They remember what made their friendship special in the first place., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Next Best Thing'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 Next Best Thing against these established plot points, we can identify how John Schlesinger utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Next Best Thing within the comedy genre.
John Schlesinger's Structural Approach
Among the 5 John Schlesinger films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Next Best Thing takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Schlesinger filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more John Schlesinger analyses, see Eye for an Eye, Marathon Man and Pacific Heights.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Abbie, a yoga instructor, and Robert, a gay gardener, are established as best friends living separate but intertwined lives in Los Angeles. Their close platonic friendship defines their worlds.
Theme
A character mentions that family isn't always about biology, it's about who you choose to let into your life - foreshadowing the unconventional family structure to come.
Worldbuilding
Abbie's failed romantic relationships and desire for stability. Robert's casual dating life and career as a gardener. Their deep friendship provides what romantic relationships haven't.
Disruption
After a night of drinking following bad breakups, Abbie and Robert sleep together. This one night disrupts the clear boundaries of their platonic friendship.
Resistance
Awkwardness follows as they debate what this means for their friendship. Abbie discovers she's pregnant. They discuss options - abortion, single parenthood, or raising the child together as friends.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Abbie and Robert make the active decision to keep the baby and raise him together as co-parents, creating an unconventional family unit. They commit to this new life structure.
Mirror World
The birth of their son Sam represents the new world and new relationship. This subplot will test whether unconventional love and commitment can work as well as traditional structures.
Premise
Six years pass showing the "fun and games" of their arrangement working beautifully. They successfully co-parent Sam, supporting each other through life's ups and downs as best friends raising a child.
Midpoint
Abbie meets and falls in love with Ben, a successful businessman. This appears to be a positive development - she can have romantic love AND her family with Robert. False victory.
Opposition
Ben wants to marry Abbie and move to New York. Robert feels threatened and marginalized. Legal questions arise about custody. Their perfect arrangement fractures as romantic love clashes with their unconventional family.
Collapse
A brutal custody battle erupts. Robert fights for his rights as Sam's father. The friendship "dies" as lawyers get involved and years of trust dissolve into legal warfare.
Crisis
Both Abbie and Robert process the devastation of losing their friendship and hurting Sam. They sit in the darkness of what their conflict has cost them and their son.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sam's distress makes both parents realize that their love for him and each other is more important than winning. They remember what made their friendship special in the first place.
Synthesis
The custody battle is resolved with compromise. Abbie, Ben, and Robert find a way to co-exist for Sam's sake. The unconventional family adapts to include new members while honoring original bonds.
Transformation
The final image shows the expanded family together - Abbie, Ben, Robert, and Sam - demonstrating that love and family can take many forms. The theme is realized: family is who you choose.