The Night Before
In New York City for their annual tradition of Christmas Eve debauchery, three lifelong best friends set out to find the Holy Grail of Christmas parties since their yearly reunion might be coming to an end.
Despite a respectable budget of $25.0M, The Night Before became a commercial success, earning $52.4M worldwide—a 110% return.
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 Night Before (2015) exhibits deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Jonathan Levine's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Flashback to 2001: Chris, Isaac, and Ethan bond over Christmas Eve after Ethan's parents die. They establish their annual tradition of spending Christmas Eve together in New York City.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Ethan reveals he has three tickets to the legendary Nutcracka Ball - the ultimate Christmas party they've been trying to get into for years. This disrupts their "last night" plan and offers one final epic adventure.. At 11% 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 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The three friends actively choose to embark on their Christmas Eve adventure together, leaving their responsibilities behind and fully committing to one last night of chaos and bonding., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: The Nutcracka Ball tickets are revealed to be fake. Their quest seems impossible, and tensions begin rising between the friends as their personal issues surface. The fun facade starts cracking., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The friendship "dies" - the three friends have a devastating fight where they admit they've grown apart and that their tradition has become forced. They split up, seemingly ending their 14-year tradition forever., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Realization and synthesis: Each friend recognizes what truly matters. They don't need the Nutcracka Ball - they need each other. They reunite with new understanding, combining their history with acceptance of who they've become., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Night Before's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping The Night Before against these established plot points, we can identify how Jonathan Levine utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Night Before within the comedy genre.
Jonathan Levine's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Jonathan Levine films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Night Before represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jonathan Levine filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jonathan Levine analyses, see Warm Bodies, Snatched and Long Shot.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Flashback to 2001: Chris, Isaac, and Ethan bond over Christmas Eve after Ethan's parents die. They establish their annual tradition of spending Christmas Eve together in New York City.
Theme
Isaac's wife Betsy tells the guys that "things change" and "you can't stay kids forever" - establishing the central theme about growing up and letting go of the past.
Worldbuilding
Present day setup: Chris is still stuck in his life, working dead-end jobs. Isaac is about to become a father. Anthony is now a famous football player. This is their last Christmas Eve together, and Ethan has secretly obtained tickets to the mythical Nutcracka Ball.
Disruption
Ethan reveals he has three tickets to the legendary Nutcracka Ball - the ultimate Christmas party they've been trying to get into for years. This disrupts their "last night" plan and offers one final epic adventure.
Resistance
The guys debate whether to pursue the night. Isaac is hesitant because his wife is pregnant. Chris is cynical. But they prepare for the adventure, with Isaac receiving a "gift box" of drugs from his wife and the group making plans.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The three friends actively choose to embark on their Christmas Eve adventure together, leaving their responsibilities behind and fully committing to one last night of chaos and bonding.
Mirror World
Chris encounters Diana, his ex-girlfriend and the woman he let slip away. She represents the adult relationship and emotional growth he needs - the thematic counterpoint to his arrested development.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Christmas Eve chaos: the guys party hop across New York, Isaac gets extremely high, they attend a wild Jewish party, encounter various misadventures, and pursue the Nutcracka Ball while their individual issues simmer beneath the surface.
Midpoint
False defeat: The Nutcracka Ball tickets are revealed to be fake. Their quest seems impossible, and tensions begin rising between the friends as their personal issues surface. The fun facade starts cracking.
Opposition
Everything falls apart: Isaac's drug trip intensifies catastrophically at midnight mass. Anthony's steroids secret is revealed. Chris's bitterness about his failed life explodes. Their friendship fractures as resentments surface and they turn on each other.
Collapse
The friendship "dies" - the three friends have a devastating fight where they admit they've grown apart and that their tradition has become forced. They split up, seemingly ending their 14-year tradition forever.
Crisis
Dark night: Each friend is alone with their failures. Chris wallows in self-pity. Isaac deals with letting down his pregnant wife. Anthony confronts his fraudulent image. They process the loss of their friendship and youth.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Realization and synthesis: Each friend recognizes what truly matters. They don't need the Nutcracka Ball - they need each other. They reunite with new understanding, combining their history with acceptance of who they've become.
Synthesis
The finale: The friends reconcile and help each other fix their mistakes. Chris pursues Diana authentically. Isaac rushes to be with his wife. Anthony embraces honesty. They end up together at the hospital for Isaac's baby, finding their real "legendary night" in friendship, not a party.
Transformation
Christmas morning at the hospital: The three friends celebrate the birth of Isaac's son together, no longer clinging to the past but embracing the future. Chris has Diana, Isaac has his family, Anthony has authenticity - they've all grown up while keeping their bond.