This Is 40
Pete and Debbie are both about to turn 40, their kids hate each other, both of their businesses are failing, they're on the verge of losing their house, and their relationship is threatening to fall apart.
Despite a respectable budget of $35.0M, This Is 40 became a box office success, earning $88.2M worldwide—a 152% 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%)
This Is 40 (2012) demonstrates carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Judd Apatow's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 14 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 Pete and Debbie have sex in the shower while discussing their upcoming birthdays - she's turning 40 (though claims 38), he's turning 40. Their intimate moment is interrupted by their daughters, establishing the chaos of their family life and their anxiety about aging.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Debbie discovers significant money is missing from her store's inventory and finances don't match up. Simultaneously, Pete learns his record label is losing money badly. Both face potential financial collapse, forcing them to confront their lifestyle and habits.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Pete and Debbie decide to have a joint 40th birthday party, committing to face this milestone together. This choice to publicly acknowledge their age (despite Debbie's denial about turning 40) represents accepting they must deal with their new reality as a middle-aged couple., moving from reaction to action.
At 65 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Pete and Debbie have a breakthrough moment of honesty: they confess their problems to each other (his financial issues, her store problems). They decide to work together and make changes. False victory - they think honesty alone will solve everything, but their underlying patterns remain unchanged., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 98 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, At their 40th birthday party, everything falls apart: Pete and Debbie have a massive fight in front of all their friends and family, exposing all their issues publicly. Pete reveals Debbie's real age. The party - and their attempt to present a perfect life - dies. Their marriage appears to be ending., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 106 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Pete and Debbie have a raw, honest conversation about their marriage. They realize their problems aren't about turning 40 or financial stress - they're about accepting imperfection and choosing each other despite the mess. They commit to real honesty and accepting life as it is, not as they wish it to be., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
This Is 40'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 This Is 40 against these established plot points, we can identify how Judd Apatow utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish This Is 40 within the comedy genre.
Judd Apatow's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Judd Apatow films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. This Is 40 represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Judd Apatow filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Judd Apatow analyses, see Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin and Funny People.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Pete and Debbie have sex in the shower while discussing their upcoming birthdays - she's turning 40 (though claims 38), he's turning 40. Their intimate moment is interrupted by their daughters, establishing the chaos of their family life and their anxiety about aging.
Theme
During breakfast chaos, one character remarks about honesty and lying about age. The theme emerges: we lie to ourselves and others about aging and our problems, but we need to face reality to grow.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Pete and Debbie's world: Pete runs a struggling record label with vintage music acts; Debbie owns a boutique clothing store with employee theft issues; they have two daughters (Sadie and Charlotte); Pete's dad constantly needs money; Debbie's father is emotionally distant. Financial stress and family tensions are established.
Disruption
Debbie discovers significant money is missing from her store's inventory and finances don't match up. Simultaneously, Pete learns his record label is losing money badly. Both face potential financial collapse, forcing them to confront their lifestyle and habits.
Resistance
Pete and Debbie debate how to handle their crises separately. Debbie investigates her employees, suspecting theft. Pete tries to avoid telling Debbie about his financial problems. They attend doctor appointments, deal with parent issues, and continue avoiding honest conversations about their mounting problems. Their pattern of avoidance and dishonesty intensifies.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Pete and Debbie decide to have a joint 40th birthday party, committing to face this milestone together. This choice to publicly acknowledge their age (despite Debbie's denial about turning 40) represents accepting they must deal with their new reality as a middle-aged couple.
Mirror World
Interactions with their two fathers intensify - Pete's father (Albert Brooks) constantly mooches money and represents irresponsible aging; Debbie's father (John Lithgow) is distant and represents emotional avoidance. These mirror characters show Pete and Debbie what they could become if they don't change their patterns.
Premise
The "fun" of watching a middle-aged couple spiral: medical tests, colonoscopies, arguing with parents, fighting with kids, confronting employees, marriage counseling attempts, sexual dysfunction concerns, and increasingly absurd attempts to maintain their youth and lifestyle. Dark comedy emerges from their denial and avoidance.
Midpoint
Pete and Debbie have a breakthrough moment of honesty: they confess their problems to each other (his financial issues, her store problems). They decide to work together and make changes. False victory - they think honesty alone will solve everything, but their underlying patterns remain unchanged.
Opposition
Despite their honesty pact, problems escalate: Pete must fire his employees to save money; Debbie must confront her employee about theft; their daughters' behavior worsens; parent demands increase; their marriage counseling reveals deeper issues; Pete's smoking habit (hidden from Debbie) resurfaces; accumulated lies and resentments emerge.
Collapse
At their 40th birthday party, everything falls apart: Pete and Debbie have a massive fight in front of all their friends and family, exposing all their issues publicly. Pete reveals Debbie's real age. The party - and their attempt to present a perfect life - dies. Their marriage appears to be ending.
Crisis
Pete and Debbie separate emotionally, each processing the devastation. They sit with the reality that their patterns of lying, avoiding, and pretending haven't worked. They face the possibility of divorce and losing everything they've built. Dark night of accepting they can't fake their way through life anymore.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Pete and Debbie have a raw, honest conversation about their marriage. They realize their problems aren't about turning 40 or financial stress - they're about accepting imperfection and choosing each other despite the mess. They commit to real honesty and accepting life as it is, not as they wish it to be.
Synthesis
Pete and Debbie reconcile and address their problems with new honesty: they set boundaries with parents, make real financial changes, parent their daughters with unity, and stop pretending everything is perfect. They deal with medical test results with acceptance rather than anxiety. They choose their imperfect marriage and imperfect life.
Transformation
Pete and Debbie sit together in bed, similar to the opening, but transformed. They're at peace with being 40, with their imperfect bodies, imperfect finances, and imperfect family. They're still themselves but no longer running from reality - they've accepted that this IS 40, and that's okay.