This Is Where I Leave You
After their father passes away, four grown siblings, bruised and banged up by their respective adult lives, are forced to return to their childhood home and live under the same roof together for a week, along with their over-sharing mother and an assortment of spouses, exes and might-have-beens. Confronting their history and the frayed states of their relationships among the people who know and love them best, they ultimately reconnect in hysterical and emotionally affecting ways amid the chaos, humor, heartache and redemption that only families can provide-driving us insane even as they remind us of our truest, and often best, selves.
Despite a moderate budget of $19.8M, This Is Where I Leave You became a commercial success, earning $41.3M worldwide—a 109% 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 Where I Leave You (2014) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Shawn Levy's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Judd Altman at work, seemingly successful but emotionally disconnected. He appears to have it together on the surface - successful radio producer with a beautiful wife and nice home.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Judd comes home early and discovers his wife Quinn in bed with his boss Wade. His entire life implodes in a single moment - marriage destroyed, career compromised, identity shattered.. At 10% 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Judd arrives at his childhood home and commits to sitting shiva with his siblings: Wendy (responsible sister), Paul (eldest, trying to conceive), and Phillip (irresponsible youngest). He enters the world of forced family intimacy and old wounds., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: The family seems to be coming together. Judd and Penny grow closer, suggesting hope for new love. His mother reveals a major secret that reframes everything - likely about Judd's father or the family dynamic. Stakes are raised; this isn't just about mourning, it's about truth., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Major blowup: The siblings' fight reaches its peak, possibly at the funeral or during a climactic family confrontation. Old accusations fly, particularly about their father's book exploiting them. The family fractures completely - the very thing they were supposed to be healing. Judd hits his lowest point, losing both his old life and failing to build a new one., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Breakthrough: Judd realizes that family isn't about being perfect or having it together - it's about showing up for the mess. He synthesizes what Penny taught him (authenticity), what his father's death revealed (forgiveness), and what the shiva showed him (presence matters). He chooses his family and chooses to be present., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
This Is Where I Leave You'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 Where I Leave You against these established plot points, we can identify how Shawn Levy 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 Where I Leave You within the comedy genre.
Shawn Levy's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Shawn Levy films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. This Is Where I Leave You represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Shawn Levy filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Shawn Levy analyses, see Just Married, Date Night and Free Guy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Judd Altman at work, seemingly successful but emotionally disconnected. He appears to have it together on the surface - successful radio producer with a beautiful wife and nice home.
Theme
Early dialogue about family and what we owe each other, likely from Judd's therapist father in flashback or his mother. The theme: "Family is the place where you have to deal with the mess you've been avoiding."
Worldbuilding
Judd's world is established: his marriage to Quinn, his job, his distant relationship with his family. We see glimpses of his siblings and their dynamics. His father was a therapist who wrote a book about raising them, exposing their childhood to the world.
Disruption
Judd comes home early and discovers his wife Quinn in bed with his boss Wade. His entire life implodes in a single moment - marriage destroyed, career compromised, identity shattered.
Resistance
While reeling from the betrayal, Judd receives word that his father has died. His mother Hillary insists the entire family sit shiva together for seven days. Judd resists returning home and facing his dysfunctional family, but ultimately has no choice. He's emotionally numb and resistant.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Judd arrives at his childhood home and commits to sitting shiva with his siblings: Wendy (responsible sister), Paul (eldest, trying to conceive), and Phillip (irresponsible youngest). He enters the world of forced family intimacy and old wounds.
Mirror World
Judd reconnects with Penny Moore, his high school girlfriend who still lives next door. She represents the life and love he left behind, and the possibility of authenticity versus his failed marriage built on superficiality.
Premise
The "fun and games" of a dysfunctional family sitting shiva: awkward reunions, old resentments surfacing, inappropriate moments, community visitors, dark humor about death and family. Judd reconnects with Penny, siblings clash and bond, secrets start emerging. The premise delivers on family dysfunction comedy-drama.
Midpoint
False victory: The family seems to be coming together. Judd and Penny grow closer, suggesting hope for new love. His mother reveals a major secret that reframes everything - likely about Judd's father or the family dynamic. Stakes are raised; this isn't just about mourning, it's about truth.
Opposition
Old wounds deepen. Quinn shows up wanting Judd back, complicating his connection with Penny. Sibling resentments explode - particularly around Paul's fertility issues, Phillip's irresponsibility, and Wendy's affair. The family's attempts to heal keep backfiring. Everyone's flaws are exposed and intensified.
Collapse
Major blowup: The siblings' fight reaches its peak, possibly at the funeral or during a climactic family confrontation. Old accusations fly, particularly about their father's book exploiting them. The family fractures completely - the very thing they were supposed to be healing. Judd hits his lowest point, losing both his old life and failing to build a new one.
Crisis
Judd and his siblings separately process the wreckage. Moments of quiet reflection on what family means, what their father meant, and what they mean to each other. The dark night where each character sits with their pain and failure.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Breakthrough: Judd realizes that family isn't about being perfect or having it together - it's about showing up for the mess. He synthesizes what Penny taught him (authenticity), what his father's death revealed (forgiveness), and what the shiva showed him (presence matters). He chooses his family and chooses to be present.
Synthesis
Finale: Judd makes amends with his siblings. He chooses Penny over Quinn, choosing authentic love over familiar dysfunction. The family comes together genuinely, not perfectly. Paul and his wife get positive news, Phillip shows maturity, Wendy finds clarity. They complete the shiva, honor their father, and commit to staying connected. Healing happens through acceptance, not resolution.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors opening: Judd with family, but now fully present and engaged rather than disconnected. The Altmans together, not perfect but real, having chosen each other. Judd has transformed from someone running from messiness to someone who stays for it.