Yesterday
In Lowestoft UK, Jack Malik is a frustrated musician whose musical career is going nowhere despite the faith that his friend/manager Ellie Appleton has in him. However, on the night Jack decides to give up, the whole world is momentarily hit with a massive blackout during which Jack is hit by a bus. Upon regaining consciousness, Jack learns to his astonishment that he is apparently now the only one who knows the music of the Beatles. Realizing this improbable opportunity, Jack begins playing the music of one of the world's greatest rock bands, being forced to claim it as his own. It pays off quickly and Jack becomes a worldwide musical sensation. However, Jack finds himself drifting away from Ellie, only realizing his love for her when she has become intimidated by his success, which depends on a blatant plagiarization that no one could find out. Now, Jack must make a fundamental moral decision about his music to satisfy his conscience as he decides what he truly needs.
Despite a mid-range budget of $26.0M, Yesterday became a commercial success, earning $154.6M worldwide—a 495% return.
2 wins & 19 nominations
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%)
Yesterday (2019) demonstrates strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Danny Boyle's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jack performs to a tiny, disinterested crowd at a seaside pier festival. His manager Ellie watches supportively, but it's clear he's going nowhere as a musician after years of trying.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when During a mysterious global blackout, Jack is hit by a bus while cycling home. He wakes up in the hospital with missing teeth and a head injury. The world has changed in a way he doesn't yet realize.. 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 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Jack makes the active choice to record the Beatles catalog as his own. He quits his teaching job and commits fully to this path, recording "Let It Be" and other songs, deciding to pursue the fame he always wanted., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Jack's album is approved, he's on the verge of global stardom. But Debra wants to change the album name from "The Beatles" to "One Man Only" and manipulate his image. The stakes raise—he's getting everything he wanted but losing himself and Ellie., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ellie tells Jack she's engaged to another man. Jack has lost the one real thing in his life. His dream of fame is hollow without her. This is his "death"—the death of his chance at authentic love, sacrificed for a lie., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Jack is approached by two people who remember the Beatles. They thank him for keeping the music alive and give him John Lennon's address. This encounter gives Jack clarity: the music was about love and truth, not fame. He knows what he must do., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Yesterday'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 Yesterday against these established plot points, we can identify how Danny Boyle utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Yesterday within the comedy genre.
Danny Boyle's Structural Approach
Among the 12 Danny Boyle films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Yesterday represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Danny Boyle filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Danny Boyle analyses, see The Beach, T2 Trainspotting and 28 Days Later.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jack performs to a tiny, disinterested crowd at a seaside pier festival. His manager Ellie watches supportively, but it's clear he's going nowhere as a musician after years of trying.
Theme
Ellie tells Jack "You just have to keep going, keep playing." The theme of persistence and authenticity vs. giving up is introduced, though Jack doesn't yet understand what truly matters.
Worldbuilding
Jack's ordinary world is established: struggling musician, works at a warehouse, has loyal friend/manager Ellie who clearly loves him (though he's oblivious), supportive parents, dead-end career. His friends throw him a going-away party as he's about to give up music.
Disruption
During a mysterious global blackout, Jack is hit by a bus while cycling home. He wakes up in the hospital with missing teeth and a head injury. The world has changed in a way he doesn't yet realize.
Resistance
Jack recovers from his accident. His friends give him a new guitar. When he plays "Yesterday" at a small gathering, everyone is amazed—they've never heard it before. Jack discovers the Beatles never existed. He debates what to do with this knowledge, testing whether other things disappeared.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jack makes the active choice to record the Beatles catalog as his own. He quits his teaching job and commits fully to this path, recording "Let It Be" and other songs, deciding to pursue the fame he always wanted.
Mirror World
Ellie becomes more central as Jack's manager and the person who believes in him. Their relationship deepens as she helps him navigate his sudden success, representing the authentic love and support he's blind to while chasing fame.
Premise
The fun and games of the premise: Jack performs Beatles songs to amazed audiences, gets discovered by Ed Sheeran, travels to Los Angeles, signs with major manager Debra, records an album in luxury. Success comes rapidly but he must remember lyrics and feels increasingly guilty about the lie.
Midpoint
False victory: Jack's album is approved, he's on the verge of global stardom. But Debra wants to change the album name from "The Beatles" to "One Man Only" and manipulate his image. The stakes raise—he's getting everything he wanted but losing himself and Ellie.
Opposition
The machine of fame closes in: endless interviews, photo shoots, manufactured romance with model Lily. Jack becomes isolated from Ellie as she's pushed out by Debra. He's successful but miserable, the lie eating at him. Ellie confesses her love but Jack, caught up in his new life, hesitates and loses her.
Collapse
Ellie tells Jack she's engaged to another man. Jack has lost the one real thing in his life. His dream of fame is hollow without her. This is his "death"—the death of his chance at authentic love, sacrificed for a lie.
Crisis
Jack spirals in darkness. He goes through the motions of his album release preparation but is emotionally devastated. He visits his parents, seeking comfort. He realizes he's been living a lie and has lost what truly mattered.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jack is approached by two people who remember the Beatles. They thank him for keeping the music alive and give him John Lennon's address. This encounter gives Jack clarity: the music was about love and truth, not fame. He knows what he must do.
Synthesis
Jack visits an elderly John Lennon, who lived a simple, happy life. Inspired, Jack confesses everything on live TV at his album launch, tells the truth about the Beatles, and directs people to the real music. He rejects fame, gives up the lie, and rushes to find Ellie to tell her he loves her.
Transformation
Jack and Ellie are together, living a simple, authentic life. Jack teaches music to kids, they have children, and he's genuinely happy. The final image mirrors the opening—he performs in a small venue—but now he's content because he has real love and authenticity instead of empty fame.