Stand by Me poster

Stand by Me

198689 minutesR
5.1
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.1IMDb
🍅 92%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 75/100Metacritic
🎬 7.9TMDb
📊 5.2Popularity
🏆Nominated for 1 Oscar. 6 wins & 12 nominations total
Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Drama
Directed by: Rob Reiner
It's the summer of 1959 in Castlerock, Oregon and four 12 year-old boys - Gordie, Chris, Teddy and Vern - are fast friends. After learning of the general location of the body of a local boy who has been missing for several days, they set off into the woods to see it. Along the way, they learn about themselves, the meaning of friendship and the need to stand up for what is right.

Box Office

Budget:$8.0M
Revenue:$52.3M
Profit:$44.3M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision4.7/10
Emotional Arc Impact5.5/10
Thematic Consistency5/10
Overall Score5.1/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Stand by Me Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
6 min
3
Set-Up
12 min
4
Catalyst
20 min
5
Debate
28 min
6
Break Into Two
35 min
7
B Story
45 min
8
Fun and Games
55 min
9
Midpoint
65 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
72 min
11
All Is Lost
78 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
82 min
13
Break Into Three
85 min
14
Finale
87 min
15
Final Image
89 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Small town in 1950s. Kids idle, sets nostalgic tone.

#2

Theme Stated

6 min

Gordie: "The world is bigger than our town." Theme: friendship, growing up, confronting mortality.

#3

Set-Up

12 min

Gordie, Chris, Teddy, Vern decide to find dead boy's body. Introduces personalities and stakes.

#4

Catalyst

20 min

Journey begins; kids encounter dangers; external challenges start.

#5

Debate

28 min

Debate fears, whether to continue; tensions among friends.

#6

Break Into Two

35 min

Friends commit to journey; step into unknown; childhood innocence tested.

#7

B Story

45 min

Friendship dynamics explored; Gordie and Chris bond deepens.

#8

Fun and Games

55 min

Camping, pranks, and adventures; humorous, lighthearted moments.

#9

Midpoint

65 min

Face confrontation with Ace gang; tension high; stakes clear.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

72 min

Physical dangers and emotional conflicts escalate; maturity tested.

#11

All Is Lost

78 min

Friends almost defeated by circumstances; loss and fear felt.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

82 min

Gordie reflects on friendship, mortality, family issues.

#13

Break Into Three

85 min

Decide to confront challenges and complete quest.

#14

Finale

87 min

Find body; deal with bullies; emotional growth; friendship solidified.

#15

Final Image

89 min

Walking home; nostalgic reflection; childhood innocence ending; life lessons learned.