What is the Rock Bottom in Story Structure? (With Examples)

Chris wakes up trapped in a basement, Get Out (2017)

You may have heard the term Rock Bottom before, but what does it mean when it comes to writing and story structure? The Rock Bottom is a story structure term that can help show your protag at their lowest and make victory seem impossible. Here’s a quick guide to get you started:

What Is The Rock Bottom?

The Rock Bottom is the eleventh step in the story structure model Universal Story Language. It’s a phase that comes at the end of Act 2, and it showcases the protag at their lowest point.

You may know this as the “Third Plot Point” from K.M. Weiland’s Structure Model, or “The Dark Night of the Soul” from Save the Cat!’s Beat Sheet. In most cases, when writers talk about the ‘Rock Bottom, they are referring to the protag’s lowest point when all seems hopeless.

Here’s a diagram of Universal Story Language and where the Rock Bottom fits in:

A visual diagram of Universal Story Language, a resource from Plotwell

What Does It Do?

The Rock Bottom shows the protag at their lowest. It fill the audience with hopelessness as they watch the protag mope, grieve, or give up. But it also introduces the protag to their Epiphany, which they’ll realize in the next step, the Inner Gateway. It’s an overall negative phase that is usually slow-paced and inactive.

The easiest way to think about this moment is as the protag’s lowest point. It prepares the protag for their Epiphany in the Inner Gateway and their subsequent launch to success in the Final Plan.

Some Examples

Here are a few examples of the Rock Bottom in action:

Example #1: Wedding Crashers

Jeremy visits a very sad John during his Rock Bottom, Wedding Crashers (2005)

Here’s the Rock Bottom from 2005’s Wedding Crashers:

John tries to crash Claire and Sack’s dinner to win her back, but Sack catches him and beats him up. He argues with Jeremy and the two split. John starts crashing weddings alone and becomes reclusive. Jeremy tells John that he and Gloria are getting married and invites him. John visits Jeremy’s mentor Chaz, who is now crashing funerals. Despite his reluctance, John joins him.

Example #2: Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse

Miles is tied up and unable to stop Kingpin, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)

Here’s the Rock Bottom from 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse:

Trapped, Miles hears a knock on his door. It’s his dad, who came to talk to him, though Miles’s mouth is covered. His dad tells him he has a spark and that he loves him before leaving.

Example #3: Die Hard

John is trapped in a bathroom with feet full of glass, Die Hard (1988)

Here’s the Rock Bottom from 1988’s Die Hard:

John escapes into a bathroom, feet bloody and full of glass. He talks to Powell on the radio and finds out Powell accidentally shot a kid. The FBI shuts off the power, letting Gruber into the vault.

Diving Deeper

If you want to learn more about the Rock Bottom, here’s a link to a free course on Universal Story Language. It’s included in Plotwell’s Ultimate Story Structure Mega-Course, which you can access totally free on their website:

https://plotwell.podia.com/the-ultimate-story-structure-mega-course