Five

Five

Year: 2011

Runtime: 87 mins

Language: English

Directors: Jennifer Aniston, Patty Jenkins

ComedyDrama

Direct Your Power An anthology of five short films exploring the impact of breast cancer on people’s lives.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Five yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Five (2011) – Full Plot Summary & Ending Explained

Read the complete plot breakdown of Five (2011), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.

Five is a groundbreaking anthology that stitches together five intimate short films to examine how breast cancer reshapes lives, relationships, and self-perception, blending humor and drama as characters chase strength, comfort, and breakthroughs on the path to a cure.

CHARLOTTE

On the night in July 1969 when man first walks on the moon, a young Pearl [Ava Acres] is more concerned about why her family won’t let her see her mother, Charlotte [Ginnifer Goodwin], who lies in her bedroom dying from breast cancer. This moment plants Pearl’s lifelong resolve to help others facing the disease, a calling that will echo through the other stories and lead her to open an oncology clinic that quietly threads through the film. The segment’s ensemble cast weaves in supporting faces like [Jeanne Tripplehorn], [Josh Holloway], [Annie Potts], [Jennifer Morrison], and [Bob Newhart], adding warmth, humor, and emotional resonance to the intimate battlefield of illness and love.

CHEYANNE

Directed by Penelope Spheeris, this chapter follows Cheyanne [Lyndsy Fonseca], a sexy young stripper who, with her newlywed husband Tommy [Taylor Kinney], tries to redefine who they are as individuals and as a couple when a breast cancer diagnosis challenges their world. The prognosis pushes them toward hard choices and shifts in identity, and the couple’s journey illustrates how illness can redraw lines around passion, independence, and partnership, all set against a backdrop of vivid personal stakes.

LILI

Directed by Alicia Keys, Lili [Rosario Dawson] is a fiercely independent, career-driven woman who turns to her sister [Tracee Ellis Ross] to help tell their hard-nosed mother [Jenifer Lewis] about a breast cancer diagnosis. As past hurts surface, the family learns to rebuild trust and lean on one another, discovering that kinship can be a powerful medicine in itself. The story also introduces a male perspective with [Jeffrey Tambor] portraying a patient navigating treatment, adding another layer to the shared experience of this disease.

MIA

Directed by Jennifer Aniston, Mia [Patricia Clarkson] is a survivor whose two-year odyssey from diagnosis unfolds with both poignancy and humor. She releases attachments to material possessions, stages a lively mock funeral while still alive, and then enters into a hopeful second marriage to Mitch [Tony Shalhoub], the new love of her life. The chapter shines a light on resilience, the tension between humor and sorrow, and the way friendships—embodied by Mia’s friend Rocky [Kathy Najimy]—help sustain a person through the darkest days.

PEARL

Directed by Patty Jenkins, Pearl [Jeanne Tripplehorn] grows from childhood into a renowned oncologist who unexpectedly finds herself in the patient’s chair when breast cancer strikes. Her journey illuminates the empathy she carries from her own parents’ experiences on that fateful night in 1969 and culminates in a heartfelt vow to tell her young daughter that everything will be okay. The segment widens its emotional net by drawing in a stellar lineup including Patricia Clarkson, Tony Shalhoub, Jeffrey Tambor, Bob Newhart, Rosario Dawson, Tracee Ellis Ross, and Jenifer Lewis, whose stories of care, courage, and community echo the film’s overarching message of hope, connection, and the enduring human spirit.

Last Updated: October 01, 2025 at 12:55

Mobile App Preview

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Mobile App

From blockbusters to hidden gems — dive into movie stories anytime, anywhere. Save your favorites, discover plots faster, and never miss a twist again.

Sign up to be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private — always.

Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about resilience and hope like Five

Hopeful stories where individuals overcome profound personal challenges with strength and support.Explore movies like Five that center on characters overcoming immense personal challenges. If you enjoyed the hopeful tone and resilient spirit of the stories in Five, you'll find similar heartfelt dramas here about finding strength and support in the face of adversity.

resilienthopefulemotionalheartfeltintimateupliftingreflective

Narrative Summary

Narratives in this thread typically follow a character or group of characters through a significant life-altering challenge. The central conflict is internal and external, dealing with the emotional fallout of their situation. The arc focuses on gradual acceptance, growth, and finding new meaning or strength, often supported by a community of family or friends.

Why These Movies?

These movies are grouped together because they share a core emotional journey: moving from a place of pain or crisis toward a state of resilient hope. They balance a heavy emotional weight with a consistently hopeful tone, creating a deeply moving yet affirming viewing experience centered on the human capacity to endure.

Anthology movies with interconnected stories like Five

A collection of separate stories subtly linked by a common theme or setting.Discover anthology films similar to Five, where separate character stories are woven together around a central theme. If you liked the structure of Five, which uses a common setting to explore different experiences with breast cancer, you'll appreciate these movies that build a bigger picture from intimate, standalone tales.

anthologyinterconnectedreflectiveintimatethought-provokingvariedcharacter-driven

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves several self-contained short stories presented within a single film. Each story has a clear beginning, middle, and end for its characters. The overall film structure creates a thematic or emotional resonance between the disparate tales, often leaving the audience to draw connections and appreciate the varied perspectives on a central topic.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their unique narrative structure. They provide a multifaceted look at a theme by showing how it impacts different people differently. The similarity lies in the pacing—steady and episodic—and the intellectual and emotional satisfaction of seeing a complex issue explored through interconnected yet independent vignettes.

Unlock the Full Story of Five

Don't stop at just watching — explore Five in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Five is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Five Timeline

Track the full timeline of Five with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Five Timeline

Characters, Settings & Themes in Five

Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Five. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.

Characters, Settings & Themes in Five

Five Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Five that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Five Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Five

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Five: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Five