Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

In a Heartbeat (2017) movie poster

Plot Summary

In a Heartbeat (2017) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 4 mins
Directed by
Beth David, Esteban Bravo
Starring
Kelly Donohue, Nick Ainsworth

The Heart Wants What The Heart Wants A closeted boy runs the risk of being outed by his own heart after it pops out of his chest to chase down the boy of his dreams.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like In a Heartbeat
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch In a Heartbeat (2017)

Where can you watch In a Heartbeat? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Plex and Pluto TV: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in In a Heartbeat: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of In a Heartbeat (2017) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

In a quiet, slightly surreal schoolyard moment, Sherwin, a shy ginger-haired boy, waits for his secret crush, Jonathan. From a tree where he hides, he watches as Jonathan strolls by, book in hand and an apple spinning between his fingers. The moment feels tense and tender all at once, and Sherwin’s heartbeat suddenly surges, as if the pulse itself has a life of its own.

Without warning, Sherwin’s heart breaks free from his chest, growing into a small, anthropomorphic presence that immediately darts after Jonathan. What follows is a string of awkward, intimate moments where the heart, eager and earnest, drags Sherwin along through hallways and classrooms. Each attempt to keep the heart hidden or to keep up with its erratic antics results in near-misses and embarrassing misfires, yet a warm, earnest longing remains at the center of it all.

Inside the school, the heart corners Jonathan in a moment that feels both magical and mortifying. Sherwin lunges to grab the heart and pull it back, hoping to shield his secret, but the heart slips away and, in a strange twist, it graces Jonathan’s finger with a gentle touch. The crowd of students around them watch in confusion and curiosity as the scene grows more delicate and awkward, the line between fantasy and reality blurring just enough to feel real.

To spare himself the growing embarrassment, Sherwin makes a painful choice and tears his side of the heart away, resulting in a fracture that splits the heart in two. One half remains with Sherwin, the other with Jonathan. The split is heartbreaking, and Sherwin escapes to the outside world, where he lets silent tears fall. Jonathan follows, a quiet resolve forming as he steps closer, ready to mend what has been torn.

What unfolds next is a tender, almost ritual moment. Hand in hand, the two halves of the heart meet again and begin to fuse, a soft glow emanating from the point where they connect. As they press together, the heart breathes new life, pulsing with warmth and possibility. The scene fades to black, leaving the two boys standing side by side, their joined hearts glowing with a light that suggests a quiet, hopeful bond.

This feeling of connection lingers, not with loud fireworks, but with a gentle, enduring glow. The story keeps its focus on the intimate exchange between Sherwin and Jonathan, a romance built on trust, vulnerability, and the strange magic of a heart that learns to beat for two. The imagery remains intimate and surreal, balancing whimsy with a sincere emotional core, inviting viewers to see love as something that can grow from the most unlikely of moments.

Last updated: February 20, 2026 at 12:19

Was this helpful?

Plot questions answered

In a Heartbeat Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about In a Heartbeat (2017): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Sherwin's heart literally pop out of his chest?

Sherwin's heart physically leaves his body because it represents his overwhelming emotional feelings for Jonathan. As a closeted boy who struggles to express his feelings, his heart literally escapes to chase after his crush, visualizing how powerful and uncontrollable romantic attraction can be. The surreal mechanism shows his heart acting on its own volition, separate from his fear of being outed.

Foreshadowing: The heart awakens right after Sherwin sees Jonathan walking by, suggesting his emotional reaction triggers the supernatural event.

  • sherwin heart
  • chase crush
  • emotional metaphor
  • closeted feelings
Q2

What happens when Sherwin's heart touches Jonathan?

When the heart touches Jonathan's finger, it creates a magical moment where the students witness the strange event. This contact represents the emotional connection between them, though Sherwin is mortified because his secret feelings are now physically visible to everyone. The touch symbolizes the vulnerability of exposing one's true feelings.

Foreshadowing: The heart had been chasing Jonathan throughout the school, suggesting it was drawn to him specifically.

  • heart touch
  • jonathan reaction
  • exposed feelings
  • public embarrassment
Q3

Why does Sherwin tear his heart in half?

Sherwin tears the heart in half to escape the embarrassing situation. Overwhelmed by having his feelings exposed in front of the school, he chooses to literally rip away his emotional connection rather than face the humiliation. This desperate act represents his instinct to hide and protect himself from rejection and being outed.

Foreshadowing: Sherwin's anxiety grows throughout the chase, showing his increasing desperation to conceal his feelings.

  • heart split
  • escape embarrassment
  • hide feelings
  • rejection fear
Q4

How do Sherwin and Jonathan reconnect the heart?

Sherwin and Jonathan reconnect the heart by holding hands and pressing their two halves together outside the school. The heart halves begin to fuse with a soft glow, symbolizing their mutual emotional connection and willingness to be vulnerable together. This act represents healing and acceptance of their feelings for each other.

Foreshadowing: Jonathan follows Sherwin outside and offers to return the heart, showing his willingness to mend what was broken.

  • heart repair
  • reconciliation
  • healing
  • acceptance
Q5

What does the split heart represent in the movie?

The split heart represents the emotional pain and disconnection that occurs when someone hides their true feelings. Sherwin's decision to tear away his heart shows how fear of rejection can literally rip apart one's emotional core. The two halves also represent the disconnect between Sherwin's private feelings and his public persona as a closeted person.

Foreshadowing: The fracture happens exactly when Sherwin's secret becomes visible to others, tying the split directly to exposure.

  • symbolism
  • emotional pain
  • connection
  • disconnection
Q6

Why is Sherwin so embarrassed about his feelings?

Sherwin is embarrassed because he is closeted and fears being outed. His feelings for another boy are something he has kept secret, and having his heart physically chase Jonathan in front of the entire school exposes his private emotions for everyone to see. This represents the real-world fear many LGBTQ+ individuals face about having their identity revealed unexpectedly.

Foreshadowing: The story opens with Sherwin watching Jonathan secretly from a tree, establishing his need to hide his attraction.

  • closeted
  • embarrassment
  • fear of being outed
  • secret feelings
Q7

Does Jonathan like Sherwin back in the movie?

Yes, Jonathan reciprocates Sherwin's feelings. After the heart is split and Sherwin runs away in shame, Jonathan follows him outside and offers to return the heart half he was holding. This act shows he wants to mend their connection, and when they fuse the heart halves together, it confirms his mutual feelings and acceptance of Sherwin.

Foreshadowing: Jonathan doesn't pull away when the heart touches him, and he actively pursues Sherwin after the split to help fix things.

  • jonathan feelings
  • mutual attraction
  • acceptance
  • reciprocity
Q8

What does the ending of In a Heartbeat mean?

The ending means that Sherwin and Jonathan have accepted each other's feelings and formed a connection. When their heart halves fuse and glow, it symbolizes their hearts beating as one, representing unity, trust, and a new relationship beginning. The hopeful ending suggests they can now move forward together rather than hiding.

Foreshadowing: The final image mirrors the opening, but now both boys are together instead of Sherwin watching from hiding.

  • ending explained
  • unity
  • relationship
  • acceptance
  • new beginning
Q9

How can the heart move and act on its own?

The heart moving on its own is the film's magical realism premise. It serves as a visual metaphor for Sherwin's uncontrollable emotions. Rather than showing his feelings through dialogue, the movie gives them physical form that chases after Jonathan, representing how emotions can feel like they're outside of our control.

Foreshadowing: The heart awakens the moment Sherwin sees Jonathan, establishing it as emotion made physical.

  • magical realism
  • emotion metaphor
  • personified heart
  • supernatural element

Movie threads

More Movies Like In a Heartbeat, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes In a Heartbeat tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Animated Queer Coming-of-Age Stories Like In a Heartbeat

Whimsical animated shorts about the sweet awkwardness of a first queer crush. If you enjoyed the sweet awkwardness and visual metaphors of In a Heartbeat, you'll love these movies. This collection features animated shorts and features that explore first queer crushes with a whimsical, hopeful tone.

  • whimsical
  • anxious
  • sweet
  • awkward
  • hopeful
  • playful
  • Tone: whimsical, sweet, anxious
  • Pacing: fast, playful
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Stories in this thread often follow a young protagonist navigating the confusing and exciting feelings of a first crush. A central, often playful, metaphor (like a runaway heart) externalizes their internal emotional conflict, leading to a public yet ultimately sweet resolution that reinforces self-acceptance.

Why they belong together: These movies are grouped together because they share a distinct blend of animation, a queer coming-of-age focus, a whimsical tone that softens the anxiety of potential embarrassment, and a light emotional weight that ensures a happy, uplifting conclusion.

Movies with Awkward Public Gestures Like In a Heartbeat

Stories where a grand, public gesture forces a character to confront their feelings. Looking for more movies like In a Heartbeat where a character's feelings are revealed in a public, awkward way? This list highlights films where a grand gesture or chaotic event leads to a sweet resolution and emotional connection.

  • awkward
  • public embarrassment
  • hopeful
  • sweet
  • chaotic
  • reconciliation
  • Tone: awkward, hopeful, playful
  • Pacing: fast, frantic
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist whose attempts to hide their true feelings are undone by an unexpected, often slapstick, event that makes their desires unavoidably public. This forces a moment of vulnerability that, while initially embarrassing, ultimately leads to acceptance and connection.

Why they belong together: These films share a core comedic structure built around the anxiety and subsequent relief of a public emotional revelation. They balance the potential for cringe with a fundamentally hopeful and romantic outcome, creating a satisfyingly sweet and awkward viewing experience.

If you liked this

Movies Like In a Heartbeat

Similar movies to In a Heartbeat: the same genre, themes or kind of story. Each one comes with its own plot summary, timeline and ending explained.

Browse all movie summaries

Every angle

In a Heartbeat (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about In a Heartbeat in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app