To the Bone

To the Bone

Year: 2017

Runtime: 107 min

Language: English

Director: Marti Noxon

Echo Score: 60

Budget: $38M

DramaComedy

Ellen, a troubled 20-year-old, struggles with anorexia nervosa and the disappointments of previous treatments, pushing her into a dangerous cycle. Her family, desperate for a solution, enrolls her in an unconventional group home. There, she encounters a unique and unorthodox doctor who challenges her to confront her illness and begin a journey toward recovery, exploring the complex emotional and psychological factors contributing to her condition.

Hopeful
Happy ending
Emotionally heavy
High intensity
Steady pacing
Simple story

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – To the Bone (2017)

Explore the full timeline and setting of To the Bone (2017). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

2010s

The events unfold in the contemporary era of the 2010s, reflecting current attitudes toward eating disorders and treatment. The narrative spans roughly 18 months, from inpatient treatment to family therapy to a relapse and recovery. It situates itself in present-day life, with real-world medical approaches to anorexia.

Location

Ellen's family home, Beckham's treatment clinic, Ellen's mother's home in Phoenix, Arizona

The story unfolds primarily in the house of Ellen's stepmother and father, where family dynamics shape her recovery attempts. A formal treatment setting is provided by Beckham's clinic, where she joins a group of patients. Ellen's mother's home in Phoenix is referenced as a past anchor, highlighting the geographic and emotional distance within the family.

🏠 Family setting 🏥 Medical treatment 🌵 Phoenix area

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:48

Main Characters – To the Bone (2017)

Meet the key characters of To the Bone (2017), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ellen / Eli

The film's protagonist who battles anorexia and undergoes a long, iterative recovery. She changes her name to Eli as part of her struggle to redefine herself and escape old patterns. Her artistic sensibilities, emotional sensitivity, and fear of failure drive much of the narrative as she navigates treatment, family pressures, and fragile relationships.

💔 Eating Disorder 🧠 Mental Health 🎨 Art/Creativity

Luke

A hopeful ballet dancer in the treatment house who becomes a supportive friend and moral cheerleader for Ellen. He carries a sense of optimism about his own future despite a knee injury and his own battles, and he reveals a personal connection to Ellen through her art.

💪 Recovery 🩰 Dance 💖 Friendship

Megan

A fellow patient who has miscarried her baby after resuming purging. Her story highlights the intersections of pregnancy, loss, and the risks of relapse, contributing to the shared trauma of the housemates.

💔 Pregnancy Loss 🫂 Community 💬 Support

Susan

Ellen's stepmother, who orchestrates her entry into Beckham's program. She represents a controlling yet caring parental role and is involved in the family therapy dynamic.

🏠 Family dynamics 🧭 Guidance 🗣 Authority

Dr. William Beckham

The specialist who runs the inpatient program Ellen joins. He drives the formal treatment plan and the medical framing of her recovery, often clashing with Ellen's ambivalence.

🏥 Psychiatry 🧭 Therapy 🧪 Clinic

Ellen's Father

Absent for much of the story, his absence during family therapy sessions underscores the fractured father-daughter relationship and the emotional distance within the family.

👨‍👧 Family ⏳ Absence 🗣 Communication

Ellen's Mother

The mother who left Ellen to move to Phoenix with a partner and grappled with postpartum depression. Her later admission of guilt and the bottle-feeding scene reveal the complicated mother-daughter dynamics at play.

🌸 Mother-Daughter 🩺 Postpartum Depression 🫶 Guilt

Kelly

Ellen's younger half-sister who influences Ellen to return to treatment. Kelly's presence underlines the pull of family ties and hope for a better future.

👧 Sibling Influence 🫶 Hope 🌟 Catalyst

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:48

Major Themes – To the Bone (2017)

Explore the central themes of To the Bone (2017), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🧠 Mental Health

The film centers on Ellen's struggle with anorexia and the impact of mental illness on identity and daily life. Therapy, relapse, and the search for meaning dominate her journey as she confronts deep-seated fears about control and self-worth. The work with Beckham and the housemates frames the path toward recovery while exposing the fragility of progress.

💔 Family & Relationships

Family dynamics—absent fathers, demanding step-parents, and complicated maternal ties—shape Ellen's experience. Interactions with her sister Kelly, Luke's support, and the pressures from her father emphasize the tension between care and pressure. The film explores how love and blame, past trauma, and current bonds drive or derail recovery.

🌱 Recovery & Resilience

Recovery is portrayed as a non-linear, difficult process with relapse and renewed commitment. Ellen's decision to return to Beckham's program after a near-death experience underscores resilience despite fear. The community in the house—especially Luke's mentorship—offers catalysts for self-acceptance and change.

Last Updated: October 03, 2025 at 19:48

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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.

Hopeful mental health journeys like in To the Bone

Unflinching stories about recovery that find light in the darkness of psychological pain.If you were moved by To the Bone, explore more movies like it that balance a heavy emotional weight with a hopeful tone. These similar stories often focus on eating disorders, addiction, or other psychological struggles, offering a raw yet inspiring look at the recovery process and the found families that help along the way.

hopefulrawpainfulresilientsupportiveintrospectiveemotional

Narrative Summary

These stories typically follow a protagonist grappling with a severe psychological or physical condition, often hitting rock bottom before encountering an unconventional support system or treatment. The narrative arc is one of gradual, non-linear progress, where small victories are hard-won amidst significant setbacks, culminating in a choice to embrace recovery.

Why These Movies?

They are grouped by their unique ability to combine a stark, emotionally heavy portrayal of illness with an ultimately uplifting and hopeful message about human connection and the possibility of healing, creating a poignant and resilient viewing experience.

Movies about unconventional healing like To the Bone

Stories where broken individuals find solace and strength in an unlikely new community.Discover films similar to To the Bone that explore the theme of found family and unconventional treatment programs. If you liked the group home dynamic and the unorthodox doctor in To the Bone, you'll find more stories where characters heal through connection in unique supportive environments outside traditional systems.

supportiveintrospectiveresilientdramaticgroup dynamichealingcommunity

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a resistant protagonist being placed into an unconventional setting—a group home, rehab facility, or unique community—where they initially clash with both the authority figure and peers. Through shared struggles and forced interaction, they form deep, pivotal bonds that become the key to their personal breakthrough and recovery.

Why These Movies?

These films share a specific setting and relational dynamic: a collection of wounded individuals brought together by a charismatic guide, forming a micro-community that provides the acceptance and challenge needed for profound personal change.

Unlock the Full Story of To the Bone

Don't stop at just watching — explore To the Bone 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 To the Bone is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

To the Bone Summary

Read a complete plot summary of To the Bone, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

To the Bone Summary

To the Bone Timeline

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

To the Bone Timeline

To the Bone Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of To the Bone 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.

To the Bone Spoiler-Free Summary

More About To the Bone

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about To the Bone: 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 To the Bone

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