falling action

noun

: the events in a novel, play, film, etc. that follow the climax (see climax entry 1 sense 2b)

… what is essentially the climax of the film comes about three quarters in, and the rest of it, while never less than interesting, feels like falling action.

—Mick LaSalle

That lack of meaningful conflict also means the film lacks urgency, or a sense of rising or falling action. It's largely just a series of incidents …

—Tasha Robinson

compare rising action

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above