A Bad Moms Christmas
A Bad Moms Christmas follows our three under-appreciated and over-burdened women as they rebel against the challenges and expectations of the Super Bowl for moms: Christmas. And as if creating a more perfect holiday for their families wasn't hard enough, they must do all of that while hosting and entertaining their own mothers. By the end of the journey, our moms will redefine how to make the holidays special for all and discover a closer relationship with their mothers.
Despite a respectable budget of $28.0M, A Bad Moms Christmas became a financial success, earning $130.6M worldwide—a 366% return.
1 win & 1 nomination
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Bad Moms Christmas (2017) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Scott Moore's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Amy Mitchell
Kiki
Carla
Ruth
Sandy
Isis
Jessie Harkness
Main Cast & Characters
Amy Mitchell
Played by Mila Kunis
Overworked mother trying to create the perfect Christmas while dealing with her overbearing mother.
Kiki
Played by Kristen Bell
Timid mother of four struggling with her controlling mother during the holidays.
Carla
Played by Kathryn Hahn
Free-spirited, sexually liberated single mom reconnecting with her estranged mother.
Ruth
Played by Christine Baranski
Amy's perfectionist, judgmental mother who unexpectedly shows up for Christmas.
Sandy
Played by Cheryl Hines
Kiki's smothering, emotionally dependent mother who can't let go of her daughter.
Isis
Played by Susan Sarandon
Carla's wild, irresponsible gambling addict mother who abandoned her as a child.
Jessie Harkness
Played by Jay Hernandez
Amy's supportive boyfriend who helps her navigate the holiday chaos.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Amy, Kiki, and Carla are shown completely overwhelmed trying to create perfect Christmas experiences for their families, establishing their stressed, overworked state before the disruption.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Each mom receives the shocking news that their own mothers are coming to visit for Christmas, disrupting their plans and triggering anxiety about dealing with their difficult maternal relationships.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The mothers arrive and immediately begin taking over, forcing Amy, Kiki, and Carla to actively enter the conflict zone of dealing with their domineering, critical, or needy mothers through the holiday season., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The moms decide to rebel and take back their Christmas, planning a wild night out to escape their mothers and reclaim their freedom—a false victory that feels empowering but will backfire., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Major blowout fights between each mom and her mother lead to painful confrontations where hurtful truths are spoken, relationships appear destroyed, and Christmas seems ruined—the death of their family harmony., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The moms gain insight into their mothers' perspectives and their own flaws, realizing that honest communication and accepting imperfection is the key to healing—they choose to reach out and make amends., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Bad Moms Christmas's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping A Bad Moms Christmas against these established plot points, we can identify how Scott Moore utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Bad Moms Christmas within the comedy genre.
Scott Moore's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Scott Moore films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. A Bad Moms Christmas takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Scott Moore filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Scott Moore analyses, see Jexi.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Amy, Kiki, and Carla are shown completely overwhelmed trying to create perfect Christmas experiences for their families, establishing their stressed, overworked state before the disruption.
Theme
One of the moms comments on mother-daughter relationships and expectations during the holidays, introducing the theme of breaking free from parental pressure and creating your own traditions.
Worldbuilding
The three moms navigate their chaotic holiday preparations, showing their personalities, family dynamics, and the pressures they face to make Christmas perfect while juggling work and family obligations.
Disruption
Each mom receives the shocking news that their own mothers are coming to visit for Christmas, disrupting their plans and triggering anxiety about dealing with their difficult maternal relationships.
Resistance
The moms debate how to handle their mothers' impending arrivals, try to prepare, and initially attempt to maintain their perfect Christmas plans despite their growing apprehension about the inevitable conflicts.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The mothers arrive and immediately begin taking over, forcing Amy, Kiki, and Carla to actively enter the conflict zone of dealing with their domineering, critical, or needy mothers through the holiday season.
Mirror World
The three moms bond and support each other through their shared struggles with their mothers, reinforcing their friendship as the thematic counterpoint to their dysfunctional mother-daughter relationships.
Premise
The "fun and games" of mothers clashing with daughters: Amy's mom takes over everything, Kiki's mom is clingy and needy, Carla's mom is gambling and irresponsible, creating comedic chaos while escalating tensions.
Midpoint
The moms decide to rebel and take back their Christmas, planning a wild night out to escape their mothers and reclaim their freedom—a false victory that feels empowering but will backfire.
Opposition
The mothers escalate their interference, conflicts intensify, the wild night out causes problems, and the relationships deteriorate as both generations dig in their heels and refuse to compromise.
Collapse
Major blowout fights between each mom and her mother lead to painful confrontations where hurtful truths are spoken, relationships appear destroyed, and Christmas seems ruined—the death of their family harmony.
Crisis
Each mom processes the fallout from the fights, reflects on their relationships with their mothers, and grapples with the pain of the estrangement while realizing they may have contributed to the dysfunction.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The moms gain insight into their mothers' perspectives and their own flaws, realizing that honest communication and accepting imperfection is the key to healing—they choose to reach out and make amends.
Synthesis
The moms execute heartfelt reconciliations with their mothers, create a new imperfect but authentic Christmas celebration together, and establish healthier boundaries while maintaining love and connection.
Transformation
The final image shows all three generations celebrating together in joyful, messy imperfection—a stark contrast to the stressed, control-seeking moms from the opening, now free and at peace.