Aliens in the Attic
A group of kids must protect their vacation home from invading aliens.
Working with a mid-range budget of $45.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $57.9M in global revenue (+29% profit margin).
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%)
Aliens in the Attic (2009) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of John Schultz's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 26 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tom Pearson
Jake Pearson
Bethany Pearson
Hannah Pearson
Ricky Dillman
Skip
Tazer
Razor
Sparks
Nana Rose
Main Cast & Characters
Tom Pearson
Played by Carter Jenkins
A tech-savvy teenager who must lead his family in defending their vacation home against alien invaders.
Jake Pearson
Played by Austin Butler
Tom's younger brother, a quick-thinking kid who helps fight the aliens using his knowledge of video games.
Bethany Pearson
Played by Ashley Tisdale
The older teenage cousin who initially cares only about her boyfriend but grows to help the family.
Hannah Pearson
Played by Ashley Boettcher
Jake's twin sister, a brave and resourceful girl who takes an active role in fighting the aliens.
Ricky Dillman
Played by Robert Hoffman
Bethany's manipulative boyfriend who gets mind-controlled by the aliens and becomes a puppet antagonist.
Skip
Played by J.K. Simmons
The aggressive and hostile alien commander determined to conquer Earth, serving as the primary antagonist.
Tazer
Played by Thomas Haden Church
Skip's tough and loyal second-in-command alien enforcer who follows orders without question.
Razor
Played by Kari Wahlgren
A female alien warrior who is fierce and skilled in combat, loyal to Skip's mission.
Sparks
Played by Josh Peck
The alien engineer responsible for technical operations and weaponry, intelligent but cowardly.
Nana Rose
Played by Doris Roberts
The tough grandmother who has a military background and becomes a key ally in fighting the aliens.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tom Pearson is shown as a geeky, video-game-obsessed teenager who struggles to connect with his family, particularly disconnected during the family car ride to the vacation house.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Strange sounds come from the attic and small alien invaders crash-land on the roof, beginning their invasion of the house while the kids investigate the mysterious noises.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
At 43 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The aliens gain the upper hand, capturing several kids and revealing their larger invasion plan. The kids learn the aliens' true mission threatens the entire planet, raising the stakes from defending one house to saving Earth., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The aliens successfully launch their invasion signal and capture most of the kids. Tom is separated from his team, the house defenses are destroyed, and it appears the aliens have won. All hope seems lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 68 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The kids execute their final plan, working together as a true family unit. Tom leads the assault on the alien ship, they free the captured kids, stop the invasion signal, and defeat the alien commander through teamwork and sacrifice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Aliens in the Attic's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Aliens in the Attic against these established plot points, we can identify how John Schultz utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Aliens in the Attic within the adventure genre.
John Schultz's Structural Approach
Among the 5 John Schultz films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Aliens in the Attic takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Schultz filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more John Schultz analyses, see Like Mike, The Honeymooners and Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tom Pearson is shown as a geeky, video-game-obsessed teenager who struggles to connect with his family, particularly disconnected during the family car ride to the vacation house.
Theme
Tom's grandmother tells him that real courage and teamwork matter more than what's on a screen, hinting at the need for real-world heroism and family unity.
Worldbuilding
The Pearson family arrives at their vacation rental home. Tom and his siblings explore the house, meet their cousins, and we see the family dynamics: Tom's disconnection, his sister's boyfriend troubles, and the adults' obliviousness. The attic is discovered.
Disruption
Strange sounds come from the attic and small alien invaders crash-land on the roof, beginning their invasion of the house while the kids investigate the mysterious noises.
Resistance
The kids discover the aliens in the attic and debate what to do. They learn the aliens have mind-control technology that works on adults but not kids. The children argue about whether to tell their parents or handle it themselves.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The kids battle the aliens using improvised weapons, booby traps, and teamwork. Tom applies his gaming knowledge to real combat. They control the mind-controlled adults for comic effect and mount increasingly clever defenses of the house.
Midpoint
The aliens gain the upper hand, capturing several kids and revealing their larger invasion plan. The kids learn the aliens' true mission threatens the entire planet, raising the stakes from defending one house to saving Earth.
Opposition
The aliens tighten their grip, the kids' defenses fail, and internal conflicts emerge. Tom's leadership is questioned, his sister's boyfriend (under alien control) creates chaos, and the family fractures under pressure. The aliens prepare their final assault.
Collapse
The aliens successfully launch their invasion signal and capture most of the kids. Tom is separated from his team, the house defenses are destroyed, and it appears the aliens have won. All hope seems lost.
Crisis
Tom faces his darkest moment alone, doubting his abilities and missing his team. He processes the loss and recognizes that he can't do this alone—he needs his family and must embrace real courage, not just gaming skills.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The kids execute their final plan, working together as a true family unit. Tom leads the assault on the alien ship, they free the captured kids, stop the invasion signal, and defeat the alien commander through teamwork and sacrifice.