Babysitting
Looking for a baby-sitter for the night, Marc Schaudel entrusts his son Remy to the care of his employee Franck, a straight man. But the thing that Marc doesn't know, is that Franck is getting 30 years old this weekend and that his son Remy is a very capricious child. The next day, Marc and his wife Claire are awakened by a call from the police. Remy and Franck are missing, and the house is totally devastated. The police finds a camera in the leftovers. Marc, Claire and the police start watching the video that has been recorded the day before during the night and find out what happened to Franck and Remy.
Despite its small-scale budget of $3.4M, Babysitting became a box office success, earning $20.3M worldwide—a 496% return. The film's innovative storytelling resonated with audiences, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Babysitting (2014) showcases carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Philippe Lacheau's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 25 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Franck
Sonia
JP
Sam
Rémy
Main Cast & Characters
Franck
Played by Philippe Lacheau
A charming but irresponsible man who tries to impress his girlfriend by babysitting his boss's son, leading to a chaotic night of misadventures.
Sonia
Played by Alice David
Franck's girlfriend who works as an event organizer and expects him to be more mature and responsible.
JP
Played by Tarek Boudali
Franck's loyal but unpredictable best friend who joins the babysitting adventure with his own chaotic energy.
Sam
Played by Julien Arruti
Another friend in the group who gets caught up in the increasingly absurd situations throughout the night.
Rémy
Played by Grégoire Ludig
Franck's boss's young son who the group must babysit, becoming the catalyst for all the chaos.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Philippe works at a medical supply company, living a safe, predictable life with his girlfriend. He appears content but boring.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Philippe's friends surprise him by showing up at his boss's house during babysitting duty to throw him an impromptu bachelor party, bringing chaos into his carefully controlled situation.. 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 20 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The children accidentally consume drugs left by the friends, forcing Philippe to actively take them to the hospital. He crosses into full crisis mode and can't go back to his safe plan., moving from reaction to action.
At 42 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat They discover they've become entangled with actual drug dealers who want their product back. The stakes elevate from social embarrassment to physical danger. False defeat - things just got much worse., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 62 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Philippe is captured by the drug dealers and faces death. His friends are scattered, his relationship is destroyed, and his career is finished. Complete loss of control - the whiff of death is literal., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 68 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The friends devise a plan combining Philippe's strategic thinking with their spontaneous chaos. They realize that together - responsible AND spontaneous - they can win. Synthesis of the two sides., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Babysitting's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Babysitting against these established plot points, we can identify how Philippe Lacheau utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Babysitting within the comedy genre.
Philippe Lacheau's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Philippe Lacheau films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Babysitting exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Philippe Lacheau filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Philippe Lacheau analyses, see Alibi.com, Superwho?.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Philippe works at a medical supply company, living a safe, predictable life with his girlfriend. He appears content but boring.
Theme
One of Philippe's friends mentions that he's become too safe and has lost his spontaneity - "You used to be fun, now you're just responsible."
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Philippe's relationships with his friends Jeremie, Vincent, and Fred. Introduction of his girlfriend and his boss Sam. Setup of the upcoming evening babysitting for Sam's children.
Disruption
Philippe's friends surprise him by showing up at his boss's house during babysitting duty to throw him an impromptu bachelor party, bringing chaos into his carefully controlled situation.
Resistance
Philippe resists the party, trying to maintain control and keep things quiet. His friends debate with him about loosening up. Escalating small mishaps begin to occur.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The children accidentally consume drugs left by the friends, forcing Philippe to actively take them to the hospital. He crosses into full crisis mode and can't go back to his safe plan.
Mirror World
At the hospital, Philippe encounters a nurse who represents order and competence. She embodies the responsible path versus the chaotic situation he's in with his friends.
Premise
The escalating chaos of trying to fix problems while creating new ones. Stealing an ambulance, wild chases, encounters with criminals, and increasingly desperate attempts to get back to the house before the boss returns. The promise of chaotic comedy delivered.
Midpoint
They discover they've become entangled with actual drug dealers who want their product back. The stakes elevate from social embarrassment to physical danger. False defeat - things just got much worse.
Opposition
The drug dealers pursue them aggressively. Every solution creates a bigger problem. The friends' relationships strain under pressure. Philippe's girlfriend discovers what's happening and breaks up with him. The boss is heading home early.
Collapse
Philippe is captured by the drug dealers and faces death. His friends are scattered, his relationship is destroyed, and his career is finished. Complete loss of control - the whiff of death is literal.
Crisis
Philippe confronts his lowest moment in captivity. His friends separately realize they need to save him and work together. Emotional processing of failure and friendship.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The friends devise a plan combining Philippe's strategic thinking with their spontaneous chaos. They realize that together - responsible AND spontaneous - they can win. Synthesis of the two sides.
Synthesis
The finale rescue and confrontation with the drug dealers. The friends execute their plan, save Philippe, return the children safely, and clean up the house just before the boss returns. Resolution of all plot threads.
Transformation
Philippe, now married, is shown with the perfect balance - responsible in life but maintaining his sense of fun and friendship. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows he's integrated both sides of himself.