Bedtime Stories
Skeeter Bronson is a down-on-his-luck guy who's always telling bedtime stories to his niece and nephew. But his life is turned upside down when the fantastical stories he makes up for entertainment inexplicably turn into reality. Can a bewildered Skeeter manage his own unruly fantasies now that the outrageous characters and situations from his mind have morphed into actual people and events?
Despite a considerable budget of $80.0M, Bedtime Stories became a solid performer, earning $212.9M worldwide—a 166% return.
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%)
Bedtime Stories (2008) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Adam Shankman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 39 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Skeeter Bronson
Jill Hastings
Patrick
Bobbi
Jill's Friend
Kendall Duncan
Barry Nottingham
Aspen Nottingham
Main Cast & Characters
Skeeter Bronson
Played by Adam Sandler
An underachieving hotel handyman who discovers that the bedtime stories he tells his niece and nephew begin coming true in unpredictable ways.
Jill Hastings
Played by Courteney Cox
Skeeter's sister, a responsible single mother who leaves her children in Skeeter's care while looking for a new job.
Patrick
Played by Jonathan Morgan Heit
Jill's son, an imaginative young boy who helps create the bedtime stories with his uncle Skeeter.
Bobbi
Played by Laura Ann Kesling
Jill's daughter, a creative young girl who contributes to the bedtime stories with her brother and uncle.
Jill's Friend
Played by Keri Russell
Jill's quirky best friend and the children's teacher, a health-conscious vegetarian who initially clashes with Skeeter but becomes a romantic interest.
Kendall Duncan
Played by Guy Pearce
The arrogant, competitive hotel manager and Skeeter's rival for the new hotel general manager position.
Barry Nottingham
Played by Richard Griffiths
The wealthy new owner of the hotel who acquired it from Skeeter's father and holds the power to promote Skeeter.
Aspen Nottingham
Played by Lucy Lawless
Barry's spoiled, materialistic daughter who Kendall is dating and who represents superficial values.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Skeeter Bronson works as a handyman at the hotel his father once owned, dreaming of being general manager but stuck in a dead-end job fixing things while watching others get promoted.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Skeeter reluctantly agrees to babysit his niece and nephew with their strict caretaker Jill, pulling him out of his comfort zone and into a world of children and responsibility he's avoided.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Skeeter actively chooses to continue the bedtime stories, realizing they might influence reality. He decides to use them to help himself get promoted, consciously entering a world where imagination and reality blend., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Kendall promises Skeeter the general manager position. Skeeter thinks he's won using the stories for his own gain, but the stakes raise when he realizes the kids' additions to the stories also come true - and they've added something dangerous., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Skeeter realizes the final story predicted he would "die" (fall asleep) before saving the day. He's lost the promotion, lost Jill, and failed the children. His dreams and relationships are dead. He faces losing everything that matters., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Breakthrough: Skeeter realizes how to save the school and the children. He synthesizes his knowledge of the hotel business with genuine love for his niece and nephew. He chooses to fight for them instead of for himself., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bedtime Stories's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Bedtime Stories against these established plot points, we can identify how Adam Shankman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bedtime Stories within the fantasy genre.
Adam Shankman's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Adam Shankman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Bedtime Stories takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Adam Shankman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever. For more Adam Shankman analyses, see Cheaper by the Dozen 2, Rock of Ages and The Wedding Planner.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Skeeter Bronson works as a handyman at the hotel his father once owned, dreaming of being general manager but stuck in a dead-end job fixing things while watching others get promoted.
Theme
Skeeter's father tells young Skeeter in flashback: "If you do good work and treat people right, good things will happen." The theme of believing in yourself and the power of imagination.
Worldbuilding
Skeeter's mundane life established: he works under pompous Kendall, competes with rival Barry Nottingham, and learns his sister Wendy needs him to babysit her kids while she looks for a job in Arizona.
Disruption
Skeeter reluctantly agrees to babysit his niece and nephew with their strict caretaker Jill, pulling him out of his comfort zone and into a world of children and responsibility he's avoided.
Resistance
First bedtime story session where Skeeter and the kids create a story together. Skeeter resists connecting emotionally but begins to engage. The next day, elements from the story come true (getting a Ferrari, rain of gumballs), making him question reality.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Skeeter actively chooses to continue the bedtime stories, realizing they might influence reality. He decides to use them to help himself get promoted, consciously entering a world where imagination and reality blend.
Mirror World
Jill represents the thematic counterpoint - she believes in education, responsibility, and genuine care for the children, contrasting with Skeeter's selfish use of the stories for career advancement. A tentative romantic connection begins.
Premise
The fun and games of the bedtime stories coming true. Skeeter creates stories to impress Kendall and win the general manager position. Stories include Western, Ancient Greece, and Space adventures. He bonds with the kids while pursuing selfish goals.
Midpoint
False victory: Kendall promises Skeeter the general manager position. Skeeter thinks he's won using the stories for his own gain, but the stakes raise when he realizes the kids' additions to the stories also come true - and they've added something dangerous.
Opposition
Things fall apart: Kendall gives the job to Barry instead. The kids are upset with Skeeter's selfishness. Jill distances herself. Skeeter learns the school where Jill and the kids belong will be demolished. His attempts to fix things through stories backfire.
Collapse
All is lost: Skeeter realizes the final story predicted he would "die" (fall asleep) before saving the day. He's lost the promotion, lost Jill, and failed the children. His dreams and relationships are dead. He faces losing everything that matters.
Crisis
Dark night: Skeeter processes his failure and realizes his selfishness caused everything. He understands he was wrong to use the stories for himself instead of caring about the children. He must decide what truly matters.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Breakthrough: Skeeter realizes how to save the school and the children. He synthesizes his knowledge of the hotel business with genuine love for his niece and nephew. He chooses to fight for them instead of for himself.
Synthesis
Finale: Skeeter races to stop the demolition and save the school. He exposes Barry's incompetence and Kendall's poor judgment. He sacrifices his career ambitions to do the right thing. The final story elements come true, including him "waking up" to save the day.
Transformation
Closing image: Skeeter now runs a new family hotel with the kids and Jill, having transformed from a selfish dreamer into someone who uses imagination to help others. He's achieved his father's dream by embodying his father's values.