Blockers
When three parents discover that each of their daughters have a pact to lose their virginity at prom, they launch a covert one-night operation to stop the teens from sealing the deal.
Despite a respectable budget of $21.0M, Blockers became a box office success, earning $94.0M worldwide—a 348% 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%)
Blockers (2018) showcases precise narrative design, characteristic of Kay Cannon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.8, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Lisa Deschamps
Mitchell Mannes
Hunter Lockwood
Julie Deschamps
Kayla Mannes
Sam Lockwood
Main Cast & Characters
Lisa Deschamps
Played by Leslie Mann
Overprotective single mother and hotel manager who discovers her daughter Julie's prom night sex pact. Type-A personality struggling to let go.
Mitchell Mannes
Played by John Cena
Devoted single father whose world revolves around his daughter Kayla. Emotional and caring, but struggles with boundaries.
Hunter Lockwood
Played by Iki Barinholtz
Free-spirited, irresponsible mother trying to reconnect with daughter Sam. Reformed party girl attempting to be a good parent.
Julie Deschamps
Played by Kathryn Newton
Lisa's academic overachiever daughter heading to UCLA. Makes pact with friends to lose virginity on prom night.
Kayla Mannes
Played by Geraldine Viswanathan
Mitchell's athletic daughter who is secretly exploring her sexuality. More confident and self-aware than her father realizes.
Sam Lockwood
Played by Gideon Adlon
Hunter's rebellious feminist daughter with strong convictions. The most sexually confident of the three girls.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes First day of kindergarten 2006: Three parents (Lisa, Mitchell, Hunter) bond while dropping off their daughters (Julie, Kayla, Sam). The girls become instant best friends, establishing the deep friendship between parents and daughters that will be tested.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when The parents discover the "sex pact" - the girls have made a group chat agreement to lose their virginity on prom night. Lisa finds the texts on Julie's laptop while helping with college applications. The parents are horrified that their "little girls" are planning to have sex.. At 11% 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The parents make the active decision to follow the girls to prom and then to the after-parties to sabotage their plans. They leave the house together in pursuit, crossing from concerned parents into stalker territory. This choice launches them into a night of escalating chaos., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: The parents briefly catch up to the girls at a party, but the confrontation goes terribly wrong. The girls discover their parents have been following them all night. Julie, Kayla, and Sam are humiliated and furious. The girls explicitly reject their parents' interference and storm off. Stakes raise: the parents have now been exposed and lost their daughters' trust., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lisa has a breakdown in the hotel, realizing Julie is going to leave for UCLA and their close relationship is ending. Mitchell discovers Kayla genuinely cares for Connor. Hunter finds Sam, who tearfully comes out to him and reveals she doesn't want to be with Chad - she wants to be with Angelica. The "death" is metaphorical: the death of their daughters' childhood and the parents' illusion of control., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The synthesis moment: Hunter tells Lisa and Mitchell that Sam came out to him, and he realizes they need to support their daughters' choices rather than control them. The parents understand they must apologize and let the girls make their own decisions about sex, relationships, and their lives. They choose trust over fear., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Blockers's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Blockers against these established plot points, we can identify how Kay Cannon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Blockers within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
First day of kindergarten 2006: Three parents (Lisa, Mitchell, Hunter) bond while dropping off their daughters (Julie, Kayla, Sam). The girls become instant best friends, establishing the deep friendship between parents and daughters that will be tested.
Theme
During the kindergarten montage, one parent says "They grow up so fast" and "We have to let them go eventually." The theme: parents must learn to release control and trust their children to make their own choices, even when it terrifies them.
Worldbuilding
Time jump to present day (senior year 2018). We meet the girls as teenagers: Julie (overachiever headed to UCLA), Kayla (athletic), and Sam (discovering her sexuality). The parents' different styles emerge: Lisa is overprotective, Mitchell is clueless but loving, Hunter is the absent "cool dad." The girls prepare for prom night.
Disruption
The parents discover the "sex pact" - the girls have made a group chat agreement to lose their virginity on prom night. Lisa finds the texts on Julie's laptop while helping with college applications. The parents are horrified that their "little girls" are planning to have sex.
Resistance
The parents debate what to do. Lisa wants to intervene immediately. Mitchell wavers between supporting his daughter's choice and panic. Hunter initially tries to be the cool dad but gets pulled into the plan. They argue about whether to stop the girls or trust them. Ultimately, Lisa convinces them they must "block" the girls from having sex tonight.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The parents make the active decision to follow the girls to prom and then to the after-parties to sabotage their plans. They leave the house together in pursuit, crossing from concerned parents into stalker territory. This choice launches them into a night of escalating chaos.
Mirror World
At prom, we see the girls with their dates (Austin, Connor, Chad). Sam is paired with Chad but is clearly interested in Angelica instead. This subplot introduces the thematic mirror: just as Sam must be honest about who she really is, the parents must be honest about their need to control versus their need to let go.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - three parents desperately trying to stop their daughters from having sex leads to escalating comedy. They crash parties, interrogate teenagers, attempt sabotage. Includes: sneaking into the first party, the parents getting drunk, Mitchell's blind dart throw, the "butt-chugging" scene, car chases between party locations. The parents' friendship fractures under stress.
Midpoint
False defeat: The parents briefly catch up to the girls at a party, but the confrontation goes terribly wrong. The girls discover their parents have been following them all night. Julie, Kayla, and Sam are humiliated and furious. The girls explicitly reject their parents' interference and storm off. Stakes raise: the parents have now been exposed and lost their daughters' trust.
Opposition
Everything gets harder. The girls actively avoid their parents and split up to different locations (Julie to the hotel with Austin, Kayla to Connor's lake house, Sam to Chad's). The parents split up to pursue them. Each parent faces their worst fears alone: Lisa breaks into the hotel, Mitchell goes to the lake house, Hunter searches for Sam. Their flaws intensify - control, anxiety, absence.
Collapse
Lisa has a breakdown in the hotel, realizing Julie is going to leave for UCLA and their close relationship is ending. Mitchell discovers Kayla genuinely cares for Connor. Hunter finds Sam, who tearfully comes out to him and reveals she doesn't want to be with Chad - she wants to be with Angelica. The "death" is metaphorical: the death of their daughters' childhood and the parents' illusion of control.
Crisis
Each parent sits in the darkness of realization. Lisa grieves the end of Julie's childhood. Mitchell feels guilty for not trusting Kayla. Hunter feels shame for not being present enough to know Sam's truth. They process that their attempt to control their daughters has only damaged their relationships. The question: can they repair the damage before the girls leave for college?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The synthesis moment: Hunter tells Lisa and Mitchell that Sam came out to him, and he realizes they need to support their daughters' choices rather than control them. The parents understand they must apologize and let the girls make their own decisions about sex, relationships, and their lives. They choose trust over fear.
Synthesis
The finale: The parents find their daughters and apologize sincerely. Lisa tells Julie she's proud of who she's become. Mitchell accepts Kayla's relationship with Connor. Hunter supports Sam and encourages her to pursue Angelica. The girls forgive their parents. Sam confidently pursues Angelica and they kiss. The parents and daughters reconcile, understanding their relationship is evolving, not ending.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening: It's now college drop-off day. The same three parents drop off their daughters, but this time they let go - literally and emotionally. They drive away together as friends, trusting their daughters to navigate this next chapter. The transformation complete: from controlling parents to supportive parents who trust their children.