Cheaper by the Dozen
With his wife on a book tour, Tom Baker finds his life turned upside down when he agrees to care for his twelve children while simultaneously also coaching his new football team.
Despite a respectable budget of $40.0M, Cheaper by the Dozen became a box office success, earning $190.2M worldwide—a 376% return.
2 wins & 7 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tom Baker
Kate Baker
Nora Baker
Charlie Baker
Lorraine Baker
Henry Baker
Sarah Baker
Jake Baker
Mark Baker
Jessica and Kim Baker
Mike Baker
Nigel Baker
Kyle Baker
Main Cast & Characters
Tom Baker
Played by Steve Martin
Football coach and father of twelve who struggles to balance his dream job coaching a major college team with keeping his chaotic family together.
Kate Baker
Played by Bonnie Hunt
Loving mother of twelve who pursues her own dream of becoming a published author while trying to maintain family harmony.
Nora Baker
Played by Piper Perabo
The eldest Baker child, recently married and living independently, who provides perspective on the family chaos.
Charlie Baker
Played by Tom Welling
The oldest son and second child, thoughtful and responsible, who helps manage his younger siblings.
Lorraine Baker
Played by Hilary Duff
Fashion-conscious teenage daughter who struggles with standing out in such a large family.
Henry Baker
Played by Kevin G. Schmidt
Bookish middle child who often feels lost in the shuffle of the large family.
Sarah Baker
Played by Alyson Stoner
Athletic tomboy daughter who excels at sports and is fiercely competitive.
Jake Baker
Played by Jacob Smith
Mischievous middle son who frequently gets into trouble with his siblings.
Mark Baker
Played by Forrest Landis
Prankster son who often teams up with Jake for various schemes.
Jessica and Kim Baker
Played by Liliana Mumy and Morgan York
Identical twin daughters who finish each other's sentences and move in sync.
Mike Baker
Played by Blake Woodruff
Youngest son with a habit of running away and causing chaos at the worst moments.
Nigel Baker
Played by Brent Kinsman
The youngest Baker child, still in elementary school and prone to getting sick at inopportune times.
Kyle Baker
Played by Shane Kinsman
Nigel's twin brother, equally prone to childhood mishaps and mayhem.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The Baker family's chaotic but happy life in Midland. Tom coaches football, Kate manages twelve kids at home. Despite the chaos, the family functions as a well-oiled machine with everyone playing their part.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Tom receives a call offering him his dream job: head coach at his alma mater in Evanston, Illinois. Simultaneously, Kate learns her book is being published and needs a promotional tour. Both disruptions arrive at once.. 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 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The family moves to Evanston. Tom actively chooses his career over the family's comfort, believing he can balance both. They enter a new world where the old family system won't work., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Kate leaves for her book tour, forced to choose her career opportunity. Tom falsely believes he can handle everything alone. The family appears to be adapting, but this is a false victory - cracks are already showing., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The birthday party disaster. Mark is found after running away, but at Sarah's chaotic birthday party, Tom completely loses control. The house is destroyed, a child is injured, and Tom realizes he's failed his family. Kate returns to find everything in ruins., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 78 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Tom realizes he must choose family over career ambition. He understands that being present matters more than professional success. He decides to quit his dream job to save his family. This synthesis of the theme crystallizes his transformation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cheaper by the Dozen'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 Cheaper by the Dozen against these established plot points, we can identify how Shawn Levy utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cheaper by the Dozen within the comedy genre.
Shawn Levy's Structural Approach
Among the 14 Shawn Levy films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Cheaper by the Dozen exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Shawn Levy filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Shawn Levy analyses, see Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb, This Is Where I Leave You and Free Guy.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Baker family's chaotic but happy life in Midland. Tom coaches football, Kate manages twelve kids at home. Despite the chaos, the family functions as a well-oiled machine with everyone playing their part.
Theme
Kate tells Tom during their morning routine: "This is what we always wanted - all of us together." The theme of family unity versus individual ambition is established early.
Worldbuilding
Establishing the Baker household dynamics: each of the twelve children introduced with their personalities and quirks. Tom's successful high school coaching career. Kate's book about raising twelve kids. The family's tight-knit but hectic routine.
Disruption
Tom receives a call offering him his dream job: head coach at his alma mater in Evanston, Illinois. Simultaneously, Kate learns her book is being published and needs a promotional tour. Both disruptions arrive at once.
Resistance
The family debates the move. Kids resist leaving their lives in Midland. Tom and Kate struggle with competing career opportunities. The family ultimately decides to move for Tom's dream job, with Kate postponing her book tour.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The family moves to Evanston. Tom actively chooses his career over the family's comfort, believing he can balance both. They enter a new world where the old family system won't work.
Mirror World
Introduction of the Shenk family, their successful rivals with the perfect small family. They represent the opposite approach - prioritizing career and status over family size and chaos. Tina Shenk becomes a mirror showing what focus and ambition look like.
Premise
The "fun" of watching the Baker family chaos unfold in their new environment. Tom tries to coach while managing kids. Children act out in new schools. The family system begins breaking down under pressure of new demands. Comedic set pieces of family mayhem.
Midpoint
Kate leaves for her book tour, forced to choose her career opportunity. Tom falsely believes he can handle everything alone. The family appears to be adapting, but this is a false victory - cracks are already showing.
Opposition
Everything falls apart. Tom cannot manage coaching and twelve kids alone. Children act out increasingly - Mark runs away, Kim rebels against rules, Sarah's pranks escalate. Tom's coaching suffers. The family unit fractures as Tom prioritizes work over connection.
Collapse
The birthday party disaster. Mark is found after running away, but at Sarah's chaotic birthday party, Tom completely loses control. The house is destroyed, a child is injured, and Tom realizes he's failed his family. Kate returns to find everything in ruins.
Crisis
Tom faces the consequences. Kate is devastated by his failure to keep the family together. The children are hurt and distant. Tom sits alone, processing that his dream job cost him what matters most. Dark night of reckoning with his choices.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tom realizes he must choose family over career ambition. He understands that being present matters more than professional success. He decides to quit his dream job to save his family. This synthesis of the theme crystallizes his transformation.
Synthesis
Tom quits coaching to focus on family. He works to reconnect with each child individually. The family pulls together for the final game. Kate supports Tom's choice. The family unit is restored through Tom's sacrifice and renewed commitment to presence over ambition.
Transformation
The family together at the game, now united and happy. Tom on the sidelines with his kids instead of coaching. Kate's book is a success, but the real victory is family unity. Mirror of opening chaos, but now Tom is present and engaged, not distracted.