Cocoon: The Return
The reinvigorated elderly group that left Earth comes back to visit their relatives. Will they all decide to go back to the planet where no one grows old, or will they be tempted to remain on Earth?
Working with a respectable budget of $17.5M, the film achieved a modest success with $25.0M in global revenue (+43% 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%)
Cocoon: The Return (1988) demonstrates carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of Daniel Petrie's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Art Selwyn
Ben Luckett
Joe Finley
Alma Finley
Bernie Lefkowitz
Walter
Kitty
David
Main Cast & Characters
Art Selwyn
Played by Don Ameche
Elderly man who returned from Antarea, struggling with the decision between immortality and family connections on Earth.
Ben Luckett
Played by Wilford Brimley
Former boat captain and adventurer who must choose between eternal life with aliens and reconnecting with his pregnant grandson.
Joe Finley
Played by Hume Cronyn
Practical, grounded senior who returned to help rescue stranded Antareans and faces difficult choices about mortality.
Alma Finley
Played by Jessica Tandy
Joe's devoted wife who shares his journey and supports his decisions throughout their alien encounter.
Bernie Lefkowitz
Played by Jack Gilford
Enthusiastic senior who embraces the extraordinary opportunity to help the Antareans despite risks.
Walter
Played by Brian Dennehy
Alien leader from Antarea who returns to Earth on a rescue mission to save his stranded people.
Kitty
Played by Tahnee Welch
Compassionate alien in human form who develops deep connections with the Earth seniors.
David
Played by Steve Guttenberg
Ben's grandson whose wife is pregnant, representing the earthly family ties that pull Ben back.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes The elderly friends enjoy their new immortal life on Antarea, showing their happiness but subtle longing for Earth as they watch holographic images of their old home.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when The Antareans detect that their rescued cocoons left on Earth are dying due to toxic contamination. They must return to Earth to save them, forcing the elderly friends to confront their past decision.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to The group decides to return to Earth with the Antareans. They actively choose to face their old lives again, knowing it will test their commitment to immortality., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Ben's pregnant daughter-in-law goes into premature labor with complications. The stakes rise as the group realizes their powers can't solve human problems, and they're torn between two worlds., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Bernie dies of a heart attack after choosing to stay on Earth and renouncing immortality. His death forces the others to confront mortality and the true cost of their choice., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The group realizes that life's value comes from its limits and connections. They synthesize both worlds' wisdom: treasure mortality and relationships while helping the Antareans complete their mission., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Cocoon: The Return's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Cocoon: The Return against these established plot points, we can identify how Daniel Petrie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Cocoon: The Return within the comedy genre.
Daniel Petrie's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Daniel Petrie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Cocoon: The Return represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Daniel Petrie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Daniel Petrie analyses, see Lassie, Fort Apache, the Bronx.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The elderly friends enjoy their new immortal life on Antarea, showing their happiness but subtle longing for Earth as they watch holographic images of their old home.
Theme
Ben expresses to Art his mixed feelings: "I thought I'd never miss it, but there's something about Earth..." - stating the central question of whether immortality is worth losing human connections.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Antarean world and the friends' adaptation to their new life. Shows their powers, their relationships with the Antareans, and glimpses of those left behind on Earth.
Disruption
The Antareans detect that their rescued cocoons left on Earth are dying due to toxic contamination. They must return to Earth to save them, forcing the elderly friends to confront their past decision.
Resistance
The group debates whether to return to Earth. They discuss the implications, their longing for home, and the risks. Walter offers them the choice to come along temporarily.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group decides to return to Earth with the Antareans. They actively choose to face their old lives again, knowing it will test their commitment to immortality.
Mirror World
Emotional reunions with their families and friends left on Earth. The contrast between their immortal state and their loved ones' continued aging becomes the thematic mirror.
Premise
The promise of the premise: watching the immortal elderly navigate their old lives, reconnect with loved ones, and experience Earth's pleasures while helping the Antareans recover the cocoons.
Midpoint
Ben's pregnant daughter-in-law goes into premature labor with complications. The stakes rise as the group realizes their powers can't solve human problems, and they're torn between two worlds.
Opposition
Complications mount: the cocoon rescue mission faces setbacks, relationships strain as families want them to stay, and the group members wrestle with whether to remain on Earth or return to Antarea.
Collapse
Bernie dies of a heart attack after choosing to stay on Earth and renouncing immortality. His death forces the others to confront mortality and the true cost of their choice.
Crisis
The group grieves Bernie and questions everything. Each character faces their dark night: choosing between eternal life without Earth or mortality with their loved ones.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The group realizes that life's value comes from its limits and connections. They synthesize both worlds' wisdom: treasure mortality and relationships while helping the Antareans complete their mission.
Synthesis
The finale: they successfully help rescue the cocoons, make peace with their families, and each character decides their path. Some choose to return to Antarea, others to remain on Earth and accept mortality.
Transformation
The closing image mirrors the opening: the group together, but transformed. Those returning to Antarea depart with acceptance, while those staying embrace their mortal lives with newfound appreciation.