Due Date
Peter Highman must scramble across the US in five days to be present for the birth of his first child. He gets off to a bad start when his wallet and luggage are stolen, and put on the 'no-fly' list. Peter embarks on a terrifying journey when he accepts a ride from an actor.
Despite a mid-range budget of $65.0M, Due Date became a commercial success, earning $211.8M worldwide—a 226% 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%)
Due Date (2010) exemplifies carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Todd Phillips's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 35 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Peter Highman, a successful and uptight architect, prepares to leave Atlanta and fly home to Los Angeles for his wife's scheduled C-section. He's in complete control of his life and plans.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Peter and Ethan's altercation on the airplane (involving terrorist-related words) gets Peter kicked off the flight, placed on the No Fly list, arrested, and leaves him without his wallet or ID. His controlled plan collapses.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Peter reluctantly agrees to ride with Ethan in a rental car from Atlanta to Los Angeles. He makes the active choice to trust this chaotic stranger with getting him home, entering the "road trip mirror world."., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat After a major car accident caused by Ethan falling asleep at the wheel, Peter violently lashes out and physically attacks Ethan. The stakes raise as Peter's rage escalates and the trip becomes more desperate. False defeat: their relationship seems irreparably damaged., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 70 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Peter learns that Ethan unknowingly caused him to leave his wallet at a rest stop, making their entire nightmare journey Ethan's fault. Peter abandons Ethan on the side of the highway. Their relationship "dies" and Peter is alone, having rejected the only help available., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 75 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Peter returns to pick up Ethan, genuinely apologizing and accepting him as he is. He synthesizes his need for control with the ability to trust and accept help from flawed people. This reconciliation gives them renewed energy for the final push., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Due Date'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 Due Date against these established plot points, we can identify how Todd Phillips utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Due Date within the comedy genre.
Todd Phillips's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Todd Phillips films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Due Date represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Todd Phillips filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Todd Phillips analyses, see School for Scoundrels, War Dogs and Old School.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Peter Highman, a successful and uptight architect, prepares to leave Atlanta and fly home to Los Angeles for his wife's scheduled C-section. He's in complete control of his life and plans.
Theme
Ethan mentions his father's death and needing to "let people in" during their chaotic first encounter at the airport. The theme of accepting help and releasing control is established.
Worldbuilding
Peter's controlled world is established: loving pregnant wife Sarah waiting at home, important job, organized travel plans. We meet Ethan Tremblay, an aspiring actor traveling with his father's ashes, who accidentally switches bags with Peter.
Disruption
Peter and Ethan's altercation on the airplane (involving terrorist-related words) gets Peter kicked off the flight, placed on the No Fly list, arrested, and leaves him without his wallet or ID. His controlled plan collapses.
Resistance
Stranded and desperate, Peter resists accepting Ethan's help. He tries other options, calls his wife, debates whether to trust this irritating stranger. Ethan offers to drive him cross-country.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Peter reluctantly agrees to ride with Ethan in a rental car from Atlanta to Los Angeles. He makes the active choice to trust this chaotic stranger with getting him home, entering the "road trip mirror world."
Mirror World
Ethan's chaotic personality and emotional openness (carrying his father's ashes, pursuing his acting dream) serves as the thematic opposite to Peter's rigid control. Their relationship deepens despite constant friction.
Premise
Road trip chaos: wrong turns, running out of money, car crashes, bizarre encounters, drug-induced detours. Peter experiences every nightmare scenario while Ethan remains obliviously optimistic. The odd-couple dynamic delivers the comedy premise.
Midpoint
After a major car accident caused by Ethan falling asleep at the wheel, Peter violently lashes out and physically attacks Ethan. The stakes raise as Peter's rage escalates and the trip becomes more desperate. False defeat: their relationship seems irreparably damaged.
Opposition
Escalating disasters: border patrol issues, Ethan's reckless behavior intensifies, money problems worsen, time runs critically short. Peter's attempts to control the situation keep backfiring. His flaws (anger, rigidity) make everything worse.
Collapse
Peter learns that Ethan unknowingly caused him to leave his wallet at a rest stop, making their entire nightmare journey Ethan's fault. Peter abandons Ethan on the side of the highway. Their relationship "dies" and Peter is alone, having rejected the only help available.
Crisis
Peter travels alone, processing his anger and isolation. He confronts his own role in the chaos and realizes Ethan, despite his flaws, has been genuinely trying to help. Dark reflection on his inability to accept imperfection.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Peter returns to pick up Ethan, genuinely apologizing and accepting him as he is. He synthesizes his need for control with the ability to trust and accept help from flawed people. This reconciliation gives them renewed energy for the final push.
Synthesis
United and working together, Peter and Ethan make the final desperate race to the hospital. They navigate final obstacles as a team. Peter arrives just in time for his child's birth, having transformed through the journey.
Transformation
Peter holds his newborn daughter with Ethan present, having invited this chaotic stranger into his most intimate family moment. The man who needed total control now embraces the messiness of life and friendship. He names his daughter after Ethan's late father.