Duplex
When a young couple buys their dream home, they have no idea what the sweet little old lady upstairs is going to put them through!
The film financial setback against its moderate budget of $40.0M, earning $19.3M globally (-52% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its distinctive approach within the comedy genre.
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%)
Duplex (2003) demonstrates carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Danny DeVito's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alex Rose
Nancy Kendricks
Mrs. Connelly
Main Cast & Characters
Alex Rose
Played by Ben Stiller
An aspiring novelist who buys a duplex with his wife, only to be tormented by their elderly tenant upstairs.
Nancy Kendricks
Played by Drew Barrymore
Alex's wife, a magazine writer who initially sympathizes with Mrs. Connelly before being driven to desperation.
Mrs. Connelly
Played by Eileen Essell
The seemingly sweet elderly tenant who makes the couple's life unbearable through passive-aggressive manipulation and constant disruption.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alex and Nancy are a happy young couple living in a cramped New York apartment. Alex is a writer working on his novel, Nancy is a magazine editor. They dream of having more space and a home of their own.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Alex and Nancy move into the duplex and immediately discover Mrs. Connelly is anything but quiet. She blasts her television at all hours, stomps around constantly, and makes their lives miserable with noise. Their dream home becomes a nightmare.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to After Mrs. Connelly ruins Alex's book deadline and causes Nancy professional embarrassment, they make the active choice to fight back. They decide to try to drive Mrs. Connelly out through increasingly aggressive means rather than continue being passive victims., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: Their most elaborate plan to catch Mrs. Connelly violating lease terms fails spectacularly. Alex loses his book deal entirely. Nancy's career is jeopardized. They realize Mrs. Connelly is winning and they're becoming the villains. Stakes raise - they're now in financial crisis and may lose everything., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 66 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alex and Nancy attempt to kill Mrs. Connelly themselves by tampering with her Christmas lights to electrocute her. The plan fails disastrously - they nearly kill themselves instead. Their relationship hits rock bottom. They face the "death" of their morality, their dreams, and who they thought they were., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Alex and Nancy discover the truth: the real estate agent Kenneth orchestrated everything. Mrs. Connelly is his partner in an elaborate con. They buy beautiful properties cheap by planting Mrs. Connelly as an impossible tenant, drive the owners to desperation, then buy back the property at a loss. It's all a scam., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Duplex'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 Duplex against these established plot points, we can identify how Danny DeVito utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Duplex within the comedy genre.
Danny DeVito's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Danny DeVito films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Duplex represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Danny DeVito filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Danny DeVito analyses, see Death to Smoochy, Matilda and Throw Momma from the Train.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alex and Nancy are a happy young couple living in a cramped New York apartment. Alex is a writer working on his novel, Nancy is a magazine editor. They dream of having more space and a home of their own.
Theme
Real estate agent Kenneth (Danny DeVito) casually mentions that sometimes tenants can be "difficult" and that being a landlord requires patience and understanding. This foreshadows the central conflict about civility versus self-interest.
Worldbuilding
Alex and Nancy search for their dream home in Brooklyn. They discover a beautiful duplex with an upstairs tenant, elderly Mrs. Connelly. The price is suspiciously affordable. They meet Mrs. Connelly who seems sweet and harmless, assuring them she's quiet and no trouble.
Disruption
Alex and Nancy move into the duplex and immediately discover Mrs. Connelly is anything but quiet. She blasts her television at all hours, stomps around constantly, and makes their lives miserable with noise. Their dream home becomes a nightmare.
Resistance
Alex and Nancy debate what to do about Mrs. Connelly. They try polite requests for quiet, attempt reasoning with her, and explore legal options. They discover tenant protection laws make eviction nearly impossible. Alex's writing suffers as he can't concentrate. Their relationship strains under the pressure.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After Mrs. Connelly ruins Alex's book deadline and causes Nancy professional embarrassment, they make the active choice to fight back. They decide to try to drive Mrs. Connelly out through increasingly aggressive means rather than continue being passive victims.
Mirror World
They consult with various neighbors and locals who share horror stories about Mrs. Connelly. These characters represent what Alex and Nancy could become - bitter, defeated, or morally compromised. The relationship subplot shows them starting to fight with each other.
Premise
The "promise of the premise" - escalating war with Mrs. Connelly. Alex and Nancy sabotage her apartment, make noise back, interfere with her activities. Each scheme backfires hilariously. Mrs. Connelly proves indestructible and always one step ahead, revealing surprising vitality and cunning for her age.
Midpoint
False defeat: Their most elaborate plan to catch Mrs. Connelly violating lease terms fails spectacularly. Alex loses his book deal entirely. Nancy's career is jeopardized. They realize Mrs. Connelly is winning and they're becoming the villains. Stakes raise - they're now in financial crisis and may lose everything.
Opposition
Alex and Nancy spiral into darker territory. Sleep-deprived and desperate, they research ways to harm or even kill Mrs. Connelly. They hire a con artist to seduce and marry her. That fails. They hire a hitman. Their moral degradation accelerates as Mrs. Connelly remains cheerful and oblivious.
Collapse
Alex and Nancy attempt to kill Mrs. Connelly themselves by tampering with her Christmas lights to electrocute her. The plan fails disastrously - they nearly kill themselves instead. Their relationship hits rock bottom. They face the "death" of their morality, their dreams, and who they thought they were.
Crisis
In the darkness after their moral low point, Alex and Nancy sit in devastation. They've become attempted murderers. They process how far they've fallen and what they've lost - not just the house, but their integrity and nearly each other. They contemplate giving up entirely.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Alex and Nancy discover the truth: the real estate agent Kenneth orchestrated everything. Mrs. Connelly is his partner in an elaborate con. They buy beautiful properties cheap by planting Mrs. Connelly as an impossible tenant, drive the owners to desperation, then buy back the property at a loss. It's all a scam.
Synthesis
Armed with the truth, Alex and Nancy confront Kenneth and Mrs. Connelly. Rather than seeking revenge, they strike a deal - they'll walk away quietly in exchange for financial compensation and keeping the secret. They realize the house wasn't worth their souls and choose to let go of material obsession.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Alex and Nancy in a modest apartment again, but transformed. They're happy, peaceful, focused on what matters - their relationship and Alex's writing. They've learned that home is about who you're with, not what you own. They see Kenneth and Mrs. Connelly running their scam on a new couple and simply smile and walk away.