Ghosts of Girlfriends Past
Celebrity photographer Connor Mead lives life in the fast lane, committed to lifelong bachelorhood and simultaneous relationships with multiple women. On the eve of his younger brother Paul's wedding, Connor's mockery of love proves a real buzz-kill for everyone - including his childhood crush, Jenny, the one woman who always seemed immune to his considerable charms. Later that night, he gets a wake-up call from the ghost of his late Uncle Wayne, the hard-partying, legendary ladies' man who was Connor's mentor. Uncle Wayne has an urgent message which he delivers through three ghosts who guide Connor on an eye-opening tour of his romantic past, present and future. Along the way, they attempt to discern whether he will ever be able to change his ways -- and if there is any hope of him finding true love.
Despite a moderate budget of $37.5M, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past became a solid performer, earning $102.4M worldwide—a 173% 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%)
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009) exhibits carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Mark Waters's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Connor Mead at a glamorous photo shoot, surrounded by beautiful models, breaking up with three women simultaneously via conference call - establishing his shallow, commitment-phobic lifestyle as a successful celebrity photographer.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Connor sabotages his brother's rehearsal dinner with a cynical toast about marriage being a trap, humiliating Paul, angering Jenny, and alienating everyone - his destructive behavior finally crossing a line that sets consequences in motion.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The Ghost of Girlfriends Past appears and takes Connor on a journey through his romantic history - Connor has no choice but to enter this supernatural experience that will force him to confront his past., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The Ghost of Girlfriends Present shows Connor the devastating impact of his rehearsal dinner speech - Paul is calling off the wedding, his family is disgusted with him, and Jenny is heartbroken. Connor realizes his behavior has real, serious consequences. False defeat., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Connor sees his own funeral - no one attends, no one mourns him, his life amounted to nothing but empty relationships and superficial success. The "whiff of death" is literal: his lonely, meaningless death with no one to care., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Connor races to stop Jenny from leaving, publicly apologizes to Paul and his family, reunites Paul with his bride, and makes a heartfelt declaration of love to Jenny, demonstrating his transformation through vulnerable, selfless action., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ghosts of Girlfriends Past's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Ghosts of Girlfriends Past against these established plot points, we can identify how Mark Waters utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Ghosts of Girlfriends Past within the romance genre.
Mark Waters's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Mark Waters films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Ghosts of Girlfriends Past takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Mark Waters filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional romance films include South Pacific, Last Night and Diana. For more Mark Waters analyses, see Bad Santa 2, Just Like Heaven and Mean Girls.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Connor Mead at a glamorous photo shoot, surrounded by beautiful models, breaking up with three women simultaneously via conference call - establishing his shallow, commitment-phobic lifestyle as a successful celebrity photographer.
Theme
Young Connor's Uncle Wayne tells him, "The power to have anything you want in life lies in not wanting anything you need" - establishing the film's thematic question about whether isolation and emotional detachment can truly lead to happiness.
Worldbuilding
Connor arrives at his brother Paul's wedding rehearsal weekend, where we meet Jenny Perotti (his childhood sweetheart and the wedding planner), his family, and see his cynical attitude toward love and commitment clash with the romantic setting.
Disruption
Connor sabotages his brother's rehearsal dinner with a cynical toast about marriage being a trap, humiliating Paul, angering Jenny, and alienating everyone - his destructive behavior finally crossing a line that sets consequences in motion.
Resistance
Connor is visited by the ghost of Uncle Wayne, who warns him he'll be haunted by three ghosts. Connor resists and dismisses the supernatural warning, maintaining his defensive cynicism even as strange events begin to unfold.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The Ghost of Girlfriends Past appears and takes Connor on a journey through his romantic history - Connor has no choice but to enter this supernatural experience that will force him to confront his past.
Premise
Connor is taken through his past relationships by multiple ghosts, witnessing how he transformed from a romantic kid into a callous womanizer, seeing the pain he's caused and the moment he broke Jenny's heart in college - the "fun and games" of supernatural time travel.
Midpoint
The Ghost of Girlfriends Present shows Connor the devastating impact of his rehearsal dinner speech - Paul is calling off the wedding, his family is disgusted with him, and Jenny is heartbroken. Connor realizes his behavior has real, serious consequences. False defeat.
Opposition
Connor tries to fix things but continues to see how his cynicism has poisoned everything. The Ghost of Girlfriends Future shows him a bleak future: alone at Paul's funeral, Jenny married to someone else, dying alone surrounded by photos of conquests rather than loved ones.
Collapse
Connor sees his own funeral - no one attends, no one mourns him, his life amounted to nothing but empty relationships and superficial success. The "whiff of death" is literal: his lonely, meaningless death with no one to care.
Crisis
Connor wakes up, devastated by what he's seen. He processes the emotional weight of his empty life and realizes he's been living Uncle Wayne's philosophy instead of following his own heart. Dark night of the soul.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Connor races to stop Jenny from leaving, publicly apologizes to Paul and his family, reunites Paul with his bride, and makes a heartfelt declaration of love to Jenny, demonstrating his transformation through vulnerable, selfless action.