Honey, I Blew Up the Kid
Wayne Szalinski is at it again. But instead of shrinking things, he tries to make a machine that can make things grow. As in the first one, his machine isn't quite accurate. But when he brings Nick & his toddler son Adam to see his invention, the machine unexpectedly starts working. And when Adam comes right up to the machine, he gets zapped along with his stuffed bunny.
Working with a mid-range budget of $40.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $58.7M in global revenue (+47% 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%)
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) exhibits strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Randal Kleiser's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Wayne Szalinski struggles with his malfunctioning shrinking machine while his toddler son Adam plays nearby, establishing Wayne as an obsessed inventor whose work creates chaos at home.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Adam is accidentally zapped by Wayne's shrinking ray (now operating in reverse) and begins growing larger. Wayne discovers his son is seven feet tall and still growing.. 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 reveals the protagonist's commitment to Adam escapes the house at enormous size and wanders into Las Vegas. Wayne must actively pursue his giant son through the city, committing fully to solving this crisis in the public eye., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The military captures Adam and takes him to a secure facility. Wayne loses control of the situation as Hendrickson and the government take over, planning to use Adam for their own purposes. False defeat: Wayne has lost his son., 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, The military decides to use lethal force against Adam. Wayne is completely shut out and powerless to save his son, who is now 112 feet tall and labeled a threat to be destroyed. Wayne's worst fear realized., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Wayne reaches Adam through emotional connection, calming the giant toddler. He deploys his shrinking technology while under military fire, successfully reversing Adam's growth. Wayne defeats Hendrickson's exploitation and proves family comes before corporate interests., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Honey, I Blew Up the Kid against these established plot points, we can identify how Randal Kleiser utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Honey, I Blew Up the Kid within the adventure genre.
Randal Kleiser's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Randal Kleiser films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Honey, I Blew Up the Kid represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Randal Kleiser filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Randal Kleiser analyses, see Flight of the Navigator, Big Top Pee-wee and Grease.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Wayne Szalinski struggles with his malfunctioning shrinking machine while his toddler son Adam plays nearby, establishing Wayne as an obsessed inventor whose work creates chaos at home.
Theme
Diane tells Wayne he needs to pay attention to his family, not just his inventions, stating the film's central theme about balancing work ambition with family priorities.
Worldbuilding
Establish Wayne's family dynamics with wife Diane, teenage son Nick, and toddler Adam. Wayne works for Sterling Labs where his boss Hendrickson wants to exploit his technology. Wayne's home experiments continue to endanger his family.
Disruption
Adam is accidentally zapped by Wayne's shrinking ray (now operating in reverse) and begins growing larger. Wayne discovers his son is seven feet tall and still growing.
Resistance
Wayne and Diane debate what to do about Adam's growth. They try to hide him from neighbors and authorities while Wayne attempts to reverse the effect. Wayne resists involving Sterling Labs, fearing they'll exploit Adam.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Adam escapes the house at enormous size and wanders into Las Vegas. Wayne must actively pursue his giant son through the city, committing fully to solving this crisis in the public eye.
Premise
The promise of the premise: a giant toddler rampages through Las Vegas. Wayne and Diane chase Adam through the streets while military and Sterling Labs personnel pursue. Adam grows larger with each electrical exposure, creating escalating chaos.
Midpoint
The military captures Adam and takes him to a secure facility. Wayne loses control of the situation as Hendrickson and the government take over, planning to use Adam for their own purposes. False defeat: Wayne has lost his son.
Opposition
Hendrickson exploits Adam for corporate gain while military leaders debate eliminating the threat. Wayne's attempts to reach his son are blocked. Adam continues growing and becomes increasingly distressed without his parents, making him more dangerous.
Collapse
The military decides to use lethal force against Adam. Wayne is completely shut out and powerless to save his son, who is now 112 feet tall and labeled a threat to be destroyed. Wayne's worst fear realized.
Crisis
Wayne processes his failure and realizes his obsession with inventions caused this disaster. He understands that saving Adam requires him to prioritize being a father over being a scientist.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Wayne reaches Adam through emotional connection, calming the giant toddler. He deploys his shrinking technology while under military fire, successfully reversing Adam's growth. Wayne defeats Hendrickson's exploitation and proves family comes before corporate interests.