I Feel Pretty
A head injury causes a woman to develop an extraordinary amount of confidence and believe she's drop dead gorgeous.
Despite a moderate budget of $32.0M, I Feel Pretty became a financial success, earning $94.5M worldwide—a 195% 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%)
I Feel Pretty (2018) exhibits meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Abby Kohn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Renee struggles in her cramped basement office at Lily LeClaire cosmetics, invisible and insecure about her appearance, watching beautiful people online.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Renee falls off a SoulCycle bike during a desperate wish to be beautiful, hits her head, and wakes up believing she looks like a supermodel despite no physical change.. At 11% 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Renee confidently applies for the receptionist position at Lily LeClaire's Fifth Avenue headquarters, choosing to pursue the life she always wanted., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Renee is chosen to be the face of the new everyday beauty line and gives a triumphant presentation. False victory: her success is built on misperception rather than genuine self-acceptance., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 80 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Renee falls and hits her head again during the launch event, breaking the "spell." She sees herself as she truly is and realizes everyone always saw the real her—her confidence came from within, not her looks., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 87 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Renee realizes the truth: her confidence, not her appearance, changed everything. She must own her authentic self and make amends, combining her newfound self-assurance with genuine humility., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
I Feel Pretty'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 I Feel Pretty against these established plot points, we can identify how Abby Kohn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish I Feel Pretty within the comedy genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Renee struggles in her cramped basement office at Lily LeClaire cosmetics, invisible and insecure about her appearance, watching beautiful people online.
Theme
Renee's grandmother tells her "You're beautiful" but Renee can't internalize it, establishing the theme: true beauty and confidence come from within, not external validation.
Worldbuilding
Renee's world of insecurity: she avoids eye contact, feels invisible at SoulCycle, sabotages potential romance, and obsesses over her perceived flaws with friends Vivian and Jane.
Disruption
Renee falls off a SoulCycle bike during a desperate wish to be beautiful, hits her head, and wakes up believing she looks like a supermodel despite no physical change.
Resistance
Renee tests her new perceived reality: struts confidently in a bikini, enters a bikini contest, and begins to see the world respond to her newfound confidence rather than any physical change.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Renee confidently applies for the receptionist position at Lily LeClaire's Fifth Avenue headquarters, choosing to pursue the life she always wanted.
Mirror World
Renee meets Ethan, a genuine guy attracted to her confidence and personality. He represents authentic connection versus superficial validation.
Premise
Living the premise: Renee dominates her new job, dates Ethan confidently, impresses CEO Avery LeClaire, gets promoted to lead the "Lily LaClaire" diffusion line launch, and becomes the life of every room.
Midpoint
Renee is chosen to be the face of the new everyday beauty line and gives a triumphant presentation. False victory: her success is built on misperception rather than genuine self-acceptance.
Opposition
Renee's ego spirals out of control: she becomes self-absorbed, dismisses her friends' feelings, undermines colleagues, humiliates Vivian on television, and loses sight of what truly matters.
Collapse
Renee falls and hits her head again during the launch event, breaking the "spell." She sees herself as she truly is and realizes everyone always saw the real her—her confidence came from within, not her looks.
Crisis
Renee retreats in shame and confusion, processing that she destroyed her relationships and success through ego, not because of how she looked but because of how she treated people.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Renee realizes the truth: her confidence, not her appearance, changed everything. She must own her authentic self and make amends, combining her newfound self-assurance with genuine humility.
Synthesis
Renee salvages the launch with a vulnerable speech about real beauty and insecurity, apologizes to her friends, reconciles with Ethan, and helps Avery embrace her own authentic self.
Transformation
Renee walks confidently through the city as herself—same body, same face—but now genuinely comfortable in her own skin, having learned that confidence is a choice, not a circumstance.