It Could Happen to You
Charlie and Muriel Lang have led simple lives for most of their existence. That's until they win $4 million on the lottery. There is a problem, however. Prior to winning the lottery, Charlie had eaten at a café and hadn't been able to tip the waitress. He had promised her, jokingly, that if he won the lottery he'd give her half of it. This is why his wife, Muriel, decides to leave him. She doesn't want the waitress to get a cent of their money. In fact, she wants all $4 million for herself.
Working with a respectable budget of $20.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $37.9M in global revenue (+90% 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%)
It Could Happen to You (1994) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Andrew Bergman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 41 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Charlie Lang is introduced as a good-hearted NYPD cop who helps people on his beat. He's married to the materialistic Muriel who constantly nags him about money and playing the lottery.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Charlie doesn't have enough cash to tip Yvonne at the diner, so he jokingly promises to split his lottery ticket winnings with her if he wins. She laughs and agrees.. 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Charlie makes the active choice to honor his word and goes to the diner to tell Yvonne she'll get half the winnings ($2 million). He crosses into a world of integrity over greed., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Charlie and Yvonne share a romantic moment at the Plaza Hotel fountain. False victory: they're falling in love and being celebrated, but Charlie is still married and complications loom., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 73 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Charlie and Yvonne lose the lawsuit. All their money goes to legal fees and settlements. They lose everything—the metaphorical death of their dream and their ability to help others. They're broke and publicly humiliated., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The people they helped throughout the story begin coming forward with donations and support. Charlie and Yvonne realize their real wealth was the connections they made and the love they share—not the money., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
It Could Happen to You's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping It Could Happen to You against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew Bergman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish It Could Happen to You within the comedy genre.
Andrew Bergman's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Andrew Bergman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. It Could Happen to You represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew Bergman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Andrew Bergman analyses, see Striptease, So Fine.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Charlie Lang is introduced as a good-hearted NYPD cop who helps people on his beat. He's married to the materialistic Muriel who constantly nags him about money and playing the lottery.
Theme
Yvonne, the kind waitress, tells Charlie, "Keep the coffee coming and the conversation friendly." Theme of genuine human kindness vs. material wealth is established through their interaction.
Worldbuilding
We see Charlie's daily life: his generous nature, his troubled marriage to greedy Muriel, his lottery ritual, and his genuine connections with ordinary people. Yvonne is shown struggling financially after her divorce.
Disruption
Charlie doesn't have enough cash to tip Yvonne at the diner, so he jokingly promises to split his lottery ticket winnings with her if he wins. She laughs and agrees.
Resistance
Charlie wins $4 million in the lottery. Muriel is ecstatic and wants all the money. Charlie debates whether to honor his promise to Yvonne. Muriel vehemently opposes sharing the winnings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Charlie makes the active choice to honor his word and goes to the diner to tell Yvonne she'll get half the winnings ($2 million). He crosses into a world of integrity over greed.
Mirror World
Charlie and Yvonne begin spending time together as they navigate their sudden wealth. Their relationship becomes the B-story that carries the theme—real connection vs. superficial materialism.
Premise
Charlie and Yvonne use their money to help others and enjoy simple pleasures together. Meanwhile, Muriel spends lavishly on herself. The media makes Charlie and Yvonne into local heroes. Romance begins to blossom between them.
Midpoint
Charlie and Yvonne share a romantic moment at the Plaza Hotel fountain. False victory: they're falling in love and being celebrated, but Charlie is still married and complications loom.
Opposition
Muriel becomes increasingly jealous and suspicious. She discovers Charlie's feelings for Yvonne. A former friend sues Charlie and Yvonne, claiming he was promised the money. The media turns against them. Muriel files for divorce and demands all assets.
Collapse
Charlie and Yvonne lose the lawsuit. All their money goes to legal fees and settlements. They lose everything—the metaphorical death of their dream and their ability to help others. They're broke and publicly humiliated.
Crisis
Charlie and Yvonne face the darkness of their loss separately. They question whether their choices were worth it. Charlie is back to being a cop; Yvonne returns to waitressing. They're apart and despondent.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The people they helped throughout the story begin coming forward with donations and support. Charlie and Yvonne realize their real wealth was the connections they made and the love they share—not the money.
Synthesis
The community rallies around Charlie and Yvonne, raising money to help them. Charlie and Yvonne reunite and declare their love. They choose each other and a life of genuine connection over material wealth. They get married.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Charlie and Yvonne are back at the diner, but now together as a married couple. They're happy without the lottery money, having found true wealth in love and community. Transformation complete.