Kramer vs. Kramer
Ted Kramer is a career man for whom his work comes before his family. His wife Joanna cannot take this anymore, so she decides to leave him. Ted is now faced with the tasks of housekeeping and taking care of himself and their young son Billy.
Despite its limited budget of $8.0M, Kramer vs. Kramer became a box office phenomenon, earning $106.3M worldwide—a remarkable 1228% return. The film's unique voice resonated with audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) demonstrates meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Robert Benton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Ted Kramer arrives home triumphant from landing a major account, absorbed in his career success while his wife Joanna tends to their son Billy. The image establishes Ted as a self-absorbed workaholic father disconnected from his family.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Joanna leaves, walking out on Ted and Billy. She tells Ted she's leaving to find herself, that she can't be a wife and mother anymore. Ted is stunned, unable to comprehend that his wife is actually abandoning their family.. 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 illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Ted makes the conscious choice to fully commit to being Billy's father when he refuses to send Billy away or give up. He tells his neighbor Margaret that he's going to make it work, accepting his new identity as a single father despite the cost to his career., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Joanna returns and announces she wants Billy back, filing for custody. The false victory of Ted's transformation is shattered—just as he's become the father Billy needs, he faces losing his son. The stakes are raised from personal growth to an actual legal battle., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ted loses the custody case. The judge awards Billy to Joanna, ruling that a child Billy's age needs his mother. Ted's transformation wasn't enough—the system and society value traditional maternal roles over his genuine growth as a father. Everything he fought for is dead., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Ted chooses not to appeal, making the ultimate selfless parental decision—he'll let Billy go rather than damage him with prolonged legal warfare. This synthesizes everything he's learned: true parenting means putting the child's needs above your own desires., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Kramer vs. Kramer's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Kramer vs. Kramer against these established plot points, we can identify how Robert Benton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Kramer vs. Kramer within the drama genre.
Robert Benton's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Robert Benton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Kramer vs. Kramer takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Robert Benton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Robert Benton analyses, see The Human Stain, Nobody's Fool and Twilight.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ted Kramer arrives home triumphant from landing a major account, absorbed in his career success while his wife Joanna tends to their son Billy. The image establishes Ted as a self-absorbed workaholic father disconnected from his family.
Theme
Joanna tells Ted, "I don't love you anymore," stating the film's exploration of what it means to be a parent and partner—that love requires presence, sacrifice, and genuine connection rather than just fulfilling traditional roles.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Kramer household: Ted's obsession with his advertising career, Joanna's quiet desperation as an unfulfilled housewife and mother, and Billy as the innocent child caught between them. Ted doesn't know basic details about his son's life.
Disruption
Joanna leaves, walking out on Ted and Billy. She tells Ted she's leaving to find herself, that she can't be a wife and mother anymore. Ted is stunned, unable to comprehend that his wife is actually abandoning their family.
Resistance
Ted struggles with the reality of single parenthood while trying to maintain his demanding job. He resists accepting his new role, assuming Joanna will return. He makes disastrous attempts at basic parenting tasks like making French toast, getting Billy to school, managing bedtime.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ted makes the conscious choice to fully commit to being Billy's father when he refuses to send Billy away or give up. He tells his neighbor Margaret that he's going to make it work, accepting his new identity as a single father despite the cost to his career.
Mirror World
Ted develops a genuine friendship with his neighbor Margaret, a single mother who becomes his guide to real parenting. She represents the thematic counterpoint—someone who parents through presence and emotional connection rather than duty or obligation.
Premise
Ted and Billy learn to be a family together. Montage of their evolving relationship: breakfast routines improve, they play in the park, celebrate Christmas, share genuine moments. Ted becomes a real father, prioritizing Billy over work. This is the promise of the premise—watching a workaholic transform into a loving parent.
Midpoint
Joanna returns and announces she wants Billy back, filing for custody. The false victory of Ted's transformation is shattered—just as he's become the father Billy needs, he faces losing his son. The stakes are raised from personal growth to an actual legal battle.
Opposition
Ted fights the custody battle while managing increasing pressure at work. He's fired for prioritizing Billy over his job. The trial becomes brutal as both sides attack each character. Ted's flaws as an initially absent father are exposed, while he must choose between attacking Joanna or protecting Billy from the truth about her abandonment.
Collapse
Ted loses the custody case. The judge awards Billy to Joanna, ruling that a child Billy's age needs his mother. Ted's transformation wasn't enough—the system and society value traditional maternal roles over his genuine growth as a father. Everything he fought for is dead.
Crisis
Ted faces his darkest moment, processing the impending loss of his son. Margaret encourages him to appeal, but Ted recognizes that continuing to fight would traumatize Billy. He must decide whether to accept the loss or put Billy through more pain.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ted chooses not to appeal, making the ultimate selfless parental decision—he'll let Billy go rather than damage him with prolonged legal warfare. This synthesizes everything he's learned: true parenting means putting the child's needs above your own desires.
Synthesis
Ted prepares Billy for the transition to living with Joanna, having one final morning together. They make French toast perfectly—a callback to their disastrous first attempt—showing how far they've come. Ted explains to Billy that he'll always be his father, no matter where Billy lives.
Transformation
Joanna arrives to take Billy but tells Ted she can't take him—she sees that Billy's home is with his father. Ted stands in the same apartment where Joanna left, but he's transformed from an absent workaholic into a selfless, present parent. The transformation is complete: he became the parent his child needed.