Little
Jordan Sanders, a take-no-prisoners tech mogul, wakes up one morning in the body of her 13-year-old self right before a do-or-die presentation. Her beleaguered assistant April is the only one in on the secret that her daily tormentor is now trapped in an awkward tween body, just as everything is on the line.
The film underperformed commercially against its mid-range budget of $20.0M, earning $17.4M globally (-13% loss).
3 wins & 6 nominations
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%)
Little (2019) showcases strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Tina Gordon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jordan Sanders (Adult)
Little Jordan
April Williams
Trevor
Preston
Main Cast & Characters
Jordan Sanders (Adult)
Played by Regina Hall
A ruthless tech mogul who bullies everyone around her until she magically transforms into her 13-year-old self.
Little Jordan
Played by Marsai Martin
The 13-year-old version of Jordan who must navigate middle school again while running her company.
April Williams
Played by Issa Rae
Jordan's overworked and underappreciated assistant who must help young Jordan while stepping up as leader.
Trevor
Played by Luke James
Jordan's kind-hearted boyfriend who teaches at the school and becomes a love interest for April.
Preston
Played by Mikey Day
A demanding client and rival tech entrepreneur who threatens to take his business elsewhere.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Jordan performs a science presentation at school, only to be brutally humiliated by her classmates who pants her and laugh. She vows to become powerful so no one can hurt her again.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when A young girl named Stevie, whom Jordan bullied in a restaurant, uses a magic wand to wish that Jordan was little so she'd know how it feels. Jordan wakes up the next morning as her 13-year-old self.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Jordan agrees to enroll in middle school to maintain appearances while April handles the tech company. Jordan crosses into the world she escaped—childhood vulnerability—while April crosses into leadership., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jordan's deception is exposed at school and she loses her new friends' trust. Simultaneously, April's pitch fails catastrophically and the company deal appears dead. Jordan faces the same humiliation she experienced as a child., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Jordan helps her school friends with their talent show performance, showing genuine support. April gives a new, authentic pitch that wins over the investors. Jordan transforms back into an adult as she's finally learned her lesson., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Little's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Little against these established plot points, we can identify how Tina Gordon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Little within the comedy genre.
Tina Gordon's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Tina Gordon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Little takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tina Gordon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Tina Gordon analyses, see Peeples.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Jordan performs a science presentation at school, only to be brutally humiliated by her classmates who pants her and laugh. She vows to become powerful so no one can hurt her again.
Theme
Adult Jordan's assistant April mutters that Jordan has forgotten what it's like to be little and powerless—foreshadowing the lesson Jordan must learn about empathy and vulnerability.
Worldbuilding
We see adult Jordan as a feared tech CEO who terrorizes her employees, especially April. Jordan's world is one of wealth, power, and isolation—she has no real relationships and rules through intimidation.
Disruption
A young girl named Stevie, whom Jordan bullied in a restaurant, uses a magic wand to wish that Jordan was little so she'd know how it feels. Jordan wakes up the next morning as her 13-year-old self.
Resistance
Jordan panics over her transformation and desperately tries to find Stevie to reverse the curse. She must convince April of her identity and reluctantly accepts that April must pose as her guardian while running the company.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jordan agrees to enroll in middle school to maintain appearances while April handles the tech company. Jordan crosses into the world she escaped—childhood vulnerability—while April crosses into leadership.
Premise
Jordan navigates middle school as a tiny tyrant, initially trying to dominate. Meanwhile, April struggles to run the company and prepare a crucial pitch. Jordan slowly starts connecting with a group of outcast kids.
Opposition
The company faces a crisis as Connor, a rival executive, undermines April. Jordan's school life gets complicated as she must balance helping her new friends while hiding her identity. The big pitch deadline looms.
Collapse
Jordan's deception is exposed at school and she loses her new friends' trust. Simultaneously, April's pitch fails catastrophically and the company deal appears dead. Jordan faces the same humiliation she experienced as a child.
Crisis
Jordan reflects on how her fear of vulnerability led her to become the very bully who tormented her. She realizes she's been hurting everyone around her, including April, to protect herself from pain.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Jordan helps her school friends with their talent show performance, showing genuine support. April gives a new, authentic pitch that wins over the investors. Jordan transforms back into an adult as she's finally learned her lesson.