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 struggled financially against its mid-range budget of $20.0M, earning $17.4M globally (-13% loss).
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) demonstrates carefully calibrated narrative architecture, 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.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Jordan is bullied at a science fair, creating her fear-based, aggressive personality that will define her adult life.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when A young girl places a curse on Jordan with a magic wand after Jordan cruelly dismisses her, setting the transformation in motion.. 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 indicates the protagonist's commitment to Jordan is forced to attend middle school when CPS gets involved, actively choosing to endure this humiliation to avoid losing everything she's built., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jordan loses the business deal to Connor, April quits in disgust at Jordan's unchanged cruelty, and Jordan is left completely alone, having destroyed every relationship., demonstrates 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 79% of the runtime. Jordan publicly apologizes and makes things right, wins back April's trust, confronts her childhood bully, and transforms back to adult form having learned true leadership means empathy., 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 systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. 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 Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tina Gordon analyses, see Peeples.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Jordan is bullied at a science fair, creating her fear-based, aggressive personality that will define her adult life.
Theme
April tells Jordan, "You can't treat people like this," establishing the theme that success without empathy leads to loneliness and unhappiness.
Worldbuilding
Establishes adult Jordan as a tyrannical tech CEO who terrorizes her assistant April and entire office, alienating everyone around her while facing a critical business pitch.
Disruption
A young girl places a curse on Jordan with a magic wand after Jordan cruelly dismisses her, setting the transformation in motion.
Resistance
Jordan wakes up as her 13-year-old self and resists the reality, trying to maintain control while April becomes her reluctant guardian and guide through this crisis.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jordan is forced to attend middle school when CPS gets involved, actively choosing to endure this humiliation to avoid losing everything she's built.
Premise
Jordan navigates middle school while trying to run her company remotely through April, experiencing the bullying and social dynamics she once faced, now with adult awareness.
Opposition
Jordan's old habits resurface as she cruelly betrays Isaac and April to protect her image, while her romantic rival Connor threatens to steal the business deal.
Collapse
Jordan loses the business deal to Connor, April quits in disgust at Jordan's unchanged cruelty, and Jordan is left completely alone, having destroyed every relationship.
Crisis
Jordan confronts her fundamental loneliness and realizes that her defensive cruelty, born from childhood trauma, has cost her everything meaningful in life.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Jordan publicly apologizes and makes things right, wins back April's trust, confronts her childhood bully, and transforms back to adult form having learned true leadership means empathy.