Little Nicky
After the lord of darkness decides he will not cede his throne to any of his three sons, the two most powerful of them escape to Earth to create a kingdom for themselves. This action closes the portal filtering sinful souls to Hell and causes Satan to wither away. He must send his most weak but beloved son, Little Nicky, to Earth to return his brothers to Hell.
The film underperformed commercially against its considerable budget of $85.0M, earning $58.3M globally (-31% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unconventional structure within the comedy genre.
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 Nicky (2000) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Steven Brill's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nicky lives as the awkward, gentle son of Satan in Hell, bullied by his brothers Adrian and Cassius but loved by his father. He's content in his passive existence, asking nothing of life.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Adrian and Cassius, furious at being passed over, escape Hell and freeze the gates shut, causing Satan to begin disintegrating. The balance is broken and Hell's power structure collapses.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Nicky arrives in New York City, a fish completely out of water. He actively chooses to embrace his mission despite his terror, stepping into the human world for the first time., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Adrian murders Nicky by shoving him in front of a subway train, killing him. Nicky is sent to Heaven, having failed his mission. His father will die, Hell will fall to Adrian, and Earth is doomed. Literal death - the ultimate whiff of death., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Nicky confronts Adrian with his new angelic powers, saves Valerie, defeats his brother by trapping him in the flask, restores his father, and chooses to return to Earth to be with Valerie rather than rule Hell. He executes his mission and chooses love., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Little Nicky'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 Nicky against these established plot points, we can identify how Steven Brill utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Little Nicky within the comedy genre.
Steven Brill's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Steven Brill films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Little Nicky takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Steven Brill filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Steven Brill analyses, see Movie 43, Heavyweights and Drillbit Taylor.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nicky lives as the awkward, gentle son of Satan in Hell, bullied by his brothers Adrian and Cassius but loved by his father. He's content in his passive existence, asking nothing of life.
Theme
Satan tells his sons that he's not retiring yet, stating "You gotta be bad to rule Hell, but you also gotta be good" - establishing the theme of balance between good and evil, inner strength vs. outer power.
Worldbuilding
Setup of Hell's hierarchy, Nicky's relationship with his father Satan and cruel brothers, the balance between Heaven and Hell, and the established order that keeps the universe functioning. Nicky is powerless and passive.
Disruption
Adrian and Cassius, furious at being passed over, escape Hell and freeze the gates shut, causing Satan to begin disintegrating. The balance is broken and Hell's power structure collapses.
Resistance
Satan explains that Nicky must go to Earth and capture his brothers in a magic flask to save him and restore Hell. Nicky resists, feeling inadequate and scared, but his father gives him powers and a talking dog (Beefy). Nicky debates but realizes he has no choice.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nicky arrives in New York City, a fish completely out of water. He actively chooses to embrace his mission despite his terror, stepping into the human world for the first time.
Premise
The fun of watching Nicky bumble through NYC, learning about Earth, using his powers awkwardly, befriending Todd and Peter, getting hit by buses repeatedly, and slowly hunting his brothers while falling for Valerie. Fish-out-of-water comedy at its peak.
Opposition
Adrian consolidates power on Earth, corrupting the city and turning it evil. He learns about Valerie and targets Nicky's weakness. Nicky's father continues to deteriorate. The Chief of Hell and Heaven's forces close in. Stakes escalate on all fronts.
Collapse
Adrian murders Nicky by shoving him in front of a subway train, killing him. Nicky is sent to Heaven, having failed his mission. His father will die, Hell will fall to Adrian, and Earth is doomed. Literal death - the ultimate whiff of death.
Crisis
In Heaven, Nicky meets his mother (an angel) and learns the truth about his half-angel nature. He processes that he has goodness within him, that love is real, and that he has the power to choose. Emotional reckoning with his identity.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Nicky confronts Adrian with his new angelic powers, saves Valerie, defeats his brother by trapping him in the flask, restores his father, and chooses to return to Earth to be with Valerie rather than rule Hell. He executes his mission and chooses love.