Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising
A sorority moves in next door to the home of Mac and Kelly Radner who have a young child. The Radner's enlist their former nemeses from the fraternity to help battle the raucous sisters.
Despite a moderate budget of $35.0M, Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising became a box office success, earning $108.0M worldwide—a 209% return.
3 wins & 5 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%)
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising (2016) reveals precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Nicholas Stoller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 32 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Mac Radner
Kelly Radner
Shelby
Teddy Sanders
Beth
Nora
Pete
Main Cast & Characters
Mac Radner
Played by Seth Rogen
A suburban father struggling to balance parenthood with his desire to stay young and relevant.
Kelly Radner
Played by Rose Byrne
Mac's wife and partner in parenting, practical yet equally invested in protecting their family's peace.
Shelby
Played by Chloë Grace Moretz
Feminist college freshman who starts a sorority to create a space where women can party freely.
Teddy Sanders
Played by Zac Efron
Former frat president now adrift post-college, seeking purpose and eventually helping the Radners.
Beth
Played by Kiersey Clemons
Shelby's best friend and sorority co-founder, loyal and energetic party enthusiast.
Nora
Played by Beanie Feldstein
Third member of the sorority trio, comedic and supportive of the group's mission.
Pete
Played by Dave Franco
Teddy's former frat brother and best friend, now married and moving forward in life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mac and Kelly Radner struggle with their new life as parents, feeling trapped and disconnected from their former spontaneous selves. They attempt to have sex but are interrupted by their toddler, highlighting their loss of freedom and intimacy.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Shelby, Beth, and Nora decide to start their own sorority, Kappa Nu, and rent the house next door to Mac and Kelly—the same house where Teddy's fraternity used to live. The Radners' escape plan (selling the house) is immediately threatened.. 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 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to After a massive party threatens their home sale, Mac and Kelly make the active choice to go to war with Kappa Nu. They call the police and declare: "It's on." This choice launches them into direct conflict and the new world of all-out warfare., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Mac and Kelly successfully create a rift between Shelby and her sorority sisters by exploiting her insecurity about being used. Shelby quits Kappa Nu and the house seems ready to fall apart. The Radners believe they've won, but the stakes are about to reverse., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The home sale falls through when the buyers witness the chaos. Mac and Kelly's dream of escaping and moving forward dies. They sit in devastation, realizing they've lost everything—their sale, their dignity, and nearly their marriage. Their old life is truly dead., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Mac and Kelly have a breakthrough: instead of fighting the sorority, they should help them while protecting themselves. They realize Kappa Nu is violating housing codes by operating as a sorority. Armed with this knowledge and a new perspective, they devise a plan that serves everyone., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising'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 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising against these established plot points, we can identify how Nicholas Stoller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising within the comedy genre.
Nicholas Stoller's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Nicholas Stoller films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nicholas Stoller filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Nicholas Stoller analyses, see Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and The Five-Year Engagement.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mac and Kelly Radner struggle with their new life as parents, feeling trapped and disconnected from their former spontaneous selves. They attempt to have sex but are interrupted by their toddler, highlighting their loss of freedom and intimacy.
Theme
Kelly says to Mac: "We're adults now. We have to accept that." The theme of accepting adulthood and evolving identity is stated, questioning whether growing up means giving up who you were.
Worldbuilding
Mac and Kelly are selling their house and entering escrow with 30 days. They're expecting a second baby. Meanwhile, freshman Shelby meets sorority girls but discovers sororities aren't allowed to throw parties. She befriends Beth and Nora, bonding over their rejection of the system.
Disruption
Shelby, Beth, and Nora decide to start their own sorority, Kappa Nu, and rent the house next door to Mac and Kelly—the same house where Teddy's fraternity used to live. The Radners' escape plan (selling the house) is immediately threatened.
Resistance
Mac and Kelly debate how to handle the sorority. They try befriending the girls to keep them quiet during escrow. They recruit former enemy Teddy Sanders for help, who is struggling with his own arrested development. Initial attempts at peaceful coexistence fail as the sorority parties escalate.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After a massive party threatens their home sale, Mac and Kelly make the active choice to go to war with Kappa Nu. They call the police and declare: "It's on." This choice launches them into direct conflict and the new world of all-out warfare.
Mirror World
Teddy fully joins Mac and Kelly's side as their ally and mentor in prank warfare. His character represents the thematic mirror: someone who refuses to grow up and move forward, showing Mac and Kelly what they fear becoming versus who they need to be.
Premise
Escalating prank war between the Radners/Teddy and Kappa Nu. Mac and Kelly try various schemes: sabotaging the sorority's weed supply, calling in health inspections, and attempting to turn the girls against each other. The sorority retaliates with equal creativity, including a tailgate party and sexual harassment tactics.
Midpoint
False victory: Mac and Kelly successfully create a rift between Shelby and her sorority sisters by exploiting her insecurity about being used. Shelby quits Kappa Nu and the house seems ready to fall apart. The Radners believe they've won, but the stakes are about to reverse.
Opposition
The sorority reunites stronger than before. Shelby returns and Kappa Nu plans their biggest party yet to raise money. Mac and Kelly's marriage strains under pressure. The buyers get closer to discovering the truth. Teddy realizes he's on the wrong side and switches allegiances, helping the sorority instead.
Collapse
The home sale falls through when the buyers witness the chaos. Mac and Kelly's dream of escaping and moving forward dies. They sit in devastation, realizing they've lost everything—their sale, their dignity, and nearly their marriage. Their old life is truly dead.
Crisis
Mac and Kelly hit rock bottom emotionally. They process their failure and what they've become—petty adults obsessed with defeating college kids. They confront the reality that they've been fighting against growing up rather than embracing it. They find new resolve in accepting who they are now.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mac and Kelly have a breakthrough: instead of fighting the sorority, they should help them while protecting themselves. They realize Kappa Nu is violating housing codes by operating as a sorority. Armed with this knowledge and a new perspective, they devise a plan that serves everyone.
Synthesis
Mac and Kelly help sabotage Kappa Nu's fundraiser—not out of spite, but to save the girls from getting in deeper trouble. The sorority gets evicted but the girls aren't expelled. Mac and Kelly get their house sale back on track. Everyone grows: the girls learn to organize properly, Mac and Kelly accept adulthood, Teddy moves forward with his life.
Transformation
Mac and Kelly move into their new house with both kids, fully embracing their identity as parents. In contrast to the opening, they're at peace with who they've become. Meanwhile, Kappa Nu operates successfully as an official sorority. Everyone has grown into their proper roles.