Nine Months
Samuels life is perfect. That is, until he finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. Now he must face the issues that come with being an expecting father, in a most entertaining way.
Despite a mid-range budget of $35.0M, Nine Months became a box office success, earning $138.5M worldwide—a 296% return.
1 win & 2 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%)
Nine Months (1995) showcases meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Chris Columbus's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Samuel and Rebecca enjoy their carefree, child-free lifestyle in San Francisco. They live in a perfectly organized apartment filled with breakables, focusing on their careers and relationship without responsibilities.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Rebecca reveals she is pregnant. Samuel's carefully controlled life is thrown into chaos. This is the external event that shatters his comfortable status quo and demands a response.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Samuel makes the active choice to commit to Rebecca and the baby. He agrees to embrace fatherhood and move forward with the pregnancy, entering the world of expectant parenthood., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False defeat: Samuel has a major panic attack about losing his freedom and identity. The reality of impending fatherhood becomes overwhelming. He realizes he can't just play along anymore - this is real and permanent. Stakes are raised., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, All is lost: Samuel's selfishness reaches a breaking point and Rebecca leaves him. The relationship appears to be over. Samuel faces losing everything - Rebecca, the baby, his chance at a family. The death of his old self-centered life and the potential death of his future family., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Samuel has his breakthrough realization: he wants to be a father and partner more than he wants his old life. He synthesizes what he's learned about love, commitment, and selflessness. Armed with new maturity and purpose, he sets out to win Rebecca back and be present for the birth., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Nine Months'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 Nine Months against these established plot points, we can identify how Chris Columbus utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Nine Months within the comedy genre.
Chris Columbus's Structural Approach
Among the 13 Chris Columbus films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.3, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Nine Months represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Chris Columbus filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Chris Columbus analyses, see Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief and Pixels.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Samuel and Rebecca enjoy their carefree, child-free lifestyle in San Francisco. They live in a perfectly organized apartment filled with breakables, focusing on their careers and relationship without responsibilities.
Theme
Samuel's friend Sean (with three kids) mentions something about how having children changes everything and you can't understand until it happens to you. The theme: accepting adult responsibility and the transformation that parenthood brings.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Samuel as a commitment-phobic child psychologist who ironically fears having children. His relationship with Rebecca is shown as loving but carefully controlled. We meet their friends: the overwhelmed parents Sean and Gail, and the eccentric Marty.
Disruption
Rebecca reveals she is pregnant. Samuel's carefully controlled life is thrown into chaos. This is the external event that shatters his comfortable status quo and demands a response.
Resistance
Samuel resists the reality of fatherhood, panicking and debating whether he can handle this change. He observes his friend Sean's chaotic family life with horror. Rebecca tries to be patient but grows frustrated with his reluctance. Samuel visits his own parents seeking guidance.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Samuel makes the active choice to commit to Rebecca and the baby. He agrees to embrace fatherhood and move forward with the pregnancy, entering the world of expectant parenthood.
Mirror World
Samuel and Rebecca attend their first childbirth class with the eccentric Russian instructor Dr. Kosevich. This new community of expectant parents represents the thematic world Samuel must learn to navigate - moving from self-centered to family-centered.
Premise
The fun and games of pregnancy: awkward childbirth classes, shopping for baby items, Samuel's growing anxiety manifesting in comedic ways. He bonds with Marty and Sean while Rebecca's pregnancy progresses. The promise of the premise: a man-child learning to become a father.
Midpoint
False defeat: Samuel has a major panic attack about losing his freedom and identity. The reality of impending fatherhood becomes overwhelming. He realizes he can't just play along anymore - this is real and permanent. Stakes are raised.
Opposition
Samuel's immaturity and fear intensify. He acts out, becomes more distant from Rebecca, and his resistance to change creates conflict. Rebecca grows increasingly frustrated and hurt. The pressure of impending fatherhood closes in. Samuel's flaws threaten to destroy his relationship.
Collapse
All is lost: Samuel's selfishness reaches a breaking point and Rebecca leaves him. The relationship appears to be over. Samuel faces losing everything - Rebecca, the baby, his chance at a family. The death of his old self-centered life and the potential death of his future family.
Crisis
Samuel's dark night of the soul. He sits alone in his empty apartment, processing the loss and confronting who he has become. He realizes what truly matters and what he has thrown away through his fear and immaturity.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Samuel has his breakthrough realization: he wants to be a father and partner more than he wants his old life. He synthesizes what he's learned about love, commitment, and selflessness. Armed with new maturity and purpose, he sets out to win Rebecca back and be present for the birth.
Synthesis
The finale: Samuel races to find Rebecca as she goes into labor. Chaotic journey to the hospital with comedic obstacles. Samuel proves his transformation by being present, supportive, and fully committed during the birth. He executes his growth by showing up as the partner and father Rebecca needs.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Samuel and Rebecca in their home, but now with their baby. The apartment is messy, filled with baby items - the opposite of the pristine opening. Samuel is exhausted but genuinely happy, transformed from man-child to father, embracing the beautiful chaos of family life.