Nine to Five
Three female employees of a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot find a way to turn the tables on him.
Despite its small-scale budget of $10.0M, Nine to Five became a massive hit, earning $103.3M worldwide—a remarkable 933% return. The film's innovative storytelling resonated with audiences, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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 to Five (1980) demonstrates precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Colin Higgins's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Judy Bernly arrives for her first day at Consolidated Companies, a nervous newly-divorced woman re-entering the workforce. Violet Newstead runs the office with efficiency while being overlooked for promotions. Doralee Rhodes endures constant sexual harassment from their boss Franklin Hart Jr.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Hart passes over Violet for promotion in favor of a less-qualified man, Bob Enright, despite Violet having trained him. This blatant injustice becomes the breaking point that will unite the three women.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Violet accidentally puts rat poison instead of Sweet 'N Low in Hart's coffee. Believing she's killed him, the women cross the threshold from fantasy to real-world action. They decide they must work together to cover up what they think is murder., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Hart escapes from captivity and heads to the office to expose the women and have them arrested. Everything they've built is about to come crashing down. Their careers, freedom, and the workplace reforms they've created all face extinction., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The chairman arrives and praises the women's innovative programs, announcing they'll be implemented company-wide. Hart is promoted to a position in Brazil—essentially exiled. The women have won without being exposed. Their reforms become permanent, and they gain the recognition they deserve., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Nine to Five's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Nine to Five against these established plot points, we can identify how Colin Higgins utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Nine to Five within the comedy genre.
Colin Higgins's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Colin Higgins films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Nine to Five takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Colin Higgins filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Colin Higgins analyses, see Foul Play, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Judy Bernly arrives for her first day at Consolidated Companies, a nervous newly-divorced woman re-entering the workforce. Violet Newstead runs the office with efficiency while being overlooked for promotions. Doralee Rhodes endures constant sexual harassment from their boss Franklin Hart Jr.
Theme
Violet tells Judy about how the office works: "Around here, the men get the breaks and the women get the coffee." This establishes the film's central theme about workplace sexism and the need for systemic change.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the oppressive office culture at Consolidated Companies. Hart steals Violet's ideas and takes credit for them. Doralee is wrongly perceived as having an affair with Hart due to his lies. Judy struggles to adapt to office equipment and procedures. The three women exist in separate spheres of misery under Hart's tyrannical management.
Disruption
Hart passes over Violet for promotion in favor of a less-qualified man, Bob Enright, despite Violet having trained him. This blatant injustice becomes the breaking point that will unite the three women.
Resistance
The three women bond over drinks and marijuana, sharing their frustrations about Hart. They indulge in elaborate revenge fantasies: Violet as a huntress, Judy as a damsel-turned-assassin, and Doralee as a rodeo cowgirl. These fantasies reveal their anger but also their hesitation to act in reality.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Violet accidentally puts rat poison instead of Sweet 'N Low in Hart's coffee. Believing she's killed him, the women cross the threshold from fantasy to real-world action. They decide they must work together to cover up what they think is murder.
Premise
After discovering Hart is alive, the women find themselves in deeper trouble when Doralee catches Hart with incriminating evidence of his embezzlement. They kidnap Hart and hold him hostage at his home. While managing this crisis, they begin running the office their way—implementing flexible hours, daycare, equal pay, and job-sharing programs. The office flourishes.
Opposition
Keeping Hart captive becomes increasingly difficult. He nearly escapes multiple times. The chairman of the company announces he's coming to visit, raising the stakes. The women must maintain their lie while dealing with Hart's wife, suspicious colleagues, and the complexity of their deception unraveling.
Collapse
Hart escapes from captivity and heads to the office to expose the women and have them arrested. Everything they've built is about to come crashing down. Their careers, freedom, and the workplace reforms they've created all face extinction.
Crisis
The women face their darkest moment, believing they're about to be arrested and imprisoned. They confront the possibility that their attempt to change the system has destroyed their lives. They must decide whether to run or face the consequences.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The chairman arrives and praises the women's innovative programs, announcing they'll be implemented company-wide. Hart is promoted to a position in Brazil—essentially exiled. The women have won without being exposed. Their reforms become permanent, and they gain the recognition they deserve.