No Hard Feelings
On the brink of losing her childhood home, Maddie discovers an intriguing job listing: wealthy helicopter parents looking for someone to “date” their introverted 19-year-old son, Percy, before he leaves for college. To her surprise, Maddie soon discovers the awkward Percy is no sure thing.
Working with a mid-range budget of $45.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $83.0M in global revenue (+84% profit margin).
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%)
No Hard Feelings (2023) reveals precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Gene Stupnitsky's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Maddie is a broke Uber driver in Montauk struggling to make ends meet, living a directionless life of casual hookups and financial desperation. She's evicted from her childhood home due to unpaid property taxes, establishing her rock-bottom starting point.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Maddie discovers a Craigslist ad from wealthy parents offering a Buick Regal in exchange for someone to "date" their introverted 19-year-old son Percy before he leaves for Princeton, giving him confidence with women.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 reveals the protagonist's commitment to After the disastrous nude beach encounter where Percy pepper-sprays Maddie, she chooses to continue the arrangement by apologizing and shifting her approach from seduction to genuine friendship, committing to earning his trust., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Maddie and Percy sleep together at his parents' house, and it's tender and real rather than transactional. False victory: Maddie believes she's completed her mission and can claim the car, but she's actually caught genuine feelings., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 78 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Percy completely rejects Maddie at the animal shelter, refusing to forgive her. Maddie loses both the car and the genuine relationship she'd developed. Her transactional approach to life has destroyed something real, and she's forced to sell her mother's house., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Maddie decides to go to Percy before he leaves for Princeton, choosing emotional vulnerability over self-protection. She will tell him the truth about her feelings without expecting anything in return—a truly selfless act., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
No Hard Feelings's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping No Hard Feelings against these established plot points, we can identify how Gene Stupnitsky utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish No Hard Feelings within the comedy genre.
Gene Stupnitsky's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Gene Stupnitsky films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. No Hard Feelings takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Gene Stupnitsky filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Gene Stupnitsky analyses, see Good Boys.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Maddie is a broke Uber driver in Montauk struggling to make ends meet, living a directionless life of casual hookups and financial desperation. She's evicted from her childhood home due to unpaid property taxes, establishing her rock-bottom starting point.
Theme
Maddie's friends discuss the importance of genuine human connection versus transactional relationships, foreshadowing the central question: can real intimacy emerge from a paid arrangement?
Worldbuilding
Maddie's world is established: financially desperate, emotionally stunted, attached to her late mother's home, working multiple gig jobs, and maintaining shallow relationships. We meet her friends and see her failed attempts to solve her money problems through conventional means.
Disruption
Maddie discovers a Craigslist ad from wealthy parents offering a Buick Regal in exchange for someone to "date" their introverted 19-year-old son Percy before he leaves for Princeton, giving him confidence with women.
Resistance
Maddie debates the ethics and practicality of the arrangement, meets Percy's helicopter parents Laird and Allison, and begins her awkward attempts to seduce the extremely sheltered and anxious Percy, who has no interest in her advances.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
After the disastrous nude beach encounter where Percy pepper-sprays Maddie, she chooses to continue the arrangement by apologizing and shifting her approach from seduction to genuine friendship, committing to earning his trust.
Mirror World
Percy opens up to Maddie about his fears, insecurities, and helicopter parents. Their relationship becomes the mirror story that will teach Maddie about vulnerability and authentic connection versus her transactional approach to life.
Premise
Maddie and Percy bond through genuine experiences: adopting a dog together, attending parties, sharing personal stories. Maddie teaches Percy confidence while Percy unknowingly teaches Maddie emotional authenticity. The relationship becomes real despite its transactional origins.
Midpoint
Maddie and Percy sleep together at his parents' house, and it's tender and real rather than transactional. False victory: Maddie believes she's completed her mission and can claim the car, but she's actually caught genuine feelings.
Opposition
Percy's parents discover the truth and confront Maddie. Percy feels betrayed and used. Maddie's attempts to explain make things worse. Her old patterns of avoiding emotional honesty catch up with her as Percy cuts her off completely.
Collapse
Percy completely rejects Maddie at the animal shelter, refusing to forgive her. Maddie loses both the car and the genuine relationship she'd developed. Her transactional approach to life has destroyed something real, and she's forced to sell her mother's house.
Crisis
Maddie processes her loss and recognizes her own emotional growth. She realizes she genuinely cares about Percy beyond the transaction and that she's been avoiding real intimacy her entire adult life. She must decide whether to let him go or fight for something real.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Maddie decides to go to Percy before he leaves for Princeton, choosing emotional vulnerability over self-protection. She will tell him the truth about her feelings without expecting anything in return—a truly selfless act.
Synthesis
Maddie crashes Percy's going-away party and publicly apologizes, admitting her feelings and acknowledging his right to reject her. Percy, having grown in confidence, chooses to forgive her and they reconnect before he leaves for college, both transformed by the relationship.
Transformation
Maddie is shown moving forward with her life, no longer desperate or transactional, having learned to value genuine connection. Percy leaves for Princeton confident and emotionally mature. Both characters are fundamentally changed, having taught each other what they needed to learn.