Porky's II: The Next Day
When the students of Angel Beach High decide to stage "An Evening With Shakespeare," their efforts are threatened by Miss Balbricker, who views the works of Shakespeare as obscene. She enlists the help of Reverend Bubba Flavel, a religious fanatic who brings along his flock of followers to pressure the school into shutting down the production.
Despite its limited budget of $6.5M, Porky's II: The Next Day became a massive hit, earning $55.0M worldwide—a remarkable 746% return. The film's fresh perspective engaged 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%)
Porky's II: The Next Day (1983) exemplifies precise narrative design, characteristic of Bob Clark's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 38 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 The Angel Beach High School gang returns to their familiar hijinks and locker room antics, establishing their world of teenage rebellion and comedy.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Reverend Bubba Flavel and the religious conservatives launch their campaign to shut down the school's Shakespeare festival, claiming it's immoral and obscene.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The students actively decide to defend their Shakespeare production and take on the religious zealots, committing themselves to the fight for artistic freedom., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The students seem to gain the upper hand with a successful counter-demonstration or public exposure of the censors' hypocrisy, creating false hope that they've won., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The school board officially cancels the Shakespeare festival, or a key ally abandons them. The students' efforts appear to have failed completely., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. The students realize they must perform the play regardless of official permission, or expose Reverend Flavel's corruption. A new plan emerges combining their rebellious spirit with genuine principle., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Porky's II: The Next Day's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Porky's II: The Next Day against these established plot points, we can identify how Bob Clark utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Porky's II: The Next Day within the comedy genre.
Bob Clark's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Bob Clark films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Porky's II: The Next Day takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bob Clark filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Bob Clark analyses, see Porky's, A Christmas Story and Rhinestone.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Angel Beach High School gang returns to their familiar hijinks and locker room antics, establishing their world of teenage rebellion and comedy.
Theme
A teacher or authority figure comments on standing up against censorship and intolerance, introducing the film's thematic exploration of freedom of expression versus moral absolutism.
Worldbuilding
Introduction of the school environment, the gang's dynamics, their relationships with teachers, and the upcoming Shakespeare production that will become central to the conflict.
Disruption
Reverend Bubba Flavel and the religious conservatives launch their campaign to shut down the school's Shakespeare festival, claiming it's immoral and obscene.
Resistance
The students debate how to respond to the censorship threat. Coach Goodenough and other sympathetic teachers encourage them to fight back. The gang considers various schemes and plans.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The students actively decide to defend their Shakespeare production and take on the religious zealots, committing themselves to the fight for artistic freedom.
Mirror World
Development of romantic subplots and deeper friendships among the gang as they unite for a common cause, showing the bonds that make their fight meaningful.
Premise
The fun of the students pulling pranks on the religious censors, rehearsing Shakespeare with comedic results, and escalating their battle against Reverend Flavel's crusade.
Midpoint
The students seem to gain the upper hand with a successful counter-demonstration or public exposure of the censors' hypocrisy, creating false hope that they've won.
Opposition
Reverend Flavel escalates his attacks, gaining political support. The school board wavers. Internal conflicts arise among the students. The production faces cancellation.
Collapse
The school board officially cancels the Shakespeare festival, or a key ally abandons them. The students' efforts appear to have failed completely.
Crisis
The gang sits in defeat, questioning whether their fight was worth it. Emotional moments as they confront the possibility of surrender and what it means for their values.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The students realize they must perform the play regardless of official permission, or expose Reverend Flavel's corruption. A new plan emerges combining their rebellious spirit with genuine principle.
Synthesis
The final confrontation where the students execute their plan, the Shakespeare production goes on, and Reverend Flavel is defeated or exposed. The community rallies to support the students.
Transformation
The gang celebrates their victory, having grown from pranksters into defenders of freedom. They remain irreverent but have proven they can fight for something meaningful.