Prom
Prom and high school graduations are approaching for a group of seniors, but when the decorations are destroyed in an act of school vandalism, the class president is left scrambling. With everybody else pre-occupied with finding dates and dresses, prom committee Nova Prescott is left to rely on the principal forcing a troublemaking rebel to help her out. But when he's there for her when she needs it, she starts looking at him in a different light.
Working with a modest budget of $8.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $10.1M in global revenue (+27% 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%)
Prom (2011) reveals carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Joe Nussbaum'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 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nova Prescott
Jesse Richter
Mei Kwan
Tyler Barso
Jordan Lundley
Lucas Arnaz
Simone Daniels
Lloyd Taylor
Main Cast & Characters
Nova Prescott
Played by Aimee Teegarden
Overachieving class president determined to make prom perfect despite disasters threatening the event.
Jesse Richter
Played by Thomas McDonell
Rebellious bad boy who must help organize prom after his prank goes wrong.
Mei Kwan
Played by Yin Chang
Nova's best friend focused on getting into college and finding the perfect prom date.
Tyler Barso
Played by De'Vaughn Nixon
Popular jock who gets rejected by his girlfriend before prom and must find his confidence.
Jordan Lundley
Played by Kylie Bunbury
Self-absorbed prom queen candidate obsessed with winning the crown and social status.
Lucas Arnaz
Played by Nolan Sotillo
Sweet, shy guy who has secretly loved his best friend for years.
Simone Daniels
Played by Danielle Campbell
Lucas's outgoing best friend who is oblivious to his romantic feelings.
Lloyd Taylor
Played by Nicholas Braun
Jordan's boyfriend who struggles with her superficiality and controlling behavior.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nova Prescott is introduced as the perfect, over-achieving student body president who has meticulously planned every detail of the upcoming prom. She represents total control and perfectionism.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when The prom decorations are destroyed in a fire at the school, devastating Nova's months of meticulous planning and threatening to ruin prom entirely. Her perfect vision goes up in flames.. 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 reveals the protagonist's commitment to Nova makes the active choice to work with Jesse, accepting that she can't do everything alone. She enters a new world where she must collaborate with someone who represents everything she's not: spontaneous, carefree, and unpredictable., 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 Nova and Jesse share a genuine moment of connection and mutual respect. The decorations are coming together beautifully, and it seems like everything will work out perfectly. False victory: Nova thinks she can have both control and Jesse., 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, Nova and Jesse have a major falling out. Her inability to let go of control drives him away, and it appears both the romantic relationship and possibly even prom itself are ruined. Nova faces the death of her perfect plan and her connection with Jesse., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Nova has a realization: perfection isn't the goal, authentic connection is. She synthesizes her organizational skills with Jesse's lesson about spontaneity, understanding she can plan while staying open to life's surprises. She decides to fight for what matters., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Prom'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 Prom against these established plot points, we can identify how Joe Nussbaum utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Prom within the comedy genre.
Joe Nussbaum's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Joe Nussbaum films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Prom takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joe Nussbaum filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Joe Nussbaum analyses, see Sleepover, Sydney White.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nova Prescott is introduced as the perfect, over-achieving student body president who has meticulously planned every detail of the upcoming prom. She represents total control and perfectionism.
Theme
A teacher or friend mentions that "sometimes the best moments are the ones you don't plan," foreshadowing Nova's need to learn spontaneity and let go of control.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the ensemble cast of high school students preparing for prom: various romantic subplots are established, Nova's perfectionist nature is demonstrated, and Jesse Richter is shown as the rebellious outsider who doesn't care about school events.
Disruption
The prom decorations are destroyed in a fire at the school, devastating Nova's months of meticulous planning and threatening to ruin prom entirely. Her perfect vision goes up in flames.
Resistance
Nova resists accepting help and struggles with the disaster. The principal assigns Jesse Richter to help rebuild the decorations as punishment for his own infractions. Nova initially refuses to work with him, debating whether she can pull off prom with this unreliable partner.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nova makes the active choice to work with Jesse, accepting that she can't do everything alone. She enters a new world where she must collaborate with someone who represents everything she's not: spontaneous, carefree, and unpredictable.
Mirror World
Nova and Jesse begin their partnership, and their opposing worldviews create friction but also chemistry. Jesse represents the thematic counterpoint: living in the moment versus planning everything. Their relationship will teach Nova what she needs to learn.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Nova and Jesse working together, along with parallel prom preparation storylines from other students. Romance blossoms, mishaps occur, and Nova slowly begins to loosen up and see value in Jesse's spontaneous approach to life.
Midpoint
Nova and Jesse share a genuine moment of connection and mutual respect. The decorations are coming together beautifully, and it seems like everything will work out perfectly. False victory: Nova thinks she can have both control and Jesse.
Opposition
Complications arise as Nova's controlling nature clashes with Jesse's independence. External pressures mount regarding prom details, other students' drama intensifies, and Nova's fear of losing control pushes Jesse away. Her old habits threaten the relationship.
Collapse
Nova and Jesse have a major falling out. Her inability to let go of control drives him away, and it appears both the romantic relationship and possibly even prom itself are ruined. Nova faces the death of her perfect plan and her connection with Jesse.
Crisis
Nova sits in her dark night of the soul, processing the loss and recognizing that her need for control has cost her something real and valuable. She reflects on what truly matters versus her superficial need for perfection.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nova has a realization: perfection isn't the goal, authentic connection is. She synthesizes her organizational skills with Jesse's lesson about spontaneity, understanding she can plan while staying open to life's surprises. She decides to fight for what matters.
Synthesis
Prom night arrives. Nova executes her plan but with newfound flexibility and openness. She makes things right with Jesse, embraces imperfection, and allows herself to experience prom rather than just manage it. All storylines resolve as students learn their own lessons.
Transformation
Nova dances with Jesse at prom, fully present in the moment rather than worrying about details. The closing image mirrors the opening but shows her transformation: same setting, same event, but she's now someone who can balance planning with spontaneity and embrace imperfection.