The Addams Family 2
The Addams get tangled up in more wacky adventures and find themselves involved in hilarious run-ins with all sorts of unsuspecting characters.
The film earned $119.8M at the global box office.
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%)
The Addams Family 2 (2021) exemplifies meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Conrad Vernon's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 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 The Addams family prepares for Wednesday's science fair, showcasing their macabre domestic normalcy. Wednesday presents her experiment reanimating a dead frog, demonstrating the family's bizarre but loving dynamic.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Wednesday openly rejects her family at the science fair celebration, declaring she wants nothing to do with them. Her harsh words wound Gomez and Morticia, who realize they're losing their daughter to adolescent rebellion.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The Addams family officially departs on their cross-country road trip. Despite Wednesday's resistance, they're committed to the journey together, leaving their mansion to explore America and reconnect as a family., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Wednesday meets Cyrus in person and sees DNA evidence suggesting she's his daughter. She experiences a false victory—finally feeling like she's found where she truly belongs, with someone who understands her scientifically. But this pulls her further from her real family., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Wednesday is captured by Cyrus, who reveals his plan to harvest her DNA and discard her. Simultaneously, Gomez and Morticia discover the truth: Wednesday IS their biological daughter—the test was faked. They've lost her to a villain, and she doesn't know they're her real family., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The Addams family rallies together with newfound clarity: they must rescue Wednesday and show her through actions, not words, that she belongs with them. They synthesize their unique macabre skills with genuine love to mount a rescue mission., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Addams Family 2'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 The Addams Family 2 against these established plot points, we can identify how Conrad Vernon utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Addams Family 2 within the animation genre.
Conrad Vernon's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Conrad Vernon films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Addams Family 2 takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Conrad Vernon filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional animation films include The Bad Guys, The Quintessential Quintuplets Movie and Fate/stay night: Heaven's Feel I. Presage Flower. For more Conrad Vernon analyses, see Shrek 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The Addams family prepares for Wednesday's science fair, showcasing their macabre domestic normalcy. Wednesday presents her experiment reanimating a dead frog, demonstrating the family's bizarre but loving dynamic.
Theme
Morticia expresses concern that Wednesday is pulling away from the family, stating that families should stay together. This plants the thematic question: what does it mean to belong to a family as children grow and seek independence?
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the Addams family dynamics: Gomez and Morticia worry about Wednesday's adolescent distancing, Pugsley feels neglected, Uncle Fester adds chaos. Wednesday wins the science fair but rejects the family's enthusiasm, showing growing teenage alienation.
Disruption
Wednesday openly rejects her family at the science fair celebration, declaring she wants nothing to do with them. Her harsh words wound Gomez and Morticia, who realize they're losing their daughter to adolescent rebellion.
Resistance
Gomez hatches a plan to reconnect with his children through a family road trip across America. The family debates and prepares for the journey, packing their creepy camper. Meanwhile, a mysterious scientist named Cyrus shows interest in Wednesday's DNA.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The Addams family officially departs on their cross-country road trip. Despite Wednesday's resistance, they're committed to the journey together, leaving their mansion to explore America and reconnect as a family.
Mirror World
Cyrus Strange reveals to Wednesday that she may not be Gomez and Morticia's biological daughter—she might be his, accidentally switched at birth. This revelation introduces the core thematic conflict: is family about biology or bonds?
Premise
The road trip "fun and games" as the Addams visit bizarre Americana landmarks, causing chaos wherever they go. Wednesday secretly communicates with Cyrus and questions her identity, while Gomez desperately tries to bond through forced family activities and tourist traps.
Midpoint
Wednesday meets Cyrus in person and sees DNA evidence suggesting she's his daughter. She experiences a false victory—finally feeling like she's found where she truly belongs, with someone who understands her scientifically. But this pulls her further from her real family.
Opposition
Wednesday grows closer to Cyrus while distancing from the Addams. Cyrus's true sinister nature begins to emerge—he wants to extract Wednesday's unique genetics for his experiments. Meanwhile, Gomez and Morticia investigate the baby switch theory, growing desperate to prove Wednesday is theirs.
Collapse
Wednesday is captured by Cyrus, who reveals his plan to harvest her DNA and discard her. Simultaneously, Gomez and Morticia discover the truth: Wednesday IS their biological daughter—the test was faked. They've lost her to a villain, and she doesn't know they're her real family.
Crisis
The Addams family faces their darkest moment. Wednesday is in mortal danger, believing she never belonged with them. Gomez and Morticia grapple with their failure to make Wednesday feel loved and accepted. The family must find a way to save her and prove that family is more than DNA.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The Addams family rallies together with newfound clarity: they must rescue Wednesday and show her through actions, not words, that she belongs with them. They synthesize their unique macabre skills with genuine love to mount a rescue mission.
Synthesis
The finale: The Addams infiltrate Cyrus's lair using their creepy abilities. A climactic battle ensues where each family member contributes their unique talents. They save Wednesday, defeat Cyrus, and Wednesday sees the DNA proof that she is their biological daughter—but more importantly, realizes biology doesn't matter.
Transformation
Wednesday returns home and voluntarily participates in a family portrait, smiling genuinely. The image mirrors the opening but shows transformation: Wednesday has accepted her place in the family, understanding that belonging comes from love and shared values, not DNA.