What Women Want
Advertising executive Nick Marshall is as cocky as they come, but what happens to a chauvinistic guy when he can suddenly hear what women are thinking? Nick gets passed over for a promotion, but after an accident enables him to hear women's thoughts, he puts his newfound talent to work against Darcy, his new boss, who seems to be infatuated with him.
Despite a moderate budget of $70.0M, What Women Want became a box office success, earning $374.1M worldwide—a 434% return.
5 wins & 9 nominations
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%)
What Women Want (2000) showcases carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Nancy Meyers's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 7 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Nick Marshall struts through his Chicago ad agency, confident and chauvinistic. He's the king of his domain, beloved by himself, treating women as objects. His voiceover reveals his shallow, self-absorbed worldview where he believes he already knows what women want.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Darcy McGuire is brought in from another agency as the new creative director - the job Nick expected to get. She's a woman, brilliant, and everything Nick is not. His world is shattered. The boss explains they need to appeal to women consumers.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to While drunkenly trying on women's products to mock them, Nick slips in the bathtub and electrocutes himself with a hairdryer. He wakes up the next morning able to hear women's thoughts. This supernatural ability forces him into a new world of understanding., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Nick's stolen ideas are a huge hit. He's praised by the boss, and he asks Darcy out to "collaborate." She agrees. He seems to be winning - getting recognition, getting the girl. But it's built on deception. The stakes raise as he starts genuinely falling for Darcy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The boss fires Darcy and promotes Nick to creative director based on "his" brilliant ideas. Nick realizes his betrayal has destroyed the woman he loves. Darcy is devastated, her career damaged. Nick's guilt crushes him - he's become the man he never wanted to be. The "death" of his relationship and his integrity., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 102 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Nick has a realization: he must tell the truth and make it right, regardless of consequences. He synthesizes what he's learned about empathy and respect with his advertising skills. He goes to the boss to confess everything and fight for Darcy., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
What Women Want'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 What Women Want against these established plot points, we can identify how Nancy Meyers utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish What Women Want within the comedy genre.
Nancy Meyers's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Nancy Meyers films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. What Women Want represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nancy Meyers filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Nancy Meyers analyses, see The Holiday, It's Complicated and Something's Gotta Give.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick Marshall struts through his Chicago ad agency, confident and chauvinistic. He's the king of his domain, beloved by himself, treating women as objects. His voiceover reveals his shallow, self-absorbed worldview where he believes he already knows what women want.
Theme
Nick's ex-wife tells him he can't relate to women because he doesn't listen to them or respect them as equals. His daughter Alex echoes this, saying he doesn't know the first thing about women. The theme is stated: understanding requires listening and empathy.
Worldbuilding
Setup of Nick's world: his playboy lifestyle, his expectation of a promotion, his distant relationship with his teenage daughter, his reputation at the agency. Introduction of the advertising world and Nick's cocky assumption that he'll be made creative director.
Disruption
Darcy McGuire is brought in from another agency as the new creative director - the job Nick expected to get. She's a woman, brilliant, and everything Nick is not. His world is shattered. The boss explains they need to appeal to women consumers.
Resistance
Nick resists and debates. He sulks, makes sexist jokes with colleagues, tries to undermine Darcy. Darcy assigns everyone homework: experience products from their new women's market campaign. Nick reluctantly takes home pantyhose, mascara, nail polish, and other feminine products.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
While drunkenly trying on women's products to mock them, Nick slips in the bathtub and electrocutes himself with a hairdryer. He wakes up the next morning able to hear women's thoughts. This supernatural ability forces him into a new world of understanding.
Mirror World
Nick visits his therapist Dr. Perkins (Bette Midler), who helps him understand his gift. She represents wisdom and guides him to see this as an opportunity. She plants the seed that he could use this power for good, to truly understand women.
Premise
The "fun and games" of hearing women's thoughts. Nick uses his power selfishly at first - to manipulate, seduce, and steal Darcy's ideas. He begins presenting brilliant concepts in meetings by reading Darcy's mind. He also starts connecting with his daughter and helping his suicidal assistant Erin.
Midpoint
False victory: Nick's stolen ideas are a huge hit. He's praised by the boss, and he asks Darcy out to "collaborate." She agrees. He seems to be winning - getting recognition, getting the girl. But it's built on deception. The stakes raise as he starts genuinely falling for Darcy.
Opposition
Nick and Darcy grow closer romantically while working together. He continues stealing her ideas but starts feeling guilty. His empathy grows - he helps Erin, connects with his daughter, understands his female coworkers. But the lie deepens. Darcy begins to suspect something is wrong as Nick anticipates her every thought.
Collapse
The boss fires Darcy and promotes Nick to creative director based on "his" brilliant ideas. Nick realizes his betrayal has destroyed the woman he loves. Darcy is devastated, her career damaged. Nick's guilt crushes him - he's become the man he never wanted to be. The "death" of his relationship and his integrity.
Crisis
Nick spirals in shame and regret. He's lost Darcy, who won't return his calls. He has the job but hates himself. His daughter is disappointed in him. He sits in dark night of the soul, confronting what he's done and who he's been his entire life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nick has a realization: he must tell the truth and make it right, regardless of consequences. He synthesizes what he's learned about empathy and respect with his advertising skills. He goes to the boss to confess everything and fight for Darcy.
Synthesis
Nick confesses to his boss that Darcy deserves the credit and the job. He tracks down Darcy and tells her the truth about his power and his theft. He gives her back her job and her ideas. He makes amends with his daughter and colleagues. He uses his final moments with the power to truly listen and help others.
Transformation
Nick walks confidently through the city, but transformed. He no longer hears women's thoughts, but he doesn't need to - he's learned to listen and empathize. Darcy forgives him. He has a real relationship with his daughter. The closing image mirrors the opening, but now he's humble, respectful, and genuinely connected to the women in his life.