Pitch Perfect

At the 2011 ICCA Finals, the Treblemakers win while the Bellas suffer a crushing defeat. Senior leader Aubrey Posen is overcome by stage fright and vomits onstage, undermining the Bellas in front of the judges and audience. The moment casts a shadow over the group and triggers a cascade of changes for everyone involved.

Beca Mitchell enrolls as a freshman at Barden University after her father, a professor there, insists she try college for a year. She spends time crafting mash-ups and interning at the campus radio station. She befriends fellow freshman Jesse Swanson and begins to find her own path outside traditional classes.

Aubrey and Chloe begin recruiting new members for the Bellas, hoping to rebuild the group after the earlier embarrassment. Interest from potential recruits is tepid, setting a tense tone around the Bellas’ future. The formation of the new lineup is opposed by lingering doubts within the team.

Beca auditions with a standout performance of Cups (When I’m Gone) and earns a coveted spot in the Bellas alongside seven newcomers. The group adds Cynthia Rose Adams, Stacie Conrad, Lilly Onakuramara, Fat Amy Hobart, Jessica Smith, Ashley Jones, and Denise. Tensions with the established members simmer as everyone adjusts to the new lineup.

Simultaneously, Jesse Swanson joins the Treblemakers, while Benji Applebaum is turned away at the door for awkward demeanor despite a strong audition. The two rival groups begin to build their teams for the upcoming competitions. The campus begins to buzz with contrast between the two ensembles.

The Bellas enter the 2012 Regional competition and perform the familiar medley that had carried them to the Finals in the past. The Treblemakers take first place, while the Bellas finish in second and advance to the Semi-Finals. The result reinforces old loyalties but leaves room for changes.

After regional, the Bellas try to intervene in a fight between the Treblemakers and the Tonehangers. In the chaos, Beca and Fat Amy break a window with the Treblemakers’ trophy and Beca is arrested. Jesse helps bail her out, but the incident strains her relationships with Jesse and Aubrey.

On the way to the Semi-Finals, the Treblemakers harass Fat Amy, forcing the Bellas to travel on a shared bus after they run out of gas. The tense ride deepens the divide between the groups and puts pressure on the Bellas' preparations.

For the Semi-Finals, Beca secretly layers an arrangement of Bulletproof into the Bellas’ opening song, The Sign, injecting energy into a bored audience. The bold move earns praise from the crowd and judges, but Aubrey accuses Beca of breaking the Bella code. Beca loses her temper, snaps at both Aubrey and Jesse, and quits the Bellas.

Despite the turmoil, the Bellas place third at the Semi-Finals. A later revelation shows the leader of the second-place Footnotes is still in high school, which disqualifies them and clears the path for the Bellas to reach the Finals. The team begins to rally around a new plan.

During a tense rehearsal, the Bellas stand up to Aubrey. Aubrey’s distress triggers a violent vomiting episode that becomes a turning point. Beca arrives, mediates, apologizes for altering the set without approval, and asks to rejoin; Aubrey agrees and relinquishes half of the Bellas’ leadership to Beca, enabling a more collaborative dynamic.

Chloe discovers she can sing bass notes after vocal nodules surgery, adding unexpected depth to the Bellas' sound. The group celebrates this personal breakthrough as part of their evolving dynamics. It signals a broadening of their vocal range and harmony.

Bumper Allen quits the Treblemakers to work as a back-up singer for John Mayer, while Jesse helps persuade the Trebles to offer Benji a place in their lineup. The Treblemakers reshape their roster in anticipation of the Finals.

At the Finals, the Bellas deliver a show-stopping medley arranged by Beca, including Don't You Forget About Me and a nod to Jesse’s favorite film. The performance serves as a powerful apology and marks Beca’s creative leadership, culminating in a kiss between Beca and Jesse. The Bellas defeat the Treblemakers and win the national championship.

The story closes with the Bellas planning new auditions for six months after the Finals, signaling a fresh era for the group. The transition hints at continued growth and the potential for new talent to join the Bellas' ranks.