47 Meters Down
Two sisters on Mexican vacation are trapped in a shark observation cage at the bottom of the ocean, with oxygen running low and great whites circling nearby, they have less than an hour of air left to figure out how to get to the surface.
Despite its limited budget of $5.5M, 47 Meters Down became a massive hit, earning $62.2M worldwide—a remarkable 1031% return. The film's unconventional structure connected with viewers, demonstrating that 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%)
47 Meters Down (2017) reveals meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Johannes Roberts's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 29 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Lisa
Kate
Captain Taylor
Main Cast & Characters
Lisa
Played by Mandy Moore
A cautious young woman trapped underwater in a shark cage, struggling with self-doubt and relationship issues.
Kate
Played by Claire Holt
Lisa's adventurous younger sister who pushes her sibling to take risks and live more spontaneously.
Captain Taylor
Played by Matthew Modine
The dive boat captain who operates the shark cage diving expedition off the coast of Mexico.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Lisa sits alone at a bar in Mexico, visibly heartbroken and withdrawn after her boyfriend Stuart broke up with her, texting him desperately while her sister Kate tries to cheer her up.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Kate convinces the hesitant Lisa to go shark cage diving with Captain Taylor's sketchy operation, promising it will make Stuart jealous and help Lisa break out of her shell.. At 11% 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 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Lisa and Kate make the active choice to enter the shark cage and descend into the ocean, despite Lisa's fears and the obvious safety concerns with Taylor's operation., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The sisters realize the full horror of their situation: they're too deep for safe ascent, running low on air, the Coast Guard is hours away, and swimming to the surface will cause fatal nitrogen narcosis. Their survival odds have collapsed., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 65 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Kate is dragged away and killed by sharks in a brutal attack while Lisa watches helplessly, losing her sister and any hope of both surviving. Lisa is now completely alone in the dark with nearly empty tanks., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 70 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Lisa makes the desperate swim to the surface, fighting off sharks and nitrogen narcosis hallucinations, discovering Kate is actually alive. Together they fight to reach the Coast Guard boat in a final confrontation with the sharks., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
47 Meters Down's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping 47 Meters Down against these established plot points, we can identify how Johannes Roberts utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish 47 Meters Down within the horror genre.
Johannes Roberts's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Johannes Roberts films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. 47 Meters Down takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Johannes Roberts filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye. For more Johannes Roberts analyses, see The Strangers: Prey at Night, Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City and 47 Meters Down: Uncaged.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lisa sits alone at a bar in Mexico, visibly heartbroken and withdrawn after her boyfriend Stuart broke up with her, texting him desperately while her sister Kate tries to cheer her up.
Theme
Kate tells Lisa "You need to do something that scares you" and pushes her to be more adventurous and take risks rather than playing it safe, establishing the theme of courage versus fear.
Worldbuilding
The sisters explore the Mexican coast vacation setting. Lisa is risk-averse and boring, still texting Stuart. Kate is wild and adventurous. They meet local guys Luis and Benjamin at a beach party who invite them shark cage diving.
Disruption
Kate convinces the hesitant Lisa to go shark cage diving with Captain Taylor's sketchy operation, promising it will make Stuart jealous and help Lisa break out of her shell.
Resistance
The sisters debate whether to trust Captain Taylor despite his old equipment and lack of permits. They meet Taylor, see the rusty cage, and Lisa expresses doubts, but Kate pushes forward. They suit up and prepare to descend.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Lisa and Kate make the active choice to enter the shark cage and descend into the ocean, despite Lisa's fears and the obvious safety concerns with Taylor's operation.
Premise
The cage diving experience delivers thrills as sharks circle. Kate pushes to go deeper for better photos. The winch cable suddenly snaps and the cage plummets 47 meters to the ocean floor, trapping both sisters in darkness with limited air and sharks above.
Midpoint
The sisters realize the full horror of their situation: they're too deep for safe ascent, running low on air, the Coast Guard is hours away, and swimming to the surface will cause fatal nitrogen narcosis. Their survival odds have collapsed.
Opposition
Every attempt to escape fails. Lisa swims for spare tanks but is stalked by sharks. Kate's leg is injured. The nitrogen narcosis causes hallucinations. Captain Taylor is killed trying to help. Their air supply dwindles as sharks circle closer.
Collapse
Kate is dragged away and killed by sharks in a brutal attack while Lisa watches helplessly, losing her sister and any hope of both surviving. Lisa is now completely alone in the dark with nearly empty tanks.
Crisis
Lisa mourns Kate in the darkness, completely broken and ready to give up. She hallucinates Kate encouraging her, processing the devastating loss while her air runs out.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Lisa makes the desperate swim to the surface, fighting off sharks and nitrogen narcosis hallucinations, discovering Kate is actually alive. Together they fight to reach the Coast Guard boat in a final confrontation with the sharks.