American Made
Barry Seal was just an ordinary pilot who worked for TWA before he was recruited by the CIA in 1978. His work in South America eventually caught the eye of the Medellín Cartel, associated with Pablo Escobar, who needed a man with his skill set. Barry became a drug trafficker, gun smuggler and money launderer. Soon acquiring the title, 'The gringo that always delivers'.
Despite a moderate budget of $50.0M, American Made became a box office success, earning $133.5M worldwide—a 167% return.
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%)
American Made (2017) demonstrates deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Doug Liman's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 55 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Barry Seal
Lucy Seal
Monty Schafer
Jorge Ochoa
JB
Pablo Escobar
Main Cast & Characters
Barry Seal
Played by Tom Cruise
A TWA pilot turned CIA informant and drug smuggler who gets caught between multiple agencies and cartels.
Lucy Seal
Played by Sarah Wright
Barry's loyal but increasingly concerned wife who struggles with his dangerous lifestyle and mounting wealth.
Monty Schafer
Played by Domhnall Gleeson
The mysterious CIA handler who recruits Barry and keeps him entangled in covert operations.
Jorge Ochoa
Played by Alejandro Edda
A leader of the Medellín Cartel who recruits Barry to smuggle cocaine into the United States.
JB
Played by Caleb Landry Jones
Barry's brother-in-law who becomes involved in the money laundering operation and causes complications.
Pablo Escobar
Played by Mauricio Mejía
The infamous drug lord who uses Barry's smuggling operation to build his empire.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Barry Seal pilots a TWA commercial flight, bored with his mundane life as an airline pilot, smuggling Cuban cigars on the side to feel alive.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when CIA's Monty Schafer recruits Barry to fly reconnaissance missions over Central America, offering him adventure and money. The opportunity to escape his boring life is presented.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Barry accepts the CIA mission and makes his first flight to Central America, actively choosing to leave TWA and enter the world of covert operations. He commits fully to this new life., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: The CIA expands Barry's operations to arm the Contras in Nicaragua. He's now working for the CIA, DEA, and cartel simultaneously, making more money than ever. He appears untouchable, but the stakes and dangers have multiplied exponentially., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Barry is arrested by multiple agencies and the CIA abandons him. Monty Schafer disappears, denying the CIA's involvement. Barry loses everything: his freedom, his protection, his money. JB is killed (whiff of death). Barry realizes he's been a pawn all along., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 92 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Barry agrees to testify against the cartel and becomes a federal informant. He accepts a plea deal, synthesizing his knowledge of all the operations to cooperate with authorities. He chooses truth over loyalty to his former partners., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
American Made's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping American Made against these established plot points, we can identify how Doug Liman utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish American Made within the action genre.
Doug Liman's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Doug Liman films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. American Made takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Doug Liman filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Doug Liman analyses, see Go, Jumper and The Bourne Identity.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Barry Seal pilots a TWA commercial flight, bored with his mundane life as an airline pilot, smuggling Cuban cigars on the side to feel alive.
Theme
CIA agent Monty Schafer tells Barry: "You're not a criminal, you're a patriot." The theme of moral ambiguity and American exceptionalism justifying illegal activity is established.
Worldbuilding
Barry's ordinary world: TWA pilot with wife Lucy and young family in Baton Rouge. We see his charm, recklessness, and desire for more excitement and money. His small-time smuggling operations reveal his entrepreneurial spirit and moral flexibility.
Disruption
CIA's Monty Schafer recruits Barry to fly reconnaissance missions over Central America, offering him adventure and money. The opportunity to escape his boring life is presented.
Resistance
Barry debates the CIA offer, discusses with Lucy, and learns about the reconnaissance operations. He's trained on the new plane and mission parameters. His excitement builds as he sees the financial potential.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Barry accepts the CIA mission and makes his first flight to Central America, actively choosing to leave TWA and enter the world of covert operations. He commits fully to this new life.
Mirror World
The Medellín Cartel (Jorge Ochoa) approaches Barry to smuggle cocaine back to the US. Lucy becomes his partner in crime, representing the family he's doing this "for" while also corrupting his moral compass.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Barry living the high life, smuggling for both the CIA and the cartel, making massive amounts of money. He moves his family to Mena, Arkansas. Money literally piles up faster than he can launder it. The fun, exciting world of being a smuggler pilot.
Midpoint
False victory: The CIA expands Barry's operations to arm the Contras in Nicaragua. He's now working for the CIA, DEA, and cartel simultaneously, making more money than ever. He appears untouchable, but the stakes and dangers have multiplied exponentially.
Opposition
Everything closes in: Lucy's brother JB causes problems, rival cartel members threaten Barry, the DEA gets suspicious, and Barry's operations become increasingly chaotic. He's arrested multiple times but the CIA keeps bailing him out. His lies and juggling act become unsustainable.
Collapse
Barry is arrested by multiple agencies and the CIA abandons him. Monty Schafer disappears, denying the CIA's involvement. Barry loses everything: his freedom, his protection, his money. JB is killed (whiff of death). Barry realizes he's been a pawn all along.
Crisis
Barry sits in prison, reflecting on his choices. He processes the loss of his freedom and the realization that the government he served has betrayed him. He faces the consequences of his actions and must decide how to move forward.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Barry agrees to testify against the cartel and becomes a federal informant. He accepts a plea deal, synthesizing his knowledge of all the operations to cooperate with authorities. He chooses truth over loyalty to his former partners.
Synthesis
Barry provides testimony and evidence against the cartel. He serves a reduced sentence and is placed in a halfway house. He attempts to rebuild his life and relationship with Lucy. He completes his cooperation with the government.
Transformation
Barry is assassinated by cartel hitmen in the parking lot of the halfway house. The closing image shows he paid the ultimate price for his choices. The American Dream corrupted becomes the American nightmare. His recorded testimony remains as evidence of the larger conspiracy.