Annie
The 1977 Broadway musical returns to the big screen with this Overbrook Entertainment/Sony Pictures production surrounding a 10-year-old Harlem foster child (played by Beasts of the Southern Wild's Quvenzhané Wallis) taken in by a calculating billionaire (Jamie Foxx) who's campaigning to be mayor. Abandoned by her biological parents as a baby, Annie (Wallis) spends every moment of every day attempting to avoid the wrath of her cruel foster mother Miss Colleen Hannigan (Cameron Diaz). Thing start to look up for Annie, however, when she has a very public encounter with Will Stacks (Foxx), a local cell-phone mogul with mayoral ambitions. Stacks' campaign isn't going too well until he meets Annie and invites her into his home at the suggestion of his trusted top assistant Grace (Rose Byrne) and his ambitious PR advisor Guy (Bobby Cannavale). Meanwhile, what was originally conceived as a PR stunt to win over skeptical voters becomes something much more personal when the jaded tycoon realizes his little friend is much more than a mere good-luck charm.
Despite a moderate budget of $65.0M, Annie became a commercial success, earning $136.9M worldwide—a 111% return.
3 wins & 18 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%)
Annie (2014) reveals meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Will Gluck's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 58 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.5, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Annie Bennett
Will Stacks
Grace Farrell
Miss Colleen Hannigan
Guy Danlily
Nash
Main Cast & Characters
Annie Bennett
Played by Quvenzhané Wallis
An optimistic foster child searching for her parents while living with other foster kids in Harlem.
Will Stacks
Played by Jamie Foxx
A wealthy telecommunications mogul running for mayor who takes Annie in as part of a PR campaign.
Grace Farrell
Played by Rose Byrne
Stacks' chief of staff and assistant who develops genuine care for Annie.
Miss Colleen Hannigan
Played by Cameron Diaz
A bitter, alcoholic former pop star who runs the foster home where Annie lives.
Guy Danlily
Played by Bobby Cannavale
Stacks' political advisor who orchestrates the plan to use Annie for campaign publicity.
Nash
Played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje
Stacks' loyal bodyguard and driver who befriends Annie.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Annie lives in a foster home in Harlem, running a scam with other foster kids at a restaurant. She waits every Friday for her parents who abandoned her, clinging to a note they left promising to return.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Annie nearly gets hit by a van while running after her dog. Will Stacks saves her, and his campaign manager Guy sees the viral video as a PR opportunity. This chance encounter disrupts both their isolated lives.. 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 illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Annie chooses to move in with Stacks temporarily. She leaves the foster home and enters the world of wealth and privilege, beginning their journey together. This is her active choice to trust someone new., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Stacks' poll numbers skyrocket, and he and Annie have genuinely bonded. At a movie screening, they share a father-daughter moment. The stakes raise as Stacks realizes he's falling in love with being Annie's dad, but she still wants her "real" parents., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Annie discovers her "parents" are frauds working with Hannigan. Betrayed and heartbroken, she runs away. Stacks realizes he's lost Annie through his cowardice and emotional distance. The dream of family dies for both of them - Annie loses her fantasy, Stacks loses his chance at real connection., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Stacks realizes the truth: Annie doesn't need her birth parents - she needs him, and he needs her. He abandons his campaign event to rescue Annie, choosing love over ambition. Annie's friend reveals where Hannigan took her, giving Stacks the information to act., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Annie'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 Annie against these established plot points, we can identify how Will Gluck utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Annie within the comedy genre.
Will Gluck's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Will Gluck films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.5, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Annie represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Will Gluck filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Will Gluck analyses, see Friends with Benefits, Easy A and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Annie lives in a foster home in Harlem, running a scam with other foster kids at a restaurant. She waits every Friday for her parents who abandoned her, clinging to a note they left promising to return.
Theme
Miss Hannigan tells Annie, "Your parents left you here like trash," establishing the film's central question: what makes a real family? Annie insists her parents are coming back, showing her need to learn that family is made through choice and love, not biology.
Worldbuilding
We meet Annie's world: the chaotic foster home run by bitter Miss Hannigan, Annie's hopeful personality despite hardship, and Will Stacks, a wealthy cell phone mogul running for mayor who cares only about numbers and success, not people.
Disruption
Annie nearly gets hit by a van while running after her dog. Will Stacks saves her, and his campaign manager Guy sees the viral video as a PR opportunity. This chance encounter disrupts both their isolated lives.
Resistance
Guy pitches using Annie for Stacks' campaign. Annie is resistant to accepting help from Stacks. Stacks debates whether to use a child for political gain. They negotiate: Annie will help his campaign, he'll help find her parents.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Annie chooses to move in with Stacks temporarily. She leaves the foster home and enters the world of wealth and privilege, beginning their journey together. This is her active choice to trust someone new.
Mirror World
Annie and Stacks begin to bond. Grace, Stacks' assistant, shows maternal warmth toward Annie. The "B Story" relationship forms - Stacks and Annie mirror each other's loneliness and teach each other about family and vulnerability.
Premise
The "fun and games" of a street kid in a billionaire's world. Annie experiences helicopter rides, premieres, and luxury. Stacks learns to loosen up and care about more than poll numbers. Their relationship deepens through shared experiences and musical numbers.
Midpoint
False victory: Stacks' poll numbers skyrocket, and he and Annie have genuinely bonded. At a movie screening, they share a father-daughter moment. The stakes raise as Stacks realizes he's falling in love with being Annie's dad, but she still wants her "real" parents.
Opposition
Guy finds fake parents (con artists working with Hannigan) to claim Annie, giving Stacks the perfect exit from an increasingly complicated situation. Annie is thrilled her parents are found. Stacks knows something is wrong but his fear of commitment keeps him from acting.
Collapse
Annie discovers her "parents" are frauds working with Hannigan. Betrayed and heartbroken, she runs away. Stacks realizes he's lost Annie through his cowardice and emotional distance. The dream of family dies for both of them - Annie loses her fantasy, Stacks loses his chance at real connection.
Crisis
Stacks faces his dark night - he's lost Annie and realizes he's been treating her as a campaign prop rather than embracing his love for her. Annie is captured by Hannigan and the fake parents. Both are at their lowest emotional point.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Stacks realizes the truth: Annie doesn't need her birth parents - she needs him, and he needs her. He abandons his campaign event to rescue Annie, choosing love over ambition. Annie's friend reveals where Hannigan took her, giving Stacks the information to act.
Synthesis
Stacks uses his resources and newfound courage to track down and rescue Annie from Hannigan's scheme. He confronts his fear of vulnerability and chooses family. Annie learns to trust and accept chosen family over biological fantasy. Stacks adopts Annie officially.
Transformation
Annie, now adopted, performs with her new family (Stacks, Grace, and her foster siblings whom Stacks also helps). The opening image of Annie alone waiting for absent parents transforms into Annie surrounded by chosen family who actively love her. She's home.