Ant-Man and the Wasp
Despite a significant budget of $140.0M, Ant-Man and the Wasp became a box office success, earning $622.7M worldwide—a 345% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Scott Lang / Ant-Man
Hope Van Dyne / Wasp
Dr. Hank Pym
Ava Starr / Ghost
Dr. Bill Foster
Luis
Janet Van Dyne
Sonny Burch
Main Cast & Characters
Scott Lang / Ant-Man
Played by Paul Rudd
A reformed thief with size-shifting powers who struggles to balance being a superhero with being a good father.
Hope Van Dyne / Wasp
Played by Evangeline Lilly
A skilled scientist and fighter who partners with Scott to rescue her mother from the quantum realm.
Dr. Hank Pym
Played by Michael Douglas
The original Ant-Man and brilliant scientist who mentors Scott and Hope while searching for his lost wife.
Ava Starr / Ghost
Played by Hannah John-Kamen
A woman with molecular instability who can phase through objects, seeking a cure for her painful condition.
Dr. Bill Foster
Played by Laurence Fishburne
A former colleague of Hank Pym who now helps Ghost, torn between scientific ethics and protecting his surrogate daughter.
Luis
Played by Michael Peña
Scott's enthusiastic best friend and business partner who provides comic relief and unexpected help.
Janet Van Dyne
Played by Michelle Pfeiffer
Hope's mother and the original Wasp, trapped in the quantum realm for 30 years with mysterious new abilities.
Sonny Burch
Played by Walton Goggins
A greedy black market dealer trying to steal Pym's technology for profit.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Scott Lang is under house arrest with three days left on his sentence, playing drums and entertaining his daughter Cassie. He's adapted to confinement but is separated from Hope and Hank after the events of Civil War.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Scott experiences an "entanglement" vision of Janet van Dyne in the Quantum Realm while awake. This impossible event disrupts his quiet countdown to freedom and pulls him back into Hank and Hope's world.. At 10% 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 Collapse moment at 73 minutes (61% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ghost phases into the tunnel during the rescue attempt. Janet's location signal is lost in the Quantum Realm. The mission appears to have failed completely. The "death" of hope for Janet's rescue after 30 years., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 80 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 66% of the runtime. The finale: Giant-Man action through San Francisco. Hank enters the Quantum Realm and finds Janet. She returns with quantum healing powers. Janet heals Ghost, saving her life. Scott makes it home before FBI arrives. All conflicts resolved through connection rather than destruction., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Ant-Man and the Wasp's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Ant-Man and the Wasp against these established plot points, we can identify how the filmmaker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Ant-Man and the Wasp within its genre.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Scott Lang is under house arrest with three days left on his sentence, playing drums and entertaining his daughter Cassie. He's adapted to confinement but is separated from Hope and Hank after the events of Civil War.
Theme
Cassie tells Scott, "I had a dream you were lost in a really dark place, but I found you." This states the theme of family connection transcending barriers and finding those who are lost.
Worldbuilding
Scott's life under house arrest is established. We meet his business partner Luis and learn about X-Con Security. Hank and Hope are fugitives building a quantum tunnel to rescue Janet van Dyne from the Quantum Realm. Ghost is introduced stealing Pym tech.
Disruption
Scott experiences an "entanglement" vision of Janet van Dyne in the Quantum Realm while awake. This impossible event disrupts his quiet countdown to freedom and pulls him back into Hank and Hope's world.
Resistance
Hope and Hank abduct Scott to understand his vision. They realize Scott has a quantum entanglement with Janet. Scott resists getting involved due to his house arrest. Hank explains the tunnel could rescue Janet. Ghost attacks their lab.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The fun and games of Ant-Man and Wasp partnership. Shrinking/growing action sequences, quantum technology heists, evading Ghost and Sonny Burch. Luis's truth serum interrogation. The promise of the premise: two heroes working together with size-changing powers.
Opposition
Ghost escalates attacks to steal the lab for her own survival. Sonny Burch's criminal organization closes in. The FBI discovers Scott's absence. The heroes are squeezed from all sides. The lab is stolen by Ghost.
Collapse
Ghost phases into the tunnel during the rescue attempt. Janet's location signal is lost in the Quantum Realm. The mission appears to have failed completely. The "death" of hope for Janet's rescue after 30 years.
Crisis
Scott sits in despair believing Janet is lost forever. Hank mourns his wife again. Hope processes the failure. The team must regroup emotionally while Ghost prepares to drain Janet's quantum energy for herself.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: Giant-Man action through San Francisco. Hank enters the Quantum Realm and finds Janet. She returns with quantum healing powers. Janet heals Ghost, saving her life. Scott makes it home before FBI arrives. All conflicts resolved through connection rather than destruction.