Army of the Dead
Despite a substantial budget of $90.0M, Army of the Dead became a financial success, earning $190.7M worldwide—a 112% 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 Ward
Maria Cruz
Vanderohe
Kate Ward
Marianne Peters
Ludwig Dieter
Lilly
Burt Cummings
Martin
Mikey Guzman
Main Cast & Characters
Scott Ward
Played by Dave Bautista
Former zombie war hero recruited to lead a heist team into quarantined Las Vegas to retrieve $200 million from a casino vault.
Maria Cruz
Played by Ana de la Reguera
A skilled mechanic and single mother who joins the heist to secure a better future for her children.
Vanderohe
Played by Omari Hardwick
A philosophical zombie killer andsaw expert, loyal friend to Scott from the original zombie wars.
Kate Ward
Played by Ella Purnell
Scott's estranged daughter who works at a quarantine camp and joins the mission to rescue a missing friend.
Marianne Peters
Played by Tig Notaro
A sharpshooting pilot and Scott's former teammate, bitter about being overlooked after the zombie war.
Ludwig Dieter
Played by Matthias Schweighöfer
A nervous but skilled German safecracker recruited for his expertise in opening the casino vault.
Lilly
Played by Nora Arnezeder
A tough, enigmatic coyote who knows the secret paths through zombie-infested Las Vegas.
Burt Cummings
Played by Theo Rossi
A social media influencer and zombie killer more focused on content than survival.
Martin
Played by Garret Dillahunt
The head of security for casino mogul Bly Tanaka, secretly has his own agenda for the mission.
Mikey Guzman
Played by Raúl Castillo
Cummings' best friend and sidekick, helps document their zombie-killing exploits for social media.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Scott Ward flips burgers at a fast-food joint outside Las Vegas, a former war hero now relegated to menial work after the zombie outbreak. His glory days are behind him, living in quiet shame and estrangement from his daughter Kate.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Bly Tanaka offers Scott $50 million to retrieve $200 million from a casino vault in zombie-infested Las Vegas before the government nukes the city in 72 hours. This offer disrupts Scott's resigned existence and presents a chance to change his life and reconnect with his daughter.. At 9% through the film, this Disruption arrives earlier than typical, accelerating the narrative momentum. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 20% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The team crosses into the quarantine zone through the shipping container entrance, guided by Lilly the Coyote. Scott makes the active choice to enter the undead Las Vegas, fully committing to the heist despite knowing the dangers. There is no turning back now., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 40% of the runtime—significantly early, compressing the first half. Notably, this crucial beat Martin secretly kills Zeus's pregnant queen and decapitates her to harvest the Alpha zombie fetus for Tanaka. This false victory (they're making progress on the heist) triggers devastating consequences. Zeus discovers his queen's body and vows revenge, raising the stakes dramatically. The fun and games are over., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 74 minutes (62% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Maria Cruz sacrifices herself in the casino to save the team from Zeus, dying in Scott's arms. This literal death of Scott's closest friend and former flame represents the whiff of death. Scott realizes the money means nothing—he must save Kate. The heist dream dies here., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 66% of the runtime. Scott finds Kate and Geeta alive. He fully commits to saving his daughter over the money, synthesizing what he's learned: family and redemption matter more than wealth. This realization, combined with the approaching nuclear deadline, propels him into the final act with clarity of purpose., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Army of the Dead's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Army of the Dead 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 Army of the Dead within its genre.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Scott Ward flips burgers at a fast-food joint outside Las Vegas, a former war hero now relegated to menial work after the zombie outbreak. His glory days are behind him, living in quiet shame and estrangement from his daughter Kate.
Theme
Tanaka tells Scott: "The past doesn't matter. What matters is what you do next." This thematic statement foreshadows Scott's journey of redemption and the choice between money and reconciliation with his daughter.
Worldbuilding
Extended opening credits montage establishes the zombie outbreak origin, military response, fall of Las Vegas, and Scott's team's heroic efforts. We see the quarantine zone established and learn Scott lost his wife. The setup reveals the contained zombie kingdom in Vegas and introduces key characters including Scott's estranged relationship with Kate.
Disruption
Bly Tanaka offers Scott $50 million to retrieve $200 million from a casino vault in zombie-infested Las Vegas before the government nukes the city in 72 hours. This offer disrupts Scott's resigned existence and presents a chance to change his life and reconnect with his daughter.
Resistance
Scott debates taking the job and begins recruiting his old team: Maria Cruz, Vanderohe, Mikey Guzman, and Chambers. He meets safecracker Ludwig Dieter and pilot Marianne Peters. Kate confronts Scott about entering the quarantine zone. Martin joins as Tanaka's inside man. The team prepares, gathers equipment, and Scott grapples with the moral implications.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The team crosses into the quarantine zone through the shipping container entrance, guided by Lilly the Coyote. Scott makes the active choice to enter the undead Las Vegas, fully committing to the heist despite knowing the dangers. There is no turning back now.
Mirror World
Kate secretly enters the quarantine zone to rescue Geeta, a mother searching for her children. This B-story represents the thematic counterpoint to Scott's greed-motivated mission—Kate embodies selfless redemption and reminds Scott what truly matters: family and doing the right thing, not money.
Premise
The team navigates zombie-filled Las Vegas, encountering both shambler zombies and intelligent Alphas. They meet Zeus and his queen in a tense standoff where Lilly negotiates safe passage. The team witnesses the zombie kingdom's hierarchy and reaches the casino. Dieter begins cracking the vault. The promise of the premise is delivered: a heist in a zombie-infested Vegas.
Midpoint
Martin secretly kills Zeus's pregnant queen and decapitates her to harvest the Alpha zombie fetus for Tanaka. This false victory (they're making progress on the heist) triggers devastating consequences. Zeus discovers his queen's body and vows revenge, raising the stakes dramatically. The fun and games are over.
Opposition
Zeus and his Alpha horde hunt the team relentlessly. Chambers is bitten and turns. Martin's betrayal is revealed. Kate is trapped in the basement with Geeta. The nuclear strike timeline accelerates. Guzman is killed by shamblers. The helicopter pilot Peters dies. Team members turn on each other as paranoia grows and the walls close in.
Collapse
Maria Cruz sacrifices herself in the casino to save the team from Zeus, dying in Scott's arms. This literal death of Scott's closest friend and former flame represents the whiff of death. Scott realizes the money means nothing—he must save Kate. The heist dream dies here.
Crisis
Scott processes Maria's death and makes the emotional choice to abandon the money to find Kate. Vanderohe takes the money and escapes separately. Dieter is killed by Zeus. Scott confronts the weight of his failures and broken relationship with Kate in this dark night before his final stand.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Scott finds Kate and Geeta alive. He fully commits to saving his daughter over the money, synthesizing what he's learned: family and redemption matter more than wealth. This realization, combined with the approaching nuclear deadline, propels him into the final act with clarity of purpose.
Synthesis
Scott, Kate, and Geeta fight through Zeus's horde to reach the roof. Scott faces Zeus in a final confrontation, ultimately killing the Alpha king. They reach the helicopter but it's damaged. Scott sacrifices himself by staying behind so Kate can escape. The nuke detonates, destroying Las Vegas. Vanderohe escapes through the vault but is bitten, discovering he's infected as he wins at slots in Mexico City.
Transformation
Kate survives, rescued just outside the blast radius, but her father is dead. Unlike the Status Quo where Scott was alive but emotionally dead to Kate, he has now physically died but achieved emotional redemption. Kate has lost her father but gained his love and sacrifice. Vanderohe, wealthy but infected, represents the hollow victory of choosing money over meaning.