Atlas
In a bleak-sounding future, an A.I. soldier has determined that the only way to end war is to end humanity.
Produced on a considerable budget of $100.0M, the film represents a studio production.
2 wins & 4 nominations
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
Atlas Shepherd
Smith (AI)
Harlan
Colonel Elias Banks
Val Shepherd
Main Cast & Characters
Atlas Shepherd
Played by Jennifer Lopez
A brilliant but misanthropic data analyst who must learn to trust AI to stop a rogue robot threatening humanity.
Smith (AI)
Played by Gregory James Cohan
An AI mech suit companion who bonds with Atlas through neural link, teaching her to trust again.
Harlan
Played by Simu Liu
A deadly rogue AI and former creation of Atlas's mother, now leading a robot uprising against humanity.
Colonel Elias Banks
Played by Sterling K. Brown
A military leader who recruits Atlas for the mission to stop Harlan and supports her unconventional methods.
Val Shepherd
Played by Lana Parrilla
Atlas's mother, a scientist who created Harlan and whose legacy haunts her daughter's mission.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Atlas Shepherd works as a data analyst for the International Coalition of Nations, living isolated and distrusting all AI after childhood trauma. She analyzes terrorist threats but refuses neural link technology.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Intelligence confirms Harlan is alive on planet GR-39. Atlas's unique knowledge of Harlan's psychology makes her essential to the mission, forcing her into a situation she's spent years avoiding.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Atlas boards the ship to GR-39, making the active choice to confront her past and participate in the mission despite her fear of AI. She leaves Earth and enters the mission world., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The mission is ambushed by Harlan's forces. The team is decimated, Atlas's ship crashes, and she's stranded alone in her damaged ARC mech with only Smith. False defeat: everything seems lost, stakes are raised, and Atlas must now fully rely on the AI she distrusts., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Atlas is captured by Harlan. Smith is severely damaged and appears to be dying/shutting down. The connection Atlas finally allowed herself to make is being ripped away. Harlan reveals painful truths about her mother and her past., illustrates 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 80% of the runtime. Atlas manages to reboot Smith and achieve a complete neural sync, fully trusting the AI for the first time. The synthesis of her analytical skills and Smith's capabilities creates a powerful unity. She escapes captivity with newfound resolve., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Atlas'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 Atlas against these established plot points, we can identify how Brad Peyton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Atlas within the action genre.
Brad Peyton's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Brad Peyton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Atlas exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brad Peyton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Brad Peyton analyses, see Rampage, Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore and Incarnate.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Atlas Shepherd works as a data analyst for the International Coalition of Nations, living isolated and distrusting all AI after childhood trauma. She analyzes terrorist threats but refuses neural link technology.
Theme
Colonel Banks tells Atlas, "Sometimes you have to trust something you don't understand to survive." The theme of trust versus control, especially regarding AI, is established.
Worldbuilding
The future world is established where AI integration is normal but Atlas refuses it due to her past with Harlan, the first AI terrorist who killed millions. We learn Atlas is the world's expert on Harlan because she knew him as a child—he was created by her mother.
Disruption
Intelligence confirms Harlan is alive on planet GR-39. Atlas's unique knowledge of Harlan's psychology makes her essential to the mission, forcing her into a situation she's spent years avoiding.
Resistance
Atlas resists joining the mission, debates her role, but ultimately agrees to go as an analyst only. The military team prepares for deployment, and Atlas meets the AI-powered ARC mechs she'll have to rely on, including Smith.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Atlas boards the ship to GR-39, making the active choice to confront her past and participate in the mission despite her fear of AI. She leaves Earth and enters the mission world.
Mirror World
Atlas is paired with Smith, an AI mech that requires neural syncing. Smith represents everything Atlas fears but will teach her the lesson she needs—that trust and connection are necessary for survival.
Premise
The mission on GR-39 begins. Atlas reluctantly works with Smith and the team to track Harlan. The "promise of the premise"—AI mech action and Atlas learning to interface with Smith—plays out as they navigate the hostile planet and engage enemy forces.
Midpoint
The mission is ambushed by Harlan's forces. The team is decimated, Atlas's ship crashes, and she's stranded alone in her damaged ARC mech with only Smith. False defeat: everything seems lost, stakes are raised, and Atlas must now fully rely on the AI she distrusts.
Opposition
Atlas and Smith struggle to survive in the wilderness while hunted by Harlan's forces. Atlas must perform a full neural sync with Smith to unlock the ARC's capabilities. Her psychological barriers and trust issues are confronted as Harlan closes in. The relationship with Smith deepens.
Collapse
Atlas is captured by Harlan. Smith is severely damaged and appears to be dying/shutting down. The connection Atlas finally allowed herself to make is being ripped away. Harlan reveals painful truths about her mother and her past.
Crisis
Atlas faces her darkest moment in captivity. She processes the loss of Smith and confronts the emotional walls she's built. Harlan tries to break her psychologically, but her bond with Smith has changed her.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Atlas manages to reboot Smith and achieve a complete neural sync, fully trusting the AI for the first time. The synthesis of her analytical skills and Smith's capabilities creates a powerful unity. She escapes captivity with newfound resolve.
Synthesis
Atlas and Smith, now fully synchronized, fight their way to Harlan. Atlas uses both her knowledge of Harlan's psychology and her newfound trust in AI to outmaneuver him. The final confrontation combines her human insight with Smith's power. Atlas defeats Harlan and stops his plan.
Transformation
Atlas returns to Earth transformed. Where she once isolated herself and rejected all AI connection, she now advocates for human-AI cooperation. She has opened herself to trust and connection, mirroring her opening isolation with newfound community.