Bedazzled
Elliot Richards, a socially awkward IT worker, is given seven wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as could be expected, the Devil puts her own little twist on each of his fantasies.
Working with a respectable budget of $48.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $90.4M in global revenue (+88% profit margin).
1 win & 3 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%)
Bedazzled (2000) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of Harold Ramis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elliot Richards
The Devil
Alison Gardner
Main Cast & Characters
Elliot Richards
Played by Brendan Fraser
A socially awkward tech support worker who sells his soul to the Devil for seven wishes in hopes of winning the love of his co-worker Alison.
The Devil
Played by Elizabeth Hurley
A beautiful, seductive, and manipulative devil who grants Elliot seven wishes in exchange for his soul, finding clever ways to corrupt each wish.
Alison Gardner
Played by Frances O'Connor
Elliot's attractive co-worker and the object of his affection, unaware of his desperate attempts to win her love through magical wishes.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Elliot Richards sits alone in his cubicle at a tech support job, desperately trying to befriend coworkers who barely acknowledge his existence. He's invisible, pathetic, and hopelessly infatuated with his coworker Alison Gardner.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when After humiliating himself at a bar and being completely ignored, Elliot wishes aloud that he'd give anything for Alison to notice him. The Devil appears as a beautiful woman, offering him seven wishes in exchange for his soul.. At 11% 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 23 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Elliot signs the contract in his own blood, selling his soul for seven wishes. He actively chooses to pursue Alison through supernatural means rather than genuine connection, launching into Act 2's wish sequences., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat After the fourth wish fails spectacularly (as Abraham Lincoln), Elliot realizes the Devil will always twist his wishes. He demands to know what he's doing wrong. False defeat: it seems impossible to win Alison through wishes, raising stakes., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 69 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elliot uses his final wish to make Alison happy with someone else - his most selfless act. But the Devil reveals she has his soul regardless, drags him to Hell for eternity, and he's imprisoned. All seems lost; his soul is damned., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. An angel arrives revealing the contract is void - by making a truly selfless wish, Elliot proved he's a good person and his soul cannot be taken. This new information frees him from Hell and gives him clarity about genuine versus selfish love., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Bedazzled's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Bedazzled against these established plot points, we can identify how Harold Ramis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Bedazzled within the fantasy genre.
Harold Ramis's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Harold Ramis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Bedazzled takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Harold Ramis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Thinner, Ella Enchanted and Conan the Barbarian. For more Harold Ramis analyses, see The Ice Harvest, Year One and National Lampoon's Vacation.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Elliot Richards sits alone in his cubicle at a tech support job, desperately trying to befriend coworkers who barely acknowledge his existence. He's invisible, pathetic, and hopelessly infatuated with his coworker Alison Gardner.
Theme
A coworker dismisses Elliot's attempts at conversation, suggesting that maybe he should just "be himself" - ironic advice that foreshadows his journey through artificial personas before discovering his true self is what matters.
Worldbuilding
Elliot's pathetic daily routine: failing to connect with coworkers, obsessing over Alison from afar, embarrassing himself at a bar trying to impress her, and contemplating suicide in his apartment. His life is defined by loneliness and desperate attempts to be liked.
Disruption
After humiliating himself at a bar and being completely ignored, Elliot wishes aloud that he'd give anything for Alison to notice him. The Devil appears as a beautiful woman, offering him seven wishes in exchange for his soul.
Resistance
Elliot debates whether the Devil is real, tests her powers with a Big Mac and Coke wish, reads the contract, and ultimately hesitates. The Devil demonstrates her power by transforming settings and revealing Hell's call center operation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elliot signs the contract in his own blood, selling his soul for seven wishes. He actively chooses to pursue Alison through supernatural means rather than genuine connection, launching into Act 2's wish sequences.
Mirror World
Elliot meets his cellmate Bob/Esteban in the Colombian drug lord scenario, who later appears in every wish reality. This recurring soul represents genuine friendship and acceptance, contrasting with Elliot's artificial attempts to win Alison.
Premise
The "fun and games" of wish fulfillment: Elliot becomes a Colombian drug lord, a sensitive writer, an NBA star, and a powerful intellectual. Each wish is monkey-pawed by the Devil - he gets what he asked for but not what he wanted, and Alison never truly loves him.
Midpoint
After the fourth wish fails spectacularly (as Abraham Lincoln), Elliot realizes the Devil will always twist his wishes. He demands to know what he's doing wrong. False defeat: it seems impossible to win Alison through wishes, raising stakes.
Opposition
Elliot uses remaining wishes more carefully but fails repeatedly. The Devil tightens her grip, becoming more manipulative. Elliot learns the Devil was once an angel who fell for vanity, creating parallel to his own superficial pursuit of Alison.
Collapse
Elliot uses his final wish to make Alison happy with someone else - his most selfless act. But the Devil reveals she has his soul regardless, drags him to Hell for eternity, and he's imprisoned. All seems lost; his soul is damned.
Crisis
In his Hell cell, Elliot despairs. He meets other damned souls and reflects on his choices. His cellmate reminds him of the good person he is inside. This dark night forces Elliot to confront who he really is versus who he pretended to be.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
An angel arrives revealing the contract is void - by making a truly selfless wish, Elliot proved he's a good person and his soul cannot be taken. This new information frees him from Hell and gives him clarity about genuine versus selfish love.
Synthesis
Elliot returns to real life transformed. He approaches Alison genuinely as himself but accepts when she's not interested. He moves to a new apartment, befriends his quirky neighbor Nicole who appreciates him for who he is, and finds peace without manipulation.
Transformation
Elliot plays basketball with Nicole in the park, genuinely happy and accepted for who he is. Mirror image to opening: instead of alone and pathetic, he's connected and authentic. He learned that being yourself attracts real love, not manipulation or false personas.