Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)
Harley Quinn joins forces with a singer, an assassin and a police detective to help a young girl who had a hit placed on her after she stole a rare diamond from a crime lord.
Despite a substantial budget of $75.0M, Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) became a financial success, earning $205.5M worldwide—a 174% return.
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%)
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (2020) demonstrates deliberately positioned narrative architecture, characteristic of Cathy Yan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Harley Quinn
Dinah Lance / Black Canary
Helena Bertinelli / Huntress
Renee Montoya
Cassandra Cain
Roman Sionis / Black Mask
Victor Zsasz
Main Cast & Characters
Harley Quinn
Played by Margot Robbie
Former psychiatrist turned anarchic criminal seeking independence after breaking up with the Joker
Dinah Lance / Black Canary
Played by Jurnee Smollett
A singer with metahuman powers working for Roman Sionis who becomes a hero
Helena Bertinelli / Huntress
Played by Mary Elizabeth Winstead
A vengeful vigilante hunting those who murdered her family
Renee Montoya
Played by Rosie Perez
A Gotham City police detective investigating Roman Sionis
Cassandra Cain
Played by Ella Jay Basco
A young pickpocket who steals a valuable diamond and becomes a target
Roman Sionis / Black Mask
Played by Ewan McGregor
A narcissistic and sadistic crime lord obsessed with masks and control
Victor Zsasz
Played by Chris Messina
Roman Sionis's loyal and deadly enforcer with a penchant for killing
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Harley Quinn narrates her origin story in animated form, establishing her identity as "The Joker's Girl" and showing her chaotic, dependent relationship with the Joker before their breakup.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Word spreads throughout Gotham's underworld that Harley and Joker have broken up. Without Joker's protection, Harley becomes a target for everyone she's wronged. Doc threatens her, revealing she's now vulnerable and hunted.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Harley is captured by Roman Sionis' men and brought before him. To save herself, she makes a deal: she'll retrieve Cassandra Cain and the diamond for Roman by morning, or she dies. This active choice commits her to the main plot and puts a ticking clock on her survival., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: Harley successfully captures Cassandra and brings her to Roman at the amusement park. Roman betrays Harley, ordering his men to kill both her and Cassandra. Harley realizes she can't make deals with monsters and that loyalty means nothing to people like Roman. Stakes raised - they're both going to die., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (72% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Roman captures Dinah and tortures her, forcing her to choose between loyalty to him or the women. He kills his own business partner in front of everyone, demonstrating his complete psychopathy. Doc is killed. The violence escalates to its darkest point - "whiff of death" - and Roman has Cassandra in his grasp, about to kill her for the diamond., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. The women choose to work together as a team. Harley synthesizes her old skills with new purpose - not as Joker's partner but as part of a chosen family. Renee, Dinah, Helena, and Harley unite their different strengths. They devise a plan to confront Roman and save Cassandra at the abandoned amusement park., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)'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 Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) against these established plot points, we can identify how Cathy Yan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Harley Quinn narrates her origin story in animated form, establishing her identity as "The Joker's Girl" and showing her chaotic, dependent relationship with the Joker before their breakup.
Theme
Montage establishes Gotham's criminal underworld and Roman Sionis (Black Mask) telling Dinah Lance: "Loyalty is so hard to find." This thematic statement explores the film's central question about independence vs. belonging and finding your own identity.
Worldbuilding
Harley processes her breakup with Joker through chaos - cutting her hair, getting a hyena, blowing up Ace Chemicals. We meet the ensemble: detective Renee Montoya investigating Roman Sionis, Helena Bertinelli (Huntress) on a revenge mission, Dinah Lance as a club singer, and young pickpocket Cassandra Cain. Roman Sionis established as brutal crime lord.
Disruption
Word spreads throughout Gotham's underworld that Harley and Joker have broken up. Without Joker's protection, Harley becomes a target for everyone she's wronged. Doc threatens her, revealing she's now vulnerable and hunted.
Resistance
Harley attempts to navigate her new reality of being unprotected. She debates whether to publicly announce the breakup or keep it secret. Meanwhile, Cassandra pickpockets the Bertinelli diamond from Roman's enforcer Zsasz. Roman puts a bounty on Cassandra. Multiple storylines converge as each character moves through their world.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Harley is captured by Roman Sionis' men and brought before him. To save herself, she makes a deal: she'll retrieve Cassandra Cain and the diamond for Roman by morning, or she dies. This active choice commits her to the main plot and puts a ticking clock on her survival.
Mirror World
Harley finds Cassandra in police custody and breaks into the evidence lockup to retrieve her. Their reluctant partnership begins - a young girl who also doesn't fit in and needs protection, mirroring Harley's journey from dependent to independent.
Premise
The fun and games of Harley trying to catch Cassandra while evading various threats. Harley uses her chaos and skills without Joker's shadow. Action sequences include the police station break-in, roller derby escape, and Harley's apartment invasion. Dinah is revealed as Roman's new driver. All storylines continue to build toward convergence.
Midpoint
False defeat: Harley successfully captures Cassandra and brings her to Roman at the amusement park. Roman betrays Harley, ordering his men to kill both her and Cassandra. Harley realizes she can't make deals with monsters and that loyalty means nothing to people like Roman. Stakes raised - they're both going to die.
Opposition
Dinah saves Harley and Cassandra, revealing herself as Black Canary with meta-human powers. Roman kills his club manager in rage, showing his escalating brutality. The women are on the run together. Helena (Huntress) tracks down and kills more of her family's murderers. Renee Montoya continues investigating but is blocked by corruption. Roman's forces close in from all sides.
Collapse
Roman captures Dinah and tortures her, forcing her to choose between loyalty to him or the women. He kills his own business partner in front of everyone, demonstrating his complete psychopathy. Doc is killed. The violence escalates to its darkest point - "whiff of death" - and Roman has Cassandra in his grasp, about to kill her for the diamond.
Crisis
The women regroup at Harley's place. They're scattered, outgunned, and facing certain death. Harley realizes she can't do this alone - her old life of being "someone's girl" is truly dead. The question becomes: can these broken, independent women actually work together?
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The women choose to work together as a team. Harley synthesizes her old skills with new purpose - not as Joker's partner but as part of a chosen family. Renee, Dinah, Helena, and Harley unite their different strengths. They devise a plan to confront Roman and save Cassandra at the abandoned amusement park.
Synthesis
The finale battle at the amusement park. Each woman uses her unique skills: Huntress with crossbow, Black Canary with her sonic scream, Montoya with tactical training, and Harley with creative chaos. They fight through Roman's army. Harley chases Roman and Cassandra. Final confrontation where Cassandra helps Harley defeat Roman - he's blown up with a grenade. The Birds of Prey are born.
Transformation
Harley narrates the resolution: the other women form the Birds of Prey team. Harley and Cassandra become partners in crime, but as equals - Harley is no longer defined by being someone's sidekick or girlfriend. She's her own person, "emancipated," running cons with a young partner she mentors rather than serves. Final image mirrors opening but shows transformation from dependent to independent.