Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
As the west rapidly becomes civilized, a pair of outlaws in 1890s Wyoming find themselves pursued by a posse and decide to flee to South America in hopes of evading the law.
Despite its limited budget of $6.0M, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid became a commercial juggernaut, earning $102.3M worldwide—a remarkable 1605% return. The film's unique voice resonated with audiences, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) showcases strategically placed story structure, characteristic of George Roy Hill's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 14-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Butch Cassidy
Sundance Kid
Etta Place
Percy Garris
Main Cast & Characters
Butch Cassidy
Played by Paul Newman
Charismatic leader of the Hole in the Wall Gang, charming outlaw who prefers brains over violence.
Sundance Kid
Played by Robert Redford
Butch's partner and fast-draw gunslinger, loyal but more cautious and volatile than Butch.
Etta Place
Played by Katharine Ross
Schoolteacher and Sundance's love interest, intelligent woman who joins the outlaws in Bolivia.
Percy Garris
Played by Jeff Corey
Lawman leading the relentless super posse that pursues Butch and Sundance across the country.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Butch Cassidy confidently plays cards in a saloon, establishing him as a charming outlaw living the good life robbing trains and banks with his Hole-in-the-Wall Gang.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when During a second train robbery, a special posse on a second train immediately emerges and begins relentlessly pursuing Butch and Sundance, marking the end of their easy outlaw life.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Cornered on a cliff above a raging river, Butch and Sundance make the active choice to jump into the gorge, literally leaping from their old life into an uncertain new world., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat A Bolivian bandit recognizes them during a robbery, revealing that their reputation has followed them and they're no longer anonymous. The carefree fun ends as stakes rise and they realize they can't escape their past., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Etta Place leaves Butch and Sundance, refusing to watch them die. This separation represents the death of their dream of a new life and the loss of the emotional center that made them believe change was possible., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. After their final robbery, Butch and Sundance are identified and pursued into the small town of San Vicente, where they realize the Bolivian army is converging. They accept that the life they knew is over., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 14 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid against these established plot points, we can identify how George Roy Hill utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid within the adventure genre.
George Roy Hill's Structural Approach
Among the 5 George Roy Hill films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.1, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Roy Hill filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more George Roy Hill analyses, see The World According to Garp, Slap Shot and The Sting.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Butch Cassidy confidently plays cards in a saloon, establishing him as a charming outlaw living the good life robbing trains and banks with his Hole-in-the-Wall Gang.
Theme
A guard at the bank tells Butch and Sundance, "You should have let yourself get killed a long time ago when you had the chance," foreshadowing the theme that their outlaw lifestyle is becoming obsolete and will lead to their demise.
Worldbuilding
Butch faces a leadership challenge from Harvey Logan, meets Etta Place (Sundance's lover), and successfully robs a Union Pacific train with the gang, establishing the trio's relationships and the gang's operations in the fading Old West.
Disruption
During a second train robbery, a special posse on a second train immediately emerges and begins relentlessly pursuing Butch and Sundance, marking the end of their easy outlaw life.
Resistance
Butch and Sundance are relentlessly pursued by the superposse through grueling terrain. They debate their options, attempt various escapes, and realize they cannot outrun or outfight their pursuers in this new era of law enforcement.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Cornered on a cliff above a raging river, Butch and Sundance make the active choice to jump into the gorge, literally leaping from their old life into an uncertain new world.
Premise
The trio escapes to Bolivia to start fresh as bank robbers. We see montages of their romantic idyll and successful robberies, delivering the fun premise of charismatic outlaws in a new exotic setting, living the dream one last time.
Midpoint
A Bolivian bandit recognizes them during a robbery, revealing that their reputation has followed them and they're no longer anonymous. The carefree fun ends as stakes rise and they realize they can't escape their past.
Opposition
The Bolivian law closes in. Multiple posses hunt them. They attempt to go straight as payroll guards but end up killing bandits. Etta, seeing the inevitable end approaching, decides to leave them and return to America.
Collapse
Etta Place leaves Butch and Sundance, refusing to watch them die. This separation represents the death of their dream of a new life and the loss of the emotional center that made them believe change was possible.
Crisis
Alone and aimless, Butch and Sundance return to robbing banks. They discuss going to Australia for a fresh start, but it's clear they're going through the motions, trapped in their pattern with no real path forward.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
After their final robbery, Butch and Sundance are identified and pursued into the small town of San Vicente, where they realize the Bolivian army is converging. They accept that the life they knew is over.
Synthesis
Trapped in a building and surrounded by the entire Bolivian army, Butch and Sundance fight back with their old skills and humor intact, making plans to escape to Australia even as the situation becomes hopeless.
Transformation
Wounded but defiant, Butch and Sundance reload their guns and charge out together. The frame freezes on them in motion, preserving them as eternal outlaws, transformed into legend rather than dying on screen.