Catwoman
Liquidated after discovering a corporate conspiracy, mild-mannered graphic artist Patience Phillips washes up on an island, where she's resurrected and endowed with the prowess of a cat — and she's eager to use her new skills... as a vigilante. Before you can say "cat and mouse", handsome gumshoe Tom Lone is on her tail, fascinated by both of her personas.
The film underperformed commercially against its substantial budget of $100.0M, earning $82.1M globally (-18% loss).
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%)
Catwoman (2004) exemplifies precise story structure, characteristic of Pitof's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 44 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Patience Phillips / Catwoman
Laurel Hedare
Tom Lone
George Hedare
Ophelia Powers
Main Cast & Characters
Patience Phillips / Catwoman
Played by Halle Berry
A meek graphic designer who gains feline powers after being murdered and resurrected by an Egyptian Mau cat, transforming into a confident vigilante.
Laurel Hedare
Played by Sharon Stone
The ruthless and ambitious wife of a cosmetics mogul who becomes the main antagonist, willing to kill to protect her beauty empire.
Tom Lone
Played by Benjamin Bratt
A detective investigating murders connected to the cosmetics company who becomes romantically involved with Patience.
George Hedare
Played by Lambert Wilson
The founder of Hedare Beauty who is being pushed aside by his younger wife Laurel as the face of the company.
Ophelia Powers
Played by Frances Conroy
An eccentric cat researcher and expert on Egyptian Mau cats who explains the mystical nature of Catwoman to Patience.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Patience Phillips is a meek, apologetic graphic designer who lets people walk all over her. She struggles to assert herself at work and in her personal life, constantly saying sorry.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Patience overhears a secret about Hedare's new beauty product being toxic and dangerous. She is discovered by security and flees through the factory pipes.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Patience actively chooses to embrace her new feline abilities after visiting cat expert Ophelia. She accepts her transformation and begins testing her new powers, becoming Catwoman., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Catwoman confronts Laurel Hedare and discovers the truth about the deadly cosmetics conspiracy. She feels empowered and believes she can expose the truth while maintaining her double life. False victory., 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 (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tom discovers Patience is Catwoman and feels utterly betrayed. He arrests her, and their relationship dies. Patience loses the one person who accepted her, imprisoned and alone., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Patience escapes from police custody using her cat abilities. She fully accepts her identity as Catwoman and realizes she must stop Laurel Hedare herself, synthesizing her human compassion with feline power., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Catwoman's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Catwoman against these established plot points, we can identify how Pitof utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Catwoman 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
Patience Phillips is a meek, apologetic graphic designer who lets people walk all over her. She struggles to assert herself at work and in her personal life, constantly saying sorry.
Theme
Ophelia Powers, the aging face of Hedare Beauty, tells Patience that beauty is power, and a smile is its sword. This establishes the theme of reclaiming power and identity.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Patience's mundane world at Hedare Beauty corporation, her demanding boss, her crush on detective Tom Lone, and the corrupt cosmetics company she works for unknowingly.
Disruption
Patience overhears a secret about Hedare's new beauty product being toxic and dangerous. She is discovered by security and flees through the factory pipes.
Resistance
Patience is killed by Hedare's henchmen, flushed into the water. A mystical Egyptian Mau cat named Midnight resurrects her with nine lives and cat-like abilities. She awakens confused and transformed.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Patience actively chooses to embrace her new feline abilities after visiting cat expert Ophelia. She accepts her transformation and begins testing her new powers, becoming Catwoman.
Mirror World
Patience's romance with detective Tom Lone deepens. He represents the normal life and acceptance she craves, creating a mirror to her dual identity struggle.
Premise
Catwoman explores her new abilities, gains confidence, stops a jewelry heist, investigates Hedare Beauty, and begins taking revenge on those who wronged her. The fun of being Catwoman.
Midpoint
Catwoman confronts Laurel Hedare and discovers the truth about the deadly cosmetics conspiracy. She feels empowered and believes she can expose the truth while maintaining her double life. False victory.
Opposition
The police, led by Tom, begin hunting Catwoman as a criminal. Laurel Hedare frames Catwoman for murder. Patience's double life becomes unsustainable as both worlds close in on her.
Collapse
Tom discovers Patience is Catwoman and feels utterly betrayed. He arrests her, and their relationship dies. Patience loses the one person who accepted her, imprisoned and alone.
Crisis
Patience sits in her cell, facing the darkness of losing Tom and her freedom. She must decide whether to give up or fully embrace being Catwoman to clear her name and stop Laurel.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Patience escapes from police custody using her cat abilities. She fully accepts her identity as Catwoman and realizes she must stop Laurel Hedare herself, synthesizing her human compassion with feline power.
Synthesis
Catwoman confronts Laurel Hedare in a final battle. She exposes the conspiracy, defeats Laurel who has become addicted to the toxic beauty product, and proves her innocence to Tom and the police.
Transformation
Patience stands confidently on a rooftop, no longer apologetic or meek. She has integrated both sides of herself, choosing freedom over convention. She walks away from Tom, fully embracing her new identity.