Conan the Barbarian
A horde of rampaging warriors massacre the parents of young Conan and enslave the young child for years on The Wheel of Pain. As the sole survivor of the childhood massacre, Conan is released from slavery and taught the ancient arts of fighting. Transforming himself into a killing machine, Conan travels into the wilderness to seek vengeance on Thulsa Doom, the man responsible for killing his family. In the wilderness, Conan takes up with the thieves Valeria and Subotai. The group comes upon King Osric, who wants the trio of warriors to help rescue his daughter who has joined Doom in the hills.
Despite a moderate budget of $20.0M, Conan the Barbarian became a commercial success, earning $74.0M worldwide—a 270% return.
2 wins & 10 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%)
Conan the Barbarian (1982) reveals strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of John Milius's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 10 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Conan lives peacefully in his Cimmerian village with his father, a blacksmith forging swords. His father teaches him the "Riddle of Steel" - that you must trust only the steel in your hand.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Thulsa Doom and his snake-cult raiders attack Conan's village. Doom personally kills Conan's mother with her own sword while the boy watches helplessly. The entire village is destroyed and the children are enslaved. This massacre destroys Conan's world and sets him on his path of vengeance.. 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.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Conan infiltrates Thulsa Doom's mountain cult and rescues the princess, but the victory is false. During the escape, Doom pursues them and shoots Conan with a snake arrow. The poison nearly kills him, and he falls from a cliff into water. What seemed like success (rescuing the princess and confronting his enemy) becomes a near-fatal defeat. The stakes are now life and death, and the fun and games are over., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 97 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Thulsa Doom's forces attack the ruins. During the battle, Valeria is struck by a fatal blow - fulfilling her bargain with the gods to save Conan. She dies in Conan's arms, the consequence of her love for him. The woman who offered him an alternative to vengeance, who embodied the power of human connection, is dead. This is Conan's "whiff of death" and his lowest point - his vengeance has cost him the only person who truly loved him., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Conan infiltrates Thulsa Doom's mountain temple during a massive ceremony. He systematically defeats the cult's champions and protectors. Confronting Doom on the temple steps before thousands of followers, Conan resists Doom's hypnotic power - the same power that has enslaved countless others. Doom tries to convince Conan that he is his true father, that he gave him purpose through suffering. But Conan, strengthened by his father's teaching and Valeria's love, sees through the illusion. He beheads Thulsa Doom, breaking the cult's power. The followers scatter, freed from their mental chains. Conan returns the princess to her father, completing his mission., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Conan the Barbarian's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Conan the Barbarian against these established plot points, we can identify how John Milius utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Conan the Barbarian within the adventure genre.
John Milius's Structural Approach
Among the 4 John Milius films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Conan the Barbarian represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Milius filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more John Milius analyses, see The Wind and the Lion, Flight of the Intruder and Red Dawn.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Conan lives peacefully in his Cimmerian village with his father, a blacksmith forging swords. His father teaches him the "Riddle of Steel" - that you must trust only the steel in your hand.
Theme
Conan's father states the film's central theme while forging a sword: "Fire and wind come from the sky, from the gods of the sky. But Crom is your god, Crom and he lives in the earth. Once, giants lived in the earth, Conan. And in the darkness of chaos, they fooled Crom, and they took from him the enigma of steel. Crom was angered. And the Earth shook. Fire and wind struck down these giants, and they threw their bodies into the waters, but in their rage, the gods forgot the secret of steel and left it on the battlefield. We who found it are just men. Not gods. Not giants. Just men. The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one - no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts." This introduces the central question: what is true strength and power?
Worldbuilding
The setup establishes the Hyborian Age world and young Conan's life in his village. We see the peaceful Cimmerian way of life, the blacksmith craft, and Conan's childhood. This world is shattered when Thulsa Doom and his raiders attack, slaughtering everyone including Conan's parents. Young Conan is enslaved and we witness his brutal years of forced labor pushing the Wheel of Pain, his training as a pit fighter, and his education in combat and philosophy. By adulthood, he has become an unstoppable warrior but remains a slave.
Disruption
Thulsa Doom and his snake-cult raiders attack Conan's village. Doom personally kills Conan's mother with her own sword while the boy watches helplessly. The entire village is destroyed and the children are enslaved. This massacre destroys Conan's world and sets him on his path of vengeance.
Resistance
Conan endures years of slavery, growing impossibly strong at the Wheel of Pain. His master recognizes his value and trains him as a pit fighter across the Eastern kingdoms. Conan becomes undefeated and is educated in combat strategy, philosophy, and poetry. Despite his skills and education, he remains property. His master eventually frees him, perhaps recognizing that such a man cannot truly be owned. Conan wanders, initially aimless, until he discovers an ancient tomb containing an Atlantean sword - a weapon worthy of his skill.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Conan, Valeria, and Subotai explore their new world as free adventurers and thieves. They successfully rob the Tower of the Serpent, stealing treasure and discovering the snake cult's secrets. King Osric hires them to rescue his daughter from Thulsa Doom's cult. Conan begins investigating the cult, infiltrating their ceremonies and witnessing their hypnotic power. He discovers that Thulsa Doom is the same man who killed his family. The adventure and investigation phase gives Conan the tools and knowledge he needs, while his relationship with Valeria deepens.
Midpoint
Conan infiltrates Thulsa Doom's mountain cult and rescues the princess, but the victory is false. During the escape, Doom pursues them and shoots Conan with a snake arrow. The poison nearly kills him, and he falls from a cliff into water. What seemed like success (rescuing the princess and confronting his enemy) becomes a near-fatal defeat. The stakes are now life and death, and the fun and games are over.
Opposition
Conan lies dying from the serpent poison. Subotai and Valeria desperately seek help, taking him to a wizard who summons spirits to battle for Conan's soul. Valeria makes a sacred vow to the gods, trading her own fate to save Conan's life. Conan recovers, but the group knows Thulsa Doom will retaliate. They prepare defenses at ancient ruins, knowing the cult will come for them. The pressure intensifies as Doom's forces approach, and the cost of Conan's vengeance becomes clearer - those who love him will pay the price.
Collapse
Thulsa Doom's forces attack the ruins. During the battle, Valeria is struck by a fatal blow - fulfilling her bargain with the gods to save Conan. She dies in Conan's arms, the consequence of her love for him. The woman who offered him an alternative to vengeance, who embodied the power of human connection, is dead. This is Conan's "whiff of death" and his lowest point - his vengeance has cost him the only person who truly loved him.
Crisis
Conan mourns Valeria and burns her body on a funeral pyre with full honors. He sits in darkness, processing the cost of his quest. Subotai remains with him, a loyal friend in the darkest hour. Conan must decide whether to continue his path of vengeance or abandon it. He contemplates the riddle of steel and what truly matters - the weapon in his hand or the bonds between people.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Conan infiltrates Thulsa Doom's mountain temple during a massive ceremony. He systematically defeats the cult's champions and protectors. Confronting Doom on the temple steps before thousands of followers, Conan resists Doom's hypnotic power - the same power that has enslaved countless others. Doom tries to convince Conan that he is his true father, that he gave him purpose through suffering. But Conan, strengthened by his father's teaching and Valeria's love, sees through the illusion. He beheads Thulsa Doom, breaking the cult's power. The followers scatter, freed from their mental chains. Conan returns the princess to her father, completing his mission.