Constantine
John Constantine has literally been to Hell and back. When he teams up with a policewoman to solve the mysterious suicide of her twin sister, their investigation takes them through the world of demons and angels that exists beneath the landscape of contemporary Los Angeles.
Despite a significant budget of $100.0M, Constantine became a box office success, earning $230.9M worldwide—a 131% 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%)
Constantine (2005) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Francis Lawrence's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Constantine exorcises a demon from a young girl in a decrepit apartment, establishing him as a cynical, chain-smoking supernatural detective battling demons while dying of lung cancer - a man trying to buy his way into heaven through demon-banishing good deeds.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Detective Angela Dodson confronts Constantine about her twin sister Isabel's death - ruled a suicide, but Angela insists Isabel was murdered. This pulls Constantine into a case that will reveal a conspiracy threatening the balance between heaven and hell.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Constantine agrees to help Angela investigate Isabel's death after testing her and discovering she has the gift to see demons (though suppressed). He chooses to enter this new mystery, teaching her about the supernatural world and bringing her into his mission., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Constantine discovers Angela is the psychic conduit Mammon needs - Isabel's suicide was to avoid being used for this purpose. The conspiracy involves the angel Gabriel helping Mammon cross over. Stakes raise dramatically: Angela is the target, and heaven itself is complicit., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Chas is dead - killed by Gabriel. Constantine's only friend, his loyal driver, murdered by an angel. This "whiff of death" represents the loss of innocence and the betrayal by heaven itself. Constantine is alone, dying, and heaven doesn't care about his bargaining., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Constantine confronts Gabriel as Mammon possesses Angela. Unable to stop it through force, Constantine makes the ultimate selfless act: he slits his wrists to summon Lucifer, offering his own soul to save Angela and humanity. This genuine sacrifice - not bargaining - earns God's grace. Lucifer drags Gabriel to hell; Constantine is healed and redeemed., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Constantine's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Constantine against these established plot points, we can identify how Francis Lawrence utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Constantine within the fantasy genre.
Francis Lawrence's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Francis Lawrence films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Constantine represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Francis Lawrence filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Conan the Barbarian and Batman Forever. For more Francis Lawrence analyses, see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 2, Water for Elephants and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Constantine exorcises a demon from a young girl in a decrepit apartment, establishing him as a cynical, chain-smoking supernatural detective battling demons while dying of lung cancer - a man trying to buy his way into heaven through demon-banishing good deeds.
Theme
Hennessy tells Constantine: "You're going to die young because you smoked 30 cigarettes a day since you were 15, and you're going to go to hell because of the life you took." The theme of deserving vs. earning redemption is stated - can Constantine earn his way out of damnation?
Worldbuilding
Constantine's world is revealed: half-breed angels and demons walk among us maintaining balance; he has the gift to see them; he tried suicide at 15 and was damned; now he banishes demons hoping to buy his way into heaven. We meet Chas, Beeman, and see Constantine's routine.
Disruption
Detective Angela Dodson confronts Constantine about her twin sister Isabel's death - ruled a suicide, but Angela insists Isabel was murdered. This pulls Constantine into a case that will reveal a conspiracy threatening the balance between heaven and hell.
Resistance
Constantine initially refuses to help Angela, but demonic activity escalates. He encounters a full-bodied demon soldier (breaking the rules), visits the neutral bar owner Midnite for information, and realizes something apocalyptic is brewing. Angela persistently seeks his help.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Constantine agrees to help Angela investigate Isabel's death after testing her and discovering she has the gift to see demons (though suppressed). He chooses to enter this new mystery, teaching her about the supernatural world and bringing her into his mission.
Premise
Constantine and Angela investigate together: traveling to hell to find Isabel's soul, discovering the Spear of Destiny, battling demons, uncovering that Mammon (Satan's son) plans to cross over using a psychic conduit. The supernatural detective story delivers on its premise with demon fights and mystical locations.
Midpoint
Constantine discovers Angela is the psychic conduit Mammon needs - Isabel's suicide was to avoid being used for this purpose. The conspiracy involves the angel Gabriel helping Mammon cross over. Stakes raise dramatically: Angela is the target, and heaven itself is complicit.
Opposition
Demons close in on Angela; Balthazar betrays them; Constantine's cancer worsens; Chas is killed by Gabriel; Angela is captured. Constantine becomes desperate, his usual tricks failing. Gabriel reveals the plan: proving humans unworthy of God's love by showing they'll turn demonic under Mammon's rule.
Collapse
Chas is dead - killed by Gabriel. Constantine's only friend, his loyal driver, murdered by an angel. This "whiff of death" represents the loss of innocence and the betrayal by heaven itself. Constantine is alone, dying, and heaven doesn't care about his bargaining.
Crisis
Constantine processes the darkness: heaven won't help, his friend is dead, Angela is captured, and he's dying. He sits in the dark contemplating his failure and the futility of trying to earn redemption through transactions rather than transformation.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Constantine confronts Gabriel as Mammon possesses Angela. Unable to stop it through force, Constantine makes the ultimate selfless act: he slits his wrists to summon Lucifer, offering his own soul to save Angela and humanity. This genuine sacrifice - not bargaining - earns God's grace. Lucifer drags Gabriel to hell; Constantine is healed and redeemed.