Facing the Giants
An action-packed drama about a Christian high school football coach who uses his undying faith to battle the giants of fear and failure. In six years of coaching, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season. After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach. When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team. He dares to challenge his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field. When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage. What transpires is a dynamic story of the fight between faith and fear.
Despite its microbudget of $100K, Facing the Giants became a commercial juggernaut, earning $10.3M worldwide—a remarkable 10208% return. The film's compelling narrative resonated with audiences, showing 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%)
Facing the Giants (2006) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Alex Kendrick's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Coach Grant Taylor leads a struggling high school football team through another losing season, establishing his defeated state and the team's hopelessness.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Grant overhears parents plotting to have him removed as coach. The threat of losing his job becomes real and immediate.. 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 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Grant makes the active choice to surrender his coaching, marriage, and future to God. He commits to coaching for God's glory regardless of outcomes, fundamentally changing his approach., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The Eagles win their first game, then continue an unexpected winning streak. False victory: things seem to be turning around, but Grant still faces infertility and financial struggles. Stakes raise as success brings new pressures., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Facing the Giants in the state championship, the Eagles fall behind significantly. Grant's dream of victory appears dead. The whiff of death: the season they've fought for seems lost., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Grant refocuses the team: "We've already won. God has a plan." New clarity that winning was never about the scoreboard but about honoring God. This realization enables them to play freely without fear., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Facing the Giants'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 Facing the Giants against these established plot points, we can identify how Alex Kendrick utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Facing the Giants within the drama genre.
Alex Kendrick's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Alex Kendrick films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.4, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Facing the Giants represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alex Kendrick filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Alex Kendrick analyses, see War Room, Courageous and Fireproof.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Coach Grant Taylor leads a struggling high school football team through another losing season, establishing his defeated state and the team's hopelessness.
Theme
Mr. Bridges tells Grant, "Your job is to coach these boys and prepare them to be winners in life." The film's theme about faith, purpose, and preparing for victory beyond the scoreboard.
Worldbuilding
Establishing Grant's struggling team, mounting pressures from parents wanting him fired, his failing car, broken home water heater, and discovering he and his wife cannot have children. The weight of compounding failures.
Disruption
Grant overhears parents plotting to have him removed as coach. The threat of losing his job becomes real and immediate.
Resistance
Grant struggles with fear and defeat. Mr. Bridges becomes his spiritual mentor, challenging him to coach for God's glory rather than his own. Grant debates whether faith can really change anything.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Grant makes the active choice to surrender his coaching, marriage, and future to God. He commits to coaching for God's glory regardless of outcomes, fundamentally changing his approach.
Mirror World
Grant challenges Brock Kelley to the "Death Crawl" exercise blindfolded. This relationship becomes the mirror of the film's theme: doing the impossible when you can't see the outcome but trust the coach.
Premise
The promise of the premise: what happens when a team plays for God? The Eagles begin training differently, praying together, and seeing incremental improvements. The fun of watching faith transform a losing team.
Midpoint
The Eagles win their first game, then continue an unexpected winning streak. False victory: things seem to be turning around, but Grant still faces infertility and financial struggles. Stakes raise as success brings new pressures.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies as the team advances toward state playoffs. Grant faces the best team in the state (Giants). His car dies completely. Medical bills mount. The opposition of circumstances and superior opponents close in.
Collapse
Facing the Giants in the state championship, the Eagles fall behind significantly. Grant's dream of victory appears dead. The whiff of death: the season they've fought for seems lost.
Crisis
Dark night as the team faces seemingly impossible odds. Grant must process whether his faith was genuine or conditional on winning. The team struggles with fear and doubt in the crucible moment.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Grant refocuses the team: "We've already won. God has a plan." New clarity that winning was never about the scoreboard but about honoring God. This realization enables them to play freely without fear.
Synthesis
The finale: The Eagles execute impossible plays, block a field goal, and win the championship. Grant also learns his wife is pregnant. Both victories come after surrender, synthesizing the theme.
Transformation
Grant holds the championship trophy as his wife reveals her pregnancy. Mirror of opening defeat: he is now a champion in both football and life, but transformed—he would have been complete even without these victories.