Five Nights at Freddy's
Recently fired and desperate for work, a troubled young man named Mike agrees to take a position as a night security guard at an abandoned theme restaurant: Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria. But he soon discovers that nothing at Freddy's is what it seems.
Despite a moderate budget of $20.0M, Five Nights at Freddy's became a runaway success, earning $297.1M worldwide—a remarkable 1386% return.
24 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%)
Five Nights at Freddy's (2023) showcases meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Emma Tammi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Mike Schmidt, a troubled security guard, struggles with recurring nightmares about his brother Garrett's abduction years ago. He lives in a state of guilt and isolation, barely able to care for his younger sister Abby.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Steve Raglan offers Mike a last-chance job as a night security guard at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Mike has no choice but to accept despite the ominous nature of the offer.. At 11% 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Mike decides to stay through his first full night at Freddy's despite the unsettling atmosphere. He falls asleep and has a dream where children appear in his memory of Garrett's abduction. He commits to continuing the job and uncovering the mystery., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 48% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False defeat: Max and her friends break into Freddy's to vandalize it and are brutally killed by the animatronics. Mike realizes the true danger of the place. The stakes dramatically raise - this isn't just a creepy building, it's genuinely lethal. The fun is over., 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 (71% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The animatronics capture Abby and prepare to kill her. Vanessa is stabbed by her father William Afton and left for dead. Mike is powerless, beaten, and has lost both the person helping him and his sister. His worst fear - failing to protect a loved one like he failed Garrett - is coming true., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 76% of the runtime. Mike and Abby work together to show the ghost children that William Afton is their killer. The children turn on Afton, and the animatronics drag him away into a back room where he's killed by his own spring-lock suit. Mike saves Abby. Vanessa survives but is hospitalized in a coma., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Five Nights at Freddy's'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 Five Nights at Freddy's against these established plot points, we can identify how Emma Tammi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Five Nights at Freddy's within the horror genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional horror films include Lake Placid, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Cat's Eye.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mike Schmidt, a troubled security guard, struggles with recurring nightmares about his brother Garrett's abduction years ago. He lives in a state of guilt and isolation, barely able to care for his younger sister Abby.
Theme
Mike's career counselor Steve Raglan tells him, "Sometimes you have to let go of the past to move forward." This captures the film's central theme about confronting trauma and protecting those we love.
Worldbuilding
We learn Mike lost his job after assaulting a man he mistakenly thought was kidnapping a child. His Aunt Jane is trying to get custody of Abby. Mike is desperate for work and can't afford legal fees. He's obsessed with revisiting his memory of Garrett's abduction in his dreams, hoping to identify the kidnapper.
Disruption
Steve Raglan offers Mike a last-chance job as a night security guard at the abandoned Freddy Fazbear's Pizza. Mike has no choice but to accept despite the ominous nature of the offer.
Resistance
Mike debates taking the job, prepares for his first night, and arranges for babysitter Max to watch Abby. He arrives at the decrepit pizzeria and meets police officer Vanessa, who warns him about the place but seems to know more than she's saying. Mike explores the building and discovers the animatronics.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mike decides to stay through his first full night at Freddy's despite the unsettling atmosphere. He falls asleep and has a dream where children appear in his memory of Garrett's abduction. He commits to continuing the job and uncovering the mystery.
Premise
The "fun and games" of working at a haunted pizzeria. Abby visits and can communicate with the ghost children possessing the animatronics. Mike experiences more dreams with the children. Vanessa reveals pieces of the pizzeria's dark history. The animatronics seem both menacing and childlike. Mike begins to suspect the children in his dreams are connected to Freddy's.
Midpoint
False defeat: Max and her friends break into Freddy's to vandalize it and are brutally killed by the animatronics. Mike realizes the true danger of the place. The stakes dramatically raise - this isn't just a creepy building, it's genuinely lethal. The fun is over.
Opposition
The animatronics, influenced by the ghost children, try to make Abby "like them" by killing her. Vanessa reveals the truth: William Afton, the pizzeria's owner (Steve Raglan), murdered the children and her own father. Mike's obsession with his own trauma has blinded him to present danger. Aunt Jane tries to take Abby. The antagonist's plan becomes clear.
Collapse
The animatronics capture Abby and prepare to kill her. Vanessa is stabbed by her father William Afton and left for dead. Mike is powerless, beaten, and has lost both the person helping him and his sister. His worst fear - failing to protect a loved one like he failed Garrett - is coming true.
Crisis
Mike's dark night of the soul. He's forced to confront that his obsession with the past (Garrett's abduction) has made him fail in the present (protecting Abby). Vanessa is dying. He must let go of ever solving Garrett's kidnapping to save Abby.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Mike and Abby work together to show the ghost children that William Afton is their killer. The children turn on Afton, and the animatronics drag him away into a back room where he's killed by his own spring-lock suit. Mike saves Abby. Vanessa survives but is hospitalized in a coma.