Hit Man
A mild-mannered professor moonlighting as a fake hit man in police stings ignites a chain reaction of trouble when he falls for a potential client.
The film struggled financially against its limited budget of $8.8M, earning $5.1M globally (-42% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its unique voice within the comedy genre.
6 wins & 19 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%)
Hit Man (2024) exemplifies strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Richard Linklater's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Gary Johnson / Ron
Madison Figueroa Masters
Jasper
Claudette
Ray
Main Cast & Characters
Gary Johnson / Ron
Played by Glen Powell
A philosophy professor who moonlights as a fake hit man for the police, becomes entangled when he falls for a client and adopts the persona of Ron.
Madison Figueroa Masters
Played by Adria Arjona
A woman seeking to escape her abusive husband who becomes romantically involved with Gary's alter ego Ron.
Jasper
Played by Austin Amelio
Gary's police colleague who originally performed undercover hit man stings before being replaced due to incompetence.
Claudette
Played by Retta
Gary's police handler and supervisor who coordinates the sting operations.
Ray
Played by Evan Holtzman
Madison's abusive husband who originally sought to hire a hit man to kill her.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Gary Johnson lectures on philosophy of identity in his university classroom, embodying his mild-mannered, intellectual existence. His mundane life as a passive observer is established through his routine role as tech support for police undercover operations.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Jasper is suspended for erratic behavior, forcing the police to ask Gary to go undercover as the fake hitman for the first time. Gary is terrified and reluctant, thrust from safety into danger, disrupting his comfortable routine as invisible tech support.. 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 29 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Gary meets Madison Masters, a woman seeking to hire a hitman to kill her abusive husband Ray. Captivated by her, Gary makes the active choice to break protocol—he talks her out of it and lets her go free instead of arresting her. This decision to follow his heart over duty launches him into a new world of moral ambiguity., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Madison's husband Ray is found dead, apparently by suicide. While this seems to free Madison and Gary to be together, it raises the stakes dramatically—did Madison kill him? Does she think "Ron" did it? The false victory of freedom becomes a false defeat as suspicion and danger enter their relationship. 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 88 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jasper directly confronts Gary with evidence of his relationship with Madison and threatens to expose everything—destroying Gary's career, freedom, and relationship. The whiff of death: Gary's carefully constructed new identity faces annihilation. Everything Gary has built as "Ron" is about to die, and he may lose Madison, face criminal charges, and return to his old empty life., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Gary synthesizes his two identities—using Ron's confidence and decisiveness with Gary's intelligence and moral core—to formulate a plan. He realizes he doesn't have to choose between Gary and Ron; he can be both. This integration empowers him to take control of his situation rather than remain a passive victim., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Hit Man'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 Hit Man against these established plot points, we can identify how Richard Linklater utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Hit Man within the comedy genre.
Richard Linklater's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Richard Linklater films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Hit Man represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Richard Linklater filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Richard Linklater analyses, see Before Sunrise, Boyhood and Before Sunset.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Gary Johnson lectures on philosophy of identity in his university classroom, embodying his mild-mannered, intellectual existence. His mundane life as a passive observer is established through his routine role as tech support for police undercover operations.
Theme
During a philosophy lecture, Gary discusses whether the self is fixed or constructed, asking "Who are you really?" This thematic question of identity—whether we discover ourselves or invent ourselves—drives the entire narrative.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Gary's dual existence: philosophy professor by day, police tech contractor by night. The fake hitman sting operation is explained, showing Gary safely behind surveillance equipment while Jasper plays the dangerous role. Gary's competence with technology contrasts with his social awkwardness and passive personality.
Disruption
Jasper is suspended for erratic behavior, forcing the police to ask Gary to go undercover as the fake hitman for the first time. Gary is terrified and reluctant, thrust from safety into danger, disrupting his comfortable routine as invisible tech support.
Resistance
Gary debates taking on the undercover role, receives guidance from Claudette and Phil, and nervously prepares for his first sting operation. His initial performance is shaky but successful, revealing unexpected talent. He begins creating different personas for different clients, discovering a natural gift for performance that surprises everyone including himself.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Gary meets Madison Masters, a woman seeking to hire a hitman to kill her abusive husband Ray. Captivated by her, Gary makes the active choice to break protocol—he talks her out of it and lets her go free instead of arresting her. This decision to follow his heart over duty launches him into a new world of moral ambiguity.
Mirror World
Madison reappears in Gary's life, and he adopts the "Ron" persona—a confident, dangerous, charismatic alter ego—specifically for her. Their romantic connection begins, with Ron representing everything Gary wishes he could be. Madison becomes the mirror that reflects Gary's potential transformation and embodies the thematic question: can you become someone new?
Premise
Gary lives a double life, successfully executing police stings by day while conducting a passionate affair with Madison as "Ron" by night. The promise of the premise: watching a repressed professor transform into multiple confident personas, experiencing freedom and romance. Gary explores his new identity, becoming more Ron than Gary, feeling alive for the first time.
Midpoint
Madison's husband Ray is found dead, apparently by suicide. While this seems to free Madison and Gary to be together, it raises the stakes dramatically—did Madison kill him? Does she think "Ron" did it? The false victory of freedom becomes a false defeat as suspicion and danger enter their relationship. The fun and games are over.
Opposition
Jasper grows suspicious of Gary's activities and begins investigating. Gary's double life becomes increasingly difficult to maintain as Jasper closes in. The lies compound: lying to Madison about his identity, lying to police about Madison, lying to himself about which identity is real. Madison's true intentions remain ambiguous, creating paranoia. Gary's character flaws—deception and avoidance—catch up with him.
Collapse
Jasper directly confronts Gary with evidence of his relationship with Madison and threatens to expose everything—destroying Gary's career, freedom, and relationship. The whiff of death: Gary's carefully constructed new identity faces annihilation. Everything Gary has built as "Ron" is about to die, and he may lose Madison, face criminal charges, and return to his old empty life.
Crisis
Gary faces his dark night of the soul, confronting the consequences of his deception and the impossibility of his situation. He must reckon with who he really is: Gary or Ron? Has he been lying to Madison, or has he been lying to himself his whole life? The philosophical questions he taught about identity become devastatingly real.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Gary synthesizes his two identities—using Ron's confidence and decisiveness with Gary's intelligence and moral core—to formulate a plan. He realizes he doesn't have to choose between Gary and Ron; he can be both. This integration empowers him to take control of his situation rather than remain a passive victim.
Synthesis
Gary executes his plan to neutralize Jasper's threat while protecting Madison. He uses his undercover skills, technical expertise, and newfound confidence to turn the tables. The finale resolves the external threat of Jasper, the question of Madison's trustworthiness, and the central conflict of Gary's identity. Gary and Madison confront the truth of their relationship and decide their future.
Transformation
Gary, now fully integrated as a synthesis of his former self and Ron, lives openly with Madison. The closing image mirrors the opening classroom scene, but now Gary teaches with Ron's confidence and charisma. He has answered his own philosophical question: we are who we choose to become. The passive observer has become an active participant in his own life.