Holy Man
An over-the-top television evangelist finds a way to turn television home shopping into a religious experience, and takes America by storm.
The film commercial failure against its respectable budget of $60.0M, earning $12.1M globally (-80% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its compelling narrative within the comedy genre.
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%)
Holy Man (1998) showcases carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Stephen Herek's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 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 Ricky Hayman and Kate Newell are struggling home shopping network executives facing poor ratings and the threat of being fired. Their careers are in crisis mode.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Ricky and Kate encounter G, a charismatic spiritual guru, on the highway. His peaceful presence and magnetic personality immediately stand out as unusual and compelling.. 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 Ricky makes the active decision to put G on air at the home shopping network, crossing into a new world where spirituality meets commerce. G becomes "The Holy Man" television personality., moving from reaction to action.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: G's success peaks with maximum ratings and Ricky and Kate being celebrated. However, the network executives begin pushing for more control and commercialization of G's message, raising stakes., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 86 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, G recognizes the complete corruption of his message and leaves the network and Ricky. Ricky loses both G and Kate's respect. The "death" of the authentic spiritual movement and Ricky's integrity., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 91 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Ricky has a realization that G's teachings about authenticity were real and important. He synthesizes G's spiritual wisdom with his own skills, understanding that success means nothing without genuine human connection., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Holy Man'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 Holy Man against these established plot points, we can identify how Stephen Herek utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Holy Man within the comedy genre.
Stephen Herek's Structural Approach
Among the 11 Stephen Herek films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Holy Man takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Stephen Herek filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Stephen Herek analyses, see Rock Star, 101 Dalmatians and Life or Something Like It.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Ricky Hayman and Kate Newell are struggling home shopping network executives facing poor ratings and the threat of being fired. Their careers are in crisis mode.
Theme
G, the spiritual wanderer, speaks about the importance of authenticity and connection over materialism when first encountered on the highway - foreshadowing the film's central question about what truly matters.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the cutthroat home shopping network world, Ricky's desperation to save his job, Kate's professionalism, and the shallow consumer-driven culture they operate within.
Disruption
Ricky and Kate encounter G, a charismatic spiritual guru, on the highway. His peaceful presence and magnetic personality immediately stand out as unusual and compelling.
Resistance
Ricky debates whether to exploit G's natural charisma for the network. G stays with Ricky, demonstrating his genuine spirituality and ability to connect with people, while Ricky wrestles with the ethics of using him.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Ricky makes the active decision to put G on air at the home shopping network, crossing into a new world where spirituality meets commerce. G becomes "The Holy Man" television personality.
Mirror World
G's relationship with both Ricky and Kate deepens. His genuine philosophy about life and love serves as a mirror to their empty materialistic pursuits, particularly highlighting the potential romance between Ricky and Kate.
Premise
The fun and games of G becoming a television sensation. Ratings skyrocket, products sell out, and the Holy Man becomes a cultural phenomenon. Success builds but the exploitation becomes increasingly obvious.
Midpoint
False victory: G's success peaks with maximum ratings and Ricky and Kate being celebrated. However, the network executives begin pushing for more control and commercialization of G's message, raising stakes.
Opposition
Corporate pressure intensifies to exploit G further. G's message becomes diluted by commercial demands. Ricky's relationship with Kate becomes strained. G begins to recognize he's being used, and the authenticity that made him special starts to fade.
Collapse
G recognizes the complete corruption of his message and leaves the network and Ricky. Ricky loses both G and Kate's respect. The "death" of the authentic spiritual movement and Ricky's integrity.
Crisis
Ricky faces the emptiness of his success without genuine relationships. He reflects on how he exploited G's goodness for profit and destroyed what mattered most. Kate is equally disillusioned.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ricky has a realization that G's teachings about authenticity were real and important. He synthesizes G's spiritual wisdom with his own skills, understanding that success means nothing without genuine human connection.
Synthesis
Ricky attempts to make things right, finding G and apologizing. He chooses integrity over career advancement, reconnects authentically with Kate, and demonstrates he has learned G's lessons about what truly matters in life.
Transformation
Final image shows Ricky transformed - no longer the desperate, shallow executive from the opening. He has found authentic connection with Kate and embraced a more meaningful approach to life, mirroring G's teachings.