Kick-Ass

The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Dave Lizewski narrates his ordinary life as an invisible high school comic book nerd, wondering why no one has ever tried to become a superhero in real life.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Dave orders a superhero costume online and commits to becoming a masked vigilante, despite having no powers, training, or plan. His delusion is immediately tested when he's stabbed and hit by a car on his first outing.. 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 26% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to The "Kick-Ass" video goes viral, making Dave an internet sensation. He commits fully to the superhero identity by creating a MySpace page and accepting responsibility for helping people. He chooses this path despite knowing the danger., moving from reaction to action.

At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Frank D'Amico's son Chris befriends Dave as "Red Mist," pretending to be a fellow superhero, but it's a trap. Dave is led into an ambush where he meets Big Daddy and Hit-Girl officially, but the stakes become lethal—people are actively hunting Kick-Ass. False victory (new superhero allies) conceals the real danger (Red Mist is the enemy)., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.

The Collapse moment at 89 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Red Mist betrays Kick-Ass, leading to an ambush where Big Daddy and Mindy are captured. Big Daddy is brutally murdered (burned alive on a live webcast) while a helpless Dave watches. The mentor dies, the mission collapses, and Dave realizes his superhero fantasy has caused real death., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.

The Second Threshold at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Dave discovers Mindy preparing for a suicide mission against D'Amico and chooses to help her, not out of fantasy but genuine responsibility. He synthesizes his ordinary-guy resourcefulness with real heroic purpose. "Let's finish what your father started." They commit to the final assault together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.