Kingsman: The Golden Circle
After the Kingsman's headquarters is destroyed and the world is held hostage, an allied spy organization in the United States is discovered. These two elite secret agencies must band together to defeat a common enemy.
Despite a considerable budget of $104.0M, Kingsman: The Golden Circle became a solid performer, earning $410.9M worldwide—a 295% return.
2 wins & 14 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin
Harry Hart
Poppy Adams
Jack Daniels
Merlin
Champagne
Tequila
Ginger Ale
Main Cast & Characters
Gary 'Eggsy' Unwin
Played by Taron Egerton
A young Kingsman agent who must save the world from a drug cartel leader while dealing with the destruction of his organization.
Harry Hart
Played by Colin Firth
Eggsy's mentor and senior Kingsman agent, believed dead but recovered by Statesman with amnesia.
Poppy Adams
Played by Julianne Moore
A criminal mastermind who runs a global drug cartel from a remote jungle hideout, holding the world hostage with poisoned drugs.
Jack Daniels
Played by Pedro Pascal
A Statesman agent codenamed Whiskey, skilled with a lasso and weaponry, who assists the Kingsman.
Merlin
Played by Mark Strong
Kingsman's tech specialist and quartermaster who provides tactical support and gadgets to field agents.
Champagne
Played by Jeff Bridges
The head of Statesman organization, codenamed Champ, who leads the American counterpart to Kingsman.
Tequila
Played by Channing Tatum
A Statesman agent who initially clashes with the Kingsman but becomes an ally.
Ginger Ale
Played by Halle Berry
Statesman's tech specialist and analyst who aspires to become a field agent.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Eggsy is now a full Kingsman agent, living a double life as a confident spy and maintaining a relationship with Princess Tilde. He's mastered the role but hasn't been tested since Harry's death.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Missiles destroy all Kingsman locations worldwide. Headquarters, the mansion, all safehouses obliterated. Merlin, Eggsy, and the remains of the organization are wiped out - only Eggsy and Merlin survive.. 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 35 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Eggsy discovers Harry Hart is alive but with amnesia, being kept by Statesman. Eggsy chooses to try to bring Harry back rather than give up on him, committing to restore his mentor and partner with Statesman to stop Poppy., moving from reaction to action.
At 71 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Harry's memory is restored when he shoots the dog (revealing it was fake - emotional catharsis). False victory: the team is whole again, Harry is back, they have located Poppy. But the stakes raise: the President reveals his plan to let the poisoned users die., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 104 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Merlin steps on a landmine to save Eggsy and Harry. He sacrifices himself singing "Take Me Home, Country Roads," dying to give them a chance. The heart of the team is killed - literal death of the mentor/friend., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 111 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Eggsy and Harry breach Poppy's base in Cambodia. They realize they must work together perfectly - student and teacher as equals - to get the antidote codes and save the world. Synthesis of old Kingsman and new Kingsman., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Kingsman: The Golden Circle's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Kingsman: The Golden Circle against these established plot points, we can identify how Matthew Vaughn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Kingsman: The Golden Circle within the action genre.
Matthew Vaughn's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Matthew Vaughn films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Kingsman: The Golden Circle exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Matthew Vaughn filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Matthew Vaughn analyses, see Layer Cake, The King's Man and Kick-Ass.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Eggsy is now a full Kingsman agent, living a double life as a confident spy and maintaining a relationship with Princess Tilde. He's mastered the role but hasn't been tested since Harry's death.
Theme
During the taxi chase, Charlie taunts Eggsy about being "just a pupil" and never being as good as Harry. Theme stated: Can Eggsy truly replace his mentor and become his own kind of Kingsman?
Worldbuilding
Establish Eggsy's life as Kingsman agent: relationship with Tilde, camaraderie with Merlin and the team, headquarters operations. Charlie Hesketh returns as enhanced villain working for mysterious organization.
Disruption
Missiles destroy all Kingsman locations worldwide. Headquarters, the mansion, all safehouses obliterated. Merlin, Eggsy, and the remains of the organization are wiped out - only Eggsy and Merlin survive.
Resistance
Eggsy and Merlin regroup, discover the Doomsday Protocol leading them to Kentucky and the Statesman organization. They debate whether to trust this American counterpart agency. Introduction to Statesman: Tequila, Ginger Ale, Champagne (Champ).
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Eggsy discovers Harry Hart is alive but with amnesia, being kept by Statesman. Eggsy chooses to try to bring Harry back rather than give up on him, committing to restore his mentor and partner with Statesman to stop Poppy.
Mirror World
Harry Hart is the mirror world - the mentor Eggsy must now save and restore. Their relationship inverts: Eggsy must now be the teacher, showing Harry who he was and what he stands for.
Premise
Kingsman and Statesman team up. Eggsy works to restore Harry's memories. Poppy's plan revealed: she's poisoned all recreational drugs worldwide, will release antidote only if the President legalizes drugs. Fun espionage: Glastonbury mission with tracker pellet seduction.
Midpoint
Harry's memory is restored when he shoots the dog (revealing it was fake - emotional catharsis). False victory: the team is whole again, Harry is back, they have located Poppy. But the stakes raise: the President reveals his plan to let the poisoned users die.
Opposition
The villain's plan accelerates as millions fall sick. Whiskey is revealed as traitor. Tilde becomes infected. The President's genocidal plan to let victims die creates ticking clock. Team must split: some get antidote, some stop President.
Collapse
Merlin steps on a landmine to save Eggsy and Harry. He sacrifices himself singing "Take Me Home, Country Roads," dying to give them a chance. The heart of the team is killed - literal death of the mentor/friend.
Crisis
Eggsy and Harry grieve Merlin's death but push forward. Emotional low point as they process the loss while knowing millions will die if they fail. They must complete the mission without their technical genius and moral center.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Eggsy and Harry breach Poppy's base in Cambodia. They realize they must work together perfectly - student and teacher as equals - to get the antidote codes and save the world. Synthesis of old Kingsman and new Kingsman.
Synthesis
Final battle at Poppy's base. Eggsy and Harry fight in perfect sync. Defeat Poppy and her robot dogs, obtain antidote. Ginger Ale hacks the President's broadcast to expose his genocidal plan. Whiskey defeated in cable car fight. Antidote released worldwide.
Transformation
Eggsy marries Princess Tilde with Harry as his best man. Mirror of opening: Eggsy is no longer living double life in Harry's shadow, but has become his own Kingsman with his mentor proudly beside him as equal. Rebuilt Kingsman HQ shows the legacy continues.