Logan's Run
In the 23rd century, inhabitants of a domed city freely experience all of life's pleasures — but no one is allowed to live past 30. Citizens can try for a chance at being "renewed" in a civic ceremony on their 30th birthday. Escape is the only other option.
Despite its tight budget of $9.0M, Logan's Run became a commercial success, earning $25.0M worldwide—a 178% return.
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%)
Logan's Run (1976) exhibits meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Michael Anderson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 59 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Logan 5 efficiently terminates a runner in the cathedral. He is established as a confident, skilled Sandman who believes fully in the system of the domed city where life ends at 30 on Carousel.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when The city computer gives Logan a mission: find and destroy Sanctuary. To accomplish this, his life clock is advanced, giving him only days to live. Logan is now marked for death by the system he serves.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Logan and Jessica flee together into the underground after Logan kills a Sandman. This is Logan's active choice to become a genuine runner, crossing the point of no return and entering the world of those he once hunted., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 88 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Francis catches up and fights Logan at the Lincoln Memorial. Logan is forced to kill Francis, his best friend and partner. This death represents the final severing of Logan's old identity and the loss of his former life., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 95 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Logan confronts the city computer, which cannot process the concept that there is no Sanctuary. The computer overloads and explodes, destroying the dome's systems. The citizens evacuate and see the sun for the first time, freed from their controlled existence., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Logan's Run's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Logan's Run against these established plot points, we can identify how Michael Anderson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Logan's Run within the action genre.
Michael Anderson's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Michael Anderson films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Logan's Run takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Michael Anderson filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Michael Anderson analyses, see Around the World in 80 Days, Orca.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Logan 5 efficiently terminates a runner in the cathedral. He is established as a confident, skilled Sandman who believes fully in the system of the domed city where life ends at 30 on Carousel.
Theme
Jessica 6 questions the system: "Why run? If renewal works, why do they run?" This plants the thematic question about whether the utopian society's promise of renewal is real or a lie.
Worldbuilding
The domed pleasure city of 2274 is established: hedonistic society, casual relationships via the circuit, Carousel ritual, Sandmen enforcement, and the mysterious Sanctuary that runners seek. Logan lives comfortably within this system.
Disruption
The city computer gives Logan a mission: find and destroy Sanctuary. To accomplish this, his life clock is advanced, giving him only days to live. Logan is now marked for death by the system he serves.
Resistance
Logan grapples with his new reality as a runner. He seeks out Jessica to infiltrate the underground, debates with Francis who doesn't know his mission, and begins to question everything he believed. He's not ready to fully commit to running.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Logan and Jessica flee together into the underground after Logan kills a Sandman. This is Logan's active choice to become a genuine runner, crossing the point of no return and entering the world of those he once hunted.
Premise
Logan and Jessica navigate the deadly obstacles outside the city: the ice cavern with Box the robot, the underground passages, and various traps. This is the adventure the premise promised—a Sandman experiencing what it means to run.
Opposition
Logan and Jessica discover the Old Man and the truth about aging and natural life. Meanwhile, Francis pursues them relentlessly. Logan's internal conflict intensifies—his conditioning wars with the evidence before him. Jessica questions whether Logan truly believes or is still on his mission.
Collapse
Francis catches up and fights Logan at the Lincoln Memorial. Logan is forced to kill Francis, his best friend and partner. This death represents the final severing of Logan's old identity and the loss of his former life.
Crisis
Logan processes the weight of killing Francis and grieves the life he's lost. He must decide whether to return to the city to expose the truth, knowing he'll likely die. This is his dark night, confronting who he's become.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Logan confronts the city computer, which cannot process the concept that there is no Sanctuary. The computer overloads and explodes, destroying the dome's systems. The citizens evacuate and see the sun for the first time, freed from their controlled existence.