Madame Web
Forced to confront her past, Cassandra Webb, a Manhattan paramedic that may have clairvoyant abilities, forms a relationship with three young women destined for powerful futures, if they can survive their threatening present.
Working with a substantial budget of $80.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $100.5M in global revenue (+26% profit margin).
6 wins & 7 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%)
Madame Web (2024) showcases deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of S.J. Clarkson's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 57 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Cassie Webb works as a New York City paramedic, isolated and disconnected from others, avoiding emotional connections while saving lives in her routine job.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Cassie nearly drowns during a rescue, experiencing her first premonition vision. She begins seeing glimpses of the future, disrupting her understanding of reality.. 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.
At 59 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Cassie discovers the full truth about her mother's death and Ezekiel's betrayal. She realizes Ezekiel will never stop hunting the girls. The stakes are raised - this is life or death, and she must fully commit., 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, Ezekiel captures the girls and nearly kills them. Cassie is severely injured, blinded by Ezekiel, and loses her physical sight. Everything she feared - attachment leading to loss - seems to come true., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 94 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Cassie orchestrates the final confrontation with Ezekiel, using her visions to stay ahead of him. She rescues the girls, defeats Ezekiel, and ensures the future where the girls become Spider-Women can still happen., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Madame Web's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Madame Web against these established plot points, we can identify how S.J. Clarkson utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Madame Web within the action genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Cassie Webb works as a New York City paramedic, isolated and disconnected from others, avoiding emotional connections while saving lives in her routine job.
Theme
Ben Parker tells Cassie that when you take on responsibility for someone else, you have to see it through - foreshadowing her journey from isolation to guardianship.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Cassie's closed-off life, her paramedic partnership with Ben, flashbacks to her mother's death in Peru, and introduction of Ezekiel Sims hunting the three girls from his visions.
Disruption
Cassie nearly drowns during a rescue, experiencing her first premonition vision. She begins seeing glimpses of the future, disrupting her understanding of reality.
Resistance
Cassie struggles to understand her visions, accidentally encounters the three teenage girls, and witnesses her vision of their deaths come true (but prevents it). She debates whether to get involved or run.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Cassie and the girls evade Ezekiel while bonding. Cassie investigates her mother's past in Peru, learning about the mystical spider that gave her powers. The group explores their connection and Cassie learns to use her visions.
Midpoint
Cassie discovers the full truth about her mother's death and Ezekiel's betrayal. She realizes Ezekiel will never stop hunting the girls. The stakes are raised - this is life or death, and she must fully commit.
Opposition
Ezekiel intensifies his hunt using NSA surveillance and resources. Cassie's visions become overwhelming. The girls are exposed, Ben is endangered, and Cassie's inability to fully control her powers puts everyone at risk.
Collapse
Ezekiel captures the girls and nearly kills them. Cassie is severely injured, blinded by Ezekiel, and loses her physical sight. Everything she feared - attachment leading to loss - seems to come true.
Crisis
Cassie processes her physical blindness and apparent failure. In her darkest moment, she must find another way to fight and accept that her psychic sight is her true power.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Cassie orchestrates the final confrontation with Ezekiel, using her visions to stay ahead of him. She rescues the girls, defeats Ezekiel, and ensures the future where the girls become Spider-Women can still happen.