Maverick
Bret Maverick, needing money for a poker tournament, faces various comic mishaps and challenges, including a charming woman thief.
Despite a considerable budget of $75.0M, Maverick became a commercial success, earning $183.0M worldwide—a 144% return.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 1 win & 2 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
Bret Maverick
Annabelle Bransford
Marshal Zane Cooper
Commodore Duvall
Angel
Joseph
Main Cast & Characters
Bret Maverick
Played by Mel Gibson
A charming con artist and gambler trying to raise money for a high-stakes poker championship while dealing with his complicated past.
Annabelle Bransford
Played by Jodie Foster
A beautiful and cunning con artist who forms an uneasy alliance with Maverick while running her own schemes.
Marshal Zane Cooper
Played by James Garner
A lawman who seems to keep crossing paths with Maverick, hiding secrets of his own beneath his badge.
Commodore Duvall
Played by James Coburn
The wealthy host of the high-stakes poker championship aboard his riverboat.
Angel
Played by Alfred Molina
A dangerous outlaw and rival gambler with a violent streak who has a grudge against Maverick.
Joseph
Played by Graham Greene
A Native American con artist and friend of Maverick who helps with various schemes.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Bret Maverick narrates his life as a professional gambler and con artist, establishing his charming, self-reliant, wisecracking persona. He rides alone across the Old West, living by his wits and card skills.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Maverick meets Annabelle Bransford, a beautiful con artist who immediately tries to swindle him. She represents both opportunity and danger, disrupting his solitary existence. Their chemistry is immediate but complicated by mutual distrust.. At 11% 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Maverick actively chooses to continue traveling with Annabelle and Cooper despite his better judgment. They board a riverboat together heading toward the Lauren Belle poker tournament. He commits to this partnership, entering a new dynamic., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Maverick finally arrives at the Lauren Belle with enough money for the tournament. The grand poker championship begins with all the colorful players assembled. Everything seems to be going according to plan., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Maverick is betrayed and loses everything. Annabelle appears to have conned him and taken the money. Marshal Cooper's true allegiance becomes questionable. Maverick's trust in his new partners seems fatally misplaced - his worst fear realized., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Revelation: Maverick pieces together the truth about the cons within cons. Angel is revealed as his father, orchestrating an elaborate scheme. Maverick realizes the game isn't over and synthesizes his skills with new understanding about trust and family., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Maverick'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 Maverick against these established plot points, we can identify how Richard Donner utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Maverick within the action genre.
Richard Donner's Structural Approach
Among the 16 Richard Donner films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Maverick exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Richard Donner filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Richard Donner analyses, see Assassins, Superman and Lethal Weapon 2.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Bret Maverick narrates his life as a professional gambler and con artist, establishing his charming, self-reliant, wisecracking persona. He rides alone across the Old West, living by his wits and card skills.
Theme
Maverick's voiceover philosophy: "In my experience, there's two types of people in this world - those with loaded guns, and those who dig." Establishes theme of self-reliance versus trust, con versus genuine connection.
Worldbuilding
Maverick needs $3,000 more for the poker tournament entry. We see his world: collecting old debts, running small cons, encountering other gamblers. Introduction to the Old West setting where everyone's running an angle.
Disruption
Maverick meets Annabelle Bransford, a beautiful con artist who immediately tries to swindle him. She represents both opportunity and danger, disrupting his solitary existence. Their chemistry is immediate but complicated by mutual distrust.
Resistance
Maverick reluctantly partners with Annabelle while trying to collect money owed to him. Marshal Zane Cooper appears, pursuing bank robbers. The trio forms an uneasy alliance. Maverick debates whether partnerships are worth the risk of betrayal.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Maverick actively chooses to continue traveling with Annabelle and Cooper despite his better judgment. They board a riverboat together heading toward the Lauren Belle poker tournament. He commits to this partnership, entering a new dynamic.
Mirror World
Annabelle becomes the thematic mirror - she's also a con artist but represents what Maverick could have: genuine partnership and trust. Their romantic tension builds, challenging his "trust nobody" philosophy.
Premise
The fun of the premise: riverboat cons, poker games, Western action, bank robberies, and romantic sparring between Maverick and Annabelle. Various colorful characters introduced. Maverick uses his charm and skills in his element.
Midpoint
False victory: Maverick finally arrives at the Lauren Belle with enough money for the tournament. The grand poker championship begins with all the colorful players assembled. Everything seems to be going according to plan.
Opposition
The poker tournament intensifies with rising stakes and danger. Angel (Commodore Duvall) emerges as the chief rival. Trust issues escalate - is Annabelle conning Maverick? Is Cooper really a marshal? Players are eliminated; tension builds.
Collapse
Maverick is betrayed and loses everything. Annabelle appears to have conned him and taken the money. Marshal Cooper's true allegiance becomes questionable. Maverick's trust in his new partners seems fatally misplaced - his worst fear realized.
Crisis
Maverick wallows in the dark night, believing he was a fool to trust anyone. He confronts the emotional cost of his betrayal - not just the money, but the genuine feelings he'd developed for Annabelle.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Revelation: Maverick pieces together the truth about the cons within cons. Angel is revealed as his father, orchestrating an elaborate scheme. Maverick realizes the game isn't over and synthesizes his skills with new understanding about trust and family.
Synthesis
Final confrontation and resolution. Maverick outcons the conmen, retrieving the money. The complex web of relationships resolves: his connection with his father Angel, romantic understanding with Annabelle, and respect with Cooper. All players get their due.
Transformation
Closing image mirrors the opening: Maverick rides off, still a charming rogue. But now he understands partnership and trust - even if he still keeps his cards close. He's alone again but transformed, carrying real connections with him.