Moneyball
The story of Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane's successful attempt to put together a baseball team on a budget, by employing computer-generated analysis to draft his players.
Despite a respectable budget of $50.0M, Moneyball became a box office success, earning $110.2M worldwide—a 120% return.
Nominated for 6 Oscars. 29 wins & 82 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%)
Moneyball (2011) exemplifies strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Bennett Miller's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 14 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Billy Beane alone in the Oakland A's locker room after their 2001 playoff loss to the Yankees. A man defined by losing, stuck in a broken system he can't seem to fix.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Billy loses his three star players to free agency. Owner Stephen Schott refuses to increase the $38 million payroll. The old way of competing is dead—Billy cannot replace talent with equivalent talent.. 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 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to Billy makes the active choice to hire Peter Brand and commit to the sabermetric revolution. He chooses to abandon traditional baseball wisdom and enter an entirely new world of team-building, knowing he'll face massive resistance., moving from reaction to action.
At 68 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The A's start winning. After early struggles, the team goes on a hot streak. Billy and Peter's system is working—false victory. Stakes raise: national media attention, but Billy knows they must make the playoffs for it to matter. The fun is over; now comes the pressure., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 100 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The A's lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Twins, just like always. Despite 103 wins and the historic streak, they're eliminated quickly. Billy's daughter's song returns: "You're a loser, Dad." The whiff of death: the dream of proving the system works dies., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 109 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. John Henry, Red Sox owner, offers Billy the GM job with the highest salary in baseball history. Henry reveals the truth: "The first guy through the wall always gets bloody. But you changed the game." Billy synthesizes his journey—it was never about winning a championship, but about proving a new way works., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Moneyball'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 Moneyball against these established plot points, we can identify how Bennett Miller utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Moneyball within the drama genre.
Bennett Miller's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Bennett Miller films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Moneyball represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bennett Miller filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Bennett Miller analyses, see Foxcatcher, Capote.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Billy Beane alone in the Oakland A's locker room after their 2001 playoff loss to the Yankees. A man defined by losing, stuck in a broken system he can't seem to fix.
Theme
Billy's daughter sings "You're a loser, Dad" playfully, but the theme resonates: How do you win when the game is rigged against you? The question of redefining success and value.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the A's dire situation: small-market team losing star players (Giambi, Damon, Isringhausen) to big-money teams. Billy's history as a failed player haunts him. Traditional scouts rely on outdated methods, judging players on looks and gut feelings.
Disruption
Billy loses his three star players to free agency. Owner Stephen Schott refuses to increase the $38 million payroll. The old way of competing is dead—Billy cannot replace talent with equivalent talent.
Resistance
Billy resists, debates, and explores options. Scouts offer traditional solutions that won't work. During a trade meeting in Cleveland, Billy notices Peter Brand (Yale economics grad) who sees the game differently. Peter introduces sabermetrics: buying wins, not players.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Billy makes the active choice to hire Peter Brand and commit to the sabermetric revolution. He chooses to abandon traditional baseball wisdom and enter an entirely new world of team-building, knowing he'll face massive resistance.
Mirror World
Billy and Peter's partnership deepens. Peter represents the thematic mirror: the undervalued, overlooked talent who proves worth isn't determined by traditional measures. Their relationship carries the theme of redefining value.
Premise
The "promise of the premise"—Billy and Peter revolutionize roster construction. They acquire undervalued players (Hatteberg, Peña, Bradford) based on statistics. Clash with scouts and manager Art Howe. Billy trades Peña to force Howe's hand. The fun of building a team by numbers.
Midpoint
The A's start winning. After early struggles, the team goes on a hot streak. Billy and Peter's system is working—false victory. Stakes raise: national media attention, but Billy knows they must make the playoffs for it to matter. The fun is over; now comes the pressure.
Opposition
Pressure intensifies. The A's pursue the American League record 20-game win streak. Media scrutiny grows. Billy becomes superstitious, won't watch games. Opposition from traditional baseball establishment intensifies. The weight of expectation builds.
Collapse
The A's lose in the first round of the playoffs to the Twins, just like always. Despite 103 wins and the historic streak, they're eliminated quickly. Billy's daughter's song returns: "You're a loser, Dad." The whiff of death: the dream of proving the system works dies.
Crisis
Billy processes the defeat. He questions whether any of it mattered. The emotional darkness of wondering if he's still just a failed ballplayer chasing a broken dream. Peter reminds him they changed the game, but Billy can't see it yet.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
John Henry, Red Sox owner, offers Billy the GM job with the highest salary in baseball history. Henry reveals the truth: "The first guy through the wall always gets bloody. But you changed the game." Billy synthesizes his journey—it was never about winning a championship, but about proving a new way works.
Synthesis
Billy declines the Red Sox offer. He chooses to stay with the A's, not because he can win a championship, but because he proved what needed proving. He accepts his daughter's song, reframing it. He doesn't need to win the World Series to matter.
Transformation
Billy drives alone, listening to a CD his daughter made him. The same song plays, but now he smiles. Text reveals the Red Sox used sabermetrics to win the 2004 World Series. Billy isn't a loser—he's a revolutionary. He redefined success on his own terms.