Morning Glory
A young and devoted morning television producer is hired as an executive producer on a long-running morning show at a once-prominent but currently failing station in New York City. Eager to keep the show on air, she recruits a former news journalist and anchor who disapproves of co-hosting a show that does not deal with real news stories.
Working with a mid-range budget of $40.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $60.0M in global revenue (+50% profit margin).
1 win & 3 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%)
Morning Glory (2010) showcases carefully calibrated dramatic framework, characteristic of Roger Michell's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 47 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Becky Fuller
Mike Pomeroy
Colleen Peck
Adam Bennett
Jerry Barnes
Main Cast & Characters
Becky Fuller
Played by Rachel McAdams
An ambitious young TV producer hired to save a failing morning show through sheer determination and unconventional methods.
Mike Pomeroy
Played by Harrison Ford
A legendary news anchor forced into morning TV who initially resists the format with contempt and stubbornness.
Colleen Peck
Played by Diane Keaton
The established morning show co-host who must navigate working with her difficult new partner while maintaining professionalism.
Adam Bennett
Played by Patrick Wilson
A fellow producer and Becky's love interest who provides support and romantic complications.
Jerry Barnes
Played by Jeff Goldblum
The network executive who hires Becky and gives her the impossible task of saving the show.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Becky Fuller enthusiastically produces the morning show at a New Jersey station, demonstrating her passionate work ethic and ambition despite the low-prestige setting.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Network executive Jerry offers Becky a job as executive producer of "Daybreak," the last-place morning show at IBS, giving her a chance to prove herself in network television.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Becky fires co-anchor Paul McVeigh and uses a contractual loophole to force legendary but difficult newsman Mike Pomeroy onto Daybreak, irreversibly committing to her bold strategy to save the show., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 49% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Daybreak's ratings improve dramatically thanks to Becky's stunts and viral moments, and she successfully gets Mike to do a cooking segment, representing a false victory as Mike remains miserable and her personal life suffers., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The network cancels Daybreak despite Becky's efforts, and she has a breakdown on air. Her dream job ends in failure, and her relationship with Adam falls apart due to her inability to balance work and life., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 85 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Becky receives a job offer from a prestigious news program (her dream), but Mike reveals he's finally decided to fight for Daybreak, making Becky realize what truly matters to her is the work she loves, not prestige., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Morning Glory's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Morning Glory against these established plot points, we can identify how Roger Michell utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Morning Glory within the drama genre.
Roger Michell's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Roger Michell films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Morning Glory represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Roger Michell filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Roger Michell analyses, see Persuasion, My Cousin Rachel and Changing Lanes.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Becky Fuller enthusiastically produces the morning show at a New Jersey station, demonstrating her passionate work ethic and ambition despite the low-prestige setting.
Theme
Becky's mother warns her that working in morning television is frivolous and she needs to grow up, establishing the central conflict between passion for work others dismiss and societal expectations of "serious" success.
Worldbuilding
Setup of Becky's world: her dedication to morning TV, her firing from the New Jersey station, her struggle to find work, and her desperate job search in a declining industry.
Disruption
Network executive Jerry offers Becky a job as executive producer of "Daybreak," the last-place morning show at IBS, giving her a chance to prove herself in network television.
Resistance
Becky tours the dysfunctional Daybreak show, meets resistant staff, confronts the low ratings and terrible workplace dynamics, and debates whether she can actually save this sinking ship.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Becky fires co-anchor Paul McVeigh and uses a contractual loophole to force legendary but difficult newsman Mike Pomeroy onto Daybreak, irreversibly committing to her bold strategy to save the show.
Mirror World
Becky meets and begins dating Adam, a producer for the evening news who represents work-life balance and questions whether killing herself for morning TV is worth it.
Premise
The fun of watching Becky try increasingly desperate and creative stunts to boost ratings while battling Mike's resistance and managing the chaos of live morning television.
Midpoint
Daybreak's ratings improve dramatically thanks to Becky's stunts and viral moments, and she successfully gets Mike to do a cooking segment, representing a false victory as Mike remains miserable and her personal life suffers.
Opposition
Mike increasingly undermines the show, Adam confronts Becky about her workaholism, the network threatens cancellation despite improved ratings, and Becky's obsessive work habits alienate everyone around her.
Collapse
The network cancels Daybreak despite Becky's efforts, and she has a breakdown on air. Her dream job ends in failure, and her relationship with Adam falls apart due to her inability to balance work and life.
Crisis
Becky spirals in despair, contemplating her mother's warnings about wasting her life on frivolous morning television, and questions whether her passion and sacrifices were foolish.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Becky receives a job offer from a prestigious news program (her dream), but Mike reveals he's finally decided to fight for Daybreak, making Becky realize what truly matters to her is the work she loves, not prestige.
Synthesis
Becky chooses to stay with Daybreak, rallies the team for one final spectacular show, Mike fully commits and delivers his best work, and they successfully prove the show's value to the network.
Transformation
Becky confidently produces Daybreak with renewed purpose, having learned to value her own passion over others' judgments, balanced by healthier relationships with Mike, Colleen, and Adam.