Octopussy
A fake Fabergé egg recovered from the body of a fellow agent leads James Bond to uncover a jewel smuggling operation led by the mysterious Octopussy, and a plot to blow up a NATO air base.
Despite a respectable budget of $27.5M, Octopussy became a box office phenomenon, earning $187.5M worldwide—a remarkable 582% return.
2 wins & 4 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
James Bond
Octopussy
Kamal Khan
General Orlov
Magda
Gobinda
M
Q
Main Cast & Characters
James Bond
Played by Roger Moore
British MI6 secret agent 007 who investigates a smuggling operation involving Fabergé eggs and uncovers a nuclear weapons plot.
Octopussy
Played by Maud Adams
Mysterious and wealthy leader of an all-female smuggling cult who becomes Bond's ally against Kamal Khan's nuclear scheme.
Kamal Khan
Played by Louis Jourdan
Exiled Afghan prince and jewel smuggler who conspires with General Orlov to detonate a nuclear bomb on a US Air Force base.
General Orlov
Played by Steven Berkoff
Rogue Soviet general obsessed with Western conquest who mastermind the nuclear bomb plot to force NATO withdrawal from Europe.
Magda
Played by Kristina Wayborn
Kamal Khan's seductive associate and Octopussy's trusted lieutenant who serves as a liaison between the two factions.
Gobinda
Played by Kabir Bedi
Kamal Khan's imposing and loyal bodyguard and enforcer who relentlessly pursues Bond throughout the film.
M
Played by Robert Brown
Head of MI6 who assigns Bond to investigate the connection between a murdered 009 agent and a Fabergé egg forgery.
Q
Played by Desmond Llewelyn
MI6's gadget master who provides Bond with essential equipment including a tracking device hidden in a Fabergé egg.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Bond infiltrates a Latin American airbase on a mission, establishing his world as a skilled, resourceful MI6 agent operating in dangerous territory.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Bond switches the real Fabergé egg with a fake at the auction, provoking Kamal Khan who purchases it for an exorbitant price. This act draws Bond directly into the conspiracy and makes him a target.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Bond actively chooses to infiltrate Octopussy's island palace, entering her world fully. He moves from passive investigation to active engagement with the central mystery and its key player., moving from reaction to action.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Bond discovers General Orlov's true plan: to detonate a nuclear bomb at a US Air Force base in West Germany during a circus performance, framing it as an accident to force NATO disarmament. The stakes skyrocket from smuggling to nuclear war., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 98 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Bond, disguised as a clown, is unable to convince the US military base commander of the bomb threat. He's thrown out while the clock ticks down—his credibility destroyed, and nuclear catastrophe seconds away., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 105 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Bond successfully disarms the nuclear bomb with seconds to spare, then realizes Octopussy is in danger at Kamal Khan's palace. His mission shifts from preventing war to rescuing his ally and completing personal justice., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Octopussy'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 Octopussy against these established plot points, we can identify how John Glen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Octopussy within the action genre.
John Glen's Structural Approach
Among the 5 John Glen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Octopussy exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete John Glen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more John Glen analyses, see Christopher Columbus: The Discovery, Licence to Kill and A View to a Kill.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Bond infiltrates a Latin American airbase on a mission, establishing his world as a skilled, resourceful MI6 agent operating in dangerous territory.
Theme
M and colleagues discuss the suspicious death of 009, who was found dressed as a circus clown clutching a Fabergé egg—appearances can be deceiving, trust is fragile, and deception is everywhere.
Worldbuilding
The pre-credits sequence establishes Bond's capabilities, followed by the discovery of 009's body with a fake Fabergé egg. Bond is briefed on smuggling operations, Soviet intrigue, and attends Sotheby's auction where he meets Kamal Khan.
Disruption
Bond switches the real Fabergé egg with a fake at the auction, provoking Kamal Khan who purchases it for an exorbitant price. This act draws Bond directly into the conspiracy and makes him a target.
Resistance
Bond travels to India, receives assistance from MI6 contact Vijay, investigates Kamal Khan's palace, and encounters the mysterious Octopussy. He gathers intelligence while navigating multiple threats and seductions.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Bond actively chooses to infiltrate Octopussy's island palace, entering her world fully. He moves from passive investigation to active engagement with the central mystery and its key player.
Mirror World
Octopussy reveals her connection to Bond through her father, a British officer Bond allowed to commit suicide rather than face court-martial. This relationship introduces themes of honor, loyalty, and redemption.
Premise
Bond explores the exotic world of Octopussy's smuggling empire, engages in elaborate action sequences (tiger hunt, chases through Indian streets), and slowly uncovers the deeper conspiracy involving Soviet General Orlov's plan.
Midpoint
Bond discovers General Orlov's true plan: to detonate a nuclear bomb at a US Air Force base in West Germany during a circus performance, framing it as an accident to force NATO disarmament. The stakes skyrocket from smuggling to nuclear war.
Opposition
Bond races to prevent the detonation while being hunted by Kamal Khan's forces. Orlov is killed trying to escape, but the bomb continues toward its target. Bond infiltrates the circus, desperately trying to locate and disarm the device.
Collapse
Bond, disguised as a clown, is unable to convince the US military base commander of the bomb threat. He's thrown out while the clock ticks down—his credibility destroyed, and nuclear catastrophe seconds away.
Crisis
Bond fights his way back to the bomb location, facing seemingly impossible odds. In the darkest moment, he must rely solely on his skills and determination with no backup or authority to help him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Bond successfully disarms the nuclear bomb with seconds to spare, then realizes Octopussy is in danger at Kamal Khan's palace. His mission shifts from preventing war to rescuing his ally and completing personal justice.
Synthesis
Bond leads Octopussy's female army in an assault on Kamal Khan's palace. The final confrontation includes aerial combat on Kamal's plane, where Bond defeats both Kamal and Gobinda, rescuing Octopussy and eliminating the threat.
Transformation
Bond relaxes with Octopussy on her boat, having earned her trust and affection. Unlike the opening where he operated alone, he's now found partnership built on mutual respect, honor, and shared understanding of loss.