Patriots Day
In the aftermath of an unspeakable act of terror, Police Sergeant Tommy Saunders joins courageous survivors, first responders and investigators in a race against the clock to hunt down the Boston Marathon bombers before they strike again.
Working with a respectable budget of $45.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $50.5M in global revenue (+12% profit margin).
2 wins & 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
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tommy Saunders
Richard DesLauriers
Ed Davis
Jeffrey Pugliese
Carol Saunders
Tamerlan Tsarnaev
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Dun Meng
Patrick Downes
Jessica Kensky
Main Cast & Characters
Tommy Saunders
Played by Mark Wahlberg
A Boston Police sergeant working the marathon finish line who becomes central to the investigation and manhunt after the bombing.
Richard DesLauriers
Played by Kevin Bacon
FBI Special Agent in Charge who leads the federal investigation and coordinates the multi-agency response to the bombing.
Ed Davis
Played by John Goodman
Boston Police Commissioner who manages the city's response and works to maintain public order during the crisis.
Jeffrey Pugliese
Played by J.K. Simmons
Watertown Police Sergeant who engages the bombers in a dramatic shootout in the residential neighborhood.
Carol Saunders
Played by Michelle Monaghan
Tommy's supportive wife who worries about his safety as he throws himself into the investigation.
Tamerlan Tsarnaev
Played by Themo Melikidze
The elder bomber who masterminds the attack, driven by radicalized ideology and a desire for violent retribution.
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
Played by Alex Wolff
The younger bomber who follows his older brother's lead in carrying out the terrorist attack on the marathon.
Dun Meng
Played by Jimmy O. Yang
A Chinese immigrant whose carjacked Mercedes becomes crucial evidence; his brave escape alerts police to the bombers' location.
Patrick Downes
Played by Christopher O'Shea
A newlywed who loses his leg in the bombing but demonstrates resilience and hope alongside his wife Jessica.
Jessica Kensky
Played by Rachel Brosnahan
Patrick's wife who also loses a leg in the bombing; their love story represents the human cost and spirit of survival.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sergeant Tommy Saunders wakes early, nursing a bad knee from a prior incident, as his wife Carol prepares for another ordinary day in Boston. The city is peaceful, unaware of the tragedy to come.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Two pressure cooker bombs detonate near the marathon finish line, killing three and injuring hundreds. The ordinary world is shattered in an instant of horrific violence.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to DesLauriers declares the bombing a terrorist attack and announces a full federal investigation. Tommy, despite being assigned to desk duty, commits to helping identify the bombers, crossing into the hunt that will consume the city., moving from reaction to action.
At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The FBI releases photos and video of the two suspects to the public, asking for help identifying them. This is a false victory—progress feels imminent, but it triggers the brothers to accelerate their violent plan., 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, Officer Dic Donohue is critically wounded in the crossfire. Tamerlan Tsarnaev is killed, but Dzhokhar escapes into the night. Boston is placed under lockdown—the city paralyzed by fear with an armed terrorist still at large., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 106 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. A Watertown resident notices blood on his boat and discovers Dzhokhar hiding inside. He calls police, giving them the breakthrough they desperately needed. The final confrontation can begin., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Patriots Day'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 Patriots Day against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Berg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Patriots Day within the action genre.
Peter Berg's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Peter Berg films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Patriots Day exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Berg filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Peter Berg analyses, see The Rundown, Friday Night Lights and Hancock.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sergeant Tommy Saunders wakes early, nursing a bad knee from a prior incident, as his wife Carol prepares for another ordinary day in Boston. The city is peaceful, unaware of the tragedy to come.
Theme
Commissioner Ed Davis reminds officers that Marathon Monday is about community and resilience: "This is Boston. We take care of each other." The theme of collective strength and unity is established.
Worldbuilding
Multiple storylines introduce the ensemble: MIT Officer Sean Collier on campus, couple Patrick and Jessica preparing to watch the marathon, restaurant owner Dun Meng going about his day, and the Tsarnaev brothers finalizing their deadly plan.
Disruption
Two pressure cooker bombs detonate near the marathon finish line, killing three and injuring hundreds. The ordinary world is shattered in an instant of horrific violence.
Resistance
First responders rush to aid victims amid chaos. Tommy helps coordinate the scene while FBI Special Agent Richard DesLauriers arrives to lead the federal investigation. The city grapples with shock and the scope of the attack.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
DesLauriers declares the bombing a terrorist attack and announces a full federal investigation. Tommy, despite being assigned to desk duty, commits to helping identify the bombers, crossing into the hunt that will consume the city.
Mirror World
Tommy's wife Carol and the families of victims become the emotional heart of the story. Their resilience and the community's support for survivors embody the theme—Boston's strength comes from its people standing together.
Premise
The investigation intensifies as agents comb through thousands of hours of surveillance footage. Tommy's street-level knowledge proves invaluable. The meticulous police work slowly narrows in on two suspects captured on camera.
Midpoint
The FBI releases photos and video of the two suspects to the public, asking for help identifying them. This is a false victory—progress feels imminent, but it triggers the brothers to accelerate their violent plan.
Opposition
The Tsarnaev brothers, now exposed, murder MIT Officer Sean Collier and carjack Dun Meng at gunpoint. Meng's harrowing escape leads police to the brothers. A violent firefight erupts in Watertown as the city descends into urban warfare.
Collapse
Officer Dic Donohue is critically wounded in the crossfire. Tamerlan Tsarnaev is killed, but Dzhokhar escapes into the night. Boston is placed under lockdown—the city paralyzed by fear with an armed terrorist still at large.
Crisis
The shelter-in-place order leaves Boston eerily silent. Law enforcement struggles with the reality that Dzhokhar has vanished. Tommy and the team face exhaustion and doubt as hours pass with no leads.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
A Watertown resident notices blood on his boat and discovers Dzhokhar hiding inside. He calls police, giving them the breakthrough they desperately needed. The final confrontation can begin.
Synthesis
Tactical teams surround the boat. After a tense standoff, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is captured alive. Boston erupts in relief and celebration as residents pour into the streets, chanting "USA" and thanking first responders.
Transformation
Real footage and interviews with the actual survivors, first responders, and families close the film. Boston stands united, scarred but unbroken. Tommy, reconciled with his past, walks toward a hopeful future with Carol—the city's resilience personified.