Push
After his father, an assassin, is brutally murdered, Nick Gant vows revenge on Division, the covert government agency that dabbles in psychic warfare and experimental drugs. Hiding in Hong Kong's underworld, Nick assembles a band of rogue psychics dedicated to destroying Division. Together with Cassie, a teenage clairvoyant, Nick goes in search of a missing girl and a stolen suitcase that could be the key to accomplishing their mutual goal.
Working with a mid-range budget of $38.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $49.7M in global revenue (+31% profit margin).
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
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Push (2009) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Paul McGuigan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 51 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nick Gant
Cassie Holmes
Kira Hudson
Agent Henry Carver
Hook Waters
Pinky Stein
Pop Girl
Main Cast & Characters
Nick Gant
Played by Chris Evans
A telekinetic "Mover" on the run from Division, seeking revenge for his father's murder while trying to survive in Hong Kong's psychic underworld.
Cassie Holmes
Played by Dakota Fanning
A 13-year-old "Watcher" who can see the future, guiding Nick through a dangerous plan to take down Division.
Kira Hudson
Played by Camilla Belle
A powerful "Pusher" who can implant memories and thoughts, escaped from Division and caught between her programming and freedom.
Agent Henry Carver
Played by Djimon Hounsou
A ruthless Division "Pusher" who killed Nick's father and will stop at nothing to retrieve Kira and the experimental drug.
Hook Waters
Played by Cliff Curtis
A "Shifter" con artist and Nick's unreliable friend who can temporarily change the appearance of objects.
Pinky Stein
Played by Nate Mooney
A "Sniffer" who can track psychics through objects, working for the Pop family and later aiding Nick's group.
Pop Girl
Played by Xiao Lu Li
The daughter of a Hong Kong Triad family with precognitive abilities, leading a team of Watchers in conflict with Cassie.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Nick witnesses his father's murder by Division agent Henry Carver. His dying father tells him a girl will find him and he must help her. This traumatic origin establishes Nick as a hunted man shaped by loss.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Thirteen-year-old Cassie Holmes, a young Watcher, finds Nick in his Hong Kong apartment. She reveals she's seen a future where they find a case containing something that can bring down Division - and that they both die if they fail.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Nick makes the active choice to help Cassie find the case and take down Division. He commits fully when he learns the case may contain something that could free all psychics from government control forever., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False defeat: They locate the case but discover Division anticipated them. Carver captures Kira and reveals she was "pushed" to believe she loved Nick - her memories and feelings may all be implanted. The nature of Kira's identity and loyalty becomes uncertain., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 83 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Cassie sees a vision where everyone dies - there's no future where they survive. Nick appears defeated, the plan has failed, and Kira seemingly betrays them to Carver. The whiff of death is literal: Cassie draws their corpses., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 89 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Nick devises a brilliant plan: he has Kira push new memories into everyone, including himself, so that no one - not even enemy Watchers - can see the true plan because no one knows it. By erasing his own knowledge, he makes the future unpredictable., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Push'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 Push against these established plot points, we can identify how Paul McGuigan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Push within the science fiction genre.
Paul McGuigan's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Paul McGuigan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Push takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Paul McGuigan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional science fiction films include The Postman, Mad Max 2 and AVP: Alien vs. Predator. For more Paul McGuigan analyses, see Wicker Park, Lucky Number Slevin.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Nick witnesses his father's murder by Division agent Henry Carver. His dying father tells him a girl will find him and he must help her. This traumatic origin establishes Nick as a hunted man shaped by loss.
Theme
Nick's father tells young Nick: "You can change the future." This thematic statement establishes the central conflict between fate (what Watchers see) and free will (the ability to alter outcomes through choice and action).
Worldbuilding
The world of psychics is established through narration explaining Movers, Pushers, Watchers, Bleeders, Sniffs, and other abilities. Adult Nick lives in hiding in Hong Kong, gambling poorly with his powers. Division's global hunt for psychics is shown.
Disruption
Thirteen-year-old Cassie Holmes, a young Watcher, finds Nick in his Hong Kong apartment. She reveals she's seen a future where they find a case containing something that can bring down Division - and that they both die if they fail.
Resistance
Nick resists involvement, wanting to stay hidden. Cassie persists, showing him her drawings of the future. They learn Kira Hudson escaped Division with a syringe that could enhance or kill psychics. Nick debates whether to risk everything.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Nick makes the active choice to help Cassie find the case and take down Division. He commits fully when he learns the case may contain something that could free all psychics from government control forever.
Mirror World
Nick reconnects with Kira, his ex-girlfriend and a powerful Pusher who escaped Division. Their relationship represents the emotional stakes and the theme - Kira was "pushed" to forget their love, raising questions about identity, memory, and what makes us who we are.
Premise
The team navigates Hong Kong's psychic underworld, evading Division agents and the deadly Pop Family (rival Bleeders). They recruit allies including Hook Waters (a Shifter) and use their combined abilities to search for the case while staying ahead of Watchers on all sides.
Midpoint
False defeat: They locate the case but discover Division anticipated them. Carver captures Kira and reveals she was "pushed" to believe she loved Nick - her memories and feelings may all be implanted. The nature of Kira's identity and loyalty becomes uncertain.
Opposition
Carver intensifies the hunt. The Pop Family closes in for revenge. Every move Nick's team makes is seen by enemy Watchers. Cassie's visions keep showing their deaths. The team fractures as Kira's true allegiance remains unclear and trust erodes.
Collapse
Cassie sees a vision where everyone dies - there's no future where they survive. Nick appears defeated, the plan has failed, and Kira seemingly betrays them to Carver. The whiff of death is literal: Cassie draws their corpses.
Crisis
In the darkest moment, Nick processes the apparent hopelessness. Every Watcher sees them dying. The future seems fixed and inescapable. Nick must find a way to do what his father said - change the future that everyone believes is set.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Nick devises a brilliant plan: he has Kira push new memories into everyone, including himself, so that no one - not even enemy Watchers - can see the true plan because no one knows it. By erasing his own knowledge, he makes the future unpredictable.
Synthesis
The hidden plan unfolds. Nick confronts Carver not knowing his own strategy. Kira's true self emerges as the pushed memories fade. The team's abilities combine in unexpected ways. Nick finally embraces his powers fully, defeating Carver and securing the syringe.
Transformation
Nick and Cassie survive against all predictions. Cassie gives Nick an envelope from his past self explaining the plan he'd forgotten. Nick has transformed from a man hiding from his powers to one who weaponized unpredictability itself - proving the future can be changed.