Raising Arizona
Recidivist hold-up man H.I. McDonnough and police woman Edwina marry, only to discover they are unable to conceive a child. Desperate for a baby, the pair decide to kidnap one of the quintuplets of furniture tycoon Nathan Arizona. The McDonnoughs try to keep their crime secret, while friends, co-workers and a feral bounty hunter look to use Nathan Jr. for their own purposes.
Despite its limited budget of $6.0M, Raising Arizona became a solid performer, earning $29.2M worldwide—a 386% return. The film's innovative storytelling attracted moviegoers, illustrating how strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Raising Arizona (1987) demonstrates strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Joel Coen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
H.I. "Hi" McDunnough
Edwina "Ed" McDunnough
Leonard Smalls
Nathan Arizona Sr.
Gale Snoats
Evelle Snoats
Glen
Dot
Main Cast & Characters
H.I. "Hi" McDunnough
Played by Nicolas Cage
A repeat offender trying to go straight who falls for a police officer and kidnaps a quintuplet when they can't have children.
Edwina "Ed" McDunnough
Played by Holly Hunter
A no-nonsense police officer who marries Hi and desperately wants a baby despite their infertility.
Leonard Smalls
Played by Randall "Tex" Cobb
A brutal biker bounty hunter hired to retrieve the kidnapped Arizona baby.
Nathan Arizona Sr.
Played by Trey Wilson
A wealthy unpainted furniture magnate whose quintuplets become the target of Hi and Ed's kidnapping.
Gale Snoats
Played by John Goodman
Hi's prison buddy and escaped convict who crashes at the McDunnough home with his brother.
Evelle Snoats
Played by William Forsythe
Gale's dim-witted brother and fellow escaped convict who disrupts Hi and Ed's domestic life.
Glen
Played by Sam McMurray
Hi's obnoxious coworker who visits with his uncontrollable family, straining the McDunnough household.
Dot
Played by Frances McDormand
Glen's wife who looks down on Ed while her children run wild through their trailer.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Hi McDunnough, a recidivist petty criminal, is repeatedly arrested and photographed by police officer Ed. His life is a cycle of crime, prison, and parole, establishing his ordinary world of low-stakes criminality and unfulfilled longing.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Hi and Ed see news coverage of furniture magnate Nathan Arizona and his wife welcoming quintuplets. Nathan jokes on TV: "I mean, they're just babies, you know? We got more than we can handle." This plants the seed that will disrupt their status quo.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Hi breaks into the Arizona home at night and steals Nathan Jr., one of the quintuplets. This active choice to commit kidnapping launches them into the new world of parenthood built on a crime, irreversibly changing their lives and setting the story in motion., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat After Hi loses his job and robs a convenience store in a spectacular, chaotic sequence, Ed discovers what he's done. The cracks in their fantasy become undeniable. Their false victory of having a baby transforms into the recognition that they're both reverting to their worst selves. Stakes escalate as Nathan Arizona increases the reward., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Ed leaves Hi, taking Nathan Jr. With her. Their marriage collapses under the weight of their crime and incompatibility. Hi is alone in the desert, having lost both his wife and the child that represented their dream. The death of the dream of redemption through family., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Hi wakes with clarity and purpose. He realizes he must make things right: return Nathan Jr., save Ed from danger, and face the consequences. He synthesizes his love for Ed (Mirror World lesson) with his need to take responsibility (his original flaw). He chooses redemption over escape., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Raising Arizona's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Raising Arizona against these established plot points, we can identify how Joel Coen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Raising Arizona within the comedy genre.
Joel Coen's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Joel Coen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Raising Arizona exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Joel Coen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Joel Coen analyses, see The Tragedy of Macbeth, Intolerable Cruelty and Miller's Crossing.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Hi McDunnough, a recidivist petty criminal, is repeatedly arrested and photographed by police officer Ed. His life is a cycle of crime, prison, and parole, establishing his ordinary world of low-stakes criminality and unfulfilled longing.
Theme
Ed tells Hi during one of his arrests that he needs to settle down and find a family, introducing the film's central theme: the tension between our criminal nature and our desire for redemption through love and family.
Worldbuilding
Hi's repeated arrests bring him into contact with Ed. They fall in love through the bars of his cell. Hi gets out, they marry, and try to start a family. They discover Ed is barren, adoption agencies reject them due to Hi's record, and their marriage begins to crumble under the weight of childlessness.
Disruption
Hi and Ed see news coverage of furniture magnate Nathan Arizona and his wife welcoming quintuplets. Nathan jokes on TV: "I mean, they're just babies, you know? We got more than we can handle." This plants the seed that will disrupt their status quo.
Resistance
Hi and Ed debate the morality of taking one of the Arizona babies. Ed argues the Arizonas have more than they need. Hi wrestles with returning to crime after going straight. They plan the kidnapping, with Hi rationalizing it as victimless while knowing it crosses a line he swore not to cross.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Hi breaks into the Arizona home at night and steals Nathan Jr., one of the quintuplets. This active choice to commit kidnapping launches them into the new world of parenthood built on a crime, irreversibly changing their lives and setting the story in motion.
Mirror World
Hi's former cellmates Gale and Evelle Snoats escape from prison and arrive at Hi and Ed's trailer, bringing Hi's criminal past into his new family life. They represent the world Hi is trying to leave behind but cannot escape.
Premise
Hi and Ed play house with Nathan Jr., experiencing the joys and chaos of parenthood. They host Glen and Dot with their unruly kids, Hi gets a job, and they pretend to be a normal family. The fun of their premise—stolen baby becomes their salvation—plays out with comedic domesticity interrupted by increasing pressure from the outside world.
Midpoint
After Hi loses his job and robs a convenience store in a spectacular, chaotic sequence, Ed discovers what he's done. The cracks in their fantasy become undeniable. Their false victory of having a baby transforms into the recognition that they're both reverting to their worst selves. Stakes escalate as Nathan Arizona increases the reward.
Opposition
Leonard Smalls, a demonic bounty hunter, enters the hunt for Nathan Jr. Gale and Evelle discover the baby's true identity and plan to sell him. Glen threatens to report Hi and Ed unless Ed sleeps with him. The walls close in from every direction as everyone's worst nature emerges. Hi and Ed fight bitterly about their failure.
Collapse
Ed leaves Hi, taking Nathan Jr. with her. Their marriage collapses under the weight of their crime and incompatibility. Hi is alone in the desert, having lost both his wife and the child that represented their dream. The death of the dream of redemption through family.
Crisis
Hi experiences a prophetic dream/nightmare of a apocalyptic future while passed out in the desert. He sees a world destroyed by his selfishness. In the darkness, he processes his fundamental failure—he cannot build a life on stolen goods, stolen love, or stolen children.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Hi wakes with clarity and purpose. He realizes he must make things right: return Nathan Jr., save Ed from danger, and face the consequences. He synthesizes his love for Ed (Mirror World lesson) with his need to take responsibility (his original flaw). He chooses redemption over escape.
Synthesis
Hi races to rescue Nathan Jr. from Gale and Evelle, then confronts Leonard Smalls in a brutal showdown. Nathan Arizona arrives; Hi expects punishment but receives unexpected grace. Hi and Ed return the baby together, with Nathan offering forgiveness and fatherly wisdom. They reunite, humbled and honest.
Transformation
Hi dreams of a future where he and Ed are surrounded by children and grandchildren at a family gathering—their own biological children, not stolen ones. The dream represents hope earned through facing their failures. They may never have this future, but they're now worthy of dreaming it. Transformation from thieves to redeemed seekers.