Run All Night
Brooklyn mobster and prolific hit man Jimmy Conlon has seen better days. Longtime best friend of a mob boss, Jimmy is haunted by the sins of his past—as well as a dogged police detective who’s been one step behind Jimmy for 30 years. But when Jimmy’s estranged son becomes a target, Jimmy must make a choice between the crime family he chose and the real family he abandoned long ago. Now, with nowhere safe to turn, Jimmy has just one night to figure out exactly where his loyalties lie and to see if he can finally make things right.
Working with a moderate budget of $50.0M, the film achieved a respectable showing with $71.6M in global revenue (+43% profit margin).
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%)
Run All Night (2015) reveals meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Jaume Collet-Serra's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 54 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jimmy Conlon, aging mob enforcer, wakes up drunk in a bar bathroom on Christmas. His life is a wreck - estranged from his son Mike, consumed by guilt over past murders, reduced to working as bar bouncer for the mob family he once served.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Mike witnesses Danny Maguire murder two Albanian drug dealers. Danny sees Mike, creating a witness who must be eliminated. This event disrupts both families and sets the collision course in motion.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Jimmy shoots and kills Danny Maguire to save his son Mike. This irreversible act destroys his lifelong friendship with Shawn and puts both Jimmy and Mike on the run from the entire mob organization. Jimmy chooses his son over his past., 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 Shawn Maguire hires elite assassin Andrew Price to hunt Jimmy and Mike. The stakes escalate dramatically. What seemed like evading regular mob soldiers becomes a professional manhunt. Additionally, Jimmy realizes the police are closing in and Mike's family is in danger., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 84 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jimmy's old friend and mentor figure is killed by Price. Jimmy realizes he's brought death to everyone who ever helped him. Mike rejects him emotionally, saying he can never forgive what Jimmy has done. Jimmy faces the truth: he's destroyed everything and everyone he's touched., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Detective Harding provides Jimmy information about where Shawn is holding Mike's family, understanding that only Jimmy can end this. Jimmy realizes he must face Shawn directly - not to save himself, but to sacrifice himself for his son. Mike chooses to help his father in the final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Run All Night's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Run All Night against these established plot points, we can identify how Jaume Collet-Serra utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Run All Night within the action genre.
Jaume Collet-Serra's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Jaume Collet-Serra films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Run All Night represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jaume Collet-Serra filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jaume Collet-Serra analyses, see Jungle Cruise, Non-Stop and Orphan.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jimmy Conlon, aging mob enforcer, wakes up drunk in a bar bathroom on Christmas. His life is a wreck - estranged from his son Mike, consumed by guilt over past murders, reduced to working as bar bouncer for the mob family he once served.
Theme
Detective Harding tells Jimmy: "You can't run from your past." The theme of redemption and whether a killer can escape the life he's lived is established.
Worldbuilding
We see Jimmy's broken relationship with his son Mike, who drives limos and coaches boxing to stay away from the mob life. Meanwhile, Shawn Maguire's son Danny is doing drug deals. The parallel father-son relationships are established, as is the deep friendship between Jimmy and Shawn despite Jimmy's fall from grace.
Disruption
Mike witnesses Danny Maguire murder two Albanian drug dealers. Danny sees Mike, creating a witness who must be eliminated. This event disrupts both families and sets the collision course in motion.
Resistance
Danny calls his father Shawn for help. Mike calls Jimmy. Jimmy tries to negotiate with Shawn to protect Mike, but Danny won't listen and comes after Mike anyway. Jimmy debates whether to intervene, knowing it will destroy his oldest friendship.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jimmy shoots and kills Danny Maguire to save his son Mike. This irreversible act destroys his lifelong friendship with Shawn and puts both Jimmy and Mike on the run from the entire mob organization. Jimmy chooses his son over his past.
Mirror World
Mike is forced to rely on his father for survival. Their estrangement and Jimmy's attempts to reconnect with his son form the emotional B-story that explores whether redemption is possible and if a broken father-son relationship can be repaired.
Premise
Jimmy and Mike evade Shawn's men through the night. Jimmy uses his old mob skills to keep them alive - knowing safe houses, mob tactics, and how to fight. Mike sees his father's competence but also the violence of his past. They survive assassination attempts at Mike's apartment, a subway chase, and multiple hit squad attacks.
Midpoint
Shawn Maguire hires elite assassin Andrew Price to hunt Jimmy and Mike. The stakes escalate dramatically. What seemed like evading regular mob soldiers becomes a professional manhunt. Additionally, Jimmy realizes the police are closing in and Mike's family is in danger.
Opposition
Price systematically tracks Jimmy and Mike. Shawn's grief turns to cold vengeance. The police investigation tightens. Jimmy tries to get Mike's family to safety but they're targeted. Price attacks the police safe house. Jimmy's old contacts are killed for helping him. Every avenue of escape closes.
Collapse
Jimmy's old friend and mentor figure is killed by Price. Jimmy realizes he's brought death to everyone who ever helped him. Mike rejects him emotionally, saying he can never forgive what Jimmy has done. Jimmy faces the truth: he's destroyed everything and everyone he's touched.
Crisis
Jimmy sits in darkness contemplating his wasted life. He confesses to Mike about the innocent people he's killed, the man he became. He accepts he deserves to die but wants to save his son first. This is his only chance at redemption.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Detective Harding provides Jimmy information about where Shawn is holding Mike's family, understanding that only Jimmy can end this. Jimmy realizes he must face Shawn directly - not to save himself, but to sacrifice himself for his son. Mike chooses to help his father in the final confrontation.
Synthesis
Jimmy and Mike assault Shawn's compound. They fight through guards together, father and son finally united. Jimmy confronts Price in a brutal fight and kills him. Finally, Jimmy faces Shawn alone, accepting that one of them must die to end this. They have their final conversation as former brothers.
Transformation
Jimmy lies dying from his wounds in the back of the car as Mike drives. In his final moments, Jimmy has saved his son and family, achieved the only redemption possible for him. Mike holds his father as he dies, their relationship finally reconciled. Unlike the opening where Jimmy was alone and despised, he dies forgiven by his son.