Scarface
Tony Montana manages to leave Cuba during the Mariel exodus of 1980. He finds himself in a Florida refugee camp but his friend Manny has a way out for them: undertake a contract killing and arrangements will be made to get a green card. He's soon working for drug dealer Frank Lopez and shows his mettle when a deal with Colombian drug dealers goes bad. He also brings a new level of violence to Miami. Tony is protective of his younger sister but his mother knows what he does for a living and disowns him. Tony is impatient and wants it all however, including Frank's empire and his mistress Elvira Hancock. Once at the top however, Tony's outrageous actions make him a target and everything comes crumbling down.
Despite a respectable budget of $25.0M, Scarface became a solid performer, earning $66.0M worldwide—a 164% return.
8 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%)
Scarface (1983) demonstrates precise dramatic framework, characteristic of Brian De Palma's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 50 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 3.5, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tony Montana and other Cuban refugees are detained in a processing camp under a bridge, being interrogated about their criminal backgrounds. Tony is a small-time criminal with nothing, hungry and desperate for his shot at the American Dream.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Omar offers Tony and Manny their first job for Frank Lopez: to "do a favor" by buying cocaine from Colombian dealers. This is the dangerous opportunity that will pull Tony out of dishwashing and into the criminal underworld—but it comes with deadly risk.. At 10% 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 Collapse moment at 115 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Tony refuses to kill the journalist when he sees his wife and children in the car, disobeying Sosa. He returns home high and paranoid to find Elvira leaving him. In a cocaine-fueled rage, he goes to Manny's and discovers Manny has married Gina. Tony shoots and kills Manny, his best friend—the "whiff of death" and his lowest point., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 122 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Sosa's hitmen arrive at Tony's mansion to kill him for his betrayal. Tony, face-deep in cocaine, arms himself for the final stand. There's no redemption or realization here—only defiant rage. He chooses to go down fighting, the corruption complete., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Scarface's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Scarface against these established plot points, we can identify how Brian De Palma utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Scarface within the crime genre.
Brian De Palma's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Brian De Palma films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.7, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Scarface takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Brian De Palma filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Batman Forever and 12 Rounds. For more Brian De Palma analyses, see Blow Out, Snake Eyes and Mission to Mars.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tony Montana and other Cuban refugees are detained in a processing camp under a bridge, being interrogated about their criminal backgrounds. Tony is a small-time criminal with nothing, hungry and desperate for his shot at the American Dream.
Theme
During the interrogation, the immigration officer asks Tony about the tattoo on his hand. Tony responds defiantly about the system and power. The implicit theme: the corrupting nature of power and the American Dream's dark underbelly—what you're willing to become to get "the world and everything in it."
Worldbuilding
Tony and Manny are released from the camp and begin working at a food stand in Little Havana. We see Tony's ambition, his relationship with best friend Manny, and his contempt for the small-time life. He meets Omar at a nightclub and sees Frank Lopez's world of wealth and power.
Disruption
Omar offers Tony and Manny their first job for Frank Lopez: to "do a favor" by buying cocaine from Colombian dealers. This is the dangerous opportunity that will pull Tony out of dishwashing and into the criminal underworld—but it comes with deadly risk.
Resistance
Tony debates whether to trust the Colombians, executes the chainsaw motel deal that nearly kills him, proves his ruthlessness and loyalty to Frank, and is brought deeper into the organization. Frank becomes his mentor figure, showing him the life of luxury but also warning him about restraint and "flying too high."
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Tony rises through Frank's organization, makes a major deal in Bolivia with Sosa, starts his own operation, marries Elvira, and builds his empire. The "fun and games" of being a drug lord—the mansion, the money, the tiger, the power. "The World Is Yours" becomes his motto.
Opposition
Tony's paranoia intensifies, he becomes addicted to cocaine, alienates Manny and Elvira, loses control of his organization, and is pressured by Sosa to assassinate a journalist. His flaws—pride, paranoia, inability to trust—close in. His sister Gina becomes a point of obsessive, destructive control.
Collapse
Tony refuses to kill the journalist when he sees his wife and children in the car, disobeying Sosa. He returns home high and paranoid to find Elvira leaving him. In a cocaine-fueled rage, he goes to Manny's and discovers Manny has married Gina. Tony shoots and kills Manny, his best friend—the "whiff of death" and his lowest point.
Crisis
Tony realizes what he's done—killed his best friend over his sister. Gina reveals she did it to hurt Tony. He takes Gina back to his mansion, completely alone now, spiraling in cocaine and paranoia. His dark night: he has everything material but has destroyed everyone who truly cared about him.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sosa's hitmen arrive at Tony's mansion to kill him for his betrayal. Tony, face-deep in cocaine, arms himself for the final stand. There's no redemption or realization here—only defiant rage. He chooses to go down fighting, the corruption complete.
Synthesis
The finale: Tony's mansion is stormed by Sosa's assassins. Gina is killed trying to shoot Tony. Tony, in a cocaine rage, grabs his M16 and fights back against dozens of attackers, screaming "Say hello to my little friend!" He kills many but is ultimately shot in the back and falls into his fountain.
Transformation
Tony's corpse floats face-down in his fountain beneath the statue reading "The World Is Yours"—a bitter, ironic closing image. He got the world and lost his soul. The transformation is complete: from hungry refugee to drug lord to dead tyrant, the corruption arc fulfilled.