Snakes on a Plane
FBI agent Neville Flynn boards a flight from Honolulu, Hawaii to Los Angeles, escorting a key witness to testify against a mob boss at an upcoming trial. An on-board assassin releases a crate full of hundreds of deadly venomous snakes in an attempt to eliminate the witness. Flynn and a host of frightened passengers and crew must band together to survive the slithery threat.
Working with a moderate budget of $33.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $62.0M in global revenue (+88% profit margin).
4 wins & 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%)
Snakes on a Plane (2006) exhibits meticulously timed dramatic framework, characteristic of David R. Ellis's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 45 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Neville Flynn
Sean Jones
Claire Miller
Eddie Kim
Troy
Mercedes
Main Cast & Characters
Neville Flynn
Played by Samuel L. Jackson
An FBI agent escorting a witness on a flight from Hawaii to Los Angeles who must protect passengers from deadly snakes.
Sean Jones
Played by Nathan Phillips
A young witness to a brutal murder who becomes the target of an assassination attempt via venomous snakes.
Claire Miller
Played by Julianna Margulies
A dedicated flight attendant who helps coordinate passenger safety during the snake crisis.
Eddie Kim
Played by Byron Lawson
A ruthless crime lord who orchestrates the snake attack to eliminate a witness against him.
Troy
Played by Kenan Thompson
A cocky rapper traveling first class who must overcome his self-centered attitude to help survive.
Mercedes
Played by Sunny Mabrey
A flight attendant working alongside Claire who helps manage the chaotic situation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sean Jones rides his dirt bike through the Hawaiian mountains, enjoying his carefree life as an ordinary young man with no involvement in crime or danger.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Eddie Kim orders a crate of deadly venomous snakes to be loaded onto the plane carrying Sean to Los Angeles, rigged to release mid-flight. Sean's survival is now under direct threat.. At 11% 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The plane reaches cruising altitude and the timer-released snake crate opens, unleashing hundreds of venomous snakes into the aircraft. There is no turning back—they are trapped 30,000 feet in the air., moving from reaction to action.
At 53 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The snakes breach the cockpit and kill the co-pilot. Captain Sam McKeon is bitten and dies at the controls. The plane has no pilot and begins to lose altitude—false defeat as the situation becomes seemingly impossible., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 79 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The snakes damage critical electrical systems, causing fires and threatening to bring down the entire plane. Three G's bodyguard Troy sacrifices himself to save others. Death surrounds the survivors with no apparent escape., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 83 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Flynn devises a plan: shoot out the windows to depressurize the cabin and suck out the snakes. Passenger Troy (who played video flight simulators) is recruited to land the plane. The survivors commit to fighting back together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Snakes on a Plane'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 Snakes on a Plane against these established plot points, we can identify how David R. Ellis utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Snakes on a Plane within the action genre.
David R. Ellis's Structural Approach
Among the 6 David R. Ellis films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Snakes on a Plane takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David R. Ellis filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more David R. Ellis analyses, see Final Destination 2, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco and Shark Night 3D.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sean Jones rides his dirt bike through the Hawaiian mountains, enjoying his carefree life as an ordinary young man with no involvement in crime or danger.
Theme
FBI Agent Neville Flynn tells Sean that doing the right thing means testifying even when it's dangerous: "Do what's right and you'll be able to live with yourself."
Worldbuilding
Sean witnesses mob boss Eddie Kim brutally murder prosecutor Daniel Hayes. Flynn convinces Sean to testify against Kim. We meet the flight crew and various passengers who will board Pacific Air Flight 121.
Disruption
Eddie Kim orders a crate of deadly venomous snakes to be loaded onto the plane carrying Sean to Los Angeles, rigged to release mid-flight. Sean's survival is now under direct threat.
Resistance
Flynn escorts Sean to the plane using elaborate security protocols. The passengers board and settle in, including flight attendant Claire preparing for her last flight before law school. The snakes remain hidden in the cargo hold as pheromones are sprayed.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The plane reaches cruising altitude and the timer-released snake crate opens, unleashing hundreds of venomous snakes into the aircraft. There is no turning back—they are trapped 30,000 feet in the air.
Mirror World
The ensemble of passengers is established as a community: Claire bonds with the children, Three G's bodyguard Troy becomes protective, and the passengers begin connecting. This diverse group represents ordinary people who will rise to heroism.
Premise
The snakes attack passengers throughout the plane in increasingly horrific ways. Flynn fights to protect Sean while organizing the survivors. The flight crew struggles to maintain control as passengers die and panic spreads through the cabin.
Midpoint
The snakes breach the cockpit and kill the co-pilot. Captain Sam McKeon is bitten and dies at the controls. The plane has no pilot and begins to lose altitude—false defeat as the situation becomes seemingly impossible.
Opposition
Flynn leads survivors to barricade themselves in first class while snakes continue attacking. The FBI on the ground races to identify the snake species for antivenom. More passengers die. Flynn delivers his iconic "I have had it with these snakes" speech.
Collapse
The snakes damage critical electrical systems, causing fires and threatening to bring down the entire plane. Three G's bodyguard Troy sacrifices himself to save others. Death surrounds the survivors with no apparent escape.
Crisis
The survivors face the reality that they will all die. The FBI cannot get antivenom in time. Flynn realizes they need someone to fly the plane or everyone perishes. The moment of deepest despair before a solution emerges.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Flynn devises a plan: shoot out the windows to depressurize the cabin and suck out the snakes. Passenger Troy (who played video flight simulators) is recruited to land the plane. The survivors commit to fighting back together.
Synthesis
Flynn executes the depressurization plan, blasting snakes out of the aircraft. Troy lands the plane with guidance from the tower. On the ground, Sean testifies against Eddie Kim while Flynn personally arrests the mobster, delivering justice.
Transformation
Sean, now confident and transformed from witness to hero, invites Flynn to go surfing in Bali. The ordinary man who witnessed a crime has become someone who stood up against evil and survived, ready to embrace life.