Snatched
When her boyfriend dumps Emily, a spontaneous woman in her 30s, she persuades her ultra-cautious mom to accompany her on a vacation to Ecuador. When these two very different women are trapped on this wild journey, their bond as mother and daughter is tested and strengthened while they attempt to navigate the jungle and escape.
Working with a respectable budget of $42.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $60.8M in global revenue (+45% 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%)
Snatched (2017) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Jonathan Levine's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 30 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Emily Middleton is fired from her retail job and dumped by her boyfriend in rapid succession, establishing her as a self-absorbed, irresponsible woman whose life is falling apart.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Unable to find anyone else to go with her, Emily desperately convinces her reluctant mother Linda to join her on the Ecuador trip, setting the mismatched pair on a collision course.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Emily chooses to go on an excursion with James against Linda's better judgment, and they are kidnapped by criminals who throw them into a van, entering the dangerous mirror world., moving from reaction to action.
At 45 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Emily and Linda reach the U.S. Consulate and believe they're safe, a false victory as they meet unhelpful bureaucrat Morgan Russell who cannot actually help them escape., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 67 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Emily and Linda are recaptured and face certain death or ransom, their lowest point where their bickering and Emily's selfishness have led to complete failure and the death of their hopes., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 71 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Emily realizes she must put her mother first and take responsibility; they formulate a plan combining Linda's caution with Emily's boldness to escape and save themselves., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Snatched's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Snatched against these established plot points, we can identify how Jonathan Levine utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Snatched within the action genre.
Jonathan Levine's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Jonathan Levine films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Snatched represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jonathan Levine filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Lake Placid and Zoom. For more Jonathan Levine analyses, see Warm Bodies, Long Shot and The Night Before.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Emily Middleton is fired from her retail job and dumped by her boyfriend in rapid succession, establishing her as a self-absorbed, irresponsible woman whose life is falling apart.
Theme
Emily's mother Linda warns her about taking responsibility and not being so reckless, hinting at the theme of growth through adversity and family bonds.
Worldbuilding
Setup of Emily's shallow lifestyle, her strained relationship with her cautious mother Linda, her agoraphobic brother Jeffrey, and the non-refundable Ecuador vacation meant for her ex-boyfriend.
Disruption
Unable to find anyone else to go with her, Emily desperately convinces her reluctant mother Linda to join her on the Ecuador trip, setting the mismatched pair on a collision course.
Resistance
Emily and Linda arrive in Ecuador; Emily pursues a handsome man named James while Linda worries. Emily debates whether to trust James despite her mother's warnings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Emily chooses to go on an excursion with James against Linda's better judgment, and they are kidnapped by criminals who throw them into a van, entering the dangerous mirror world.
Mirror World
Held captive together, Emily and Linda must depend on each other for survival, forcing their dysfunctional mother-daughter relationship into focus as the B-story that will carry the theme.
Premise
The "fun and games" of Emily and Linda escaping captivity, navigating the Colombian jungle, encountering eccentric characters, and fumbling through dangerous situations while bickering and bonding.
Midpoint
Emily and Linda reach the U.S. Consulate and believe they're safe, a false victory as they meet unhelpful bureaucrat Morgan Russell who cannot actually help them escape.
Opposition
The criminals track them down, the situation worsens, Emily and Linda are separated, and they face increasing danger as their flaws and conflicts catch up with them in enemy territory.
Collapse
Emily and Linda are recaptured and face certain death or ransom, their lowest point where their bickering and Emily's selfishness have led to complete failure and the death of their hopes.
Crisis
In captivity facing doom, Emily and Linda have an emotional confrontation about their relationship, Emily's selfishness, and what truly matters, processing their dark night together.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Emily realizes she must put her mother first and take responsibility; they formulate a plan combining Linda's caution with Emily's boldness to escape and save themselves.
Synthesis
Emily and Linda execute their escape plan, work together as a true team, fight off their captors, and make it to safety, with Emily finally showing maturity and care for her mother.
Transformation
Back home, Emily and Linda celebrate Thanksgiving together with genuine warmth and connection, showing Emily has grown from a selfish woman-child into someone who values family and responsibility.