Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Thirty years after defeating the Galactic Empire, Han Solo and his allies face a new threat from the evil Kylo Ren and his army of Stormtroopers.
Despite a enormous budget of $245.0M, Star Wars: The Force Awakens became a commercial juggernaut, earning $2068.2M worldwide—a remarkable 744% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, proving that audiences embrace unconventional structure even at blockbuster scale.
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%)
Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015) exemplifies carefully calibrated plot construction, characteristic of J.J. Abrams's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 16 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Rey
Finn
Kylo Ren
Han Solo
Poe Dameron
General Leia Organa
Chewbacca
BB-8
Maz Kanata
Supreme Leader Snoke
Character Screen Time
Screen time mapped to story structure
Main Cast & Characters
Rey
Played by Daisy Ridley
72% screen time (98 min)
Scavenger on Jakku who discovers her Force sensitivity
Finn
Played by John Boyega
68% screen time (93 min)
Stormtrooper who defects after refusing to massacre villagers
Kylo Ren
Played by Adam Driver
41% screen time (56 min)
Dark warrior obsessed with Vader's legacy, son of Han and Leia
Han Solo
Played by Harrison Ford
41% screen time (56 min)
Legendary smuggler drawn back into the fight against his son
Poe Dameron
Played by Oscar Isaac
21% screen time (29 min)
Best pilot in the Resistance, leads X-wing squadron
General Leia Organa
Played by Carrie Fisher
14% screen time (19 min)
Leader of the Resistance, searching for her lost brother
Chewbacca
Played by Peter Mayhew
47% screen time (64 min)
Han's loyal Wookiee co-pilot returning to action
BB-8
Played by Bill Hader
82% screen time (111 min)
Poe's astromech droid carrying the map to Luke Skywalker
Maz Kanata
Played by Lupita Nyong'o
16% screen time (22 min)
Ancient pirate queen who guides Rey toward her destiny
Supreme Leader Snoke
Played by Andy Serkis
4% screen time (6 min)
Mysterious dark side master controlling the First Order
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Rey scavenges alone in the desert wastes of Jakku, surviving day-to-day, waiting for a family that will never return. She is isolated, self-reliant, and trapped in stasis.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 17 minutes when Rey encounters BB-8 and rescues the droid from a scavenger. This sets her on a collision course with the First Order, disrupting her solitary existence and pulling her into the galactic conflict.. 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.
At 69 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Rey is captured by Kylo Ren and taken to Starkiller Base. This is a false defeat: she seems powerless, but it forces her to confront her abilities. The stakes raise dramatically as the First Order destroys the Hosnian system., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 102 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Han Solo confronts his son Kylo Ren on the bridge and is killed. This is the "whiff of death"—Rey and Finn's mentor dies, hope seems lost, and Kylo Ren fully commits to the dark side by killing his father., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 109 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Rey defeats Kylo Ren in the lightsaber duel. The Resistance destroys Starkiller Base. Rey returns to the Resistance, says goodbye to Finn (in a coma), and embarks with Chewbacca and R2-D2 to find Luke Skywalker, fulfilling the mission., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Star Wars: The Force Awakens's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Star Wars: The Force Awakens against these established plot points, we can identify how J.J. Abrams utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Star Wars: The Force Awakens within the adventure genre.
J.J. Abrams's Structural Approach
Among the 5 J.J. Abrams films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Star Wars: The Force Awakens represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete J.J. Abrams filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more J.J. Abrams analyses, see Mission: Impossible III, Super 8 and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Rey scavenges alone in the desert wastes of Jakku, surviving day-to-day, waiting for a family that will never return. She is isolated, self-reliant, and trapped in stasis.
Theme
Maz Kanata later tells Rey: "The belonging you seek is not behind you, it is ahead." The theme is stated: family and belonging cannot be found by clinging to the past, but by embracing one's destiny and new connections.
Worldbuilding
We meet Rey, Finn (a stormtrooper who defects), Poe Dameron (Resistance pilot), and learn about the First Order hunting for Luke Skywalker's map. The world is established: the Resistance vs. the First Order, 30 years after the Empire's fall.
Disruption
Rey encounters BB-8 and rescues the droid from a scavenger. This sets her on a collision course with the First Order, disrupting her solitary existence and pulling her into the galactic conflict.
Resistance
Rey resists leaving Jakku, insisting she must return for her family. She meets Finn, they escape in the Millennium Falcon, and are captured by Han Solo and Chewbacca. Han becomes a reluctant mentor figure.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Rey discovers her Force sensitivity, explores Maz's castle, has her Force vision with Luke's lightsaber, and flees in fear. Meanwhile, the Resistance plans to destroy Starkiller Base. This section delivers the promise: Rey exploring her power and the scope of the galactic conflict.
Midpoint
Rey is captured by Kylo Ren and taken to Starkiller Base. This is a false defeat: she seems powerless, but it forces her to confront her abilities. The stakes raise dramatically as the First Order destroys the Hosnian system.
Opposition
Rey is interrogated by Kylo but resists with the Force. The Resistance attacks Starkiller Base. Han, Finn, and Chewie infiltrate to rescue Rey and lower the shields. Pressure mounts as the superweapon charges and the heroes face overwhelming opposition.
Collapse
Han Solo confronts his son Kylo Ren on the bridge and is killed. This is the "whiff of death"—Rey and Finn's mentor dies, hope seems lost, and Kylo Ren fully commits to the dark side by killing his father.
Crisis
Rey and Finn are devastated by Han's death. They flee through the collapsing forest as Starkiller Base implodes. Finn is struck down by Kylo Ren. Rey faces her dark night: alone, afraid, with no mentor.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Rey defeats Kylo Ren in the lightsaber duel. The Resistance destroys Starkiller Base. Rey returns to the Resistance, says goodbye to Finn (in a coma), and embarks with Chewbacca and R2-D2 to find Luke Skywalker, fulfilling the mission.