Stardust
The passage from this world to the fantasy kingdom of Stormhold is through a breach in a wall beside an English village. In the 1800s, a boy becomes a man when he ventures through the breach in pursuit of a fallen star, to prove his love for the village beauty. The star is no lump of rock, it's a maiden, Yvaine. Tristan, the youth, is not the only one looking for her: three witches, led by Lamia, want her heart to make them young; and, the sons of the dead king of Stormhold want her because she holds a ruby that will give one of them title to the throne. Assisting Tristan are his mother, the victim of a spell, and a cross-dressing pirate of the skies. Will Tristan win his true love?
Working with a moderate budget of $70.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $137.5M in global revenue (+96% profit margin).
5 wins & 11 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%)
Stardust (2007) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Matthew Vaughn's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 10-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 7 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Tristan works as a shop boy in Wall, hopelessly in love with Victoria, clearly out of his league in the rigid class structure of Victorian England.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when A falling star crashes to earth. Victoria agrees to marry Tristan if he retrieves it for her, and her suitor Humphrey humiliates him publicly.. 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 Collapse moment at 95 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Lamia captures Yvaine at the inn. Tristan appears to have lost everything: Yvaine is taken, Victoria has married another, and he failed to protect the woman he truly loves. Captain Shakespeare appears dead., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 101 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The finale: Tristan faces Septimus and Lamia. Yvaine unleashes her star power to defeat the witch. Tristan proves his worth not through birthright but through courage and love. He claims the throne and Yvaine., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Stardust's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 10 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Stardust against these established plot points, we can identify how Matthew Vaughn utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Stardust within the adventure genre.
Matthew Vaughn's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Matthew Vaughn films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Stardust takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Matthew Vaughn filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Matthew Vaughn analyses, see The King's Man, Kick-Ass and Layer Cake.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Tristan works as a shop boy in Wall, hopelessly in love with Victoria, clearly out of his league in the rigid class structure of Victorian England.
Theme
Tristan's father tells him the story of how he met his mother beyond the wall, suggesting that true worth isn't determined by birth or status, but by courage and heart.
Worldbuilding
Establishment of Wall village, the barrier to Stormhold, Tristan's unrequited love for Victoria, the dying king and his murderous sons, and the witch Lamia seeking immortality.
Disruption
A falling star crashes to earth. Victoria agrees to marry Tristan if he retrieves it for her, and her suitor Humphrey humiliates him publicly.
Resistance
Tristan prepares for his journey, crosses the wall into Stormhold against the guard's warnings, and discovers the star is actually a woman named Yvaine. Multiple parties begin hunting for her.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
The adventure promised by the premise: Tristan and Yvaine evade princes, witches, and sky pirates. Captain Shakespeare takes them aboard. Tristan learns swordplay and confidence while growing closer to Yvaine.
Opposition
Tristan returns to Wall and presents Yvaine to Victoria, but realizes Victoria doesn't love him. The witches close in on Yvaine. Septimus murders his last brother. Tristan's internal flaw (seeking external validation) threatens everything.
Collapse
Lamia captures Yvaine at the inn. Tristan appears to have lost everything: Yvaine is taken, Victoria has married another, and he failed to protect the woman he truly loves. Captain Shakespeare appears dead.
Crisis
Tristan processes his failure and realizes what truly matters. He discovers his royal bloodline through his mother's Babylon candle, giving him the means to fight back.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The finale: Tristan faces Septimus and Lamia. Yvaine unleashes her star power to defeat the witch. Tristan proves his worth not through birthright but through courage and love. He claims the throne and Yvaine.