Stargate
Despite a mid-range budget of $55.0M, Stargate became a financial success, earning $196.6M worldwide—a 257% return.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Daniel Jackson presents his ridiculed theory about the pyramids to an uninterested academic audience, establishing him as an outcast scholar grieving his wife's death, isolated and purposeless.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Daniel successfully decodes the Stargate cartouche, solving a puzzle the military couldn't crack for years, proving his theories have value and opening the possibility of interstellar travel.. 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 First Threshold at 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Daniel makes the active choice to step through the Stargate, leaving Earth behind and entering the unknown world of Abydos, accepting he may never return., moving from reaction to action.
At 50 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 42% of the runtime—significantly early, compressing the first half. Notably, this crucial beat Ra captures the team and reveals his true parasitic alien nature, raising the stakes by threatening to send a nuclear bomb enhanced with his power back to Earth, turning the mission from exploration to survival., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (63% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The young boy Skaara, whom O'Neil has bonded with as a surrogate son, is taken as a host by Ra's forces—a symbolic death of innocence and hope, devastating O'Neil and Daniel., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 79 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 66% of the runtime. Daniel realizes they can inspire the Abydonian people to rise up against Ra, synthesizing his knowledge of history with O'Neil's military leadership. The people choose to fight for freedom rather than submit., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Stargate'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 Stargate against these established plot points, we can identify how the filmmaker utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Stargate within its genre.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Daniel Jackson presents his ridiculed theory about the pyramids to an uninterested academic audience, establishing him as an outcast scholar grieving his wife's death, isolated and purposeless.
Theme
Catherine Langford tells Daniel, "The truth is out there if you're brave enough to find it," suggesting the film's theme: courage to seek truth and purpose beyond fear and isolation.
Worldbuilding
Daniel's failed academic career, Catherine's recruitment, introduction to the Stargate program and Colonel O'Neil's suicidal mission mindset, establishing the military-scientific tension and the mysterious alien artifact.
Disruption
Daniel successfully decodes the Stargate cartouche, solving a puzzle the military couldn't crack for years, proving his theories have value and opening the possibility of interstellar travel.
Resistance
Daniel debates whether to join the mission, learns about the Stargate's function, meets the military team led by the death-seeking O'Neil, and prepares for the journey despite not knowing if return is possible.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Daniel makes the active choice to step through the Stargate, leaving Earth behind and entering the unknown world of Abydos, accepting he may never return.
Mirror World
Daniel meets Sha'uri, the daughter of the tribe leader Kasuf, who will become his love interest and represent connection, purpose, and belonging—everything Daniel has been missing.
Premise
Daniel explores Abydos, learns the people are enslaved descendants of ancient Egyptians, begins teaching them and bonding with Sha'uri, discovers his theories were right, and realizes Ra is an alien, not a god.
Midpoint
Ra captures the team and reveals his true parasitic alien nature, raising the stakes by threatening to send a nuclear bomb enhanced with his power back to Earth, turning the mission from exploration to survival.
Opposition
Ra's forces hunt the team, Daniel and O'Neil are executed but saved by the Abydonians, the team regroups in the desert, and they plan a rebellion while Ra prepares to destroy Earth with the enhanced bomb.
Collapse
The young boy Skaara, whom O'Neil has bonded with as a surrogate son, is taken as a host by Ra's forces—a symbolic death of innocence and hope, devastating O'Neil and Daniel.
Crisis
The team faces their darkest moment: captured friends, Earth threatened, the boy lost, and seemingly no way to defeat Ra's superior technology. O'Neil and Daniel must find new resolve.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Daniel realizes they can inspire the Abydonian people to rise up against Ra, synthesizing his knowledge of history with O'Neil's military leadership. The people choose to fight for freedom rather than submit.
Synthesis
The Abydonians rebel against Ra, the team storms the pyramid ship, Daniel confronts Ra, they transport the bomb to Ra's ship, and it detonates in orbit, destroying the false god and freeing the people.
Transformation
Daniel chooses to stay on Abydos with Sha'uri and the freed people, having found purpose, love, and belonging—transformed from an isolated, suicidal academic into a confident leader who helped liberate a civilization.