The Adjustment Bureau
A man glimpses the future Fate has planned for him – and chooses to fight for his own destiny. Battling the powerful Adjustment Bureau across, under and through the streets of New York, he risks his destined greatness to be with the only woman he's ever loved.
Despite a respectable budget of $50.2M, The Adjustment Bureau became a commercial success, earning $127.9M worldwide—a 155% return.
1 win & 9 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%)
The Adjustment Bureau (2011) exhibits precise plot construction, characteristic of George Nolfi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 46 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
David Norris
Elise Sellas
Harry Mitchell
Richardson
Thompson
Main Cast & Characters
David Norris
Played by Matt Damon
A charismatic Brooklyn congressman whose political career is derailed, then falls in love with a dancer while discovering mysterious forces controlling his fate.
Elise Sellas
Played by Emily Blunt
A contemporary ballet dancer who forms an instant connection with David, becoming the focal point of his rebellion against predetermined destiny.
Harry Mitchell
Played by Anthony Mackie
A sympathetic Adjustment Bureau agent who develops compassion for David and ultimately helps him fight against the plan.
Richardson
Played by John Slattery
The authoritative senior agent of the Adjustment Bureau who enforces the predetermined plan and serves as David's primary antagonist.
Thompson
Played by Terence Stamp
The ruthless Bureau director known as the Hammer who intervenes when David refuses to give up Elise, revealing deeper truths about the plan.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes David Norris practices his concession speech in a hotel bathroom, moments before losing the New York Senate race. His carefully controlled political life is crumbling due to a scandal involving a photo.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when David randomly encounters Elise again on a bus (a meeting not in "the plan"). They share phone numbers and a kiss. This chance meeting disrupts both the Bureau's plan and David's carefully managed life.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to David reluctantly agrees to the Bureau's terms after seeing their power and being threatened with a complete mind wipe. He chooses to give up Elise to preserve his identity and political future, entering a world where he knows he's being controlled., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Richardson reveals Elise's "plan" to David: she's meant to become a world-famous choreographer, but only if she's not with him. If they stay together, both their grand destinies will be ruined. The stakes are now clear and devastating., 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, David learns Elise is getting married in hours and will be lost forever. Harry warns that if David pursues her, the Bureau will "reset" both of them, erasing their memories and personalities. Everything David has fought for is about to die., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 84 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Harry gives David his hat, enabling him to use the Bureau's doors. David realizes he must fight for free will itself. He chooses authentic love and self-determination over the security of the plan, synthesizing everything he's learned about the Bureau., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Adjustment Bureau's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Adjustment Bureau against these established plot points, we can identify how George Nolfi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Adjustment Bureau within the science fiction genre.
George Nolfi's Structural Approach
Among the 3 George Nolfi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. The Adjustment Bureau takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Nolfi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional science fiction films include The Postman, Mad Max 2 and AVP: Alien vs. Predator. For more George Nolfi analyses, see Elevation, Birth of the Dragon.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
David Norris practices his concession speech in a hotel bathroom, moments before losing the New York Senate race. His carefully controlled political life is crumbling due to a scandal involving a photo.
Theme
Elise tells David in the men's bathroom: "Most people live their whole lives without ever being authentic for a second." This establishes the film's thematic question about authenticity vs. following a predetermined plan.
Worldbuilding
David loses the Senate race but gives an honest, authentic concession speech inspired by his encounter with Elise. He becomes a popular political figure with momentum for the next race. We see his ordinary world as a rising politician.
Disruption
David randomly encounters Elise again on a bus (a meeting not in "the plan"). They share phone numbers and a kiss. This chance meeting disrupts both the Bureau's plan and David's carefully managed life.
Resistance
David arrives at work to find mysterious men in fedoras "adjusting" his business partner. Harry Mitchell reveals the Adjustment Bureau exists to keep people on their predetermined path. David is warned never to tell anyone or see Elise again, or he'll be "reset."
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
David reluctantly agrees to the Bureau's terms after seeing their power and being threatened with a complete mind wipe. He chooses to give up Elise to preserve his identity and political future, entering a world where he knows he's being controlled.
Mirror World
Three years later, David spots Elise on the street despite the Bureau's efforts to keep them apart. Their immediate reconnection demonstrates the power of free will and authentic connection over the predetermined plan.
Premise
David pursues a relationship with Elise while trying to evade the Bureau. He learns more about how the Bureau operates, exploits their rules (doors, water, hats), and fights to stay with Elise despite constant interference and warnings.
Midpoint
Richardson reveals Elise's "plan" to David: she's meant to become a world-famous choreographer, but only if she's not with him. If they stay together, both their grand destinies will be ruined. The stakes are now clear and devastating.
Opposition
David sacrifices his relationship with Elise to preserve her dreams. The Bureau intensifies surveillance. David tries to move on but can't. Eleven months pass. Harry reveals that the plan has changed: Elise will now marry someone else in days.
Collapse
David learns Elise is getting married in hours and will be lost forever. Harry warns that if David pursues her, the Bureau will "reset" both of them, erasing their memories and personalities. Everything David has fought for is about to die.
Crisis
David must decide whether to let Elise marry someone else and preserve both their identities, or fight for her and risk losing everything they are. He processes the impossibility of the choice.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Harry gives David his hat, enabling him to use the Bureau's doors. David realizes he must fight for free will itself. He chooses authentic love and self-determination over the security of the plan, synthesizing everything he's learned about the Bureau.
Synthesis
David races through magical doors across New York to reach Elise before her wedding. He reveals the truth to her (breaking the ultimate rule). Together they run from the Bureau, trying to reach the Chairman. They're cornered but refuse to give up.
Transformation
David and Elise stand together in the rain, having fought so hard for their love that the Chairman rewrites the plan. They're free. The closing image shows them together, having proven that free will and authentic choice can triumph over predetermination.