The Apprentice
A young Donald Trump, eager to make his name as a hungry scion of a wealthy family in 1970s New York, comes under the spell of Roy Cohn, the cutthroat attorney who would help create the Donald Trump we know today. Cohn sees in Trump the perfect protégé—someone with raw ambition, a hunger for success, and a willingness to do whatever it takes to win.
Working with a mid-range budget of $16.0M, the film achieved a steady performer with $17.3M in global revenue (+8% 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%)
The Apprentice (2024) exhibits carefully calibrated narrative architecture, characteristic of Ali Abbasi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 2 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Donald Trump collects rent in Queens, working for his father's middle-class outer borough real estate business. He's ambitious but unrefined, stuck in his father's shadow.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Roy Cohn agrees to represent Trump in the discrimination lawsuit and become his mentor. This opens the door to Manhattan power and transforms Donald's trajectory.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Donald commits fully to Roy's philosophy and methods, choosing to become ruthless in pursuit of success. He closes the Commodore Hotel deal using Roy's tactics and connections, launching himself into Manhattan real estate., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat Trump Tower opens to massive success. Donald achieves the Manhattan recognition he craved - a false victory. He's won the external game but has become more ruthless and hollow, fully transformed by Roy's philosophy., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Donald betrays and abandons Roy Cohn, refusing to help his dying mentor. The "whiff of death" is literal (Roy's AIDS) and metaphorical (death of Donald's remaining humanity and conscience)., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Donald fully embraces the monster he's become, with no redemption or self-awareness. He synthesizes Roy's lessons into his final form: a man who has sacrificed everything human for power and sees it as winning., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Apprentice'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 The Apprentice against these established plot points, we can identify how Ali Abbasi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Apprentice within the history genre.
Comparative Analysis
Additional history films include Operation Finale, The Importance of Being Earnest and Tora! Tora! Tora!.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Donald Trump collects rent in Queens, working for his father's middle-class outer borough real estate business. He's ambitious but unrefined, stuck in his father's shadow.
Theme
Roy Cohn tells Donald at their first meeting: "You have to be a killer. Attack, attack, attack. Never admit weakness." The theme of ruthless ambition and moral compromise is stated.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to 1970s New York, Fred Trump's business, the Justice Department's discrimination lawsuit against Trump properties, and the world of Manhattan power brokers. Donald is eager to escape Queens and break into Manhattan real estate.
Disruption
Roy Cohn agrees to represent Trump in the discrimination lawsuit and become his mentor. This opens the door to Manhattan power and transforms Donald's trajectory.
Resistance
Roy Cohn teaches Donald his ruthless tactics: deny everything, attack opponents, claim victory regardless of facts, use favors and connections. Donald begins adopting Roy's methods while pursuing the Commodore Hotel deal.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Donald commits fully to Roy's philosophy and methods, choosing to become ruthless in pursuit of success. He closes the Commodore Hotel deal using Roy's tactics and connections, launching himself into Manhattan real estate.
Mirror World
Donald's relationship with Ivana develops. She represents an alternative path - genuine connection and partnership - contrasting with Roy's isolated, transactional worldview.
Premise
Donald's ascent through 1980s New York: building Trump Tower, cultivating his public image, marrying Ivana, becoming famous. The "fun and games" of wealth, power, and celebrity as he fully embodies Roy's teachings.
Midpoint
Trump Tower opens to massive success. Donald achieves the Manhattan recognition he craved - a false victory. He's won the external game but has become more ruthless and hollow, fully transformed by Roy's philosophy.
Opposition
Donald becomes increasingly cruel and disconnected. His marriage deteriorates, his relationship with Roy fractures as Roy falls ill with AIDS. Donald applies Roy's ruthlessness against everyone, including Roy himself. His humanity erodes.
Collapse
Donald betrays and abandons Roy Cohn, refusing to help his dying mentor. The "whiff of death" is literal (Roy's AIDS) and metaphorical (death of Donald's remaining humanity and conscience).
Crisis
Donald isolates further, his personal relationships destroyed. He sits with the emptiness of his victory - wealthy and famous but morally bankrupt and alone. The student has surpassed the master in cruelty.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Donald fully embraces the monster he's become, with no redemption or self-awareness. He synthesizes Roy's lessons into his final form: a man who has sacrificed everything human for power and sees it as winning.
Synthesis
The finale shows Donald's complete transformation into the public figure we know: entirely self-serving, incapable of genuine connection, viewing everything through Roy's lens of attack and domination. Roy dies abandoned.
Transformation
Donald, now fully transformed, embodies everything Roy taught him - but without even Roy's remaining shreds of complexity. The closing image mirrors the opening: Donald alone, but now a hollow king instead of an ambitious nobody. A corruption arc complete.