The Favourite
England, early 18th century. The close relationship between Queen Anne and Sarah Churchill is threatened by the arrival of Sarah's cousin, Abigail Hill, resulting in a bitter rivalry between the two cousins to be the Queen's favourite.
Despite a mid-range budget of $15.0M, The Favourite became a massive hit, earning $95.9M worldwide—a remarkable 539% return.
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 Favourite (2018) showcases precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Yorgos Lanthimos's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Abigail Hill arrives at the palace gates, destitute and covered in mud after falling from the carriage. She is a fallen aristocrat seeking employment, establishing her desperate starting position.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Abigail makes the active choice to compete with Sarah for the Queen's affections. After witnessing Sarah's control over Anne, Abigail decides to seduce the Queen herself, entering the dangerous game of palace intrigue., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sarah is banished from court. After attempting to blackmail the Queen with intimate letters, Sarah is expelled from the palace and stripped of all titles. The "death" is Sarah's complete loss of power and position—the end of her decades-long relationship with Anne., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Abigail fully understands the nature of her new position: she has become exactly what Sarah was—a glorified servant to a demanding, unstable monarch. She realizes there is no escape from the role she has won through manipulation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Favourite's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping The Favourite against these established plot points, we can identify how Yorgos Lanthimos utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Favourite within the history genre.
Yorgos Lanthimos's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Yorgos Lanthimos films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.8, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Favourite takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Yorgos Lanthimos filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional history films include Operation Finale, The Importance of Being Earnest and Tora! Tora! Tora!. For more Yorgos Lanthimos analyses, see Poor Things, The Lobster and The Killing of a Sacred Deer.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Abigail Hill arrives at the palace gates, destitute and covered in mud after falling from the carriage. She is a fallen aristocrat seeking employment, establishing her desperate starting position.
Theme
Sarah Churchill tells Abigail: "You do not know the Earl of Oxford. He'll fuck you, and he won't be nice about it." This establishes the film's theme: power is wielded through manipulation, cruelty, and sexual politics.
Worldbuilding
Abigail navigates the palace hierarchy and observes the power structure: Queen Anne is emotionally fragile and physically ill; Sarah Churchill is her closest confidante and the true power behind the throne; the court is divided between Whigs and Tories over the war with France.
Resistance
Abigail learns to navigate court politics. Sarah initially mentors her, and Abigail begins to understand the intimate relationship between Sarah and the Queen. Abigail is promoted to lady-in-waiting and starts to see opportunities for advancement.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Abigail makes the active choice to compete with Sarah for the Queen's affections. After witnessing Sarah's control over Anne, Abigail decides to seduce the Queen herself, entering the dangerous game of palace intrigue.
Premise
The "fun and games" of palace intrigue: Abigail systematically undermines Sarah through small manipulations, shares the Queen's bed, and positions herself as indispensable. She charms the Queen while maintaining her innocent facade. Meanwhile, she secures marriage to the foolish courtier Samuel Masham.
Opposition
Sarah fights back against Abigail's influence. The two women engage in increasingly vicious schemes: Abigail poisons Sarah's tea; Sarah discovers Abigail in bed with the Queen; open warfare erupts between them as they compete for Anne's favor. The political stakes around the war intensify.
Collapse
Sarah is banished from court. After attempting to blackmail the Queen with intimate letters, Sarah is expelled from the palace and stripped of all titles. The "death" is Sarah's complete loss of power and position—the end of her decades-long relationship with Anne.
Crisis
Abigail consolidates her victory but begins to understand the hollowness of her achievement. Queen Anne is revealed to be a sad, manipulative, and ultimately pathetic figure. Abigail realizes she has won a prison, not a palace.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Abigail fully understands the nature of her new position: she has become exactly what Sarah was—a glorified servant to a demanding, unstable monarch. She realizes there is no escape from the role she has won through manipulation.
Synthesis
Abigail must now play the role she fought for. She attends to the Queen's every whim, managing Anne's moods and demands. The power dynamic becomes clear: Abigail is not in control; she is trapped in service to a tyrant.
Transformation
Final image: Abigail massages Queen Anne's legs while the Queen's face transforms between pleasure and cruelty. Abigail's face shows she understands her trap—she has traded one form of servitude for another. The image superimposes with rabbits, suggesting Abigail is just another pet to be controlled.