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 respectable budget of $15.0M, The Favourite became a runaway success, earning $95.9M worldwide—a remarkable 539% return.
1 Oscar. 187 wins & 352 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 Favourite (2018) showcases meticulously timed plot construction, characteristic of Yorgos Lanthimos's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-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.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Abigail Hill
Lady Sarah Churchill
Queen Anne
Robert Harley
Main Cast & Characters
Abigail Hill
Played by Emma Stone
An impoverished noblewoman who arrives at court and schemes her way into Queen Anne's favor, displacing Lady Sarah.
Lady Sarah Churchill
Played by Rachel Weisz
The Duchess of Marlborough, Queen Anne's longtime friend and lover who wields considerable political power.
Queen Anne
Played by Olivia Colman
The fragile, emotionally unstable Queen of England who is manipulated by those seeking her favor.
Robert Harley
Played by Nicholas Hoult
Leader of the opposition party who conspires with Abigail to undermine Lady Sarah's influence.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Sarah Churchill tends to the ailing Queen Anne in her bedchamber, their intimate dynamic established as Sarah wields power over both the queen and the court. Meanwhile, Abigail arrives at the palace gates, covered in mud and desperate.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Abigail witnesses Sarah and Queen Anne in an intimate embrace through a doorway. This discovery reveals the true nature of their relationship and the real currency of power at court - physical and emotional intimacy.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Abigail applies her herbal remedy to Queen Anne's legs without permission, risking execution. Her gambit succeeds - the queen's pain eases, and Abigail is promoted from scullery to lady's maid. She has chosen to play the game., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Abigail sleeps with Queen Anne for the first time - a calculated seduction that mirrors Sarah's own hold over the monarch. This false victory shifts the power dynamics: Abigail now has what Sarah has, but the stakes have escalated irreversibly., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Sarah is banished from court after the queen discovers she threatened to release compromising letters. Abigail has won completely - but the victory feels hollow. The whiff of death: whatever authentic self Abigail had has died in her pursuit of power., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Abigail accepts her fate as the new favorite - not with triumph but with resignation. She understands now that she has traded her freedom for status, becoming just another of the queen's possessions like the seventeen rabbits Anne keeps for her dead children., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Favourite's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 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 The Attacks Of 26/11, Joyeux Noel and Rob Roy. For more Yorgos Lanthimos analyses, see Poor Things, The Killing of a Sacred Deer and The Lobster.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Sarah Churchill tends to the ailing Queen Anne in her bedchamber, their intimate dynamic established as Sarah wields power over both the queen and the court. Meanwhile, Abigail arrives at the palace gates, covered in mud and desperate.
Theme
A servant warns Abigail that at court, "favor is a breeze that shifts direction all the time" - establishing the central theme that power and affection are transactional, unstable, and ultimately corrupting.
Worldbuilding
The palace world is established: Queen Anne's physical ailments and emotional fragility, Sarah's iron grip on both the queen and political affairs, the war with France, court intrigue, and Abigail's humiliating position in the scullery.
Disruption
Abigail witnesses Sarah and Queen Anne in an intimate embrace through a doorway. This discovery reveals the true nature of their relationship and the real currency of power at court - physical and emotional intimacy.
Resistance
Abigail debates her path forward. She gathers herbs and creates a poultice for the queen's legs despite being punished for leaving the kitchen. She learns the rhythms of court, observes Sarah's tactics, and positions herself for advancement.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Abigail applies her herbal remedy to Queen Anne's legs without permission, risking execution. Her gambit succeeds - the queen's pain eases, and Abigail is promoted from scullery to lady's maid. She has chosen to play the game.
Mirror World
Colonel Masham begins courting Abigail, representing a possible authentic connection and alternative future. Their flirtation contrasts with the transactional relationships at court, offering Abigail a choice between genuine love and calculated ambition.
Premise
Abigail executes her rise with ruthless charm. She endears herself to the queen, navigates Sarah's suspicions, entertains suitors, and gradually positions herself as a confidante. The promise of the premise: watching a clever schemer infiltrate the highest circles of power.
Midpoint
Abigail sleeps with Queen Anne for the first time - a calculated seduction that mirrors Sarah's own hold over the monarch. This false victory shifts the power dynamics: Abigail now has what Sarah has, but the stakes have escalated irreversibly.
Opposition
Sarah fights back viciously. She humiliates Abigail publicly, threatens to expose her past, manipulates political situations, and desperately tries to reclaim her position. Abigail counters by secretly marrying Masham and poisoning Sarah's tea. The war between them intensifies.
Collapse
Sarah is banished from court after the queen discovers she threatened to release compromising letters. Abigail has won completely - but the victory feels hollow. The whiff of death: whatever authentic self Abigail had has died in her pursuit of power.
Crisis
Abigail realizes the cost of her victory. The queen is demanding, petulant, and controlling. Sarah at least had genuine affection for Anne; Abigail has only calculation. She is trapped in a prison of her own making.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Abigail accepts her fate as the new favorite - not with triumph but with resignation. She understands now that she has traded her freedom for status, becoming just another of the queen's possessions like the seventeen rabbits Anne keeps for her dead children.
Synthesis
The bitter finale unfolds. Abigail tends to the queen's every whim, her earlier ambition now a trap. She kicks a rabbit in frustration, and the queen notices. Anne reasserts dominance by forcing Abigail to massage her legs - the very act that began Abigail's rise now marks her subjugation.
Transformation
Final image: Abigail kneels, massaging the queen's legs as the image multiplies and distorts, overlaid with the rabbits. She has become what she sought to escape - a pet, a possession, a creature kept for someone else's comfort. Her negative arc is complete.