The Martian
During a manned mission to Mars, Astronaut Mark Watney is presumed dead after a fierce storm and left behind by his crew. But Watney has survived and finds himself stranded and alone on the hostile planet. With only meager supplies, he must draw upon his ingenuity, wit and spirit to subsist and find a way to signal to Earth that he is alive. Millions of miles away, NASA and a team of international scientists work tirelessly to bring "the Martian" home, while his crewmates concurrently plot a daring, if not impossible, rescue mission. As these stories of incredible bravery unfold, the world comes together to root for Watney's safe return.
Despite a considerable budget of $108.0M, The Martian became a commercial success, earning $631.1M worldwide—a 484% return.
Nominated for 7 Oscars. 40 wins & 199 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 Martian (2015) showcases carefully calibrated story structure, characteristic of Ridley Scott's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 21 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Mark Watney jokes with his crew on Mars during a routine mission (Sol 6). He's the botanist/engineer, witty and competent, part of a successful NASA team exploring the red planet.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Massive dust storm forces emergency evacuation. Mark is struck by debris, his bio-monitor fails, and the crew believes him dead. Commander Lewis makes the agonizing decision to abort, leaving him behind. Mark wakes up alone on Mars.. At 11% 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 34 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Mark makes the active choice to survive and commits to a plan: "I'm not gonna die here." He begins growing potatoes using Hab soil, his own waste, and Earth soil samples. This is his declaration of agency - he'll solve his way to rescue., moving from reaction to action.
At 70 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat False victory: Communication with NASA is established through Pathfinder. Mark learns his crew is alive, NASA reveals he's alive to the world, and a rescue plan (Iris supply probe) is approved. Stakes raise - the world is watching, and now failure would be public. Time pressure intensifies., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 105 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The Iris resupply probe catastrophically explodes during launch - Mark's lifeline is destroyed. He doesn't have enough food to survive until Ares 4 arrives. This is the "whiff of death" - his survival plan has died, and hope seems lost., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 112 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Rich Purnell's "Rich Purnell Maneuver" offers a way to slingshot Hermes back to Mars. The Ares 3 crew mutinies to return for Mark, and NASA (Tedty) covertly supports it. Synthesis of individual ingenuity (Mark) and collective sacrifice (crew) provides new hope., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Martian'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 Martian against these established plot points, we can identify how Ridley Scott utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Martian within the adventure genre.
Ridley Scott's Structural Approach
Among the 22 Ridley Scott films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.5, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Martian represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Ridley Scott filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Ridley Scott analyses, see American Gangster, Exodus: Gods and Kings and Robin Hood.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Mark Watney jokes with his crew on Mars during a routine mission (Sol 6). He's the botanist/engineer, witty and competent, part of a successful NASA team exploring the red planet.
Theme
During mission briefing footage, the theme of problem-solving and survival emerges: "At some point, everything's gonna go south on you... and you say, this is what I got, and this is what I need to make it work." The film explores human ingenuity in the face of impossible odds.
Worldbuilding
Establishes the Ares 3 mission on Mars, the crew dynamics, NASA's operations, and the harsh Martian environment. Shows the technology, protocols, and stakes of deep space exploration.
Disruption
Massive dust storm forces emergency evacuation. Mark is struck by debris, his bio-monitor fails, and the crew believes him dead. Commander Lewis makes the agonizing decision to abort, leaving him behind. Mark wakes up alone on Mars.
Resistance
Mark assesses his dire situation: injured, alone, limited supplies, no communication, and years until the next Mars mission. He debates his options, performs self-surgery, and calculates survival odds. He decides he must "science the shit out of this" to survive.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mark makes the active choice to survive and commits to a plan: "I'm not gonna die here." He begins growing potatoes using Hab soil, his own waste, and Earth soil samples. This is his declaration of agency - he'll solve his way to rescue.
Mirror World
Introduction of NASA's efforts on Earth, particularly Mindy Park discovering Mark is alive through satellite imagery. This begins the parallel story of teamwork and institutional problem-solving that mirrors Mark's individual ingenuity. The human connection theme emerges.
Premise
The "fun" of watching Mark MacGyver his survival: growing potatoes, creating water, establishing communication via Pathfinder, calculating food rations. NASA works on rescue plans. Mark proves his ingenuity repeatedly, and hope builds that rescue is possible.
Midpoint
False victory: Communication with NASA is established through Pathfinder. Mark learns his crew is alive, NASA reveals he's alive to the world, and a rescue plan (Iris supply probe) is approved. Stakes raise - the world is watching, and now failure would be public. Time pressure intensifies.
Opposition
Everything gets harder: Airlock breach destroys his potato farm (starvation threat returns), Iris probe explodes on launch, NASA debates risking the Ares 3 crew for a dangerous return mission. Mark must travel 3,200 km to Schiaparelli crater. Political and physical obstacles mount.
Collapse
The Iris resupply probe catastrophically explodes during launch - Mark's lifeline is destroyed. He doesn't have enough food to survive until Ares 4 arrives. This is the "whiff of death" - his survival plan has died, and hope seems lost.
Crisis
NASA director Teddy Sanders forbids risking the Ares 3 crew, seemingly accepting Mark's death. The team on Earth processes the failure. Mark records what he believes might be his final message. Dark night of accepting mortality.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Rich Purnell's "Rich Purnell Maneuver" offers a way to slingshot Hermes back to Mars. The Ares 3 crew mutinies to return for Mark, and NASA (Tedty) covertly supports it. Synthesis of individual ingenuity (Mark) and collective sacrifice (crew) provides new hope.
Synthesis
The finale: Mark travels across Mars to Schiaparelli, modifies the MAV (removing weight), and launches. In space, Commander Lewis executes a risky retrieval using an improvised Iron Man maneuver. International cooperation (China's booster) and human teamwork triumph. Mark is rescued.
Transformation
Mark, now an astronaut instructor, teaches survival to new candidates: "At some point, everything's gonna go south on you... You solve one problem, then the next, and if you solve enough problems, you get to come home." He's transformed from solitary survivor to mentor, embodying the theme.