The Usual Suspects
Following a truck hijack in New York, five criminals are arrested and brought together for questioning. As none of them are guilty, they plan a revenge operation against the police. The operation goes well, but then the influence of a legendary mastermind criminal called Keyser Söze is felt. It becomes clear that each one of them has wronged Söze at some point and must pay back now. The payback job leaves 27 men dead in a boat explosion, but the real question arises now: Who actually is Keyser Söze?
Despite its modest budget of $6.0M, The Usual Suspects became a commercial success, earning $23.3M worldwide—a 288% return. The film's compelling narrative connected with viewers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 Oscars. 37 wins & 17 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 Usual Suspects (1995) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Bryan Singer'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 4.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Verbal Kint
Dean Keaton
Dave Kujan
Michael McManus
Fred Fenster
Todd Hockney
Kobayashi
Keyser Söze
Main Cast & Characters
Verbal Kint
Played by Kevin Spacey
A crippled con artist who recounts the story of Keyser Söze to Customs Agent Kujan. The film's unreliable narrator.
Dean Keaton
Played by Gabriel Byrne
A corrupt ex-cop turned criminal trying to go straight. The supposed leader of the crew.
Dave Kujan
Played by Chazz Palminteri
A determined U.S. Customs Special Agent investigating the boat massacre and trying to prove Keaton's guilt.
Michael McManus
Played by Stephen Baldwin
A professional thief with a short temper and criminal expertise. Fred Fenster's partner.
Fred Fenster
Played by Benicio del Toro
A nervous, mumbling hijacker and McManus's longtime partner in crime.
Todd Hockney
Played by Kevin Pollak
A hijacker and explosives expert recruited for the crew's jobs.
Kobayashi
Played by Pete Postlethwaite
A mysterious lawyer claiming to represent Keyser Söze who coerces the criminals into the boat heist.
Keyser Söze
Played by Kevin Spacey
A legendary and feared Turkish crime lord whose identity remains a mystery throughout the film.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes The film opens on a boat engulfed in flames at the San Pedro harbor. Dean Keaton lies wounded, confronted by a mysterious figure who shoots him. This devastating prologue establishes death, mystery, and the shadow of Keyser Söze before we understand anything.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when In the holding cell, McManus proposes they work together on a job to get revenge on the NYPD for the lineup. This disruption pulls all five men - especially the reluctant Keaton who was trying to go straight - into a criminal collaboration that will ultimately destroy them.. 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 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Keaton finally agrees to participate in the taxi service heist. His choice to cross back into the criminal world - despite Edie's hopes and his own ambitions - marks the point of no return. All five suspects commit to working together, launching them toward their fatal encounter with Keyser Söze., moving from reaction to action.
At 48 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 45% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Significantly, this crucial beat The mysterious lawyer Kobayashi summons the crew and reveals they've been manipulated by Keyser Söze all along. Every job they've done served Söze's purposes. The false victory of their criminal success inverts into false defeat - they were never in control. Stakes escalate from heist movie to survival horror., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 71 minutes (67% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The boat raid becomes a massacre. McManus and Hockney are killed. Keaton, wounded, sends Verbal away to safety before confronting the shadowy figure alone. Keaton is executed by Keyser Söze himself - the "whiff of death" becomes actual death of all the characters we've followed., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 76 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Kujan "breaks" Verbal, forcing him to admit Keaton was the mastermind. Verbal confesses that Keaton was Keyser Söze, used them all, and faked his death. This seeming revelation gives Kujan his victory and allows Verbal to walk free - his bail posted, his statement complete., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Usual Suspects's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping The Usual Suspects against these established plot points, we can identify how Bryan Singer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Usual Suspects within the crime genre.
Bryan Singer's Structural Approach
Among the 10 Bryan Singer films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.6, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Usual Suspects takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bryan Singer filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional crime films include The Bad Guys, Rustom and The Whole Ten Yards. For more Bryan Singer analyses, see X-Men, Superman Returns and Bohemian Rhapsody.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
The film opens on a boat engulfed in flames at the San Pedro harbor. Dean Keaton lies wounded, confronted by a mysterious figure who shoots him. This devastating prologue establishes death, mystery, and the shadow of Keyser Söze before we understand anything.
Theme
Verbal Kint tells Agent Kujan: "The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." This line, spoken early in the interrogation, encapsulates the entire film's meditation on deception, identity, and the power of narrative.
Worldbuilding
We meet the five suspects in a police lineup following a truck hijacking: Keaton, McManus, Fenster, Hockney, and Verbal. Their distinct personalities emerge - Keaton the reformed criminal, McManus the hothead, Verbal the crippled con man. The setup establishes the interrogation frame and begins Verbal's unreliable narration.
Disruption
In the holding cell, McManus proposes they work together on a job to get revenge on the NYPD for the lineup. This disruption pulls all five men - especially the reluctant Keaton who was trying to go straight - into a criminal collaboration that will ultimately destroy them.
Resistance
The crew debates and plans the New York's Finest Taxi Service heist - robbing corrupt cops escorting smugglers. Keaton resists, wanting to maintain his legitimate facade for girlfriend Edie Finneran. The debate period establishes group dynamics and Keaton's central conflict between his criminal past and hoped-for future.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Keaton finally agrees to participate in the taxi service heist. His choice to cross back into the criminal world - despite Edie's hopes and his own ambitions - marks the point of no return. All five suspects commit to working together, launching them toward their fatal encounter with Keyser Söze.
Mirror World
The successful taxi service heist bonds the crew and reveals their effective chemistry. More importantly, we see Verbal's relationship with Keaton deepen - Verbal admires Keaton, sees him as a father figure. This "B story" of loyalty and admiration carries the thematic weight and becomes the ultimate misdirection.
Premise
The crew rides high on their success, moving to Los Angeles for bigger scores. They execute the jewel heist, enjoying their criminal prowess. This is the "fun and games" of a heist film - clever criminals outsmarting their targets. Meanwhile, Verbal continues spinning his tale for Kujan, and we begin hearing whispers of Keyser Söze.
Midpoint
The mysterious lawyer Kobayashi summons the crew and reveals they've been manipulated by Keyser Söze all along. Every job they've done served Söze's purposes. The false victory of their criminal success inverts into false defeat - they were never in control. Stakes escalate from heist movie to survival horror.
Opposition
Keyser Söze's shadow closes in. Kobayashi explains they must raid a ship to kill one man - an informant who can identify Söze. The crew tries to escape, threatening Kobayashi and Edie, but Söze's reach proves inescapable. Fenster attempts to flee and is murdered. The opposition isn't visible, making it more terrifying.
Collapse
The boat raid becomes a massacre. McManus and Hockney are killed. Keaton, wounded, sends Verbal away to safety before confronting the shadowy figure alone. Keaton is executed by Keyser Söze himself - the "whiff of death" becomes actual death of all the characters we've followed.
Crisis
In the interrogation room, Verbal weeps for Keaton, expressing guilt and grief. Kujan presses harder, convinced Keaton was Keyser Söze and manipulated everyone. Verbal seems broken, a pathetic survivor mourning his mentor. The dark night of the soul appears genuine - a crippled man traumatized by violence beyond his understanding.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Kujan "breaks" Verbal, forcing him to admit Keaton was the mastermind. Verbal confesses that Keaton was Keyser Söze, used them all, and faked his death. This seeming revelation gives Kujan his victory and allows Verbal to walk free - his bail posted, his statement complete.
Synthesis
Verbal limps out of the police station, collecting his personal effects. Simultaneously, Kujan lingers in the office, absently looking at the bulletin board. The Hungarian survivor's sketch arrives by fax - Keyser Söze's face. Kujan's eyes drift across the board: Kobayashi (a coffee mug brand), Skokie Illinois, names scattered everywhere.
Transformation
Kujan's coffee cup shatters. Outside, Verbal's limp disappears, his clenched hand relaxes. A black car driven by "Kobayashi" pulls up. Verbal Kint becomes Keyser Söze and vanishes. The transformation inverts everything - the pathetic victim was the devil himself, the unreliable narrator controlled every frame. Like that, he's gone.