Inception poster

Inception

2010148 minutesPG-13
8.5
Arcplot Score
💎 Masterclass
Unverified
⭐ 8.8IMDb
🍅 87%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 74/100Metacritic
🎬 8.4TMDb
📊 21.7Popularity
🏆Won 4 Oscars. 159 wins & 220 nominations total
Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Written by: Christopher Nolan
Dom Cobb is a skilled thief, the absolute best in the dangerous art of extraction, stealing valuable secrets from deep within the subconscious during the dream state, when the mind is at its most vulnerable. Cobb's rare ability has made him a coveted player in this treacherous new world of corporate espionage, but it has also made him an international fugitive and cost him everything he has ever loved. Now Cobb is being offered a chance at redemption. One last job could give him his life back but only if he can accomplish the impossible, inception. Instead of the perfect heist, Cobb and his team of specialists have to pull off the reverse: their task is not to steal an idea, but to plant one. If they succeed, it could be the perfect crime. But no amount of careful planning or expertise can prepare the team for the dangerous enemy that seems to predict their every move. An enemy that only Cobb could have seen coming.

Box Office

Budget:$160.0M
Revenue:$839.0M
Profit:$679.0M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision8.6/10
Emotional Arc Impact10/10
Thematic Consistency7/10
Overall Score8.5/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Inception Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
7 min
3
Set-Up
13 min
4
Catalyst
18 min
5
Debate
26 min
6
Break Into Two
30 min
7
B Story
31 min
8
Fun and Games
68 min
9
Midpoint
74 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
102 min
11
All Is Lost
108 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
111 min
13
Break Into Three
118 min
14
Finale
130 min
15
Final Image
138 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Bruce Wayne imprisoned in a Bhutanese prison, broken and angry. A world where fear controls everything and justice has failed.

#2

Theme Stated

7 min

Ducard asks Bruce why he is in prison. "To understand the criminal mind." The theme: conquering fear and becoming a symbol.

#3

Set-Up

13 min

Flashbacks show young Bruce falling in the well, his parents murdered. Present Bruce trains with the League of Shadows. His broken world.

#4

Catalyst

18 min

Ra's al Ghul orders Bruce to execute a criminal. Bruce refuses and destroys the League's temple. He must find his own path.

#5

Debate

26 min

Bruce returns to Gotham. Should he reclaim Wayne Enterprises? Fight crime as himself? The city is corrupt. Can one man make a difference?

#6

Break Into Two

30 min

Bruce decides to become a symbol. "As a man I am flesh and blood, but as a symbol I can be incorruptible, everlasting." Batman is born.

#7

B Story

31 min

Rachel Dawes represents Bruce's moral compass and connection to humanity. Their relationship carries the theme of justice vs. vengeance.

#8

Fun and Games

68 min

Batman takes on Gotham's underworld. The Batmobile chase. Interrogating Flass. Working with Gordon. The promise of the premise - Batman in action.

#9

Midpoint

74 min

Batman captures Falcone. False victory - the mob is disrupted. But Scarecrow reveals a larger conspiracy. Stakes raise dramatically.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

102 min

Bruce is poisoned with fear toxin. Ra's al Ghul reveals he survived and plans to destroy Gotham. Wayne Manor burns. Everything falls apart.

#11

All Is Lost

108 min

Ra's releases fear toxin in the Narrows. Gotham descends into chaos. Rachel is poisoned. Bruce seemingly dies in the manor fire. Total defeat.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

111 min

Bruce recovers but Gotham is tearing itself apart. Can Batman really save the city? Is the symbol enough? His darkest moment of doubt.

#13

Break Into Three

118 min

Bruce embraces his dual identity fully. Batman AND Bruce Wayne are both needed. Gordon and Batman plan to stop Ra's. A and B stories merge.

#14

Finale

130 min

The monorail battle. Batman defeats Ra's al Ghul. Gordon destroys the rail supports. The city is saved. Batman becomes Gotham's protector.

#15

Final Image

138 min

Gordon activates the Bat-Signal. Batman stands watch over Gotham. The broken man from the opening is now the city's guardian. Gordon mentions a criminal who leaves Joker cards.