Million Dollar Baby poster

Million Dollar Baby

2004132 minutesPG-13
5.3
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
⭐ 8.1IMDb
🍅 90%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 86/100Metacritic
🎬 8.0TMDb
📊 6.1Popularity
🏆Won 4 Oscars. 68 wins & 86 nominations total
Genre: Drama, Sport
Directed by: Clint Eastwood
Wanting to learn from the best, aspiring boxer Maggie Fitzgerald (Hilary Swank) wants Frankie Dunn (Clint Eastwood) to train her. At the outset, he flatly refuses saying he has no interest in training a girl. Frankie leads a lonely existence, alienated from his only daughter and having few friends. Maggie's rough around the edges, but shows a lot of grit in the ring and he eventually relents. Maggie not only proves to be the boxer he always dreamed of having under his wing, but a friend who fills the great void he's had in his life. Maggie's career skyrockets, but an accident in the ring leads her to ask Frankie for one last favor.

Box Office

Budget:$30.0M
Revenue:$216.8M
Profit:$186.8M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision4/10
Emotional Arc Impact10/10
Thematic Consistency2/10
Overall Score5.3/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Million Dollar Baby Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
11 min
3
Set-Up
22 min
4
Catalyst
34 min
5
Debate
46 min
6
Break Into Two
58 min
7
B Story
68 min
8
Fun and Games
80 min
9
Midpoint
94 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
106 min
11
All Is Lost
118 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
124 min
13
Break Into Three
128 min
14
Finale
130 min
15
Final Image
132 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Frankie Dunn gym; strict boxing trainer; lonely life; female boxer aspiring to train.

#2

Theme Stated

11 min

Persistence, courage, and family-like bonds can overcome obstacles, but life is fragile.

#3

Set-Up

22 min

Maggie approaches Frankie; desire to become pro boxer; training and mentorship established.

#4

Catalyst

34 min

Maggie begins competitive matches; first success raises stakes and challenges.

#5

Debate

46 min

Frankie hesitant; protective instincts clash with ambition; risks of boxing clear.

#6

Break Into Two

58 min

Maggie progresses in boxing career; tournaments, victories; excitement and danger grow.

#7

B Story

68 min

Bond between Frankie and Maggie deepens; surrogate father-daughter relationship tested.

#8

Fun and Games

80 min

Training montages, boxing matches, character growth; camaraderie and triumphs.

#9

Midpoint

94 min

Major fight victory; Maggie reaches professional level; stakes for both escalate emotionally.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

106 min

Injury or accident in ring; emotional and physical crisis; risk of losing dream.

#11

All Is Lost

118 min

Maggie paralyzed; future as boxer destroyed; hopelessness; emotional devastation.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

124 min

Frankie struggles with ethics, grief, and helplessness; emotional nadir.

#13

Break Into Three

128 min

Decision to act with love and mercy; moral resolution reached.

#14

Finale

130 min

Frankie grants Maggie dignity and peace; closure achieved.

#15

Final Image

132 min

Frankie alone, reflecting; emotional growth; respect and love remain; mirror opening with maturity.