Prisoners poster

Prisoners

2013153 minutesR
4.2
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
8.2IMDb
🍅 81%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 70/100Metacritic
🎬 8.1TMDb
📊 7.8Popularity
🏆Nominated for 1 Oscar. 10 wins & 38 nominations total
Directed by: Denis Villeneuve
How far would you go to protect your family? Keller Dover is facing every parent's worst nightmare. His six-year-old daughter, Anna, is missing, together with her young friend, Joy, and as minutes turn to hours, panic sets in. The only lead is a dilapidated RV that had earlier been parked on their street. Heading the investigation, Detective Loki arrests its driver, Alex Jones, but a lack of evidence forces his release. As the police pursue multiple leads and pressure mounts, knowing his child's life is at stake the frantic Dover decides he has no choice but to take matters into his own hands. But just how far will this desperate father go to protect his family?

Box Office

Budget:$46.0M
Revenue:$122.1M
Profit:$76.1M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision6.6/10
Emotional Arc Impact1/10
Thematic Consistency5/10
Overall Score4.2/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Prisoners Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
10 min
3
Set-Up
20 min
4
Catalyst
30 min
5
Debate
40 min
6
Break Into Two
50 min
7
B Story
60 min
8
Fun and Games
75 min
9
Midpoint
90 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
110 min
11
All Is Lost
130 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
140 min
13
Break Into Three
145 min
14
Finale
150 min
15
Final Image
153 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

A quiet suburban morning sets a peaceful tone, soon disrupted by tension.

#2

Theme Stated

10 min

Themes of morality, justice, and the cost of desperation are hinted at early.

#3

Set-Up

20 min

Keller Dover and his family are introduced; his relationship with his daughter establishes stakes.

#4

Catalyst

30 min

Dover's daughter and friend go missing, triggering the central conflict.

#5

Debate

40 min

Dover wrestles with how far he should go to find his child, questioning morality.

#6

Break Into Two

50 min

Dover takes matters into his own hands, abducting a suspect to uncover the truth.

#7

B Story

60 min

Detective Loki investigates the case, providing the procedural perspective and moral counterpoint.

#8

Fun and Games

75 min

Tense interrogations and investigations escalate suspense as clues emerge.

#9

Midpoint

90 min

Critical revelation about the kidnappers intensifies danger and stakes.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

110 min

Pressure mounts as Dover faces consequences of his vigilante actions.

#11

All Is Lost

130 min

Hope seems lost for the kidnapped children as the antagonist's plan advances.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

140 min

Dover reflects on the moral cost of his choices and the fragility of justice.

#13

Break Into Three

145 min

A breakthrough in the investigation offers a chance for resolution.

#14

Finale

150 min

The children are found and justice is served, blending relief and moral complexity.

#15

Final Image

153 min

Dover's family begins to heal, showing the emotional cost and lingering trauma.