The script potential of Interstellar estimated from its PLOT structure is 151 – 177MM (actual 188MM)
The script of Interstellar borrows from the universal quests of Tranquillity, Preservation & Acceptance
The Plot structure will appeal to 5.81 – 6.79% of the population
The genetic code shared by all Blockbuster plots
Any story is the quest to fulfil a human desire. We have identified universal quests for every human desire. These universal quests reveal the unique plot structure of a story. The plot structure analysis of Blockbuster, Hit & Flop led to the discovery of common principles across all stories. Mythosis Code is a set of principles for creating Blockbuster Plot structures.
• All Blockbusters have at least 3 universal quests
• In Blockbusters, each universal quest is mirrored by ONLY ONE character
• Every Blockbuster character borrows at least 35% of events from their quest
• Blockbusters interweave the quests to create a tight plot structure
81% of events in Interstellar’s plot are borrowed from 3 universal quests
Every story has a unique plot structure which becomes visible when seen through the lens of Universal human quests. We extract a story’s plot structure & use The Mythosis Code to estimate the story’s strength. Here is the evaluation of Interstellar’s plot structure:
All Blockbusters have at least 3 universal quests. Even Interstellar borrows from 3 quests of Tranquillity, Preservation & Acceptance.
In Blockbusters, each universal quest is mirrored by ONLY ONE character. In Interstellar, Cooper mirrors the quest of Tranquillity, Amelie mirrors the quest of Preservation whereas Murphy mirrors the quest of Acceptance.
Every Blockbuster character borrows at least 35% of the universal quest. Cooper mirrors 42% of the quest of Tranquillity. Amelie borrows 16% of the quest of Preservation. Murphy borrows 24% of the quest of Acceptance. The depth of 2 quests is below threshold.
Blockbusters interweave different quests to create a tight plot structure. Interweaving occurs when events of 2 quests occur simultaneously in the story. Blockbusters have a quest interweaving threshold of 0.5. Interstellar’s quest interweaving score of 0.67 is above par. Here is an example of interweaving the quests of Cooper & Murphy:
The potency of the existing plot structure is 0.20 whereas Blockbusters has a score of at least 0.64. Based on the script’s plot potency score, Interstellar will appeal to 5.81 – 6.79% of the population. We estimate the movie’s revenues from its audience appeal to be $151 – 177MM in the domestic market.
3 mythological tales were used to extract the plot structure of Interstellar
At Mythosis, we have identified 32 mythological tales. Each mythological tale uniquely represents a human quest to fulfil a desire. These tales are the superset of thousands of tales across cultures. The 32 tales represent every possible human quest.
Every tale has 5 major arcs culminating in a mega event. Mapping a character’s quest to the relevant tale reveals the gaps in their quest. The ideal Plot Structure can be constructed by plugging these gaps with the missing events. These events strengthen the character journeys and weaving of quests without altering the story. Here is the deconstruction of Interstellar’s plot structure:
Quest 1: Cooper mirrors the universal quest for Tranquillity
Cooper’s desire for Tranquillity stems from the need to be in secure surroundings. The tale of Odysseus from Greek mythology is the universal quest for Tranquillity.
Quest 2: Murphy mirrors the universal quest for Acceptance
Murphy’s desire for Acceptance stems from the need for approval by others. The tale of Karn from Hindu mythology is the universal quest for Acceptance.
Quest 3: Amelie mirrors the universal quest for Preservation
Amelie’s desire for Preservation stems from the need to survive a threat. The tale of Noah from Abrahamic mythology is the universal quest for Preservation.
Tags:2014, Acceptance, Box office, Character development, Christopher Nolan, Jonathan Nolan, Karn, Movie Review, Mythology, Noah, Odysseus, Paramount Pictures, Plot Structure, Preservation, Syncopy Inc., Tranquillity, Warner Bros. Pictures
