Save the Cat rankings

2012 script analysis

2012 script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

2012 follows multiple protagonists as they confront the impending solar catastrophe. Early scientific warnings spark political debate, while ordinary families grapple with personal stakes. The story shifts from ordinary world setup into large-scale disaster set-pieces, culminating in a global rescue on the arks.

75 Save the Cat fit score 52% analysis confidence / 134 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

60%

The film opens with a cosmic solar eruption, establishing the apocalyptic tone.

2

Theme Stated

Scene 3 / Page 2 / 5% target

55%

Prof. West’s warning about rising neutrino counts states the theme: science versus denial.

Helmsley told me that the neutrino count doubled during the last sun eruptions.
3

Set-Up

Scenes 2-4 / Pages 1-3 / 10% target

50%

We meet scientists in India and Adrian Helmsley in Washington, introducing key characters and stakes.

4

Catalyst

Scene 5 / Page 3 / 12% target

50%

Prof. West urgently calls Adrian to reveal the crisis is far worse than believed.

Listen, Adrian. The situation is much worse than we thought...
5

Debate

Scene 6 / Page 4 / 20% target

50%

Adrian struggles to convince skeptical staff in the White House to take action.

Sir, the President needs to know this.
6

Break into Two

Scene 11 / Page 6 / 25% target

48%

Jackson’s normal life shifts when he races to pick up his kids, marking his entry into the disaster world.

7

B Story

Scene 22 / Page 11 / 30% target

52%

Jackson meets Charlie Frost, who introduces the conspiracy and acts as his confidant.

They're building spaceships, man.
8

Fun and Games

Scenes 11-16 / Pages 6-8 / 40% target

45%

Jackson’s family road-trip hijinks blend with emerging disasters (disappearing lake, military arrest).

9

Midpoint

Scene 25 / Page 13 / 50% target

58%

Adrian delivers the grim timetable (“Two, maybe three days if we’re lucky”), raising the stakes.

Two, maybe three days if we're lucky.
10

Bad Guys Close In

Scene 35 / Page 16 / 65% target

50%

The massive Los Angeles quake devastates Kate’s home, tightening the external threat.

11

All Is Lost

Scene 42 / Page 20 / 75% target

54%

Yellowstone erupts, triggering an ash cloud predicted to reach Washington, representing maximum disaster.

Just a few minutes ago Yellowstone erupted, sir. The ash cloud will reach Washington in roughly 7 hours....
12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scene 44 / Page 21 / 80% target

56%

President Wilson retreats to the chapel, prompting a moral crisis over evacuation choices.

Now matter how idealistic you are taking office. You lose your innocence behind that desk. Laura was right....
13

Break into Three

Scene 47 / Page 22 / 85% target

50%

Adrian reports the President refuses evacuation, forcing him to take independent action.

The President is not coming. I couldn't convince him to.
14

Finale

Scenes 87-91 / Pages 38-39 / 95% target

58%

Adrian broadcasts to all ships, uniting leaders to open gates and save survivors in the climax.

Anheuser! We have to stop this madness.
15

Final Image

Scene 134 / Page 67 / 99% target

60%

Survivors disembark into the new world, mirroring the cosmic image at the start.

I thought you might want this.