Save the Cat rankings

Pitch Black script analysis

Pitch Black script - Save the Cat beat sheet analysis

After their ship crashes on a seemingly deserted planet, Fry and other survivors enlist the dangerous Riddick to guide them through a predator–infested gauntlet to rescue stranded comrades. Along the way they uncover the planet’s lethal cycle of darkness, forcing them to confront fear and rely on each other. Ultimately, they fight through overwhelming odds to escape by skiff under the cover of light.

70 Save the Cat fit score 20% analysis confidence / 32 parsed scenes

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1

Opening Image

Scene 1 / Page 1 / 1% target

20%

Fry wakes up amid wreckage and meets Owens, setting the tone.

Hear me? Cap'n? Some kinda compromise to the hull...holding for now, but...Goddamn, I'm glad you're alive. Gotta pull...
2

Theme Stated

Scene 21 / Page 21 / 5% target

20%

Riddick asks, “Not afraid of the dark, are you?” hinting at conquering fear.

Not afraid of the dark, are you?
3

Set-Up

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

20%

We meet key characters Fry, Owens, Johns, Riddick and learn they’re crash-landed.

4

Catalyst

Scene 7 / Page 7 / 12% target

20%

The ship crashes violently, stranding everyone on the planet.

5

Debate

Scene 6 / Page 6 / 20% target

20%

Fry debates sacrificing the passenger cabin to save the flight deck.

You mean that "load" of passengers?
6

Break into Two

Scene 8 / Page 8 / 25% target

20%

Survivors confront Riddick, marking their alliance into the dangerous second act.

One chance and you blew it, Riddick. Never cease to disappoint me.
7

B Story

Scene 22 / Page 22 / 30% target

20%

Fry and Johns discuss Riddick’s value, developing interpersonal stakes.

He also figured out how to kill the pilot, Fry.
8

Fun and Games

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

20%

The group explores ruins, finds moisture unit, skiff, and learns about perpetual light.

No darkness. No lights because no darkness....
9

Midpoint

Scene 21 / Page 21 / 50% target

20%

They confirm a 60-year dark cycle—stakes rise as true threat revealed.

Not afraid of the dark, are you?
10

Bad Guys Close In

Scenes 24-26 / Pages 24-26 / 65% target

20%

Power cells die and predators converge, tightening the noose.

Keep the light going. That's all we have to do to live through this. Just keep your light...
11

All Is Lost

Scene 31 / Page 31 / 75% target

20%

Survivors reach settlement but Riddick is cut off by predators.

C'mon, Riddick -- said I'd die for them, not you.
12

Dark Night of the Soul

Scene 27 / Page 27 / 80% target

20%

Fry pleads with Riddick, facing potential abandonment and despair.

You're not leaving. Not until we go back for the others.
13

Break into Three

Scene 28 / Page 28 / 85% target

20%

They commit to return through the gauntlet to rescue the others.

14

Finale

Scenes 29-32 / Pages 29-32 / 95% target

20%

Group navigates predators, staggers back to the settlement, then escapes by skiff.

Probably okay to talk to me now.
15

Final Image

Scene 32 / Page 32 / 99% target

20%

Riddick and survivors finally take off, closing their arc under daylight.

Probably okay to talk to me now.