A thief meets a captive girl in a tower and agrees to show her the world, but they are betrayed.

I’m breaking down movies by their three-act structure. What is three-act structure? I explain it here.

Note: I break the story down into five-minute blocks to make it easier to see the length of each section. Rough time codes follow.

Prolog

As a baby, Rapunzel was kidnapped from the king and queen by the witch Gothel for the power of her magic hair (introducing the conflict and villain). 5

Act 1

Rapunzel occupies herself (and sings about what she wants). Flynn Rider steals a treasure from the palace with the Stabbington brothers (introducing our heroes). 10

Rapunzel fails to convince Gothel to let her leave the tower to see the annual lights (the palace floating lantern ceremony). 15

Fleeing the palace guards and his partners with the treasure, Flynn is captured by Rapunzel (the inciting incident, because she can show her mother she can handle herself in the outside world, the call to adventure). 20

Gothel returns, and Rapunzel tricks her into leaving for three days. (Her failure to get her mother creates Rapunzel’s motivation.) 25

Act 2

Rapunzel, who has hidden the treasure Flynn stole, demands Flynn take her to see the floating lanterns (entering the extraordinary world of… outdoors). 30

Rapunzel leaves the tower and sings of freedom and guilt (going, literally, into the wilderness). 35

Gothel returns early to find Rapunzel gone. Flynn takes Rapunzel to a ruffian tavern. (These are kind of a two-part plot twist 1.) 40

Ruffians and Rapunzel sing about their dreams. The palace guards arrive (a serious crisis). 45

Midpoint

Flynn and Rapunzel flee the palace guards, including the extraordinary horse Maximus, and barely escape a flooding cave (an extended crisis!). 50

Gothel offers the Stabbingtons revenge on Flynn. Rapunzel heals Flynn with her magic hair/song. 55

Flynn and Rapunzel get to know each other. Gothel catches up and dares her to offer Flynn the treasure (plot twist 2!). 60

Rapunzel pacifies Maximus. They all go to the palace (committing themselves to resolve the conflict). 65

Rapunzel and Flynn watch the lanterns. She offers him the treasure. 70

Flynn gives the treasure to the Stabbingtons, but they betray him. Gothel lies about it (the defeat) and takes her home. (All seems lost!) 75

Act 3

Rapunzel realizes (the secret key) and confronts Gothel about the fact she was kidnapped (turning the tables). 80

Flynn is rescued by ruffians and Maximus and races to the tower. Gothel stabs him (the climax). He cuts Rapunzel’s hair. Gothel falls to her death (definitively resolving the conflict). 85

Rapunzel revives Flynn with her tears. She reunites with the king and queen. 90

Epilog

They live happily ever after. (very brief)