Dr. Strangelove
A nuclear attack on Russia leads to a race against time to deliver a warhead, despite concerns and malfunctions on the flying machine.
See other logline suggestionsOverview
Unique Selling Point
AI Verdict & Suggestions
This rating is from a single AI engine based on structure, character, tone, and emotional engagement.
Hover over verdict cards for Executive Summaries
Highly Recommend
Story Facts
Genres: Comedy, Satire, Political, War, Action, Drama, Thriller, null, drama, war, Science, Fiction, comedy, sci-fi
Setting: Present day, Not specified
Themes: Impending Nuclear War, Leadership and Responsibility, Self-Sacrifice, International Relations and Conflict, Control and Power
Conflict & Stakes: John's struggle to clear his name after being falsely accused of a crime, with his family's reputation at stake
Mood: Tense and suspenseful
Standout Features:
- Unique Hook: False accusation of a successful lawyer
- Plot Twist: The real criminal is revealed to be someone close to John
- Distinctive Setting: The story takes place in a small town where everyone knows each other
Comparable Scripts: Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, WarGames, The Day After, Threads
Script Level Analysis
This section delivers a top-level assessment of the screenplay’s strengths and weaknesses — covering overall quality (P/C/R/HR), character development, emotional impact, thematic depth, narrative inconsistencies, and the story’s core philosophical conflict. It helps identify what’s resonating, what needs refinement, and how the script aligns with professional standards.
Screenplay Insights
Breaks down your script along various categories.
Story Critique
Characters
Explores the depth, clarity, and arc of the main and supporting characters.
Emotional Analysis
Breaks down the emotional journey of the audience across the script.
Goals and Philosophical Conflict
Logic & Inconsistencies
Scene Analysis
All of your scenes analyzed individually and compared, so you can zero in on what to improve.
Other Analyses
This section looks at the extra spark — your story’s voice, style, world, and the moments that really stick. These insights might not change the bones of the script, but they can make it more original, more immersive, and way more memorable. It’s where things get fun, weird, and wonderfully you.
Unique Voice
Writer's Craft
Memorable Lines
World Building
Unique Voice
Writer's Craft
Memorable Lines
World Building
Pass / Consider / Recommend Analysis
Gemini
Executive Summary
- Masterful use of satire and dark humor to critique the Cold War and nuclear paranoia. high ( Scene general )
- General Ripper's character is both terrifying and hilarious, embodying the absurdity of Mutually Assured Destruction. high ( Scene 4 Scene 11 Scene 34 Scene 51 )
- President Muffley's exasperated and increasingly desperate attempts to manage the crisis are both comical and thought-provoking. high ( Scene 30 Scene 36 Scene 58 )
- Dialogue is sharp, witty, and memorable, perfectly capturing the characters' personalities and the film's satirical tone. high ( Scene general )
- Pacing is excellent, building tension and suspense while maintaining a darkly comedic atmosphere. high ( Scene general )
- The female characters are underdeveloped and primarily serve as sexual objects. medium ( Scene general )
- The opening narration effectively sets the stage for the film's satirical tone and establishes the context of the Cold War. medium ( Scene 1a )
- The iconic ending scene with Major Kong riding the bomb to its target is a perfect culmination of the film's dark humor and anti-war message. high ( Scene 74 )
Summary
High-level overview
Dr. Strangelove is a film that deals with the consequences of an unauthorized nuclear attack on Russia. The crew of B-90, an airplane loaded with nuclear weapons, receives a coded message that causes them to question their mission, but Major Kong leads the crew in carrying out their orders. Meanwhile, General Ripper orders his base on high alert and justifies nuclear war to Major Mandrake. The tension rises in the War Room as they learn about the Doomsday Machine, a weapon that could render the earth uninhabitable. Despite facing missile attacks and a bomb bay door malfunction, the crew of B-90 delivers a nuclear bomb, and Major Kong crashes the plane, dropping the bomb. The War Room discusses plans to preserve humanity in mines, and Ambassador de Sade has a pie fight with officials.
Scene by Scene Summaries
Scene by Scene Summaries
- The US is on high alert with 75 B-90 bombers loaded with nuclear weapons flying constantly. The story deals with the consequences that arise when the commander of Burpelson Air Force Base orders an unauthorized nuclear attack on Russia.
- The crew of the 'Leper Colony', an airplane loaded with nuclear weapons, approaches its Positive-Control point, Bear Island. The crew includes Major 'King' Kong, who is flipping through a pornographic magazine, and several other officers, each engaged in their own leisure activities. As they approach the halfway mark, they detect a radar contact and debate whether or not to jam the enemy's radar. They receive a coded message to hold at X-points.
- The crew of the 'Leper Colony' airplane engaged in leisure activities as they approach their Positive-Control point. They receive a coded message to hold at X-points.
- General Jack D. Ripper puts his base on high alert, sealing all communication channels and impounding all privately owned radios in preparation for a shooting war. Meanwhile, the crew of the B-90 'Leper Colony' receives a coded message that causes them to question their mission.
- The crew of the B-90 'Leper Colony' receives a coded message that causes them to question their mission and realize they are heading to war. Major Kong leads the crew with determination and ensures they carry out their mission. The crew prepares for the attack with radio silence and code letters to prevent fake transmissions.
- The crew of the 'Leper Colony' plane questions their mission after receiving a coded message. Major Kong leads the way as they prepare for their attack. Meanwhile, General Ripper has put the base on high alert, and Colonel Puntrich is unable to reach him. General Schmuck is woken in his hotel room to learn about the potential threat.
- General Ripper puts his base on high alert while the crew of the 'Leper Colony' airplane questions their mission and prepares for the attack.
- The crew of the 'Leper Colony' airplane prepares for an attack while General Ripper puts his base on high alert.
- The crew of the 'Leper Colony' airplane prepares for an attack while General Ripper puts his base on high alert.
- General Ripper explains and justifies his plan to start a nuclear war to Major Mandrake while they drink scotch. Meanwhile, the crew of the 'Leper Colony' airplane prepares for the attack.
- General Ripper and Major Mandrake discuss and justify nuclear war while the 'Leper Colony' crew prepares for attack.
- General Schmuck proposes a nuclear strike while the President and his aides scramble to hold off the attack. Meanwhile, communications are established with the enemy's Premier and the Ambassador waits outside.
- General Ripper discusses and justifies nuclear war with Major Mandrake, while the crew of the 'Leper Colony' plane prepares for an attack. Meanwhile, General Schmuck proposes a nuclear strike while the President and his aides scramble to hold off the attack. Communications are established with the enemy's Premier and the Ambassador waits outside.
- The B-90 crew faces a missile attack as they approach Bromdingna Island during their mission to deliver a nuclear bomb. They evade the missiles through a series of evasive maneuvers, but not without sustaining damage to their plane.
- Tensions rise in the War Room as the President and his aides try to hold off a nuclear strike proposed by General Schmuck while communications are established with the enemy's Premier. Meanwhile, the Ambassador waits impatiently and takes a photograph of the room. The B-90 crew faces a missile attack as they approach their mission to deliver a nuclear bomb.
- The B-90 crew faces missile attacks while trying to deliver a nuclear bomb and must take evasive maneuvers. In General Ripper's office, he discusses justifying nuclear war with Major Mandrake, while outside, stray gunfire creates chaos. General Schmuck proposes a nuclear strike while the President and his aides scramble to hold it off and establish communications with the enemy's Premier. The Ambassador waits outside and takes a photo of the tense scene.
- President Muffley establishes communication with Premier Belch to discuss a possible nuclear attack while tensions rise in the War Room and a B-90 plane crew faces missile attacks while delivering a nuclear bomb.
- The War Room learns about the Doomsday Machine, a Cobalt-Thorium-G jacketed nuclear device that would render the earth uninhabitable for 100 years if detonated. The Ambassador reveals that their country built it in response to information from a reliable source that the US was building one. The President is skeptical, but tension rises as they realize they don't have control over it and any attempts to intimidate them would be pointless. Meanwhile, they try to confirm if the US has a similar project and receive word that a military base has surrendered.
- The War Room discovers the existence of the Doomsday Machine, built by their enemy as a response to their own secret project. The machine's detonation would render the earth uninhabitable and they don't have control over it. Meanwhile, tensions rise between the President and the Ambassador. In the midst of this, the B-90 plane crew delivering a nuclear bomb is facing missile attacks.
- The War Room discusses the Doomsday Machine, a weapon that could render the earth uninhabitable, built by the enemy in response to their own secret project. They realize they don't have control over it and any attempts to intimidate them would be pointless. Meanwhile, the B-90 plane crew delivering a nuclear bomb is facing missile attacks.
- The War Room learns about the Doomsday Machine and the B-90 plane crew delivering a nuclear bomb is facing missile attacks.
- The crew of B-90 delivering a nuclear bomb is facing missile attacks while Major Kong is wounded, and tensions are high in the War Room about the Doomsday Machine. Despite the plane being damaged, they plan to carry out their mission.
- The crew of B-90 delivering a nuclear bomb faces a missile attack while Major Kong is wounded. Meanwhile, the War Room discusses the Doomsday machine, a weapon built by their enemy, which could render the earth uninhabitable.
- The crew of B-90 must make decisions on how to handle a bomb bay door malfunction, while also facing missile attacks. Major Kong decides to take the plane in for a crash landing and the crew bails out, leaving him alone to drop the bomb.
- The War Room discusses a plan to preserve a nucleus of human specimens in mines to survive a nuclear attack. Von Klutz proposes breeding techniques and presents a plan for how the survivors can emerge as a thriving society.
- The War Room discusses a plan to preserve humanity in mines while the crew of B-90 carries out their mission. Ambassador de Sade returns to retrieve his camera and ends up in a pie fight with the officials.
- The crew of B-90 delivers a nuclear bomb while facing missile attacks, Major Kong crashes the plane and drops the bomb, the War Room discusses plans to preserve humanity in mines, and Ambassador de Sade has a pie fight with officials.
📊 Script Snapshot
What's Working
Where to Focus
📊 Understanding Your Percentile Rankings
Your scores are compared against professional produced screenplays in our vault (The Matrix, Breaking Bad, etc.). The percentile shows where you rank compared to these films.
Example: A score of 8.5 in Originality might be 85th percentile (strong!), while the same 8.5 in Conflict might only be 50th percentile (needs work). The percentile tells you what your raw scores actually mean.
Hover over each axis on the radar chart to see what that category measures and why it matters.
Analysis: The screenplay excels in its depiction of General Jack D. Ripper's descent into madness and paranoia, which drives the narrative's tension and conflict. The complex and multifaceted character arcs of Major Mandrake and Ambassador de Sade add depth and emotional resonance to the story. However, some characters, such as General Schmuck and Major Kong, could benefit from further development to enhance their relatability and motivations.
Key Strengths
- The screenplay's exploration of the themes of nuclear war, loyalty, and the dangers of unchecked authority provides rich contexts for character growth and exploration.
- General Jack D. Ripper's transformation from a paranoid commander to a self-destructive madman is a powerful and tragic character arc that drives the narrative's tension and conflict.
Analysis: The screenplay's premise is intriguing and has the potential to engage the audience. It presents a unique and thought-provoking concept that sets up an interesting narrative. However, the premise could be further refined to enhance its clarity and ensure that it fully captures the audience's attention.
Key Strengths
- The premise is unique and fresh, and it has the potential to be a very engaging and thought-provoking story.
Analysis: The screenplay's structure and plot effectively maintain audience engagement by adhering to the traditional three-act structure, employing well-developed conflicts, and building tension through escalating stakes. However, the story could benefit from refined pacing and a more satisfying resolution to enhance the overall impact.
Key Strengths
- The screenplay effectively employs the three-act structure to guide the narrative, providing a solid framework for the story's progression.
Analysis: The screenplay adeptly explores themes of nuclear escalation, power dynamics, and the dangers of blind obedience, presenting them through a compelling narrative. While the themes are clearly conveyed, there are opportunities to enhance their depth and resonance with the audience.
Key Strengths
- The use of humor and satire adds a unique and engaging layer to the exploration of serious themes, allowing the screenplay to convey its messages in a memorable and thought-provoking way.
Areas to Improve
- Some of the supporting characters lack depth and complexity, which limits the exploration of their motivations and the impact of the themes on their personal journeys.
Analysis: The screenplay exhibits a solid foundation for visual storytelling, capturing the intensity and urgency of its themes through vivid descriptions and evocative imagery. The exploration of human nature's capacity for destruction and resilience shines through the well-crafted visuals.
Key Strengths
- The visual portrayal of the War Room discussions effectively conveys the intensity and gravity of the situation. The claustrophobic atmosphere, the tension between the characters, and the use of close-up shots all contribute to a gripping and suspenseful visual experience.
Analysis: The screenplay elicits strong emotions through its darkly humorous and satirical exploration of the absurdity of war. However, the emotional impact could be further enhanced by deepening the character development and exploring the emotional consequences of their actions.
Key Strengths
- The screenplay's darkly humorous exploration of the absurdity of war creates a unique and emotionally impactful experience for the audience.
- The fast-paced plot and eccentric characters maintain a high level of engagement and emotional tension throughout the screenplay.
Analysis: This screenplay handles conflict and stakes effectively, with a central conflict that is well-defined and compelling. The stakes are significant and deeply personal for the characters, and the conflict is well-integrated within the narrative, influencing plot and character development. The stakes are escalated effectively throughout the story, though the resolution may not be fully satisfying. Overall, with some refinements, this screenplay has the potential to create a gripping and engaging experience for the audience.
Key Strengths
- The screenplay does a great job of establishing the central conflict and making it personal for the characters. The audience can easily understand what's at stake and why the characters are fighting.
Areas to Improve
- The resolution may not be fully satisfying for all audience members. It provides closure to the conflict, but it may feel rushed or incomplete.
Analysis: The screenplay demonstrates creativity in its satirical exploration of nuclear war and the absurdity of bureaucratic military culture. It subverts the typical narrative structures of war films and introduces unique characters with distinct personalities and motivations.
Expand to see detailed analysis
View Complete AnalysisScreenplay Story Analysis
Note: This is the overall critique. For scene by scene critique click here
Major - Score: 86/100
Character Analysis Overview
General - Score: 82/100
Character Analysis Overview
President - Score: 78/100
Role
Protagonist
Character Analysis Overview
Ambassador - Score: 73/100
Role
Antagonist
Character Analysis Overview
Lt. - Score: 51/100
Character Analysis Overview
Identified Themes
| Theme | Theme Details | Theme Explanation |
|---|---|---|
|
Impending Nuclear War
|
Multiple plotlines converge towards an impending nuclear war, with tension rising in the War Room as the President and his aides try to establish communication with the enemy's premier and prevent a proposed nuclear strike by General Schmuck.
|
The theme of impending nuclear war is central to the screenplay, with tension rising between countries and characters alike as the threat of nuclear warfare looms large. |
|
Leadership and Responsibility
|
The President and his aides work to prevent a nuclear strike while struggling with the knowledge that their country may have inadvertently led to the creation of the Doomsday Machine.
|
The theme of leadership and responsibility is highlighted through the President and other characters' actions as they try to prevent nuclear catastrophe. |
|
Self-Sacrifice
|
The B-90 crew faces malfunction and danger during their mission to deliver a nuclear bomb, ultimately sacrificing themselves to complete their mission.
|
The theme of self-sacrifice is demonstrated through the crew's determination to complete their mission despite the danger and malfunction they face. |
|
International Relations and Conflict
|
Tensions rise between countries as they face the threat of nuclear war, with characters struggling to communicate and make decisions amidst conflict and distrust.
|
The screenplay highlights the theme of international relations and conflict, showing how misunderstandings and distrust can lead to disastrous consequences. |
|
Control and Power
|
The Doomsday Machine serves as a symbol of the characters' lack of control over their circumstances and the devastating power that nuclear technology holds.
|
The theme of control and power is demonstrated through the characters' struggles to control the threat of nuclear war and the realization that some technologies are too powerful to control or contain. |
Screenwriting Resources on Themes
Articles
| Site | Description |
|---|---|
| Studio Binder | Movie Themes: Examples of Common Themes for Screenwriters |
| Coverfly | Improving your Screenplay's theme |
| John August | Writing from Theme |
YouTube Videos
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Story, Plot, Genre, Theme - Screenwriting Basics | Screenwriting basics - beginner video |
| What is theme | Discussion on ways to layer theme into a screenplay. |
| Thematic Mistakes You're Making in Your Script | Common Theme mistakes and Philosophical Conflicts |
Scene Analysis
📊 Understanding Your Percentile Rankings
Your scene scores are compared against professional produced screenplays in our vault (The Matrix, Breaking Bad, etc.). The percentile shows where you rank compared to these films.
Example: A score of 8.5 in Dialogue might be 85th percentile (strong!), while the same 8.5 in Conflict might only be 50th percentile (needs work). The percentile tells you what your raw scores actually mean.
Hover over each axis on the radar chart to see what that category measures and why it matters.
Scenes are rated on many criteria. The goal isn't to try to maximize every number; it's to make you aware of what's happening in your scenes. You might have very good reasons to have character development but not advance the story, or have a scene without conflict. Obviously if your dialogue is really bad, you should probably look into that.
| Story Content | Character Development | Scene Elements | Audience Engagement | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Click for Full Analysis | Tone | Overall | Concept | Plot | Characters | Character Changes | Conflict | High stakes | Story forward | Emotional Impact | Dialogue | ||
| 1 - Dr. Strangelove | "Sardonic" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 2 - Approaching Bear Island | "Suspenseful" | 8.5 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 7 | ||
| 3 - Leisure Time in the Air | "Leisurely" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 7 | ||
| 4 - Condition Red | "Suspenseful" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 5 - Preparing for War | "serious" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 7 | ||
| 6 - Leper Colony Crew Prepares for War | "Tense" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | ||
| 7 - Preparing for War | "Intense" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 8 - untitled | null | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 9 - Preparation and Alert | "Tense" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 10 - Preparing for Attack | "tense" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | ||
| 11 - General Ripper Begins the War | "Tense" | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 9 | ||
| 12 - The Debate | "Serious" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 9 | ||
| 13 - The War Room | "Tense" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 14 - Preparing for Attack | "Suspenseful" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 10 | ||
| 15 - In-Flight Encounter | "Tense" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 16 - War Room Tensions | "Tense" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||
| 17 - Nuclear Strike and the Leper Colony | "Tense" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 18 - Nuclear Crisis | "Tense" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 19 - Doomsday Machine | "Tense" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 20 - untitled | null | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 21 - The Doomsday Machine | "tense" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 9 | ||
| 22 - The Doomsday Machine and the B-90 Attack | "tense" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 23 - The Doomsday Machine and the B-90 | "Tense" | 10 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 6 | ||
| 24 - B-90 under Attack | "Tense" | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 6 | ||
| 25 - The CRM-114 Code | "Tense" | 9 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 26 - The Final Stretch | "Intense" | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 9 | ||
| 27 - Survival Plan | "Somber" | 8.2 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 | ||
| 28 - The Pie Fight in the War Room | "satirical" | 8 | 9 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 8 | ||
| 29 - The End | "Darkly humorous" | 8 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | ||
Summary of Scene Level Analysis
Here are insights from the scene-level analysis, highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and actionable suggestions.
Some points may appear in both strengths and weaknesses due to scene variety.
Tip: Click on criteria in the top row for detailed summaries.
Scene Strengths
- Tense atmosphere
- Interesting characters
- High stakes
- Suspenseful plot
- Well-defined dialogue
Scene Weaknesses
- Lack of emotional depth
- Thin characterizations
- Slow pacing
- Limited character development
- Weak dialogue
Suggestions
- Focus on developing deeper emotional connections between characters
- Ensure each character has a unique and well-defined personality
- Experiment with different pacing techniques to keep the audience engaged
- Explore the inner lives and motivations of the characters in greater depth
- Spend more time crafting impactful and memorable dialogue
Scene 1 - Dr. Strangelove
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 2 - Approaching Bear Island
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 3 - Leisure Time in the Air
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 4 - Condition Red
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 5 - Preparing for War
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 6 - Leper Colony Crew Prepares for War
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 7 - Preparing for War
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 8 -
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 9 - Preparation and Alert
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 10 - Preparing for Attack
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 11 - General Ripper Begins the War
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 12 - The Debate
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 13 - The War Room
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 14 - Preparing for Attack
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 15 - In-Flight Encounter
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 16 - War Room Tensions
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 17 - Nuclear Strike and the Leper Colony
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 18 - Nuclear Crisis
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 19 - Doomsday Machine
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 20 -
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 21 - The Doomsday Machine
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 22 - The Doomsday Machine and the B-90 Attack
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 23 - The Doomsday Machine and the B-90
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 24 - B-90 under Attack
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 25 - The CRM-114 Code
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 26 - The Final Stretch
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 27 - Survival Plan
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 28 - The Pie Fight in the War Room
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Scene 29 - The End
The #1 Rule of Screenwriting: Make your reader or audience compelled to keep reading.
“Grab ‘em by the throat and never let ‘em go.”
The scene level score is the impact on the reader or audience to continue reading.
The Script score is how compelled they are to keep reading based on the rest of the script so far.
Top Correlations and patterns found in the scenes:
| Pattern | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Tone and Emotional Impact | There is a strong correlation between a Tense or Suspenseful tone and high Emotional Impact scores. |
| Dialogue and Character Changes | There is a positive correlation between strong Dialogue writing and significant Character Changes throughout the screenplay. |
| Concept and Overall Grade | There is a strong positive correlation between a high Concept score and an overall high grade for the screenplay. |
| Conflict and High Stakes | There is a positive correlation between strong Conflict and High Stakes in the screenplay. |
| Tone and Move Story Forward | A Sardonic or Tense tone tends to propel the story forward at a faster pace, according to the Move Story Forward scores. |
| Tone and Plot | There is a positive correlation between a Suspenseful or Tense tone and a strong Plot. |
| Tone and Character Development | There is a positive correlation between a Sardonic or Tense tone and significant Character Development throughout the screenplay. |
| Emotional Impact and Character Changes | There is a positive correlation between high Emotional Impact scores and significant Character Changes throughout the screenplay. |
| Tone and Conflict | There is a positive correlation between a Suspenseful or Tense tone and strong Conflict in the screenplay. |
| Tone and High Stakes | There is a positive correlation between a Suspenseful or Tense tone and High Stakes in the screenplay. |
Here are different Tropes found in the screenplay
| Trope | Trope Details | Trope Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Nuclear Bomb Plot | The B-90 plane crew is on a mission to deliver a nuclear bomb and faces missile attacks while doing so. | The trope of a nuclear bomb plot is a common storyline in movies and TV shows. One popular example is the 1995 film, Crimson Tide, in which a warship carrying nuclear weapons faces a crisis when the chain of command breaks down and the crew's loyalty is divided between their commanding officer and his second-in-command. |
| War Room Tension | There is tension in the War Room as the President and his aides work to prevent a proposed nuclear strike by General Schmuck. | The trope of War Room tension involves the depiction of high-stakes decisions made by government officials during times of crisis. This trope can be seen in the film, Dr. Strangelove, as well as in TV shows like The West Wing. |
| Nuclear Countdown | Multiple plotlines converge towards an impending nuclear war, with the B-90 crew facing danger, General Ripper justifying his actions to Major Mandrake, and General Schmuck proposing a nuclear strike while the President tries to prevent it. | The trope of a nuclear countdown involves a storyline in which the detonation of a nuclear weapon looms over the plot and creates a sense of urgency. Similar tropes can be seen in movies like The Day After, Threads, and The Sum of All Fears. |
| Doomsday Device | The War Room discusses the Doomsday Machine, a Cobalt-Thorium-G jacketed nuclear device that would render the earth uninhabitable if detonated. | The trope of a Doomsday device involves a storyline in which the destruction of the world hangs in the balance. This trope can be seen in films like Dr. Strangelove and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace. |
| Betrayal Plot | There is conflict between the characters when the Ambassador takes a photograph of the War Room and tensions rise due to General Schmuck proposing a nuclear strike. | The trope of a betrayal plot involves a storyline in which characters turn against each other due to conflicting motives or misunderstandings. This trope can be seen in movies like The Departed and TV shows like Game of Thrones. |
| Sacrifice Plot | The B-90 crew faces a malfunction with the bomb bay doors and makes final decisions before sacrificing themselves to complete their mission. | The trope of a sacrifice plot involves a storyline in which characters make selfless decisions to achieve a higher goal. This trope can be seen in movies like Armageddon and TV shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer. |
| Pie Fight | The scene in the War Room becomes chaotic as General Schmuck suggests a strip search for Ambassador de Sade, who has hidden important photographs in his camera. This leads to a chaotic pie fight amongst everyone in the room. | The trope of a pie fight involves a scene in which characters engage in a messy food fight. This trope can be seen in films like The Great Race and TV shows like Family Guy. |
Some Loglines to consider:
| Array ( [0] => A nuclear attack on Russia leads to a race against time to deliver a warhead, despite concerns and malfunctions on the flying machine. [1] => As tensions arise in the War Room at the news of a Doomsday Machine, the crew of B-90 must carry out their mission through missile attacks and difficulties. [2] => Orders from General Ripper and a coded message leaves the crew of B-90 questioning their actions as they prepare to drop a nuclear bomb. [3] => A malfunction and missile attacks do not stop the crew of B-90 from delivering a nuclear bomb to its intended target. [4] => Ambassador de Sade has a pie fight with officials as the War Room discusses plans to preserve the remains of humanity after a nuclear strike occurs. ) |
| A deranged general triggers a nuclear attack, and the President scrambles to prevent global annihilation, leading to a series of absurd and darkly comedic events. |
| When a paranoid general launches a nuclear strike against the Soviets, the fate of the world rests on a group of eccentric characters, including a mad scientist and a cowboy-like bomber pilot. |
| Dr. Strangelove, a wheelchair-bound nuclear war expert with a Nazi past, offers his bizarre solutions as the world teeters on the brink of nuclear apocalypse. |
| In a satirical take on the Cold War, a comedy of errors unfolds as political leaders and military personnel desperately try to stop a rogue bomber from starting World War III. |
| A hilarious and terrifying look at the absurdity of nuclear war, where the fate of humanity hangs in the balance due to paranoia, incompetence, and a Doomsday Machine. |
Help & FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
After that, the high-level menu will offer insights into the story, themes, and characters.
The scene-by-scene analysis will demonstrate how each scene performs across various criteria, summarized in the column headings.
Click on any scene title to view the full analysis, including critiques and suggestions for improvement.
'Other Analyses' provides various insights into your writing and different perspectives, although it might not lead to significant rewrites of your script.
You can play it for free. If you have scripts analyzed, the AI might recommend exercises from SceneProv to help you improve your writing. Go to the craft tab to see what it recommended.
Let the AI take a turn when you're blocked or you want to riff on a scene. Each scene you create in SceneProv gets graded at the end.
- The email might have gone to your spam folder or is hidden in an email thread.
- The process might still be ongoing. Register/Login with the email you used during upload and look at the status. It sometimes takes as long as a couple hours. If it's been longer than that email us at [email protected]
Feature Request
Got an idea to improve our service? We'd love to hear it!
Scene by Scene Emotions