A Hologram for the King
A failed American sales rep looks to recoup his losses by traveling to Saudi Arabia and selling his company's product to a wealthy monarch.
The film financial setback against its mid-range budget of $30.0M, earning $9.2M globally (-69% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the comedy genre.
2 wins & 3 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
A Hologram for the King (2016) exhibits strategically placed narrative design, characteristic of Tom Tykwer's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 37 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alan Clay
Zahra
Yousef
Hanne
Main Cast & Characters
Alan Clay
Played by Tom Hanks
A washed-up American businessman trying to save his career by selling IT technology to a Saudi king.
Zahra
Played by Sarita Choudhury
A Saudi doctor who treats Alan and becomes his romantic interest and guide to Saudi culture.
Yousef
Played by Alexander Black
Alan's gregarious taxi driver who befriends him and shows him around Saudi Arabia.
Hanne
Played by Sidse Babett Knudsen
A Danish consultant who works with Alan and develops a brief romantic connection.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alan wakes up anxious and depressed in his suburban American home, establishing him as a failed businessman sleeping on his daughter's couch, drowning in debt and divorced.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Alan arrives in Saudi Arabia to discover the King Economic City project site is a barren desert with a tent, no wifi, no infrastructure - his presentation team is stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing working.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 24 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Alan makes an active choice to stop waiting passively and start taking control - he demands to move the team into the building with wifi and decides to truly engage with Saudi culture rather than resist it., moving from reaction to action.
At 49 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: Alan finally gets word that the King will see their presentation soon, and he shares an intimate moment with Zahra where she agrees to remove the growth on his back - connection and hope peak., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 72 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The King finally arrives but completely ignores Alan's presentation, walking right past the hologram display without stopping. Alan's last chance at redemption and financial salvation dies. He gets drunk in despair., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 77 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Alan receives unexpected summons - the King wants to see him personally. He realizes success isn't about the technology pitch but about human connection and adapting to a different way of doing business., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
A Hologram for the King's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping A Hologram for the King against these established plot points, we can identify how Tom Tykwer utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish A Hologram for the King within the comedy genre.
Tom Tykwer's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Tom Tykwer films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.2, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. A Hologram for the King represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tom Tykwer filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Tom Tykwer analyses, see Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, The International and Run Lola Run.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alan wakes up anxious and depressed in his suburban American home, establishing him as a failed businessman sleeping on his daughter's couch, drowning in debt and divorced.
Theme
Alan's daughter tells him "You have to adapt, Dad" - the core thematic question of whether he can reinvent himself in a changing world where his old skills are obsolete.
Worldbuilding
Flashbacks reveal Alan's past success at Schwinn bicycles and his disastrous decision to outsource to China. We see his financial desperation, strained relationship with his ex-wife, and the Saudi Arabia opportunity as his last chance.
Disruption
Alan arrives in Saudi Arabia to discover the King Economic City project site is a barren desert with a tent, no wifi, no infrastructure - his presentation team is stranded in the middle of nowhere with nothing working.
Resistance
Alan struggles with the alien Saudi culture, incompetent Danish team members, transportation problems with driver Yousef, and the King's constant absence. He debates giving up versus persisting through humiliation.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Alan makes an active choice to stop waiting passively and start taking control - he demands to move the team into the building with wifi and decides to truly engage with Saudi culture rather than resist it.
Mirror World
Alan meets Dr. Zahra Hakem, a female Saudi doctor who represents everything different from his world - confident, adapted to modernity while honoring tradition, professionally successful where he has failed.
Premise
Alan explores Saudi culture through growing friendship with Yousef, developing romance with Zahra despite cultural barriers, bonding with his team, and discovering a mysterious growth on his back that becomes a metaphor for his anxiety.
Midpoint
False victory: Alan finally gets word that the King will see their presentation soon, and he shares an intimate moment with Zahra where she agrees to remove the growth on his back - connection and hope peak.
Opposition
The King continues not to appear. Zahra's husband is revealed. The hologram technology fails during testing. Alan's desperation grows as his daughter's tuition deadline looms. Cultural missteps threaten everything.
Collapse
The King finally arrives but completely ignores Alan's presentation, walking right past the hologram display without stopping. Alan's last chance at redemption and financial salvation dies. He gets drunk in despair.
Crisis
Alan wanders drunk through the night, contemplating his complete failure. Yousef tries to console him. Alan faces that he's lost everything - the deal, Zahra, his dignity, his last chance to rebuild his life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Alan receives unexpected summons - the King wants to see him personally. He realizes success isn't about the technology pitch but about human connection and adapting to a different way of doing business.
Synthesis
Alan meets the King, who reveals he values Alan's honesty and humanity over the tech. Alan chooses to stay in Saudi Arabia, lets go of his American dream, embraces Yousef's offer of partnership, and pursues Zahra authentically.
Transformation
Final image mirrors opening: Alan swimming in the Red Sea with Yousef and celebrating at a traditional Saudi wedding - transformed from isolated, anxious failure to integrated, peaceful, connected man who has adapted.