Alice in Wonderland
Alice, an unpretentious and individual 19-year-old, is betrothed to a dunce of an English nobleman. At her engagement party, she escapes the crowd to consider whether to go through with the marriage and falls down a hole in the garden after spotting an unusual rabbit. Arriving in a strange and surreal place called "Underland," she finds herself in a world that resembles the nightmares she had as a child, filled with talking animals, villainous queens and knights, and frumious bandersnatches. Alice realizes that she is there for a reason--to conquer the horrific Jabberwocky and restore the rightful queen to her throne.
Despite a major studio investment of $200.0M, Alice in Wonderland became a solid performer, earning $1025.5M worldwide—a 413% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, demonstrating that audiences embrace compelling narrative even at blockbuster scale.
2 Oscars. 35 wins & 65 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%)
Alice in Wonderland (2010) reveals strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Tim Burton's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alice Kingsleigh
The Mad Hatter
The Red Queen
The White Queen
Knave of Hearts
Cheshire Cat
The White Rabbit
Absolem
Main Cast & Characters
Alice Kingsleigh
Played by Mia Wasikowska
A 19-year-old who returns to Wonderland to reclaim her muchness and slay the Jabberwocky.
The Mad Hatter
Played by Johnny Depp
A devoted friend of Alice who believes she is the prophesied champion who will save Wonderland.
The Red Queen
Played by Helena Bonham Carter
The tyrannical ruler of Wonderland with an oversized head and a ruthless desire for control.
The White Queen
Played by Anne Hathaway
The rightful ruler of Wonderland, exiled by her sister, who practices light magic and never harms living things.
Knave of Hearts
Played by Crispin Glover
The Red Queen's chief enforcer and military commander, scheming and ruthless.
Cheshire Cat
Played by Stephen Fry
A mysterious, grinning cat who appears and disappears at will, offering cryptic guidance to Alice.
The White Rabbit
Played by Michael Sheen
A nervous, time-obsessed rabbit who leads Alice back to Wonderland to fulfill the prophecy.
Absolem
Played by Alan Rickman
A wise, hookah-smoking caterpillar who challenges Alice to discover her true identity.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Alice has a nightmare about falling down a rabbit hole. She lives in Victorian England, constrained by social expectations and an impending marriage proposal.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Alice spots the White Rabbit in a waistcoat and follows it, running away from her own engagement proposal and the assembled crowd expecting her answer.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 26% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Alice decides to help the White Rabbit and his friends by retrieving the Vorpal Sword from the Bandersnatch, actively choosing to engage with Underland rather than just trying to wake up., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The Mad Hatter is captured by the Red Queen's forces. Alice sees the Oraculum scroll that prophesies she will slay the Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day, raising the stakes and making her destiny unavoidable., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 82 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alice's identity is revealed at the Red Queen's castle. She barely escapes with her life and the Vorpal Sword as the Hatter sacrifices himself to help her flee, facing execution., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 87 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Alice confronts and slays the Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day, defeating the Red Queen's champion. The White Queen is restored to power, and Alice drinks the Jabberwocky's blood to return home, transformed by her journey., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Alice in Wonderland's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Alice in Wonderland against these established plot points, we can identify how Tim Burton utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Alice in Wonderland within the adventure genre.
Tim Burton's Structural Approach
Among the 17 Tim Burton films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Alice in Wonderland takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Tim Burton filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more Tim Burton analyses, see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Sleepy Hollow and Dark Shadows.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Alice has a nightmare about falling down a rabbit hole. She lives in Victorian England, constrained by social expectations and an impending marriage proposal.
Theme
Alice's father tells her, "Sometimes I believe in as many as six impossible things before breakfast," establishing the theme of believing in the impossible and being true to yourself.
Worldbuilding
Adult Alice at a garden party faces an unwanted marriage proposal from Hamish. She feels trapped by Victorian society's expectations and her lack of control over her own life.
Disruption
Alice spots the White Rabbit in a waistcoat and follows it, running away from her own engagement proposal and the assembled crowd expecting her answer.
Resistance
Alice falls down the rabbit hole into Underland. She drinks potions, eats cake, shrinks and grows, debates whether this is real or a dream, and resists the idea that she's "the right Alice" destined to slay the Jabberwocky.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Alice decides to help the White Rabbit and his friends by retrieving the Vorpal Sword from the Bandersnatch, actively choosing to engage with Underland rather than just trying to wake up.
Premise
Alice explores Underland, reunites with old friends from her childhood visit, befriends the Mad Hatter, escapes the Red Queen's forces, and gradually accepts that this world is real and she has a role to play in it.
Midpoint
The Mad Hatter is captured by the Red Queen's forces. Alice sees the Oraculum scroll that prophesies she will slay the Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day, raising the stakes and making her destiny unavoidable.
Opposition
Alice infiltrates the Red Queen's castle to rescue the Hatter and retrieve the Vorpal Sword. She navigates the dangerous court, gaining the sword but facing increasing danger as her true identity is discovered.
Collapse
Alice's identity is revealed at the Red Queen's castle. She barely escapes with her life and the Vorpal Sword as the Hatter sacrifices himself to help her flee, facing execution.
Crisis
Alice returns to the White Queen but still doubts herself and her ability to slay the Jabberwocky. She grapples with her fear and questions whether she can be the champion Underland needs.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Alice confronts and slays the Jabberwocky on Frabjous Day, defeating the Red Queen's champion. The White Queen is restored to power, and Alice drinks the Jabberwocky's blood to return home, transformed by her journey.