Annie Hall
New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.
Despite its small-scale budget of $4.0M, Annie Hall became a massive hit, earning $44.0M worldwide—a remarkable 1000% return. The film's distinctive approach connected with viewers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Annie Hall (1977) demonstrates strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Woody Allen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alvy Singer
Annie Hall
Rob
Allison Portchnik
Robin
Main Cast & Characters
Alvy Singer
Played by Woody Allen
Neurotic, insecure comedian analyzing his failed relationship with Annie Hall through memory and direct address to the camera.
Annie Hall
Played by Diane Keaton
Aspiring singer from the Midwest who evolves from insecure and scattered to confident and self-actualized throughout her relationship with Alvy.
Rob
Played by Tony Roberts
Alvy's best friend, a successful television writer who represents the Los Angeles lifestyle Alvy disdains.
Allison Portchnik
Played by Carol Kane
Alvy's first wife, an intellectual who shares his cultural interests but lacks emotional warmth.
Robin
Played by Janet Margolin
Alvy's second wife, a committed liberal journalist focused on social causes and political activism.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alvy Singer directly addresses camera, nervous and neurotic, complaining about life and his recent breakup with Annie. Establishes his anxious, self-obsessed worldview post-relationship.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when First meeting with Annie Hall at tennis club - awkward, charming, nervous energy. Annie is completely different from Alvy: spontaneous, unselfconscious, optimistic. This encounter disrupts his cynical routine.. At 11% 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to First kiss on Annie's balcony. Alvy makes the conscious choice to pursue a real relationship with Annie despite his neuroses. They begin living together, entering the "relationship world."., moving from reaction to action.
At 46 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Annie performs "Seems Like Old Times" at nightclub. Alvy watches proudly but also anxiously - Annie is growing beyond him, developing her own identity. Tony Lacey (Paul Simon) shows interest, representing the life Alvy can't offer., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Annie definitively breaks up with Alvy, choosing to move to Los Angeles with Tony Lacey. Alvy's worst fear realized - the relationship dies because he couldn't let it evolve. Whiff of death: the relationship and his hope for love., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Alvy flies to Los Angeles to win Annie back, crashing car multiple times. The grand gesture fails - Annie gently declines. Alvy realizes he can't force the relationship and must accept its end with grace., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Annie Hall's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping Annie Hall against these established plot points, we can identify how Woody Allen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Annie Hall within the comedy genre.
Woody Allen's Structural Approach
Among the 42 Woody Allen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Annie Hall represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Woody Allen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Woody Allen analyses, see Sleeper, Celebrity and Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex *But Were Afraid to Ask.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alvy Singer directly addresses camera, nervous and neurotic, complaining about life and his recent breakup with Annie. Establishes his anxious, self-obsessed worldview post-relationship.
Theme
Alvy's conversation with Rob about relationships: "A relationship is like a shark - it has to constantly move forward or it dies." This statement about relationships needing growth becomes the thematic core of the film.
Worldbuilding
Alvy's world is established through childhood flashbacks, his neurotic personality, failed marriages, comedy career, and pessimistic New York intellectual lifestyle. We see his arrested development and inability to sustain relationships.
Disruption
First meeting with Annie Hall at tennis club - awkward, charming, nervous energy. Annie is completely different from Alvy: spontaneous, unselfconscious, optimistic. This encounter disrupts his cynical routine.
Resistance
Alvy pursues Annie despite his reservations. Their first date walking through New York, seeing "The Sorrow and the Pity," awkward conversations with subtitles revealing inner thoughts. Alvy debates whether to get involved.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
First kiss on Annie's balcony. Alvy makes the conscious choice to pursue a real relationship with Annie despite his neuroses. They begin living together, entering the "relationship world."
Mirror World
Annie becomes Alvy's student and mirror - he recommends books, takes her to his analyst, shapes her intellectual development. She represents growth and change, everything Alvy claims to want but fears.
Premise
The fun of Alvy and Annie's relationship: cooking lobsters, visiting family, arguing about art and life, Annie's singing career developing. The promise of the premise - watching two opposites navigate love in New York.
Midpoint
Annie performs "Seems Like Old Times" at nightclub. Alvy watches proudly but also anxiously - Annie is growing beyond him, developing her own identity. Tony Lacey (Paul Simon) shows interest, representing the life Alvy can't offer.
Opposition
Relationship deteriorates: they fight more, Annie wants her own apartment, sexual intimacy fades, arguments become bitter. Alvy's jealousy and need for control intensify. Annie outgrows Alvy's mentorship and resists his shaping.
Collapse
Annie definitively breaks up with Alvy, choosing to move to Los Angeles with Tony Lacey. Alvy's worst fear realized - the relationship dies because he couldn't let it evolve. Whiff of death: the relationship and his hope for love.
Crisis
Alvy spirals: disastrous date with Rolling Stone reporter, obsessive analyzing with Rob, visiting his analyst multiple times. He processes the loss and confronts his inability to maintain relationships due to his rigidity.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Alvy flies to Los Angeles to win Annie back, crashing car multiple times. The grand gesture fails - Annie gently declines. Alvy realizes he can't force the relationship and must accept its end with grace.
Synthesis
Alvy writes a play about their relationship (with happy ending), has lunch with Annie as friends in New York. He synthesizes the experience: relationships end, but the good moments were worth it.
Transformation
Alvy addresses camera again, quoting joke about man with crazy brother: "I need the eggs." Despite pain, we need relationships - irrational, impossible, essential. He smiles watching Annie, accepting the bittersweet truth.