Arrival
Linguistics professor Louise Banks leads an elite team of investigators when gigantic spaceships touchdown in 12 locations around the world. As nations teeter on the verge of global war, Banks and her crew must race against time to find a way to communicate with the extraterrestrial visitors. Hoping to unravel the mystery, she takes a chance that could threaten her life and quite possibly all of mankind.
Despite a moderate budget of $47.0M, Arrival became a financial success, earning $203.4M worldwide—a 333% return.
1 Oscar. 71 wins & 268 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%)
Arrival (2016) showcases deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Denis Villeneuve's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 11-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 56 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Dr. Louise Banks
Ian Donnelly
Colonel Weber
General Shang
Main Cast & Characters
Dr. Louise Banks
Played by Amy Adams
A brilliant linguist recruited by the military to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors, haunted by memories of her daughter.
Ian Donnelly
Played by Jeremy Renner
A theoretical physicist who partners with Louise to decode the alien language and develops a close bond with her.
Colonel Weber
Played by Forest Whitaker
A pragmatic U.S. Army officer who recruits Louise and manages the Montana site with military efficiency and growing respect for the scientists.
General Shang
Played by Tzi Ma
Chinese military leader who initially advocates for aggressive action against the aliens but becomes key to peaceful resolution.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Louise's voiceover begins over images of her daughter Hannah's life and death, establishing her as a grieving mother living in isolation, haunted by loss and the cyclical nature of time.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Colonel Weber arrives at Louise's home in the middle of the night, recruiting her to help translate alien communications. The mysterious arrival of the heptapods forces Louise out of her grief-stricken solitude.. 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.
At 58 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The heptapods answer humanity's question about their purpose with "offer weapon." Global nations interpret this as a threat and begin severing communication. China prepares for military action, fragmenting international cooperation., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 87 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The bomb detonates inside the shell, killing Abbott and nearly killing Louise and Ian. China announces they will attack in 24 hours. The possibility of communication, peace, and understanding seems destroyed., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 93 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Using her future memories, Louise accesses a conversation she will have with General Shang at a future celebration. She calls him and speaks his wife's dying words, convincing him to stand down. Global cooperation resumes and humanity is unified., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Arrival's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 11 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Arrival against these established plot points, we can identify how Denis Villeneuve utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Arrival within the drama genre.
Denis Villeneuve's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Denis Villeneuve films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.9, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Arrival represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Denis Villeneuve filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Denis Villeneuve analyses, see Sicario, Incendies and Prisoners.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Louise's voiceover begins over images of her daughter Hannah's life and death, establishing her as a grieving mother living in isolation, haunted by loss and the cyclical nature of time.
Theme
Louise narrates: "I used to think this was the beginning of your story." The theme of non-linear time and how knowing the future affects our choices is introduced through her seemingly mourning her daughter.
Worldbuilding
Louise's isolated life as a linguistics professor is established. She teaches class while news breaks of twelve alien spacecraft landing worldwide. Global panic ensues as governments scramble to respond.
Disruption
Colonel Weber arrives at Louise's home in the middle of the night, recruiting her to help translate alien communications. The mysterious arrival of the heptapods forces Louise out of her grief-stricken solitude.
Resistance
Louise debates with Weber about approach methodology, insisting on direct contact rather than working from recordings. She is helicoptered to Montana, meets physicist Ian Donnelly, and prepares for first contact inside the shell.
Act II
ConfrontationPremise
Louise and Ian make incremental progress understanding the heptapod language. The circular, non-linear nature of their written communication is revealed. Louise begins experiencing vivid "memories" of Hannah as the language rewires her perception of time.
Midpoint
The heptapods answer humanity's question about their purpose with "offer weapon." Global nations interpret this as a threat and begin severing communication. China prepares for military action, fragmenting international cooperation.
Opposition
International tensions escalate as nations cut off communication with each other. Rogue soldiers plant a bomb in the Montana shell. Louise races to understand the true meaning of "weapon" while her visions of Hannah intensify and her grip on linear time loosens.
Collapse
The bomb detonates inside the shell, killing Abbott and nearly killing Louise and Ian. China announces they will attack in 24 hours. The possibility of communication, peace, and understanding seems destroyed.
Crisis
Louise processes Abbott's death and the failure of global cooperation. She is removed from the mission as war seems inevitable. In isolation, she grapples with her fragmenting perception of time and her visions of Hannah's future.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Using her future memories, Louise accesses a conversation she will have with General Shang at a future celebration. She calls him and speaks his wife's dying words, convincing him to stand down. Global cooperation resumes and humanity is unified.