Battleship
When mankind beams a radio signal into space, a reply comes from ‘Planet G’, in the form of several alien crafts that splash down in the waters off Hawaii. Lieutenant Alex Hopper is a weapons officer assigned to the USS John Paul Jones, part of an international naval coalition which becomes the world's last hope for survival as they engage the hostile alien force of unimaginable strength. While taking on the invaders, Hopper must also try to live up to the potential that his brother, and his fiancée's father—an Admiral—expect of him.
Working with a blockbuster budget of $209.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $303.0M in global revenue (+45% profit margin).
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%)
Battleship (2012) exhibits deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Peter Berg's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 11 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.6, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Alex Hopper
Sam Shane
Stone Hopper
Captain Yugi Nagata
Mick Canales
Admiral Shane
Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales
Jimmy "Ordy" Ord
Main Cast & Characters
Alex Hopper
Played by Taylor Kitsch
A reckless naval officer who must step up to lead when aliens attack during a naval exercise.
Sam Shane
Played by Brooklyn Decker
A physical therapist and Admiral Shane's daughter who becomes involved in the alien invasion.
Stone Hopper
Played by Alexander Skarsgård
Alex's responsible older brother and commanding officer who tries to keep him in line.
Captain Yugi Nagata
Played by Tadanobu Asano
A Japanese naval officer and Alex's rival who becomes an essential ally during the alien attack.
Mick Canales
Played by Rihanna
A weapons specialist on the USS John Paul Jones who provides crucial tactical support.
Admiral Shane
Played by Liam Neeson
Commander of the Pacific Fleet and Sam's father who disapproves of Alex's relationship with his daughter.
Lieutenant Colonel Mick Canales
Played by Gregory D. Gadson
A retired Army veteran who lost his legs in combat and helps defend against the alien threat.
Jimmy "Ordy" Ord
Played by Jesse Plemons
A petty officer and radar operator on the USS John Paul Jones.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Alex Hopper is a directionless slacker celebrating his birthday, unemployed and living off his brother Stone, a disciplined Navy officer who represents everything Alex is not.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when During RIMPAC naval exercises, alien ships arrive in response to Earth's beacon transmission. They crash into the ocean and deploy a force field barrier, trapping three destroyers including Alex's ship inside, while Stone's ship remains outside.. 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 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat The John Paul Jones is catastrophically damaged and sinking after a direct assault from the alien ships. Alex's impulsive attack strategy has failed, the ship is going down, and crew members are dying. The stakes are raised as they realize they're outmatched., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 96 minutes (73% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alex and the survivors reach shore with no operational ships, no way to stop the aliens from calling reinforcements, and Stone is confirmed dead. Alex faces the death of his brother and mentor, the apparent failure of his mission, and his own inadequacy as a leader., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Alex leads the Missouri into battle using WWII-era tactics combined with modern strategy. The crew works as a unified team across generations and nations. They destroy the alien ships and prevent the transmission. Samantha's ground team destroys the communications array. Alex has become the leader Stone believed he could be., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Battleship'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 Battleship against these established plot points, we can identify how Peter Berg utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Battleship within the thriller genre.
Peter Berg's Structural Approach
Among the 9 Peter Berg films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Battleship takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Peter Berg filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional thriller films include Eye for an Eye, Lake Placid and Operation Finale. For more Peter Berg analyses, see Lone Survivor, The Rundown and Deepwater Horizon.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Alex Hopper is a directionless slacker celebrating his birthday, unemployed and living off his brother Stone, a disciplined Navy officer who represents everything Alex is not.
Theme
Stone tells Alex "You're not going to amount to anything" and challenges him to find direction and purpose in his life, establishing the theme of becoming someone worthy through discipline and responsibility.
Worldbuilding
Alex impulsively breaks into a convenience store to get a chicken burrito for Samantha, gets tasered, and is forced by Stone to join the Navy. Seven years later, he's a Naval officer but still impulsive and insubordinate, in a relationship with Samantha (the Admiral's daughter), and about to be kicked out of the Navy.
Disruption
During RIMPAC naval exercises, alien ships arrive in response to Earth's beacon transmission. They crash into the ocean and deploy a force field barrier, trapping three destroyers including Alex's ship inside, while Stone's ship remains outside.
Resistance
The Navy investigates the alien objects. Alex and his crew make first contact with the aliens, which goes catastrophically wrong when the aliens destroy the Sampson and kill the fleet commanders, including Alex's commanding officer. Alex survives but is thrust into a leadership role he's unprepared for.
Act II
ConfrontationMirror World
Captain Yugi Nagata, the Japanese officer Alex fought with earlier, becomes Alex's crucial ally and tactical partner. Their relationship represents the film's secondary theme of international cooperation and mutual respect overcoming rivalry.
Premise
Alex and the crew engage in naval combat with the technologically superior alien ships. They learn the aliens' weakness (they won't fire on non-threatening targets), use creative tactics including the anchor turn maneuver, and discover the aliens are planning to phone home for reinforcements from a communications array on Oahu.
Midpoint
The John Paul Jones is catastrophically damaged and sinking after a direct assault from the alien ships. Alex's impulsive attack strategy has failed, the ship is going down, and crew members are dying. The stakes are raised as they realize they're outmatched.
Opposition
The survivors abandon ship. Meanwhile, on land, Samantha and wounded veteran Mick Canales battle alien ground forces. Alex learns from a scientist that the aliens are hostile colonizers. With no ships and dwindling resources, the situation appears hopeless as the aliens activate the communications station.
Collapse
Alex and the survivors reach shore with no operational ships, no way to stop the aliens from calling reinforcements, and Stone is confirmed dead. Alex faces the death of his brother and mentor, the apparent failure of his mission, and his own inadequacy as a leader.
Crisis
In his darkest moment, Alex processes Stone's death and his own failures. He must reconcile the undisciplined person he was with the leader he needs to become. The weight of responsibility and loss threatens to overwhelm him.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Alex leads the Missouri into battle using WWII-era tactics combined with modern strategy. The crew works as a unified team across generations and nations. They destroy the alien ships and prevent the transmission. Samantha's ground team destroys the communications array. Alex has become the leader Stone believed he could be.