Catch-22
A WWII military pilot makes a valiant effort to be certified insane in order to be excused from flying missions. But there's a catch.
Working with a moderate budget of $18.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $24.9M in global revenue (+38% 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%)
Catch-22 (1970) reveals strategically placed narrative architecture, characteristic of Mike Nichols's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Captain John Yossarian
Captain Nately
Major Danby
Milo Minderbinder
Colonel Cathcart
Doc Daneeka
Captain Orr
Lieutenant Dobbs
Major Major Major Major
Main Cast & Characters
Captain John Yossarian
Played by Alan Arkin
A U.S. Army Air Forces bombardier who desperately wants to survive the war and is caught in the absurd bureaucratic trap of Catch-22.
Captain Nately
Played by Art Garfunkel
An idealistic young pilot from a wealthy family who falls in love with a prostitute in Rome.
Major Danby
Played by Richard Benjamin
A nervous, intellectual operations officer who sympathizes with Yossarian but is powerless against the system.
Milo Minderbinder
Played by Jon Voight
An entrepreneurial mess officer who builds a vast black market syndicate while rationalizing profit over ethics.
Colonel Cathcart
Played by Martin Balsam
An ambitious officer obsessed with promotion who continually raises the number of required missions.
Doc Daneeka
Played by Jack Gilford
The squadron flight surgeon who is apathetic and self-absorbed, focused on his own misfortunes.
Captain Orr
Played by Bob Newhart
Yossarian's roommate and fellow bombardier who repeatedly crashes his plane but always survives.
Lieutenant Dobbs
Played by Martin Sheen
A pilot who becomes increasingly unstable and suggests killing Colonel Cathcart.
Major Major Major Major
Played by Bob Balaban
An officer accidentally promoted to Major who avoids everyone by jumping out his office window.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Yossarian on Pianosa Island during WWII, living in controlled military routine on the Mediterranean base, establishing the absurdist tone of military life.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Colonel Cathcart raises the required missions from 25 to 40, trapping the men who were close to going home. Yossarian realizes escape through normal channels is impossible.. 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 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Yossarian actively decides to stop playing along, refusing to wear his uniform properly and beginning to openly rebel against the mission requirements and military authority., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat The catastrophic mission over Avignon where Snowden is fatally wounded. Yossarian tries desperately to save him, but Snowden dies in his arms, traumatizing Yossarian deeply., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Nately dies in a plane crash. Yossarian delivers the news to Nately's prostitute in Rome, who then tries to kill him. The symbolic death of innocence and hope., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Yossarian rejects Cathcart's deal to be sent home as a hero if he supports the corrupt system. Instead, he chooses Orr's path, deciding to desert and escape to Sweden., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Catch-22's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Catch-22 against these established plot points, we can identify how Mike Nichols utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Catch-22 within the war genre.
Mike Nichols's Structural Approach
Among the 15 Mike Nichols films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Catch-22 takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Mike Nichols filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional war films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, Fury and Sarah's Key. For more Mike Nichols analyses, see Carnal Knowledge, Primary Colors and Closer.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Yossarian on Pianosa Island during WWII, living in controlled military routine on the Mediterranean base, establishing the absurdist tone of military life.
Theme
Doc Daneeka explains Catch-22 to Yossarian: you can be grounded if you're insane, but asking to be grounded proves you're sane. The central absurdist paradox is stated.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to the bomber squadron, the various officers and bureaucrats, and the increasing mission requirements. We meet Milo, Cathcart, and other key figures in this absurd military world.
Disruption
Colonel Cathcart raises the required missions from 25 to 40, trapping the men who were close to going home. Yossarian realizes escape through normal channels is impossible.
Resistance
Yossarian explores various schemes to avoid missions: feigning illness, going AWOL in Rome, appealing to Doc Daneeka. Each attempt reveals another layer of bureaucratic impossibility.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Yossarian actively decides to stop playing along, refusing to wear his uniform properly and beginning to openly rebel against the mission requirements and military authority.
Premise
The dark comedy unfolds as Yossarian navigates increasingly absurd missions and bureaucratic paradoxes. Milo's syndicate expands, missions become more dangerous, and the death toll mounts.
Midpoint
The catastrophic mission over Avignon where Snowden is fatally wounded. Yossarian tries desperately to save him, but Snowden dies in his arms, traumatizing Yossarian deeply.
Opposition
Yossarian becomes increasingly desperate and traumatized. Cathcart keeps raising mission counts, friends die, and the military machine grinds on indifferently. The absurdity becomes horror.
Collapse
Nately dies in a plane crash. Yossarian delivers the news to Nately's prostitute in Rome, who then tries to kill him. The symbolic death of innocence and hope.
Crisis
Yossarian wanders through Rome during a nightmarish citywide sweep, witnessing violence and suffering everywhere. His dark night reveals the full horror of the world at war.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Yossarian rejects Cathcart's deal to be sent home as a hero if he supports the corrupt system. Instead, he chooses Orr's path, deciding to desert and escape to Sweden.