Civil War
In a dystopian future, four journalists travel across the United States during a nation-wide conflict. While trying to survive, they aim to reach the White House to interview the president before he is overthrown.
Despite a respectable budget of $50.0M, Civil War became a box office success, earning $126.5M worldwide—a 153% return.
8 wins & 60 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%)
Civil War (2024) exemplifies meticulously timed story structure, characteristic of Alex Garland's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 49 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.3, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes Lee photographs a suicide bombing in New York City with professional detachment, establishing her as a hardened war photographer who has witnessed too much violence and disconnected from emotional response.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Lee and Joel decide to make the dangerous road trip to Washington DC to interview the President before he's killed. This suicide mission becomes the story's driving action, disrupting any remaining safety in New York.. 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 26 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to The group encounters their first active combat zone and takes cover as bullets fly. Lee must choose to photograph the violence, committing fully to the dangerous journey toward DC and accepting Jessie as part of the team., moving from reaction to action.
At 56 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The group witnesses and photographs extrajudicial executions by a militia group. A chilling interrogation scene where American asks "What kind of American are you?" crystallizes the stakes: identity means death, and they're deep in moral catastrophe., 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 (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Joel is killed during a sniper battle while the group tries to help wounded soldiers. His death devastates the team and represents the "whiff of death"—the mentor/father figure dies, leaving Lee and Jessie without guidance or protection., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 88 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Despite the trauma, Lee chooses to continue to the White House. The Western Forces are assaulting DC. She realizes her role: to document history to the very end, even if it costs everything. She and Jessie will witness the finale., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Civil War'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 Civil War against these established plot points, we can identify how Alex Garland utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Civil War within the action genre.
Alex Garland's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Alex Garland films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Civil War represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alex Garland filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Alex Garland analyses, see Ex Machina, Annihilation and Men.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Lee photographs a suicide bombing in New York City with professional detachment, establishing her as a hardened war photographer who has witnessed too much violence and disconnected from emotional response.
Theme
Jessie asks Lee what it's like to be a war photographer. The exchange introduces the film's central question: what is the cost of documenting horror, and can you remain human while bearing witness to atrocity?
Worldbuilding
America is in civil war with a three-term authoritarian President in DC. Lee and Joel are established journalists who plan to interview the President before rebel forces reach Washington. The Western Forces are advancing, and the country is fractured into competing factions.
Disruption
Lee and Joel decide to make the dangerous road trip to Washington DC to interview the President before he's killed. This suicide mission becomes the story's driving action, disrupting any remaining safety in New York.
Resistance
The group prepares for and begins the journey. Jessie forces her way into joining despite Lee's objections. They navigate through checkpoints and negotiate their route, establishing the rules and dangers of this fractured America.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group encounters their first active combat zone and takes cover as bullets fly. Lee must choose to photograph the violence, committing fully to the dangerous journey toward DC and accepting Jessie as part of the team.
Mirror World
Jessie's eagerness and naivety mirror who Lee used to be. Their developing relationship becomes the emotional core: Lee sees her younger, idealistic self in Jessie and must decide whether to mentor her or protect her from this path.
Premise
The journalists travel through war-torn America, documenting atrocities and surreal encounters. They photograph executions, displaced people, and bizarre pockets of normalcy. This is what we came for: embedded war journalism in a fallen America.
Midpoint
The group witnesses and photographs extrajudicial executions by a militia group. A chilling interrogation scene where American asks "What kind of American are you?" crystallizes the stakes: identity means death, and they're deep in moral catastrophe.
Opposition
The violence intensifies as they near DC. Lee struggles with Jessie's growing desensitization and recklessness. The horrors mount, relationships fray, and the psychological toll becomes unbearable. Every mile closer to Washington means deeper into darkness.
Collapse
Joel is killed during a sniper battle while the group tries to help wounded soldiers. His death devastates the team and represents the "whiff of death"—the mentor/father figure dies, leaving Lee and Jessie without guidance or protection.
Crisis
Lee and Jessie process Joel's death in numb shock. The group is broken, and the question hangs: is the photograph worth this cost? Lee confronts what she's become and what she's allowed Jessie to become.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Despite the trauma, Lee chooses to continue to the White House. The Western Forces are assaulting DC. She realizes her role: to document history to the very end, even if it costs everything. She and Jessie will witness the finale.
Synthesis
The assault on the White House. Lee and Jessie embed with Western Forces soldiers as they storm the building. Urban combat, room clearing, chaos. They photograph everything, including the final confrontation with the President in the Oval Office.
Transformation
Lee sacrifices herself to save Jessie, pushing her out of the line of fire and taking the fatal bullet. Jessie photographs Lee's death with the same detachment Lee once had—she has become Lee, completing the cycle. The cost of bearing witness is paid in full.