Election
The high school Class President election is approaching and it looks like Tracy Flick is going to win, unopposed. However, teacher Jim McAllister has other plans. He convinces jock Paul Metzler to run, sparking off an interesting chain of events.
The film disappointed at the box office against its moderate budget of $25.0M, earning $14.9M globally (-40% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its bold vision within the comedy genre.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 16 wins & 34 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%)
Election (1999) demonstrates strategically placed plot construction, characteristic of Alexander Payne's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jim McAllister
Tracy Flick
Paul Metzler
Tammy Metzler
Dave Novotny
Diane McAllister
Main Cast & Characters
Jim McAllister
Played by Matthew Broderick
A disillusioned high school civics teacher who becomes obsessed with preventing Tracy Flick from winning student council president.
Tracy Flick
Played by Reese Witherspoon
An ambitious, relentlessly driven overachiever running unopposed for student council president at Carver High School.
Paul Metzler
Played by Chris Klein
A popular, good-natured jock recovering from a ski injury who is persuaded to run against Tracy for student president.
Tammy Metzler
Played by Jessica Campbell
Paul's younger sister, a rebellious and cynical sophomore who enters the race to sabotage her brother after romantic betrayal.
Dave Novotny
Played by Mark Harelik
Jim's best friend and fellow teacher who had an affair with Tracy Flick, resulting in his dismissal and divorce.
Diane McAllister
Played by Molly Hagan
Jim's wife, a teacher at Carver High who grows increasingly frustrated with her husband's obsession and ethical lapses.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jim McAllister introduces himself as a dedicated civics teacher at Carver High School in Omaha, established as a well-liked educator who believes in teaching ethics and democratic values.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Tracy Flick announces her candidacy for student body president. Jim is disturbed by the prospect of her running unopposed, seeing her as an embodiment of blind ambition without ethics.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Jim actively recruits popular but dim jock Paul Metzler to run against Tracy, deliberately sabotaging the democratic election. He crosses from observer to active manipulator., moving from reaction to action.
At 51 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat Jim impulsively kisses his neighbor Linda, beginning an affair that will destroy his marriage. His moral corruption is now complete in both professional and personal spheres., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 76 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Alone in his classroom counting ballots, Jim sees two discarded votes for Paul that would change the election result. He faces his moment of ultimate moral choice while his life crumbles around him., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Jim is caught when a janitor finds the discarded ballots in the trash. His cheating is exposed, leading to his termination from Carver High and complete professional disgrace., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Election's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Election against these established plot points, we can identify how Alexander Payne utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Election within the comedy genre.
Alexander Payne's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Alexander Payne films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Election represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Alexander Payne filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Alexander Payne analyses, see The Descendants, The Holdovers and Nebraska.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jim McAllister introduces himself as a dedicated civics teacher at Carver High School in Omaha, established as a well-liked educator who believes in teaching ethics and democratic values.
Theme
Dave Novotny tells Jim that sometimes you have to bend the rules to do what's right, foreshadowing the moral compromise at the heart of the story.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to Carver High School, Tracy Flick's relentless ambition and over-achievement, Jim's comfortable life with wife Diane, and the aftermath of colleague Dave Novotny's affair with Tracy that destroyed his career.
Disruption
Tracy Flick announces her candidacy for student body president. Jim is disturbed by the prospect of her running unopposed, seeing her as an embodiment of blind ambition without ethics.
Resistance
Jim wrestles with his growing obsession with stopping Tracy. He observes her campaign tactics, becomes increasingly bothered by her certainty of victory, and contemplates interfering in the democratic process he's supposed to uphold.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jim actively recruits popular but dim jock Paul Metzler to run against Tracy, deliberately sabotaging the democratic election. He crosses from observer to active manipulator.
Mirror World
Paul's younger sister Tammy enters the race after her girlfriend betrays her for Paul. Tammy represents honest rebellion against the system, the mirror opposite of Jim's hypocritical manipulation.
Premise
The election campaign unfolds with increasing chaos. Tracy campaigns ruthlessly, Paul remains earnest and clueless, and Tammy delivers a nihilistic speech advocating for dismantling student government. Jim becomes increasingly obsessed while his marriage deteriorates.
Midpoint
Jim impulsively kisses his neighbor Linda, beginning an affair that will destroy his marriage. His moral corruption is now complete in both professional and personal spheres.
Opposition
Everything collapses around Jim: his affair is discovered, Diane throws him out, Linda rejects him, Tammy is expelled for destroying Tracy's posters, and the election results show Tracy winning by one vote despite Paul's popularity.
Collapse
Alone in his classroom counting ballots, Jim sees two discarded votes for Paul that would change the election result. He faces his moment of ultimate moral choice while his life crumbles around him.
Crisis
Jim destroys the two ballots, ensuring Tracy's victory. He immediately feels the weight of what he's done as his rationalization about protecting democracy collapses into recognition of his own pettiness and corruption.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jim is caught when a janitor finds the discarded ballots in the trash. His cheating is exposed, leading to his termination from Carver High and complete professional disgrace.
Synthesis
Jim loses everything: his job, marriage, career, and reputation. He moves to New York and works as a tour guide at the Museum of Natural History. Tracy graduates as valedictorian and heads to Georgetown, her ambition undiminished and rewarded.
Transformation
Jim spots Tracy getting into a limousine in Washington D.C., still climbing the ladder of success. He throws his soda at the car in impotent rage, revealing he has learned nothing and remains consumed by bitterness.