Eternals
Following the events of Avengers: Endgame (2019), an unexpected tragedy forces the Eternals, ancient aliens who have been living on Earth in secret for thousands of years, out of the shadows to reunite against mankind's most ancient enemy, the Deviants.
Despite a massive budget of $200.0M, Eternals became a financial success, earning $402.1M worldwide—a 101% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, confirming that audiences embrace innovative storytelling even at blockbuster scale.
7 wins & 18 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%)
Eternals (2021) showcases deliberately positioned narrative design, characteristic of Chloé Zhao's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 36 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Sersi
Ikaris
Thena
Ajak
Kingo
Phastos
Makkari
Druig
Gilgamesh
Sprite
Main Cast & Characters
Sersi
Played by Gemma Chan
An Eternal who can manipulate matter, living among humans as a museum curator in London. She struggles with her duty to the Celestials versus her love for humanity.
Ikaris
Played by Richard Madden
The tactical leader and most powerful Eternal with flight and optic beam powers. He is loyal to the Celestials' mission above all else.
Thena
Played by Angelina Jolie
A fierce Eternal warrior suffering from Mahd Wy'ry, causing her memories to fragment. She is protected and cared for by Gilgamesh.
Ajak
Played by Salma Hayek
The wise, maternal leader of the Eternals who can heal and communicate directly with the Celestial Arishem. She has grown to love humanity over millennia.
Kingo
Played by Kumail Nanjiani
A charismatic Eternal with energy projection powers who has lived as a Bollywood star for generations. He provides comic relief while maintaining loyalty to his family.
Phastos
Played by Brian Tyree Henry
The inventor and tech genius of the Eternals who became disillusioned with humanity after Hiroshima. He has retired to live quietly with his husband and son.
Makkari
Played by Lauren Ridloff
The fastest Eternal and the first deaf superhero in the MCU. She is playful, curious, and has spent centuries searching for artifacts.
Druig
Played by Barry Keoghan
A rebellious Eternal with mind control powers who left the group to protect a community in the Amazon. He is cynical about the mission but compassionate toward humans.
Gilgamesh
Played by Don Lee
The strongest Eternal warrior and Thena's devoted protector. He is kind-hearted, loyal, and sacrifices himself to save Thena.
Sprite
Played by Lia McHugh
An Eternal trapped in the body of a child who can cast illusions. She harbors unrequited love for Ikaris and resents her eternal youth.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening text establishes the Eternals' mission: immortal beings sent by Celestial Arishem to protect humanity from Deviants. Flashback to 5000 BC Mesopotamia shows their arrival on Earth—unified, purposeful, obedient servants of cosmic design.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 19 minutes when A Deviant attacks Sersi, Sprite, and Dane in London—impossible, since the Deviants were supposedly extinct. Ikaris arrives to help defeat it, but the creature escapes after draining some of Sersi's cosmic energy. The impossible has happened: the Deviants have returned, evolved, and can now absorb Eternal powers.. 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 38 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Sersi accepts the mantle of Prime Eternal and commits to reuniting the scattered family. She uses Ajak's sphere to contact Arishem and learns the truth: the Eternals' real mission. Despite the weight of leadership she never wanted, she chooses to gather her family. The quest to reassemble the Eternals begins., moving from reaction to action.
At 77 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Arishem reveals the horrifying truth to Sersi: Earth is an egg. The Emergence is coming—Celestial Tiamut will be born, destroying all life on Earth. The Eternals' true purpose was never to protect humanity but to cultivate enough intelligent life to fuel Celestial birth. Every civilization they helped grow was cattle for cosmic harvest. The Blip provided enough energy; Earth has seven days., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 117 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Gilgamesh dies in Thena's arms after the Deviant Kro attack, his last words asking her to remember. The team's heart—the one who held them together with warmth and food and unconditional love—is gone. Ikaris has betrayed them, Sprite has sided against them, Kingo refuses to fight either side. The family is shattered beyond repair, and the Emergence is imminent., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 125 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Sersi realizes her transmutation power is the key—if the Uni-Mind amplifies her instead of Druig, she might transform Tiamut himself. It's never been done, might kill her, and defies Arishem directly. She chooses to try anyway. "We're going to stop the Emergence. Not because we were told to, but because we choose to." They fly to the Emergence point, ready to defy their creator for the world they've grown to love., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Eternals'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 Eternals against these established plot points, we can identify how Chloé Zhao utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Eternals within the action genre.
Chloé Zhao's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Chloé Zhao films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.3, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Eternals represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Chloé Zhao filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Chloé Zhao analyses, see Nomadland.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening text establishes the Eternals' mission: immortal beings sent by Celestial Arishem to protect humanity from Deviants. Flashback to 5000 BC Mesopotamia shows their arrival on Earth—unified, purposeful, obedient servants of cosmic design.
Theme
Ajak tells the newly-arrived Eternals: "We have watched and guided. We have helped them progress, and seen them accomplish wonders. Throughout the years, we have never interfered... until now." The theme of non-interference versus compassionate action—and whether humanity is worth saving—is planted.
Worldbuilding
Present-day London: Sersi lives a quiet human life as a museum curator with boyfriend Dane. Flashbacks interweave ancient Babylon, showing the Eternals united in their Deviant-hunting mission. We learn they disbanded after completing their mission, each choosing different paths. Sprite lives with Sersi, still appearing as a child after 7,000 years.
Disruption
A Deviant attacks Sersi, Sprite, and Dane in London—impossible, since the Deviants were supposedly extinct. Ikaris arrives to help defeat it, but the creature escapes after draining some of Sersi's cosmic energy. The impossible has happened: the Deviants have returned, evolved, and can now absorb Eternal powers.
Resistance
Sersi, Ikaris, and Sprite travel to South Dakota to warn Ajak, their leader and the only one who can communicate with Arishem. They discover Ajak murdered by Deviants. The golden communication sphere transfers to Sersi, making her the new Prime Eternal. Ikaris insists they must reunite the team. Sersi hesitates—the family fractured for reasons, and she's not ready to lead.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Sersi accepts the mantle of Prime Eternal and commits to reuniting the scattered family. She uses Ajak's sphere to contact Arishem and learns the truth: the Eternals' real mission. Despite the weight of leadership she never wanted, she chooses to gather her family. The quest to reassemble the Eternals begins.
Mirror World
In Australia, the team finds Gilgamesh caring for Thena, who suffers from Mahd Wy'yr—eternal memory corruption causing violent episodes. Their tender, devoted relationship embodies the film's theme: love makes existence meaningful. Gilgamesh chose to spend centuries in isolation caring for her. This sacrificial love will later inspire the team's choice to protect humanity.
Premise
The global reunion tour: finding each Eternal living their chosen life. Kingo is a Bollywood star filming with his valet Karun documenting everything. Phastos lives in suburban Chicago with his husband and son, having lost faith in humanity after Hiroshima. Druig runs an isolated Amazon commune, having broken from the group centuries ago over non-interference. Makkari searches the Domo for artifacts. Flashbacks reveal the Eternals' history, the fall of Tenochtitlan, and their gradual fracturing.
Midpoint
Arishem reveals the horrifying truth to Sersi: Earth is an egg. The Emergence is coming—Celestial Tiamut will be born, destroying all life on Earth. The Eternals' true purpose was never to protect humanity but to cultivate enough intelligent life to fuel Celestial birth. Every civilization they helped grow was cattle for cosmic harvest. The Blip provided enough energy; Earth has seven days.
Opposition
The team fractures over whether to stop the Emergence. Kingo believes in Arishem's cosmic design—new Celestials create new galaxies, new life. Ikaris reveals his betrayal: he led the Deviant to kill Ajak because she wanted to stop the Emergence. He's been Arishem's true believer all along. Sprite sides with Ikaris out of unrequited love. The Deviant Kro kills Gilgamesh and absorbs his power, evolving further. Phastos devises the Uni-Mind plan: linking all Eternals to amplify Druig's power to put Tiamut to sleep.
Collapse
Gilgamesh dies in Thena's arms after the Deviant Kro attack, his last words asking her to remember. The team's heart—the one who held them together with warmth and food and unconditional love—is gone. Ikaris has betrayed them, Sprite has sided against them, Kingo refuses to fight either side. The family is shattered beyond repair, and the Emergence is imminent.
Crisis
Thena grieves Gilgamesh while the remaining loyal Eternals process Ikaris's betrayal. Sersi doubts herself as leader—Ajak chose her specifically because she loved humans most, but is that enough? Phastos completes the Uni-Mind bracelets. Makkari locates the Emergence point in the Indian Ocean. They prepare for a battle against their own family and a god rising from Earth's core.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Sersi realizes her transmutation power is the key—if the Uni-Mind amplifies her instead of Druig, she might transform Tiamut himself. It's never been done, might kill her, and defies Arishem directly. She chooses to try anyway. "We're going to stop the Emergence. Not because we were told to, but because we choose to." They fly to the Emergence point, ready to defy their creator for the world they've grown to love.
Synthesis
The volcanic battle at the Emergence point. Tiamut begins rising from Earth's core. Ikaris attacks, determined to let the Emergence complete. Makkari fights him at super-speed; Thena battles Kro and avenges Gilgamesh. Druig is knocked out; the Uni-Mind attempt fails. Phastos restrains Ikaris with cosmic bonds. Sersi touches the emerging Tiamut and, amplified by the Uni-Mind—including Tiamut himself joining—transmutes the Celestial into marble. The Emergence is stopped. Ikaris, unable to kill Sersi, flies into the sun. Sprite chooses mortality, becoming human.
Transformation
Sersi says goodbye to Dane, promising to return. She, Thena, and Kingo depart in the Domo to find other Eternals and tell them the truth. Phastos returns to his family; Sprite begins mortal life. Then Arishem appears—a Celestial hand reaching through space to collect Sersi, Phastos, and Kingo for judgment. Their memories will be examined to determine if humanity deserves to exist. The once-obedient servants who loved humanity enough to defy a god are taken to answer for that love.