I, Tonya
Competitive ice skater Tonya Harding rises amongst the ranks at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, but her future in the sport is thrown into doubt when her ex-husband intervenes.
Despite its modest budget of $11.0M, I, Tonya became a commercial success, earning $53.9M worldwide—a 390% return. The film's compelling narrative connected with viewers, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
1 Oscar. 46 wins & 126 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%)
I, Tonya (2017) exhibits precise story structure, characteristic of Craig Gillespie's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours. With an Arcplot score of 6.9, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Tonya Harding
LaVona Golden
Jeff Gillooly
Shawn Eckardt
Diane Rawlinson
Main Cast & Characters
Tonya Harding
Played by Margot Robbie
A driven figure skater from an abusive background who becomes the first American woman to land a triple axel, but is caught in a scandal that destroys her career.
LaVona Golden
Played by Allison Janney
Tonya's abusive, chain-smoking mother who pushes her daughter relentlessly while withholding affection and approval.
Jeff Gillooly
Played by Sebastian Stan
Tonya's volatile husband who alternates between devotion and physical abuse, eventually orchestrating the attack on Nancy Kerrigan.
Shawn Eckardt
Played by Paul Walter Hauser
Jeff's delusional friend who claims to be an international counterterrorism expert and helps plan the attack on Kerrigan.
Diane Rawlinson
Played by Julianne Nicholson
Tonya's longtime skating coach who recognizes her talent but struggles with her public image and turbulent personal life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Present-day Tonya in mockumentary interview format, reflecting on her life. Establishes her as defiant, unapologetic, and still fighting against the narrative that destroyed her career.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Teenage Tonya meets Jeff Gillooly at the rink. The beginning of a toxic romantic relationship that will define and destroy her life.. 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 Tonya lands her first triple axel in competition, becoming the first American woman to do so. She actively chooses to push her skating to unprecedented heights despite all obstacles., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat Tonya's disastrous 1992 Olympics performance. A false defeat: she skates poorly, breaks down crying, but the judges allow her to restart. The stakes raise—this is her breaking point, and things will only get darker., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 89 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The attack on Nancy Kerrigan happens. Tonya's dreams die in this moment. The "whiff of death" is the death of her career, her reputation, her chance at redemption—everything she worked for is destroyed., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Tonya decides to skate at the 1994 Olympics despite everything. She sees clearly now: this is her last chance to control her own narrative, to do what she does best on the biggest stage., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
I, Tonya'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 I, Tonya against these established plot points, we can identify how Craig Gillespie utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish I, Tonya within the drama genre.
Craig Gillespie's Structural Approach
Among the 8 Craig Gillespie films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. I, Tonya takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Craig Gillespie filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include After Thomas, South Pacific and Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights. For more Craig Gillespie analyses, see Fright Night, Dumb Money and Cruella.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Present-day Tonya in mockumentary interview format, reflecting on her life. Establishes her as defiant, unapologetic, and still fighting against the narrative that destroyed her career.
Theme
LaVona tells young Tonya: "You're not allowed to fail." This encapsulates the film's theme about American standards of success, perfection, and how abuse shapes champions.
Worldbuilding
Young Tonya's brutal training under mother LaVona. Establishes the abusive relationship, class struggles, and Tonya's raw talent being forged through violence and perfectionism.
Disruption
Teenage Tonya meets Jeff Gillooly at the rink. The beginning of a toxic romantic relationship that will define and destroy her life.
Resistance
Tonya and Jeff's courtship and early relationship. She escapes her mother's abuse only to enter Jeff's. Meanwhile, she trains for national competitions, caught between love and violence.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tonya lands her first triple axel in competition, becoming the first American woman to do so. She actively chooses to push her skating to unprecedented heights despite all obstacles.
Mirror World
Tonya's relationship with the skating judges and the establishment becomes clear. They represent everything she's not: wealthy, refined, classical. This subplot carries the theme of class and image versus talent.
Premise
Tonya's rise as a skating phenomenon. The promise of the premise: watching a working-class rebel navigate elite figure skating, landing impossible jumps while fighting abuse at home and prejudice on ice.
Midpoint
Tonya's disastrous 1992 Olympics performance. A false defeat: she skates poorly, breaks down crying, but the judges allow her to restart. The stakes raise—this is her breaking point, and things will only get darker.
Opposition
The conspiracy forms. Jeff and Shawn's idiotic plot to sabotage Nancy Kerrigan. Tonya is aware but doesn't stop it. Her life spirals: divorce, reconciliation, complicity. Everything closes in.
Collapse
The attack on Nancy Kerrigan happens. Tonya's dreams die in this moment. The "whiff of death" is the death of her career, her reputation, her chance at redemption—everything she worked for is destroyed.
Crisis
The investigation closes in. FBI interrogations, media frenzy, Jeff's betrayal. Tonya processes the collapse of her entire world while still preparing for the 1994 Olympics.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tonya decides to skate at the 1994 Olympics despite everything. She sees clearly now: this is her last chance to control her own narrative, to do what she does best on the biggest stage.
Synthesis
The 1994 Olympics and aftermath. Tonya skates, breaks down over a broken lace, finishes eighth. The trial, plea deal, lifetime ban. She loses everything but survives, reborn as something else entirely.
Transformation
Tonya in the boxing ring, her new life as a fighter. The closing image mirrors the opening: she's still fighting, still defiant, but transformed. The American dream didn't want her, so she found another arena.