Jojo Rabbit
Jojo, a lonely German boy during World War II has his world shaken when he learns that his single mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. Influenced by a buffoonish imaginary version of Adolf Hitler, he begins to question his beliefs and confront the conflict between propaganda and his own humanity.
Despite its small-scale budget of $14.0M, Jojo Rabbit became a solid performer, earning $82.5M worldwide—a 489% return. The film's bold vision attracted moviegoers, showing that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
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%)
Jojo Rabbit (2019) showcases meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Taika Waititi's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.7, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jojo Betzler, a fanatical 10-year-old Nazi youth, psyches himself up in his bedroom with his imaginary friend Adolf Hitler, preparing to attend Hitler Youth training camp. His status quo is one of innocent, misguided enthusiasm for the Third Reich.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when When Jojo refuses to kill a rabbit to prove his toughness, the other children mock him as "Jojo Rabbit." Humiliated and desperate to prove himself, he grabs the rabbit and tries to release it, but the older boys force the situation. In his confusion, Jojo throws himself at a dangerous training exercise, resulting in a grenade explosion that severely injures him and scars his face.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Jojo discovers Elsa Korr, a teenage Jewish girl, hiding in a secret space behind a panel in his late sister Inge's bedroom. His entire worldview is challenged as he comes face-to-face with the "monster" he's been taught to hate. He must now decide whether to turn her in or keep the secret, irreversibly entering a new moral world., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Jojo goes into town and discovers his mother Rosie has been hanged in the public square for her resistance activities, her distinctive shoes dangling above the crowd. This is the devastating "whiff of death"—the loss of his moral center, his protector, and the person who embodied love and freedom. Jojo is utterly shattered., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The final battle rages in the town. Jojo, now dressed in a comically oversized Nazi uniform, is caught in the chaos. He encounters Klenzendorf, who saves his life by ripping off his Nazi insignia and calling him a "dirty Jew," sacrificing himself to the Allies. Jojo returns home and finally tells Elsa the truth: the war is over, Hitler is dead, and she is free. He symbolically destroys imaginary Adolf, kicking him out the window., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Jojo Rabbit's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Jojo Rabbit against these established plot points, we can identify how Taika Waititi utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Jojo Rabbit within the comedy genre.
Taika Waititi's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Taika Waititi films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Jojo Rabbit takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Taika Waititi filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Taika Waititi analyses, see Next Goal Wins, Thor: Love and Thunder and Hunt for the Wilderpeople.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jojo Betzler, a fanatical 10-year-old Nazi youth, psyches himself up in his bedroom with his imaginary friend Adolf Hitler, preparing to attend Hitler Youth training camp. His status quo is one of innocent, misguided enthusiasm for the Third Reich.
Theme
At the Hitler Youth camp, Captain Klenzendorf cynically tells the children, "Let's go on a little walk, see what we're fighting for." The theme of questioning blind ideology and discovering what truly matters is introduced through this dismissive instructor who has already seen through the propaganda.
Worldbuilding
Jojo attends Hitler Youth weekend training camp where children are indoctrinated with Nazi propaganda. We meet his best friend Yorki, the sadistic instructor Fräulein Rahm, and disillusioned Captain Klenzendorf. Jojo's fanaticism is established, as is the absurdist, satirical tone of this version of Nazi Germany seen through a child's eyes.
Disruption
When Jojo refuses to kill a rabbit to prove his toughness, the other children mock him as "Jojo Rabbit." Humiliated and desperate to prove himself, he grabs the rabbit and tries to release it, but the older boys force the situation. In his confusion, Jojo throws himself at a dangerous training exercise, resulting in a grenade explosion that severely injures him and scars his face.
Resistance
Jojo recovers from his injuries at home with his mother Rosie, who tries to lift his spirits while hiding her anti-Nazi sympathies. Unable to return to combat training due to his injuries, Jojo is assigned menial tasks like distributing propaganda leaflets. He struggles with his new "coward" status while imaginary Adolf tries to maintain his Nazi fervor. Rosie encourages him to see the world differently.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jojo discovers Elsa Korr, a teenage Jewish girl, hiding in a secret space behind a panel in his late sister Inge's bedroom. His entire worldview is challenged as he comes face-to-face with the "monster" he's been taught to hate. He must now decide whether to turn her in or keep the secret, irreversibly entering a new moral world.
Mirror World
Jojo and Elsa establish an uneasy arrangement: she will tell him "secrets about Jews" for his intelligence book, and he won't turn her in. This relationship becomes the thematic heart of the film—Elsa represents truth, humanity, and the complexity that Nazi propaganda denied. She will teach Jojo what he actually needs: to see people as individuals, not propaganda.
Premise
Jojo navigates his double life: fanatical Hitler Youth boy in public, secret keeper at home. His interactions with Elsa gradually chip away at his indoctrination as she mocks his beliefs and reveals herself to be a normal, clever girl rather than a monster. Meanwhile, Rosie continues her secret resistance work, and Jojo slowly begins noticing cracks in the Nazi facade, though imaginary Adolf keeps pulling him back.
Opposition
The Nazi regime tightens its grip as Germany begins losing the war. The Gestapo, led by Captain Deertz, searches Jojo's house and nearly discovers Elsa, who pretends to be Inge using her late sister's identity papers. Jojo lies to protect her. Klenzendorf is revealed to be protecting his assistant Finkel, hinting at a forbidden relationship. The danger escalates, and Jojo is torn between his fading Nazi beliefs and his growing love for Elsa.
Collapse
Jojo goes into town and discovers his mother Rosie has been hanged in the public square for her resistance activities, her distinctive shoes dangling above the crowd. This is the devastating "whiff of death"—the loss of his moral center, his protector, and the person who embodied love and freedom. Jojo is utterly shattered.
Crisis
Jojo returns home in shock. Elsa comforts him as he weeps, and she processes her own grief for Rosie. Imaginary Adolf appears but can no longer console Jojo with propaganda—the fantasy is breaking down. Jojo sits in darkness with his pain, the Nazi ideology fully crumbling as he faces the real cost of hatred and war.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
The final battle rages in the town. Jojo, now dressed in a comically oversized Nazi uniform, is caught in the chaos. He encounters Klenzendorf, who saves his life by ripping off his Nazi insignia and calling him a "dirty Jew," sacrificing himself to the Allies. Jojo returns home and finally tells Elsa the truth: the war is over, Hitler is dead, and she is free. He symbolically destroys imaginary Adolf, kicking him out the window.