Jumanji: The Next Level
The gang is back but the game has changed. As they return to Jumanji to rescue one of their own, they discover that nothing is as they expect. The players will have to brave parts unknown and unexplored, from the arid deserts to the snowy mountains, in order to escape the world's most dangerous game.
Despite a considerable budget of $125.0M, Jumanji: The Next Level became a commercial juggernaut, earning $801.7M worldwide—a remarkable 541% return.
2 wins & 10 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%)
Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) exemplifies meticulously timed narrative architecture, characteristic of Jake Kasdan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 3 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Spencer Gilpin / Dr. Smolder Bravestone
Eddie Gilpin
Martha Kaply / Ruby Roundhouse
Milo Walker
Anthony 'Fridge' Johnson / Professor Shelly Oberon
Bethany Walker / Professor Shelly Oberon
Alex Vreeke / Seaplane McDonough
Mouse Finbar
Cyclone
Jurgen the Brutal
Main Cast & Characters
Spencer Gilpin / Dr. Smolder Bravestone
Played by Dwayne Johnson
Insecure college student who becomes the fearless archaeologist avatar; struggling with relationship anxiety and self-worth.
Eddie Gilpin
Played by Danny DeVito
Spencer's grumpy grandfather dealing with aging and loss of independence; transforms into Bravestone avatar.
Martha Kaply / Ruby Roundhouse
Played by Karen Gillan
Spencer's girlfriend who returns to Jumanji to rescue him; confident and compassionate dance fighter avatar.
Milo Walker
Played by Danny Glover
Eddie's former business partner and estranged best friend; becomes zoologist Mouse Finbar avatar.
Anthony 'Fridge' Johnson / Professor Shelly Oberon
Played by Jack Black
Spencer's best friend and college roommate; cartography and geometry expert avatar with body image issues.
Bethany Walker / Professor Shelly Oberon
Played by Nick Jonas
Self-absorbed teen who learns compassion; temporarily becomes the male cartographer before switching avatars.
Alex Vreeke / Seaplane McDonough
Played by Colin Hanks
Former Jumanji player who returns to help; pilot avatar with navigation skills and relationship with Bethany.
Mouse Finbar
Played by Kevin Hart
Zoologist and weapons specialist avatar with backpack full of useful items; inhabited by Milo.
Cyclone
Played by Awkwafina
Bethany's new avatar after switching; skilled thief and pickpocket with horse communication abilities.
Jurgen the Brutal
Played by Rory McCann
The tyrannical warlord villain who controls the desert and seeks the Falcon Jewel for ultimate power.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Spencer arrives home for Christmas break, visibly depressed and withdrawn. He avoids his friends' calls and seems disconnected from his life, establishing his emotional malaise and longing to feel capable again.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Spencer, unable to face his friends as his ordinary self, secretly enters Jumanji alone by repairing the console. He disappears into the game, disrupting everyone's holiday plans and setting the rescue mission in motion.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to The group activates the game to rescue Spencer, but the glitching console scrambles the avatar assignments. Eddie lands in Bravestone's body, Milo becomes Mouse, Martha is Ruby, and Fridge is the horse. They commit to finding Spencer despite the chaos., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat The group finally reunites with Spencer (trapped in Ming Fleetfoot's body) and discovers the new quest: recover the Falcon Jewel from Jurgen the Brutal. The false victory of reunion gives way to higher stakes as they learn the game's deadly new level., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Milo uses his final life to save Eddie from falling, sacrificing himself and disappearing from the game permanently. This whiff of death devastates Eddie, who finally confronts the years of resentment he's held and realizes what truly matters., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 98 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Eddie rallies the team with newfound purpose, channeling his grief into determination. The group devises a plan to confront Jurgen directly, with Spencer finally accepting he doesn't need to be Bravestone to be brave., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Jumanji: The Next Level'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 Jumanji: The Next Level against these established plot points, we can identify how Jake Kasdan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Jumanji: The Next Level within the action genre.
Jake Kasdan's Structural Approach
Among the 7 Jake Kasdan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Jumanji: The Next Level takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jake Kasdan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Jake Kasdan analyses, see Bad Teacher, Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Spencer arrives home for Christmas break, visibly depressed and withdrawn. He avoids his friends' calls and seems disconnected from his life, establishing his emotional malaise and longing to feel capable again.
Theme
Eddie complains about how everything changes and people drift apart, while Milo tries to reconnect. This articulates the film's theme: accepting change and valuing real relationships over idealized versions of ourselves.
Worldbuilding
Setup establishes Spencer's depression, his grandfather Eddie's hip surgery recovery, Eddie's estrangement from former friend Milo, and the original four friends planning to reunite for brunch. Spencer secretly keeps the broken Jumanji game in his basement.
Disruption
Spencer, unable to face his friends as his ordinary self, secretly enters Jumanji alone by repairing the console. He disappears into the game, disrupting everyone's holiday plans and setting the rescue mission in motion.
Resistance
Martha, Fridge, and Bethany discover Spencer is missing and find the repaired game. They debate what to do but ultimately decide they must enter the game to save him. Eddie and Milo accidentally get pulled in too, complicating the mission.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The group activates the game to rescue Spencer, but the glitching console scrambles the avatar assignments. Eddie lands in Bravestone's body, Milo becomes Mouse, Martha is Ruby, and Fridge is the horse. They commit to finding Spencer despite the chaos.
Mirror World
Eddie and Milo's decades-long estrangement becomes central to the group dynamic. Their broken friendship over their restaurant "Nora's" mirrors the theme of accepting change and valuing people for who they really are.
Premise
The fun and games of Jumanji unfold as the mismatched team navigates the desert, discovers new game mechanics, meets NPC Nigel, and encounters ostriches and mandrills. Eddie and Milo hilariously struggle with their avatar bodies while learning the rules.
Midpoint
The group finally reunites with Spencer (trapped in Ming Fleetfoot's body) and discovers the new quest: recover the Falcon Jewel from Jurgen the Brutal. The false victory of reunion gives way to higher stakes as they learn the game's deadly new level.
Opposition
Jurgen's forces close in as the team crosses treacherous terrain, navigates rope bridges over deadly drops, and faces mandrill attacks. Internal conflicts rise as Eddie refuses to acknowledge his problems with Milo, and Spencer struggles with his identity crisis.
Collapse
Milo uses his final life to save Eddie from falling, sacrificing himself and disappearing from the game permanently. This whiff of death devastates Eddie, who finally confronts the years of resentment he's held and realizes what truly matters.
Crisis
The group reels from Milo's apparent death. Eddie is emotionally shattered, finally understanding he wasted years being angry over trivial matters. Spencer confronts his own reasons for entering the game alone, facing his self-worth issues.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Eddie rallies the team with newfound purpose, channeling his grief into determination. The group devises a plan to confront Jurgen directly, with Spencer finally accepting he doesn't need to be Bravestone to be brave.
Synthesis
The finale unfolds as the team infiltrates Jurgen's fortress. Each member uses their unique abilities: Eddie's leadership, Martha's combat skills, Fridge's strategy. They defeat Jurgen, return the Falcon Jewel, and discover Milo chose to stay in Jumanji as Nigel.
Transformation
Everyone returns to the real world transformed. Spencer accepts himself without needing the avatar's confidence. Eddie finds peace knowing Milo chose happiness. The friends destroy the game together, finally valuing their real-world connections over fantasy.