Metropolis
Sometime in the future, the city of Metropolis is home to a Utopian society where its wealthy residents live a carefree life. One of those is Freder Fredersen. One day, he spots a beautiful woman with a group of children, she and the children quickly disappear. Trying to follow her, he is horrified to find an underground world of workers who apparently run the machinery that keeps the Utopian world above ground functioning. One of the few people above ground who knows about the world below is Freder's father, John Fredersen, who is the founder and master of Metropolis. Freder learns that the woman is called Maria, who espouses the need to join the "hands" - the workers - to the "head" - those in power above - by a mediator who will act as the "heart". Freder wants to help the plight of the workers in their struggle for a better life. But when John learns of what Maria is advocating and that Freder has joined their cause, with the assistance of an old colleague. an inventor called Rotwang, who turns out to be But their nemesis goes to works towards quashing a proposed uprising, with Maria at the centre of their plan. John, unaware that Rotwang has his own agenda., makes plans that include shutting down the machines, with the prospect of unleashing total anarchy both above and below ground.
The film commercial failure against its small-scale budget of $5.3M, earning $1.4M globally (-75% loss). While initial box office returns were modest, the film has gained appreciation for its innovative storytelling within the drama genre.
7 wins & 6 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%)
Metropolis (1927) exemplifies strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Fritz Lang's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 33 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 4.4, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Freder lives in blissful luxury in the Eternal Gardens high above Metropolis, playing with beautiful women. The opening establishes the stark divide: gleaming towers above, grinding machinery below.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Freder witnesses the M-Machine explosion, seeing workers killed in a horrific industrial accident. He has a vision of the machine as Moloch, devouring human sacrifices. This shatters his innocent worldview.. At 10% 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Freder makes the active choice to join the workers and become their mediator. He secretly meets with Maria in the catacombs and commits to being the "heart" that bridges head and hands., moving from reaction to action.
At 68 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 44% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Rotwang kidnaps Maria and creates a robot duplicate in her image. This false defeat shifts everything - the tool meant to unite will now be used to divide. The stakes raise dramatically as deception replaces truth., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 101 minutes (66% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The workers, incited by the False Maria, destroy the Heart Machine, flooding the worker's city. Their own children are trapped in the rising waters. Freder collapses in despair, believing all is lost - both Maria and the workers' children will die., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 107 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 70% of the runtime. The False Maria is revealed as a robot and burned at the stake. The real Maria and Freder reunite. Freder now understands he must physically bring his father (the head) and the workers (the hands) together - he has the knowledge and the will., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Metropolis's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Metropolis against these established plot points, we can identify how Fritz Lang utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Metropolis within the drama genre.
Fritz Lang's Structural Approach
Among the 2 Fritz Lang films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 5.1, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Metropolis takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Fritz Lang filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional drama films include Eye for an Eye, South Pacific and Kiss of the Spider Woman. For more Fritz Lang analyses, see M.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Freder lives in blissful luxury in the Eternal Gardens high above Metropolis, playing with beautiful women. The opening establishes the stark divide: gleaming towers above, grinding machinery below.
Theme
Maria tells the workers' children: "These are your brothers" as she shows them the sons of the wealthy. The theme is stated - the mediator between head and hands must be the heart.
Worldbuilding
The setup establishes the two-tiered world: Joh Fredersen rules from the New Tower of Babel, workers slave at the machines in 10-hour shifts, and Freder knows nothing of their suffering. We see the M-Machine explosion and Freder's first encounter with Maria.
Disruption
Freder witnesses the M-Machine explosion, seeing workers killed in a horrific industrial accident. He has a vision of the machine as Moloch, devouring human sacrifices. This shatters his innocent worldview.
Resistance
Freder descends to the worker's city and experiences their brutal labor firsthand. He switches places with worker 11811 and attempts to work the machine. He searches for Maria in the catacombs and debates whether to defy his father.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Freder makes the active choice to join the workers and become their mediator. He secretly meets with Maria in the catacombs and commits to being the "heart" that bridges head and hands.
Mirror World
Maria preaches to the workers in the catacombs about waiting for the Mediator. Her relationship with Freder represents the thematic love that will unite the classes. She embodies hope and patience versus violence.
Premise
Freder and Maria develop their bond while secretly organizing the workers. Meanwhile, Joh Fredersen discovers the workers' secret meetings and enlists inventor Rotwang to spy on them. The promise of the premise: can love bridge the class divide?
Midpoint
Rotwang kidnaps Maria and creates a robot duplicate in her image. This false defeat shifts everything - the tool meant to unite will now be used to divide. The stakes raise dramatically as deception replaces truth.
Opposition
The False Maria incites the workers to violence and seduces the sons of the wealthy, creating chaos in both worlds. Freder, believing she has betrayed him, descends into jealous madness. The opposition intensifies as Joh Fredersen's control slips and revolution brews.
Collapse
The workers, incited by the False Maria, destroy the Heart Machine, flooding the worker's city. Their own children are trapped in the rising waters. Freder collapses in despair, believing all is lost - both Maria and the workers' children will die.
Crisis
In the darkness following the flood, Freder and the real Maria (now freed) desperately rescue the children. The workers, realizing they've been deceived and nearly killed their own children, turn on the False Maria in rage.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The False Maria is revealed as a robot and burned at the stake. The real Maria and Freder reunite. Freder now understands he must physically bring his father (the head) and the workers (the hands) together - he has the knowledge and the will.
Synthesis
Freder confronts Rotwang atop the cathedral in a climactic battle, saving Maria. The workers, led by foreman Grot, confront Joh Fredersen. All parties gather at the cathedral steps for the final resolution.
Transformation
Freder literally joins the hands of his father (the head) and Grot (representing the workers' hands) on the cathedral steps. The mediator has bridged the divide. The final image shows reconciliation where the opening showed division.