Okja
For 10 idyllic years, young Mija (An Seo Hyun) has been caretaker and constant companion to Okja-a massive animal and an even bigger friend-at her home in the mountains of South Korea. But that changes when a family-owned multinational conglomerate Mirando Corporation takes Okja for themselves and transports her to New York, where image obsessed and self-promoting CEO Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton) has big plans for Mija's dearest friend. With no particular plan but single-minded in intent, Mija sets out on a rescue mission, but her already daunting journey quickly becomes more complicated when she crosses paths with disparate groups of capitalists, demonstrators and consumers, each battling to control the fate of Okja...while all Mija wants to do is bring her friend home. Deftly blending genres, humor, poignancy and drama, Bong Joon Ho (Snowpiercer, The Host) begins with the gentlest of premises-the bond between man and animal-and ultimately creates a distinct and layered vision of the world that addresses the animal inside us all. Okja is a Plan B Entertainment, Lewis Pictures and Kate Street Picture Company production in association with Netflix.
Produced on a moderate budget of $50.0M, the film represents a studio production.
7 wins & 14 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%)
Okja (2017) exemplifies strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Bong Joon Ho'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 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Mija lives idyllically in the Korean mountains with her grandfather and Okja, a massive "super pig" she's raised for 10 years. Their bond is pure and joyful.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Mirando representatives arrive with Dr. Wilcox to take Okja to New York for the "best super pig" competition. Mija is devastated.. 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 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Mija finds Okja in an underground shopping mall and refuses to let go, leading to a spectacular chase. She actively chooses to fight the corporation regardless of consequences., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False defeat: The ALF plan fails. Mija is captured by Mirando security. Jay is arrested. Okja is recaptured and will be sent to a slaughterhouse. The stakes are raised - it's now life or death., 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, Okja is sent to the slaughterhouse with thousands of other super pigs. Mija watches helplessly as Okja is loaded onto the transport truck, seemingly lost forever. Her innocence dies., illustrates 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 81% of the runtime. Mija offers CEO Nancy Mirando the golden pig figurine - everything she has - to buy Okja's life. She combines her mountain-world values (love, sacrifice) with understanding the corporate world (everything has a price)., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Okja'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 Okja against these established plot points, we can identify how Bong Joon Ho utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Okja within the action genre.
Bong Joon Ho's Structural Approach
Among the 5 Bong Joon Ho films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Okja represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Bong Joon Ho filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Bong Joon Ho analyses, see Mother, Mickey 17 and Snowpiercer.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Mija lives idyllically in the Korean mountains with her grandfather and Okja, a massive "super pig" she's raised for 10 years. Their bond is pure and joyful.
Theme
Grandfather warns Mija that the Mirando corporation will come for Okja. The theme of corporate exploitation versus innocent love is established.
Worldbuilding
Flashback to Lucy Mirando's press conference launching the super pig project. We see Mija's daily life with Okja: fishing, playing, sleeping together. The corporate world and innocent mountain life are contrasted.
Disruption
Mirando representatives arrive with Dr. Wilcox to take Okja to New York for the "best super pig" competition. Mija is devastated.
Resistance
Mija desperately tries to stop the truck taking Okja. She runs through the mountains and reaches Seoul. Her grandfather reveals he sold Okja years ago. Mija takes gold figurines to buy Okja back.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Mija finds Okja in an underground shopping mall and refuses to let go, leading to a spectacular chase. She actively chooses to fight the corporation regardless of consequences.
Mirror World
The Animal Liberation Front (ALF) rescues Mija and Okja. Jay, their leader, represents the ideological opposition to Mirando - but his methods and use of Mija will mirror the corporation's exploitation.
Premise
The promise of the premise: girl and super pig versus the corporation. The ALF reveals their plan to expose Mirando by placing a listening device on Okja. Mija reluctantly agrees. They infiltrate the lab where Okja is.
Midpoint
False defeat: The ALF plan fails. Mija is captured by Mirando security. Jay is arrested. Okja is recaptured and will be sent to a slaughterhouse. The stakes are raised - it's now life or death.
Opposition
Mirando takes Mija and Okja to New York for the parade. Lucy Mirando's desperation grows as the truth about super pig mutations emerges. Mija is paraded as a prop. K's mistranslation is revealed, fracturing the ALF. Okja is forcibly bred.
Collapse
Okja is sent to the slaughterhouse with thousands of other super pigs. Mija watches helplessly as Okja is loaded onto the transport truck, seemingly lost forever. Her innocence dies.
Crisis
Mija experiences the horror of the slaughterhouse: the screaming pigs, the industrial killing machinery, the absolute dehumanization. She finds Okja in the holding pen awaiting death.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Mija offers CEO Nancy Mirando the golden pig figurine - everything she has - to buy Okja's life. She combines her mountain-world values (love, sacrifice) with understanding the corporate world (everything has a price).
Synthesis
Nancy accepts the bribe. Mija rescues a super pig baby in Okja's pen. They escape as the ALF exposes Mirando's atrocities. Mija and Okja journey home with the baby pig, passing Jay being released.
Transformation
Mija and Okja are back in the mountains with grandfather and the baby pig, but the innocence is gone. Mija stares into the distance, haunted. She saved one life but knows thousands die. The mirror of the opening is darkened by knowledge.