Rocketman
The musical fantasy about Elton John's breakthrough years, from his time as a prodigy at the Royal Academy of Music through his influential and enduring musical partnership with Bernie Taupin.
Despite a respectable budget of $40.0M, Rocketman became a solid performer, earning $167.3M worldwide—a 318% return.
1 Oscar. 25 wins & 87 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%)
Rocketman (2019) demonstrates meticulously timed narrative design, characteristic of Dexter Fletcher's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.2, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Elton John
Bernie Taupin
John Reid
Sheila Eileen
Stanley Dwight
Main Cast & Characters
Elton John
Played by Taron Egerton
A prodigious musical talent struggling with addiction, sexuality, and the search for genuine love and acceptance throughout his rise to stardom.
Bernie Taupin
Played by Jamie Bell
Elton's lifelong songwriting partner and closest friend, providing unwavering support and creative collaboration through decades of music.
John Reid
Played by Richard Madden
Elton's charismatic but manipulative manager and former lover who exploits their relationship for financial gain.
Sheila Eileen
Played by Bryce Dallas Howard
Elton's emotionally distant and critical mother who withholds affection and never fully accepts her son.
Stanley Dwight
Played by Steven Mackintosh
Elton's cold and absent father who shows little interest in his son's life or musical talents.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Young Reginald Dwight sits alone at his family's piano in suburban Pinner, a quiet, overlooked child in a cold household where love is conditional and emotional connection is absent.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Reginald answers an ad for a songwriting partnership and meets Bernie Taupin. Their instant creative connection offers the first genuine relationship of his life and the key to becoming Elton John.. At 13% through the film, this Disruption is delayed, allowing extended setup of the story world. 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 reveals the protagonist's commitment to Elton steps onto the Troubadour stage and delivers an electrifying performance of "Crocodile Rock." The audience levitates in fantasy - his choice to fully embrace the Elton John persona launches him to stardom., moving from reaction to action.
At 61 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False defeat: Elton's mother cruelly dismisses him, saying he'll never be loved. His relationship with Reid becomes controlling and abusive. The emptiness behind the success is fully revealed - fame hasn't filled the void., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 91 minutes (76% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Elton overdoses before a performance, collapses, and sinks to the bottom of a pool in a fantasy sequence. This symbolic death represents the complete destruction of both Reginald and the Elton persona - he's lost himself entirely., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 97 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 81% of the runtime. Elton embraces his younger self in the fantasy sequence, choosing self-acceptance and self-love. He decides to get sober, fire Reid, and reclaim his life. He realizes he must love himself - the validation must come from within., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Rocketman's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs systematic plot point analysis that identifies crucial turning points. By mapping Rocketman against these established plot points, we can identify how Dexter Fletcher utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Rocketman within the biography genre.
Dexter Fletcher's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Dexter Fletcher films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Rocketman takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Dexter Fletcher filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional biography films include After Thomas, Taking Woodstock and The Fire Inside. For more Dexter Fletcher analyses, see Eddie the Eagle, Sunshine on Leith and Ghosted.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Young Reginald Dwight sits alone at his family's piano in suburban Pinner, a quiet, overlooked child in a cold household where love is conditional and emotional connection is absent.
Theme
In group therapy, a counselor asks Elton what he's really looking for. The unspoken answer throughout: unconditional love and acceptance for who he truly is, not the persona he performs.
Worldbuilding
Elton's childhood in a repressed household with a distant father and critical mother. He finds refuge in music, showing prodigious talent at the Royal Academy, but remains emotionally starved and desperate for validation.
Disruption
Reginald answers an ad for a songwriting partnership and meets Bernie Taupin. Their instant creative connection offers the first genuine relationship of his life and the key to becoming Elton John.
Resistance
Elton and Bernie struggle as songwriters, performing in pubs, facing rejection. Elton transforms his image, creates his flamboyant persona, and gets a chance at LA's Troubadour club. He hesitates before fully committing to this new identity.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Elton steps onto the Troubadour stage and delivers an electrifying performance of "Crocodile Rock." The audience levitates in fantasy - his choice to fully embrace the Elton John persona launches him to stardom.
Mirror World
Elton meets John Reid, his future manager and lover. Reid represents both the possibility of romantic love and the dangerous transactional relationships that will exploit Elton's need for affection.
Premise
The promise of the premise: spectacular musical performances, global fame, creative partnership with Bernie, romance with Reid, excess and glamour. Elton becomes a superstar, but fills the emptiness with substances and surrounds himself with users.
Midpoint
False defeat: Elton's mother cruelly dismisses him, saying he'll never be loved. His relationship with Reid becomes controlling and abusive. The emptiness behind the success is fully revealed - fame hasn't filled the void.
Opposition
Elton spirals into addiction, rage, and self-destruction. Reid controls and steals from him. His relationship with Bernie fractures. The pressures intensify as he performs while increasingly broken, unable to stop the machine he's created.
Collapse
Elton overdoses before a performance, collapses, and sinks to the bottom of a pool in a fantasy sequence. This symbolic death represents the complete destruction of both Reginald and the Elton persona - he's lost himself entirely.
Crisis
Elton is rushed to the hospital and confronts his younger self in a surreal sequence. He sits in darkness with the shame, loneliness, and pain he's been running from his entire life.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Elton embraces his younger self in the fantasy sequence, choosing self-acceptance and self-love. He decides to get sober, fire Reid, and reclaim his life. He realizes he must love himself - the validation must come from within.
Synthesis
Elton enters rehab, confronts his demons in group therapy, fires his abusers, reconciles with Bernie, and begins the journey of recovery. He performs "I'm Still Standing" in full spectacular glory, now grounded in self-acceptance.
Transformation
Elton walks out of rehab into sunlight, sober and authentic. Text reveals his ongoing sobriety and happiness. The lonely boy at the piano has become a man who loves himself - transformation complete.