Spider-Man: No Way Home
Peter Parker's secret identity is revealed to the entire world. Desperate for help, Peter turns to Doctor Strange to make the world forget that he is Spider-Man. The spell goes horribly wrong and shatters the multiverse, bringing in monstrous villains that could destroy the world.
Despite a enormous budget of $200.0M, Spider-Man: No Way Home became a commercial juggernaut, earning $1921.8M worldwide—a remarkable 861% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, demonstrating that audiences embrace compelling narrative even at blockbuster scale.
Nominated for 1 Oscar. 35 wins & 71 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%)
Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021) demonstrates deliberately positioned story structure, characteristic of Jon Watts's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 28 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 2.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Doctor Strange
MJ
Ned Leeds
May Parker
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin
Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Maguire)
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Garfield)
Max Dillon / Electro
Main Cast & Characters
Peter Parker / Spider-Man
Played by Tom Holland
A teenage superhero struggling with his exposed identity and trying to protect those he loves while facing consequences of his choices.
Doctor Strange
Played by Benedict Cumberbatch
A powerful sorcerer who reluctantly helps Peter with a dangerous spell that fractures the multiverse.
MJ
Played by Zendaya
Peter's girlfriend whose memory and future are threatened by the multiverse crisis.
Ned Leeds
Played by Jacob Batalon
Peter's best friend who discovers magical abilities while helping fight multiversal villains.
May Parker
Played by Marisa Tomei
Peter's aunt who provides moral guidance and embodies the great power/responsibility ethos.
Norman Osborn / Green Goblin
Played by Willem Dafoe
A brilliant scientist from another universe whose split personality makes him the most dangerous threat.
Otto Octavius / Doctor Octopus
Played by Alfred Molina
A conflicted scientist with mechanical arms from another universe, seeking redemption.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Maguire)
Played by Tobey Maguire
An older, wiser Spider-Man from another universe who mentors the youngest Peter.
Peter Parker / Spider-Man (Garfield)
Played by Andrew Garfield
A Spider-Man from another universe carrying guilt and seeking redemption.
Max Dillon / Electro
Played by Jamie Foxx
An electricity-powered villain from another universe seeking to become more powerful.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Peter Parker swings through New York as Spider-Man, celebrated as a hero after defeating Mysterio. His identity is public and he's dating MJ, living his dream life as both Peter and Spider-Man united.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Peter, MJ, and Ned all receive MIT rejection letters due to the controversy surrounding them. Peter's dream of a normal life with his friends at college is shattered, and he realizes his Spider-Man identity is destroying their futures.. At 11% 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 32 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 22% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Peter's interference during Strange's spell causes it to fracture, pulling villains from across the multiverse who know Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Peter makes an active choice to take responsibility and capture them rather than let Strange send them back to die., moving from reaction to action.
At 66 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 44% of the runtime—arriving early, accelerating into Act IIb complications. Of particular interest, this crucial beat False victory: Peter successfully cures Doc Ock and believes he can save all the villains. His confidence peaks as he assembles his makeshift lab at Happy's condo, certain his plan will work. Stakes are raised when Norman's Goblin personality begins to resurface., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 98 minutes (66% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, May is mortally wounded by the Green Goblin. As she dies in Peter's arms, she tells him "With great power comes great responsibility." Peter loses his moral compass and mother figure - the person who made him want to be a hero dies because of his heroism., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 106 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 72% of the runtime. Ned accidentally portals in the other Peter Parkers (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield). They share their losses and teach Tom's Peter that despite unbearable pain, Spider-Man never gives up. Peter synthesizes May's lesson with their experience: he will save the villains AND stop the Goblin., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Spider-Man: No Way Home'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 Spider-Man: No Way Home against these established plot points, we can identify how Jon Watts utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Spider-Man: No Way Home within the action genre.
Jon Watts's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Jon Watts films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 4.3, showcasing experimental approaches to narrative form. Spider-Man: No Way Home takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jon Watts filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Jon Watts analyses, see Spider-Man: Homecoming, Wolfs and Spider-Man: Far From Home.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Peter Parker swings through New York as Spider-Man, celebrated as a hero after defeating Mysterio. His identity is public and he's dating MJ, living his dream life as both Peter and Spider-Man united.
Theme
May tells Peter "With great power comes great responsibility" - but reminds him he has the power to help people, foreshadowing his ultimate sacrifice of that very desire.
Worldbuilding
Peter's world post-identity reveal: harassed by media, protesters divide over Spider-Man's heroism, damage control interrogations. Peter, MJ, and Ned face college rejection from MIT due to controversy. May embraces her role at FEAST despite scrutiny.
Disruption
Peter, MJ, and Ned all receive MIT rejection letters due to the controversy surrounding them. Peter's dream of a normal life with his friends at college is shattered, and he realizes his Spider-Man identity is destroying their futures.
Resistance
Peter debates how to fix the situation: appeals to MIT admissions fail, he considers giving up. Happy suggests moving forward, but Peter seeks a magical solution. He convinces Doctor Strange to cast a spell to make everyone forget he's Spider-Man, despite Strange's warnings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Peter's interference during Strange's spell causes it to fracture, pulling villains from across the multiverse who know Peter Parker is Spider-Man. Peter makes an active choice to take responsibility and capture them rather than let Strange send them back to die.
Mirror World
Peter meets Otto Octavius and other villains who knew different Peter Parkers. These encounters begin to show him that Spider-Man exists beyond just his own identity - a thematic mirror exploring what it means to be Spider-Man across universes.
Premise
The promise of the premise: Peter captures multiverse villains (Doc Ock, Electro, Sandman, Lizard) with help from MJ and Ned. He learns they died fighting Spider-Man in their worlds and decides to cure them rather than send them to their deaths, defying Strange.
Midpoint
False victory: Peter successfully cures Doc Ock and believes he can save all the villains. His confidence peaks as he assembles his makeshift lab at Happy's condo, certain his plan will work. Stakes are raised when Norman's Goblin personality begins to resurface.
Opposition
The Goblin takes full control of Norman and turns the other villains against Peter. The condo battle erupts - Peter fights to save everyone but his inexperience and naivety become fatal flaws. His desire to help everyone clouds his judgment as the Goblin exploits his weakness.
Collapse
May is mortally wounded by the Green Goblin. As she dies in Peter's arms, she tells him "With great power comes great responsibility." Peter loses his moral compass and mother figure - the person who made him want to be a hero dies because of his heroism.
Crisis
Peter grieves on a rooftop, broken and ready to kill the Goblin. He's lost everything - May, his moral center, his sense of purpose. He sits in darkness processing whether being Spider-Man is worth the cost, whether he should abandon his responsibility.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Ned accidentally portals in the other Peter Parkers (Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield). They share their losses and teach Tom's Peter that despite unbearable pain, Spider-Man never gives up. Peter synthesizes May's lesson with their experience: he will save the villains AND stop the Goblin.
Synthesis
The three Spider-Men work together to cure all the villains at the Statue of Liberty. Peter faces the Goblin and chooses mercy over revenge, honoring May. When the multiverse tears open, Peter makes the ultimate sacrifice: he asks Strange to make everyone forget Peter Parker exists to save the multiverse.
Transformation
Peter visits MJ at the coffee shop where she doesn't recognize him. He starts to explain who he is but stops - he accepts the sacrifice of his identity and relationships to keep them safe. He swings through New York in a handmade suit, alone but fully embracing responsibility as Spider-Man.