The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
In New York City, Clary Fray, a seemingly ordinary teenager, learns that she is descended from a line of Shadowhunters — half-angel warriors who protect humanity from evil forces. After her mother disappears, Clary joins forces with a group of Shadowhunters and enters Downworld, an alternate realm filled with demons, vampires, and a host of other creatures. Clary and her companions must find and protect an ancient cup that holds the key to her mother's future.
Working with a respectable budget of $60.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $95.4M in global revenue (+59% profit margin).
6 wins & 11 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%)
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones (2013) exhibits deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of Harald Zwart's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 10 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.5, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Clary Fray celebrates her 18th birthday with her best friend Simon in Brooklyn, living as an ordinary teenager with her artist mother Jocelyn, unaware of her true Shadowhunter heritage.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when At the Pandemonium nightclub, Clary witnesses Shadowhunters Jace, Isabelle, and Alec kill a demon that no one else can see. Her ordinary world shatters as she realizes she can perceive the hidden supernatural realm.. 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 33 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Clary chooses to enter the Institute, the Shadowhunter sanctuary in New York, fully committing to learning about her heritage and finding a way to rescue her mother from Valentine., moving from reaction to action.
At 65 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Of particular interest, this crucial beat Valentine is revealed as the main antagonist who seeks the Mortal Cup to create an army of Shadowhunters. The Silent Brothers are massacred by demons, and Clary learns Valentine was once married to her mother, making the stakes deeply personal., 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 (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Valentine reveals to Clary and Jace that they are brother and sister, making their romantic feelings forbidden. The devastating news comes as Valentine captures them both, representing the death of their hopes for love and belonging together., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 104 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Clary realizes the Mortal Cup has been hidden inside one of her mother's tarot cards all along, using the portal-creation rune knowledge. She understands her unique abilities can be the key to stopping Valentine., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones'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 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones against these established plot points, we can identify how Harald Zwart utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones within the fantasy genre.
Harald Zwart's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Harald Zwart films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Harald Zwart filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional fantasy films include Thinner, Ella Enchanted and Conan the Barbarian. For more Harald Zwart analyses, see One Night at McCool's, Agent Cody Banks and The 12th Man.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Clary Fray celebrates her 18th birthday with her best friend Simon in Brooklyn, living as an ordinary teenager with her artist mother Jocelyn, unaware of her true Shadowhunter heritage.
Theme
Jocelyn tells Clary that she's been keeping secrets to protect her, foreshadowing the theme that our true identity cannot remain hidden forever and we must eventually face who we really are.
Worldbuilding
Clary's normal life in Brooklyn is established: her artistic talents, close relationship with Simon, her mother's protective nature, and the mysterious rune symbol that keeps appearing in her drawings. Luke, a family friend, runs a bookshop nearby.
Disruption
At the Pandemonium nightclub, Clary witnesses Shadowhunters Jace, Isabelle, and Alec kill a demon that no one else can see. Her ordinary world shatters as she realizes she can perceive the hidden supernatural realm.
Resistance
Clary's mother is kidnapped by Valentine's forces. Clary meets Jace who explains she's a Shadowhunter, a demon hunter with angel blood. She struggles to accept this reality while her mother falls into a magical coma after drinking a memory-erasing potion.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Clary chooses to enter the Institute, the Shadowhunter sanctuary in New York, fully committing to learning about her heritage and finding a way to rescue her mother from Valentine.
Mirror World
Jace becomes Clary's guide through the Shadowhunter world, showing her the training room and weaponry. Their growing connection represents her path to accepting her true identity through belonging and romantic attraction.
Premise
Clary explores the Shadowhunter world: training with Jace, learning about runes and demons, visiting the City of Bones to have her memories unlocked by the Silent Brothers, and discovering her mother hid the Mortal Cup to keep it from Valentine.
Midpoint
Valentine is revealed as the main antagonist who seeks the Mortal Cup to create an army of Shadowhunters. The Silent Brothers are massacred by demons, and Clary learns Valentine was once married to her mother, making the stakes deeply personal.
Opposition
Valentine's forces intensify their hunt for the Mortal Cup. Clary and Jace grow closer romantically while facing demons, visiting Magnus Bane for help, and dealing with betrayal. The group discovers Hodge has been working for Valentine all along.
Collapse
Valentine reveals to Clary and Jace that they are brother and sister, making their romantic feelings forbidden. The devastating news comes as Valentine captures them both, representing the death of their hopes for love and belonging together.
Crisis
Clary and Jace reel from Valentine's revelation about their supposed sibling relationship. They must process this emotional devastation while still being held captive by Valentine at his hideout, their mission seemingly in ruins.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Clary realizes the Mortal Cup has been hidden inside one of her mother's tarot cards all along, using the portal-creation rune knowledge. She understands her unique abilities can be the key to stopping Valentine.
Synthesis
The Shadowhunters mount their final assault on Valentine's fortress. Simon, now turned into a vampire, joins the fight. Clary uses her unique rune-creation ability to help defeat Valentine's demon army. Valentine escapes through a portal but is defeated for now.
Transformation
Clary stands as a true Shadowhunter at the Institute, accepted by the community and embracing her destiny. Though her mother remains in a coma and questions about Jace linger, she has transformed from an ordinary girl into a warrior who knows her place in the world.