Thor: Ragnarok

The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Thor is chained in Muspelheim, confidently bantering with Surtur about preventing Ragnarok. He's powerful, cocky, and believes he's protecting Asgard by stopping the prophecy.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.

The inciting incident occurs at 16 minutes when Odin dies on the cliffside in Norway, warning Thor and Loki that his passing will free their sister Hela, Goddess of Death. "Asgard is not a place, it's a people." Hela immediately appears and destroys Mjolnir.. 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 Thor enters the arena to face the Grandmaster's champion, expecting to escape through victory. Instead, he discovers his opponent is Hulk, his friend. This moment commits him to a new strategy: escape requires alliance, not solo strength., moving from reaction to action.

At 67 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat False victory: Thor successfully convinces Valkyrie to help after she sees Hela's conquest via vision. The team assembles (Thor, Hulk, Valkyrie, Loki). They have a ship and a plan to escape Sakaar. But the stakes are raised - every moment lost means more Asgardians dead., 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, Hela defeats Thor in combat and gouges out his eye - literal mutilation symbolizing his destroyed identity. She crushes him: "What are you the god of?" Thor has lost his hammer, his father, his eye, his confidence. He's imprisoned while Hela prepares to conquer the universe., illustrates 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 79% of the runtime. Thor awakens to his true power - lightning erupts from his body without the hammer. Eyes blazing with electricity, Immigrant Song blaring, he breaks free. The synthesis is complete: God of Thunder + accept Ragnarok = save the people. He now knows Asgard must be destroyed to stop Hela., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.