Warcraft
As an Orc horde invades the planet Azeroth using a magic portal, a few human heroes and dissenting Orcs must attempt to stop the true evil behind this war.
Despite a major studio investment of $160.0M, Warcraft became a solid performer, earning $433.7M worldwide—a 171% return. This commercial performance validated the ambitious narrative scope, demonstrating that audiences embrace innovative storytelling even at blockbuster scale.
2 wins & 3 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Durotan and his pregnant mate Draka await the opening of the Dark Portal, their orc clan desperate to escape their dying world of Draenor. The orcs' homeland is shown as barren and hopeless, establishing their need for a new home.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when The orc warband attacks a human outpost, slaughtering soldiers and capturing prisoners for fel sacrifice. Lothar arrives to find the massacre, discovering fel-corrupted bodies. War has come to Azeroth, and the human way of life is forever disrupted.. 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 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to King Llane makes the bold decision to trust Garona and use her knowledge to strike at the orcs. Lothar leads a force to ambush an orc raiding party, marking humanity's first proactive engagement against the Horde. They choose war over passive defense., moving from reaction to action.
At 62 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The secret meeting between Durotan and King Llane is betrayed - Medivh, corrupted by fel magic, has been the traitor all along. Blackhand's forces attack, and Lothar's son Callan is killed in the ambush. What seemed like hope for alliance becomes catastrophic defeat. The stakes are raised as the enemy is revealed to be within., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 92 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Durotan is killed by Gul'dan through fel magic during their Mak'gora, but his sacrifice exposes Gul'dan's dishonorable cheating to the watching orcs. Medivh dies destroying the portal from within. Both leaders who understood the truth - orc and human - are lost. The whiff of death is literal and devastating., indicates 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 80% of the runtime. King Llane makes the ultimate sacrifice - he orders Garona to kill him so she can gain the orcs' respect and potentially work for peace from within. His death gives her standing among the Horde. Lothar realizes he must rally the survivors and returns through the portal to lead the final charge., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Warcraft'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 Warcraft against these established plot points, we can identify how Duncan Jones utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Warcraft within the action genre.
Duncan Jones's Structural Approach
Among the 3 Duncan Jones films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Warcraft exemplifies the director's characteristic narrative technique. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Duncan Jones filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional action films include The Bad Guys, Puss in Boots and Venom: The Last Dance. For more Duncan Jones analyses, see Source Code, Moon.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Durotan and his pregnant mate Draka await the opening of the Dark Portal, their orc clan desperate to escape their dying world of Draenor. The orcs' homeland is shown as barren and hopeless, establishing their need for a new home.
Theme
Durotan tells Orgrim that the fel magic Gul'dan uses "takes life to give life" and questions whether this corrupting power is worth the cost. This establishes the central theme: the price of power and whether desperate ends justify corrupted means.
Worldbuilding
Parallel worlds are established: the orcs cross through the Dark Portal to Azeroth, Draka gives birth to Go'el during the crossing, and we're introduced to the human kingdom of Stormwind, Commander Lothar, King Llane, and the Guardian Medivh. The rules of fel magic and the threat it poses are established.
Disruption
The orc warband attacks a human outpost, slaughtering soldiers and capturing prisoners for fel sacrifice. Lothar arrives to find the massacre, discovering fel-corrupted bodies. War has come to Azeroth, and the human way of life is forever disrupted.
Resistance
Lothar and the young mage Khadgar seek answers about the fel magic. They visit Medivh at Karazhan, who agrees to help investigate. Khadgar discovers demonic corruption in his research. Garona is captured and brought before King Llane, providing crucial intelligence about the Horde. The humans debate how to respond to this new threat.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
King Llane makes the bold decision to trust Garona and use her knowledge to strike at the orcs. Lothar leads a force to ambush an orc raiding party, marking humanity's first proactive engagement against the Horde. They choose war over passive defense.
Mirror World
Durotan secretly meets with Lothar and Garona to propose an alliance against Gul'dan. This forbidden bond between orc and human - enemies who recognize the same corruption threatens both their peoples - embodies the theme that honor transcends racial division and that true strength comes from unity, not fel power.
Premise
The promise of the premise unfolds as we experience both sides of this war. Durotan struggles to protect his clan from Gul'dan's corrupting influence while secretly plotting against him. Lothar, Khadgar, and Garona work together, and a tentative romance develops between Lothar and Garona. Epic battles showcase the clash of orc might and human magic.
Midpoint
The secret meeting between Durotan and King Llane is betrayed - Medivh, corrupted by fel magic, has been the traitor all along. Blackhand's forces attack, and Lothar's son Callan is killed in the ambush. What seemed like hope for alliance becomes catastrophic defeat. The stakes are raised as the enemy is revealed to be within.
Opposition
Everything falls apart. Medivh's corruption is exposed as he opens a new portal to bring the full Horde to Azeroth. Durotan challenges Gul'dan to Mak'gora (ritual combat) to expose the warlock's dishonorable use of fel magic. Khadgar confronts Medivh at Karazhan. The human forces are overwhelmed as the portal opens.
Collapse
Durotan is killed by Gul'dan through fel magic during their Mak'gora, but his sacrifice exposes Gul'dan's dishonorable cheating to the watching orcs. Medivh dies destroying the portal from within. Both leaders who understood the truth - orc and human - are lost. The whiff of death is literal and devastating.
Crisis
In the aftermath, King Llane realizes the battle is lost. The human army is surrounded, cut off from the closing portal. Garona is torn between her growing love for Llane and her understanding of what must happen. Lothar grieves his fallen son and friend while racing to save the survivors.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
King Llane makes the ultimate sacrifice - he orders Garona to kill him so she can gain the orcs' respect and potentially work for peace from within. His death gives her standing among the Horde. Lothar realizes he must rally the survivors and returns through the portal to lead the final charge.
Synthesis
Lothar challenges Blackhand to Mak'gora and defeats him in single combat, earning the respect of the watching orcs who allow the surviving humans to leave with honor. Garona, now positioned within the Horde, secretly ensures baby Go'el (Durotan's son) escapes down the river to safety. The seeds of future hope are planted.
Transformation
Lothar returns to Stormwind carrying King Llane's body. The people cheer him as a hero, chanting his name. He is transformed from a grieving soldier into the Lion of Azeroth, the leader humanity needs. Meanwhile, Go'el floats to safety, found by humans - the future Thrall who will one day unite both worlds. Loss has forged new hope.