Zookeeper
A group of zoo animals decide to break their code of silence in order to help their lovable zookeeper find love, without opting to leave his current job for something more illustrious.
Despite a significant budget of $80.0M, Zookeeper became a financial success, earning $169.9M worldwide—a 112% return.
1 win & 2 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%)
Zookeeper (2011) reveals strategically placed story structure, characteristic of Frank Coraci's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 42 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Griffin Keyes proposes to his girlfriend Stephanie at a romantic garden party, showing his earnest, loving nature.. Of particular interest, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 12 minutes when Stephanie returns to Griffin's life at his brother's engagement party, reigniting his old feelings and insecurity about his career choice.. 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 25 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to Griffin actively chooses to accept the animals' help and pursue Stephanie by learning their courtship techniques, committing to transformation., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 51% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat False victory: Griffin's animal techniques appear to work—Stephanie shows interest and agrees to date him. He believes his transformation is succeeding., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 75 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, At a fancy restaurant, Griffin's pretense fully crumbles. He realizes Stephanie will never accept the real him, and he's betrayed everything he loves. Bernie the gorilla escapes, symbolizing the death of Griffin's authentic self., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 81 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Griffin realizes his true calling is the zoo and that Kate has loved him as himself all along. He synthesizes his animal wisdom with his authentic self: be who you are proudly., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Zookeeper'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 Zookeeper against these established plot points, we can identify how Frank Coraci utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Zookeeper within the comedy genre.
Frank Coraci's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Frank Coraci films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Zookeeper represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Frank Coraci filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Frank Coraci analyses, see Click, Here Comes the Boom and Around the World in 80 Days.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Griffin Keyes proposes to his girlfriend Stephanie at a romantic garden party, showing his earnest, loving nature.
Theme
After Stephanie rejects him for being "just a zookeeper," the theme is established: being true to yourself vs. changing to win love.
Worldbuilding
Five years later, Griffin is a dedicated zookeeper loved by his animals and coworkers. We meet the zoo staff, the talking animals, and see Griffin's genuine passion for his work despite lingering heartbreak.
Disruption
Stephanie returns to Griffin's life at his brother's engagement party, reigniting his old feelings and insecurity about his career choice.
Resistance
Griffin considers leaving the zoo for a job at his brother's car dealership to win Stephanie back. The zoo animals, desperate to keep him, break their code of silence and reveal they can talk, offering to teach him their mating secrets.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Griffin actively chooses to accept the animals' help and pursue Stephanie by learning their courtship techniques, committing to transformation.
Mirror World
Kate, the zoo veterinarian, represents the thematic counterpoint—someone who appreciates Griffin for who he truly is, not what he pretends to be.
Premise
The fun and games: animals teach Griffin their courtship methods. He learns to mark territory from wolves, peacock from a gorilla, and roar to assert dominance. Comic sequences of Griffin applying animal behavior to human dating.
Midpoint
False victory: Griffin's animal techniques appear to work—Stephanie shows interest and agrees to date him. He believes his transformation is succeeding.
Opposition
Griffin goes deeper into pretending, taking the dealership job and abandoning his zookeeper identity. He grows distant from the animals and Kate. Stephanie's shallow nature becomes clearer, but Griffin is committed to his false self.
Collapse
At a fancy restaurant, Griffin's pretense fully crumbles. He realizes Stephanie will never accept the real him, and he's betrayed everything he loves. Bernie the gorilla escapes, symbolizing the death of Griffin's authentic self.
Crisis
Griffin must rescue Bernie from the city while processing his failure. Dark night as he confronts what he's lost by trying to be someone he's not.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Griffin realizes his true calling is the zoo and that Kate has loved him as himself all along. He synthesizes his animal wisdom with his authentic self: be who you are proudly.
Synthesis
Griffin saves Bernie, rejects Stephanie definitively, quits the dealership, and returns to the zoo. He confesses his feelings to Kate and recommits to his identity as a zookeeper.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Griffin at the zoo, fulfilled and authentic, now with Kate by his side. He's the same zookeeper but transformed—confident in who he is.