Isle of Dogs poster

Isle of Dogs

2018101 minutesPG-13
4.7
Arcplot Score
📝 Unconventional
Unverified
7.8IMDb
🍅 90%Rotten Tomatoes
Ⓜ️ 82/100Metacritic
🎬 7.8TMDb
📊 5.8Popularity
🏆Nominated for 2 Oscars. 34 wins & 95 nominations total
Directed by: Wes Anderson
Written by: Wes Anderson, Roman Coppola, Jason Schwartzman
An outbreak of dog flu has spread through the city of Megasaki, Japan, and Mayor Kobayashi has demanded all dogs to be sent to Trash Island. On the island, a young boy named Atari sets out to find his lost dog, Spots, with the help of five other dogs... with many obstacles along the way.

Box Office

Budget:$62.8M
Revenue:$64.3M
Profit:$1.6M

Arcplot Score Breakdown

Beat Timing Precision8.2/10
Emotional Arc Impact1/10
Thematic Consistency5/10
Overall Score4.7/10

Beat Sheet

15 plot points

Isle of Dogs Arcplot
1
Opening Image
1 min
2
Theme Stated
5 min
3
Set-Up
10 min
4
Catalyst
15 min
5
Debate
25 min
6
Break Into Two
30 min
7
B Story
40 min
8
Fun and Games
50 min
9
Midpoint
60 min
10
Bad Guys Close In
70 min
11
All Is Lost
80 min
12
Dark Night of the Soul
85 min
13
Break Into Three
87 min
14
Finale
95 min
15
Final Image
101 min

Emotional Arc

+100-10

Plot Points

#1

Opening Image

1 min

Megasaki City is in chaos after dogs are quarantined on Trash Island due to a canine flu outbreak.

#2

Theme Stated

5 min

Friendship, loyalty, and courage — even in exile, bonds and morality endure.

#3

Set-Up

10 min

Atari Kobayashi searches for his lost dog, Spots, while the dogs on Trash Island adapt to survival and community life.

#4

Catalyst

15 min

Atari escapes to Trash Island to find Spots, initiating a cross-species alliance against corrupt city officials.

#5

Debate

25 min

Can Atari trust the exiled dogs? Will they work together to stop the mayor’s scheme?

#6

Break Into Two

30 min

The alliance forms: Atari and the dogs set out to thwart corruption and rescue Spots.

#7

B Story

40 min

The dogs’ camaraderie and loyalty develop, showing friendship and sacrifice, particularly Rex, Chief, and King.

#8

Fun and Games

50 min

Clever planning, sneak attacks, and humorous interactions display the dogs’ personalities and inventiveness.

#9

Midpoint

60 min

Atari and the dogs confront the mayor’s forces directly; failure seems possible, stakes heighten.

#10

Bad Guys Close In

70 min

Corrupt officials attempt to capture Atari and the dogs; the alliance faces imprisonment or worse.

#11

All Is Lost

80 min

The mayor’s plan appears unstoppable; Atari and his allies are trapped, morale is low.

#12

Dark Night of the Soul

85 min

Atari questions his ability to lead and protect his friends, facing fear and doubt.

#13

Break Into Three

87 min

A bold rescue plan emerges: the dogs coordinate to overthrow the mayor’s authority and recover Spots.

#14

Finale

95 min

The plan succeeds: the mayor is exposed, justice is restored, and Atari reunites with Spots.

#15

Final Image

101 min

The city and Trash Island dogs are safe, celebrating loyalty, friendship, and courage.