Anyone But You
After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben's fiery attraction turns ice-cold--until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.
Despite a respectable budget of $25.0M, Anyone But You became a massive hit, earning $214.9M worldwide—a remarkable 760% return.
1 win & 5 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%)
Anyone But You (2023) demonstrates precise narrative design, characteristic of Will Gluck's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 43 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.7, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Bea
Ben
Claudia
Halle
Margaret
Jonathan
Pete
Leo
Innie
Carol
Main Cast & Characters
Bea
Played by Sydney Sweeney
A law student who has a perfect first date that turns into mutual contempt, forced to fake a relationship at a destination wedding.
Ben
Played by Glen Powell
A finance professional who shares an amazing connection with Bea before everything falls apart, reluctantly participates in fake dating scheme.
Claudia
Played by Alexandra Shipp
Bea's sister who is getting married in Australia, orchestrates the fake relationship plan to keep her parents happy.
Halle
Played by Hadley Robinson
Claudia's fiancée who supports the fake dating plan to ensure their wedding goes smoothly.
Margaret
Played by Charlee Fraser
Ben's sister who is part of the wedding party and invested in her brother's love life.
Jonathan
Played by Darren Barnet
Bea's ex-boyfriend and her legal internship supervisor who appears at the wedding, catalyst for the fake dating scheme.
Pete
Played by GaTa
Ben's best friend who attends the wedding and provides comic relief and relationship advice.
Leo
Played by Dermot Mulroney
Bea's parents, Claudia's father who wants to see his daughters happy and settled.
Innie
Played by Rachel Griffiths
Bea's mother who is concerned about her daughter's relationship status and happiness.
Carol
Played by Michelle Hurd
Ben's mother who travels to Australia for the wedding and becomes invested in her son's romantic life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Bea meets Ben at a coffee shop. They have an instant, electric connection and spend an amazing day together in Boston, talking, laughing, and connecting deeply.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 11 minutes when Bea overhears Ben seemingly trash-talking her to his friend after their night together. Hurt and humiliated, she leaves. When they run into each other later, they've become bitter enemies.. At 10% 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 illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Bea and Ben make an active choice to fake a relationship. Bea wants to make her ex Jonathan jealous; Ben wants to get his ex-girlfriend off his back. They agree to pretend to be a couple during the wedding festivities., moving from reaction to action.
At 52 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat A major romantic scene where Bea and Ben share an intimate moment (likely the boat scene or a passionate kiss) that feels completely real. Both realize their feelings are no longer fake, raising the stakes. False victory: the plan is working too well., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 77 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The truth comes out about their fake relationship scheme, likely in a public or humiliating way. The wedding is jeopardized, families are hurt, and Bea and Ben have a devastating fight where all their walls go back up. The "death" of their relationship and their chance at love., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 82 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The truth about the original misunderstanding is revealed - Ben wasn't trash-talking Bea that morning; she misheard or misunderstood. This new information reframes everything. One or both realize they need to fight for this relationship., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Anyone But You'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 Anyone But You against these established plot points, we can identify how Will Gluck utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Anyone But You within the comedy genre.
Will Gluck's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Will Gluck films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.5, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Anyone But You represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Will Gluck filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Will Gluck analyses, see Friends with Benefits, Easy A and Peter Rabbit 2: The Runaway.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Bea meets Ben at a coffee shop. They have an instant, electric connection and spend an amazing day together in Boston, talking, laughing, and connecting deeply.
Theme
During their first date, discussion about vulnerability and putting up walls in relationships. The theme: sometimes the person you think you hate is exactly who you need.
Worldbuilding
Bea and Ben's whirlwind first date continues. We learn about Bea's law school ambitions and Ben's life. Their chemistry is undeniable. However, a misunderstanding when Bea leaves the next morning causes everything to fall apart.
Disruption
Bea overhears Ben seemingly trash-talking her to his friend after their night together. Hurt and humiliated, she leaves. When they run into each other later, they've become bitter enemies.
Resistance
Six months later, Bea is dating Jonathan and struggling in law school. She discovers her sister Halle is marrying Claudia, whose brother is... Ben. At an engagement party in Australia, their mutual hatred is on full display, creating awkwardness for everyone.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Bea and Ben make an active choice to fake a relationship. Bea wants to make her ex Jonathan jealous; Ben wants to get his ex-girlfriend off his back. They agree to pretend to be a couple during the wedding festivities.
Mirror World
Bea and Ben begin their fake relationship performance. Their chemistry is immediately apparent to everyone around them, and to themselves, even as they claim to hate each other. The "mirror world" of their fake romance begins.
Premise
The fun and games of the fake relationship. Bea and Ben engage in increasingly elaborate romantic performances - beach scenes, flirting at dinners, staged affection. Their fake chemistry starts becoming real chemistry, with genuine moments breaking through their pretense.
Midpoint
A major romantic scene where Bea and Ben share an intimate moment (likely the boat scene or a passionate kiss) that feels completely real. Both realize their feelings are no longer fake, raising the stakes. False victory: the plan is working too well.
Opposition
The fake relationship becomes complicated as real feelings emerge. External pressure builds - family expectations, the approaching wedding, Jonathan's presence, Ben's ex showing up. Both start self-sabotaging due to their fears and the original misunderstanding that drove them apart.
Collapse
The truth comes out about their fake relationship scheme, likely in a public or humiliating way. The wedding is jeopardized, families are hurt, and Bea and Ben have a devastating fight where all their walls go back up. The "death" of their relationship and their chance at love.
Crisis
Dark night of the soul. Bea and Ben separately process their pain. They reflect on their fears of vulnerability, the original misunderstanding, and what they've lost. Both are miserable, forced to confront that their feelings were real.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The truth about the original misunderstanding is revealed - Ben wasn't trash-talking Bea that morning; she misheard or misunderstood. This new information reframes everything. One or both realize they need to fight for this relationship.
Synthesis
The grand romantic gesture and finale. A chase or reunion scene where Bea and Ben find each other and confess their real feelings. They drop their walls, embrace vulnerability, and choose love. The wedding happens, and Bea and Ben's relationship is now authentic.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening: Bea and Ben together, but now without pretense or walls. They've transformed from enemies to authentic lovers who chose vulnerability. The couple who couldn't stand each other is now genuinely in love.