Horrible Bosses 2
Dale, Kurt and Nick decide to start their own business but things don't go as planned because of a slick investor, prompting the trio to pull off a harebrained and misguided kidnapping scheme.
Despite a respectable budget of $42.0M, Horrible Bosses 2 became a commercial success, earning $107.6M worldwide—a 156% return.
1 win & 6 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%)
Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) reveals precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Sean Anders's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 48 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.6, the film showcases strong structural fundamentals.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Nick Hendricks
Dale Arbus
Kurt Buckman
Bert Hanson
Rex Hanson
Dean 'MF' Jones
Julia Harris
Main Cast & Characters
Nick Hendricks
Played by Jason Bateman
The pragmatic leader of the trio who tries to keep their business venture legitimate despite constant setbacks.
Dale Arbus
Played by Charlie Day
The insecure, anxiety-prone member of the group who is newly married and desperate to prove himself.
Kurt Buckman
Played by Jason Sudeikis
The impulsive, womanizing optimist who brings misguided enthusiasm to the group's schemes.
Bert Hanson
Played by Christoph Waltz
The wealthy, manipulative investor who sabotages the trio's business deal and becomes their primary antagonist.
Rex Hanson
Played by Chris Pine
Bert's spoiled, unpredictable son who becomes entangled in the kidnapping scheme with unexpected consequences.
Dean 'MF' Jones
Played by Jamie Foxx
The criminal consultant with a tough exterior who provides dubious advice on kidnapping and crime.
Julia Harris
Played by Jennifer Aniston
Nick's former sexually harassing boss who remains a chaotic force willing to help for her own amusement.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Nick, Dale, and Kurt appear on a morning talk show, excitedly promoting their new invention, the Shower Buddy. They're optimistic entrepreneurs, finally their own bosses after escaping their horrible employers.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when Bert Hanson cancels the 100,000-unit order after the trio has invested everything into manufacturing. He reveals his scheme to drive them into bankruptcy so he can buy their patent cheaply. They're financially ruined.. 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 27 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This reveals the protagonist's commitment to The trio actively decides to kidnap Rex Hanson (Bert's son) to ransom him for $500,000 - the exact amount they need. They cross into the criminal world, committing to a plan that will define the rest of the story., moving from reaction to action.
At 54 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Significantly, this crucial beat The kidnapping appears successful - they have Rex, make the ransom call to Bert, and it seems like their plan is working. False victory: they think they're in control, but the stakes are about to raise dramatically., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 81 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The guys discover Rex's true plan: he manipulated them into kidnapping him so he could murder his father, inherit everything, and frame them for it. Their dream of business success is dead, and they face prison or worse., indicates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 86 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. The guys realize they have evidence of Rex's real plan and decide to turn the tables. They'll expose Rex and Bert, using their friendship and the lessons learned from being their own bosses to outsmart both Hansons., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Horrible Bosses 2's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Horrible Bosses 2 against these established plot points, we can identify how Sean Anders utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Horrible Bosses 2 within the comedy genre.
Sean Anders's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Sean Anders films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.3, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Horrible Bosses 2 represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Sean Anders filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Sean Anders analyses, see Instant Family, Daddy's Home and Spirited.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Nick, Dale, and Kurt appear on a morning talk show, excitedly promoting their new invention, the Shower Buddy. They're optimistic entrepreneurs, finally their own bosses after escaping their horrible employers.
Theme
During negotiations, someone mentions "You can't trust anyone in business" - foreshadowing the betrayal to come and establishing the theme about loyalty, trust, and taking control of your own destiny.
Worldbuilding
The trio meets with Bert Hanson and his son Rex about manufacturing their Shower Buddy invention. We see their excitement about being entrepreneurs, their friendship dynamic, and their naivety about business dealings.
Disruption
Bert Hanson cancels the 100,000-unit order after the trio has invested everything into manufacturing. He reveals his scheme to drive them into bankruptcy so he can buy their patent cheaply. They're financially ruined.
Resistance
The guys debate what to do about their situation. They consider legal options but can't afford lawyers. Kurt suggests increasingly desperate ideas. They reluctantly reconnect with "Motherfucker" Jones, their criminal contact from the first film, who plants the idea of kidnapping.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The trio actively decides to kidnap Rex Hanson (Bert's son) to ransom him for $500,000 - the exact amount they need. They cross into the criminal world, committing to a plan that will define the rest of the story.
Mirror World
Rex reveals he hates his father and wants in on the kidnapping scheme. This unexpected alliance becomes the relationship that carries the theme - can they trust this new partner, or is he using them like his father did?
Premise
The "fun and games" of the fake kidnapping plot. The guys bumble through their criminal scheme with Rex's help, staking out the Hanson house, planning the abduction, and executing their plan with comedic incompetence.
Midpoint
The kidnapping appears successful - they have Rex, make the ransom call to Bert, and it seems like their plan is working. False victory: they think they're in control, but the stakes are about to raise dramatically.
Opposition
Everything falls apart: Bert calls the police instead of paying; Rex's true manipulative nature emerges; the police close in; Dale's phone records incriminate them; former boss Dr. Julia Harris complicates matters; and they realize Rex has been playing them all along.
Collapse
The guys discover Rex's true plan: he manipulated them into kidnapping him so he could murder his father, inherit everything, and frame them for it. Their dream of business success is dead, and they face prison or worse.
Crisis
The dark night as the trio processes their complete failure. They're wanted by police, betrayed by Rex, and face murder charges. They debate running away versus facing the consequences of trusting the wrong person.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
The guys realize they have evidence of Rex's real plan and decide to turn the tables. They'll expose Rex and Bert, using their friendship and the lessons learned from being their own bosses to outsmart both Hansons.
Synthesis
The finale: chaotic confrontation at the Hanson house where the truth comes out, Rex's scheme is exposed, Bert is shot (but survives), and the guys manage to clear their names through a combination of luck, recordings, and witness testimony.
Transformation
The guys are back on a talk show, now with a successful business and having learned to trust each other above all. They're still their own bosses, but wiser - mirroring the opening but showing growth from naivety to street-smart success.