Sex Tape
When Jay and Annie first got together, their romantic connection was intense – but ten years and two kids later, the flame of their love needs a spark. To kick things up a notch, they decide – why not? – to make a video of themselves trying out every position in The Joy of Sex in one marathon three-hour session. It seems like a great idea – until they discover that their most private video is no longer private. With their reputations on the line, they know they’re just one click away from being laid bare to the world... but as their race to reclaim their video leads to a night they'll never forget, they'll find that their video will expose even more than they bargained for.
Despite a respectable budget of $40.0M, Sex Tape became a box office success, earning $126.1M worldwide—a 215% return.
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%)
Sex Tape (2014) showcases carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Jake Kasdan's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 34 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Annie narrates their past: young, passionate lovers who had sex everywhere. The opening image establishes what they've lost - spontaneity, passion, and sexual connection.. Significantly, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Kids are going to grandparents for the night - first time alone in forever. Annie suggests they make a sex tape to recapture their passion, trying "every position in The Joy of Sex.".. At 11% 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 23% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jay discovers the sex tape auto-uploaded to the cloud and synced to all iPads he's given away to friends and family. He failed to delete it. Their private moment is now potentially public - they must retrieve all copies., moving from reaction to action.
At 47 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat At Hank's house, they learn deleting from devices isn't enough - the master file is on the cloud server. They need help from Jay's friend at the porn company. Stakes raised: the problem is bigger than they thought., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (72% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The blackmailer is revealed to be Hank himself - threatening to share the video and destroy Annie's deal and reputation. Their worst fear realized: the family-values CEO has leverage over them and their public image will be destroyed., demonstrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 74 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Breakthrough: They realize Hank is bluffing and playing with them. More importantly, they recognize that being vulnerable together (like making the tape) is what their marriage needs. They choose to stop running and confront Hank together., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Sex Tape's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping Sex Tape against these established plot points, we can identify how Jake Kasdan utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Sex Tape within the comedy genre.
Jake Kasdan's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Jake Kasdan films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, reflecting strong command of classical structure. Sex Tape represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Jake Kasdan filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare, The Bad Guys and Lake Placid. For more Jake Kasdan analyses, see Bad Teacher, Orange County and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Annie narrates their past: young, passionate lovers who had sex everywhere. The opening image establishes what they've lost - spontaneity, passion, and sexual connection.
Theme
Annie explains how kids and life responsibilities killed their sex life. The theme: relationships require work to maintain passion and intimacy amid adult responsibilities.
Worldbuilding
Establish Jay and Annie's suburban married life with two kids. Annie is a mommy blogger about to sell her site. They're loving parents but sexually stagnant. Failed attempts at scheduled intimacy demonstrate their problem.
Disruption
Kids are going to grandparents for the night - first time alone in forever. Annie suggests they make a sex tape to recapture their passion, trying "every position in The Joy of Sex."
Resistance
They prepare for their sex tape night: Annie gets waxed, they send kids away, set up iPad, attempt elaborate positions. The tape-making is awkward but reconnects them. Morning after: they feel great and reinvigorated.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jay discovers the sex tape auto-uploaded to the cloud and synced to all iPads he's given away to friends and family. He failed to delete it. Their private moment is now potentially public - they must retrieve all copies.
Mirror World
Annie's potential business deal with Hank (Rob Lowe), the family-values CEO, is introduced as major stakes. Hank has one of the iPads. This represents their public image versus private reality.
Premise
The "fun and games" of retrieving iPads: visiting friends with excuses, breaking into Hank's house, fighting his German Shepherd, smashing devices. Each retrieval is a comic set piece exploring their desperation and partnership.
Midpoint
At Hank's house, they learn deleting from devices isn't enough - the master file is on the cloud server. They need help from Jay's friend at the porn company. Stakes raised: the problem is bigger than they thought.
Opposition
Visit the YouPorn headquarters where Jay's friend tries to help but the video has already been downloaded by someone. They realize someone is blackmailing them. Pressure intensifies as they race to identify the blackmailer before the video goes public.
Collapse
The blackmailer is revealed to be Hank himself - threatening to share the video and destroy Annie's deal and reputation. Their worst fear realized: the family-values CEO has leverage over them and their public image will be destroyed.
Crisis
Dark night: Jay and Annie argue about blame and their failing marriage. The sex tape quest forced them to confront deeper issues - they've lost themselves in parenthood and routine. The crisis is existential, not just situational.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Breakthrough: They realize Hank is bluffing and playing with them. More importantly, they recognize that being vulnerable together (like making the tape) is what their marriage needs. They choose to stop running and confront Hank together.
Synthesis
Final confrontation at their house: Hank arrives, they stand united, and through chaos (kids return, accidental cocaine use, dog attacks) they resolve the situation. Hank deletes the video. Annie gets her deal. They've reclaimed their partnership.
Transformation
Final image mirrors opening: Jay and Annie together, but now authentically connected. Annie's blog post reflects new honesty about marriage. They've learned that intimacy isn't about perfection but about being vulnerable and present with each other.