Sleeper
Miles Monroe, a clarinet-playing health food store proprietor, is revived out of cryostasis 200 years into a future world in order to help rebels fight an oppressive government regime.
Despite its small-scale budget of $2.0M, Sleeper became a massive hit, earning $18.3M worldwide—a remarkable 817% return. The film's compelling narrative resonated with audiences, confirming that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 wins & 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%)
Sleeper (1973) reveals carefully calibrated narrative design, characteristic of Woody Allen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 27 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.0, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Miles Monroe
Luna Schlosser
Erno Windt
Main Cast & Characters
Miles Monroe
Played by Woody Allen
A Greenwich Village health food store owner who is cryogenically frozen in 1973 and awakens 200 years later in a dystopian future.
Luna Schlosser
Played by Diane Keaton
A shallow, poetry-writing socialite who reluctantly helps Miles and gradually becomes radicalized through their adventures.
Erno Windt
Played by John Beck
Luna's pompous, politically conformist boyfriend who represents the establishment elite.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Miles Monroe is unwrapped from cryogenic preservation by underground scientists, establishing him as a fish-out-of-water from 1973 awakening in a bizarre totalitarian future he never asked for.. Notably, this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Security police raid the underground scientists' hideout, forcing Miles to flee alone into the hostile future world he doesn't understand, now a fugitive from the totalitarian state.. 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 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This demonstrates the protagonist's commitment to Miles kidnaps Luna and flees with her when his robot disguise is discovered, actively choosing to go on the run rather than surrender, irrevocably committing to life as a fugitive revolutionary., moving from reaction to action.
At 44 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Notably, this crucial beat Miles is captured by government forces and taken for reprogramming, a false defeat that separates the lovers and raises the stakes from mere survival to potential loss of identity and self., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 64 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The reprogrammed Miles, now docile and conventional, represents the death of his authentic neurotic self. Luna's deprogramming attempts seem hopeless as the government prepares to clone The Leader from his preserved nose., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 69 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Miles' neurotic personality is restored through Luna's persistence. Now a true couple united in purpose, they commit to infiltrating the government facility to stop The Leader's cloning, combining Miles' 20th-century skepticism with Luna's newfound revolutionary conviction., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Sleeper'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 Sleeper against these established plot points, we can identify how Woody Allen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Sleeper within the comedy genre.
Woody Allen's Structural Approach
Among the 42 Woody Allen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.0, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Sleeper represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Woody Allen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Woody Allen analyses, see Everyone Says I Love You, Celebrity and Interiors.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Miles Monroe is unwrapped from cryogenic preservation by underground scientists, establishing him as a fish-out-of-water from 1973 awakening in a bizarre totalitarian future he never asked for.
Theme
The scientists explain that the government controls everything and individuality is suppressed, stating the thematic question: can one neurotic individual make a difference against an oppressive system?
Worldbuilding
Miles learns about the dystopian 22nd century America ruled by a dictator, where pleasure is derived from machines, food is synthetic, and the underground resistance needs his help because he has no identity in their system.
Disruption
Security police raid the underground scientists' hideout, forcing Miles to flee alone into the hostile future world he doesn't understand, now a fugitive from the totalitarian state.
Resistance
Miles disguises himself as a robot servant to survive, debating whether to help the resistance or simply hide. He's assigned to Luna Schlosser's household, learning to navigate the absurd future society while evading capture.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Miles kidnaps Luna and flees with her when his robot disguise is discovered, actively choosing to go on the run rather than surrender, irrevocably committing to life as a fugitive revolutionary.
Mirror World
Luna, initially hostile and vapid, begins interacting with Miles as they hide together. She represents everything wrong with the complacent future society, but their relationship will teach Miles about connection and give Luna political awakening.
Premise
Miles and Luna experience the absurdist comedy of the future: giant vegetables, the Orgasmatron, robotic servants, and slapstick chases. Miles tries to convince the shallow Luna about the resistance while evading increasingly ridiculous pursuit.
Midpoint
Miles is captured by government forces and taken for reprogramming, a false defeat that separates the lovers and raises the stakes from mere survival to potential loss of identity and self.
Opposition
Miles undergoes brainwashing and becomes a compliant citizen while Luna, now radicalized, joins the underground resistance. She must find and deprogram Miles while the government advances its plan to resurrect The Leader.
Collapse
The reprogrammed Miles, now docile and conventional, represents the death of his authentic neurotic self. Luna's deprogramming attempts seem hopeless as the government prepares to clone The Leader from his preserved nose.
Crisis
Luna works desperately to restore Miles' true personality through unconventional therapy, forcing him to relive traumatic memories. The underground faces its darkest hour as The Leader's resurrection approaches.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Miles' neurotic personality is restored through Luna's persistence. Now a true couple united in purpose, they commit to infiltrating the government facility to stop The Leader's cloning, combining Miles' 20th-century skepticism with Luna's newfound revolutionary conviction.
Synthesis
Miles and Luna disguise themselves as doctors and infiltrate the cloning facility. In the climactic confrontation, Miles destroys The Leader's nose, preventing his resurrection and striking a blow for individual freedom against totalitarian control.
Transformation
Miles and Luna escape together, now equals in their relationship. When Luna asks about political beliefs, Miles quips that he only believes in sex and death—but he's found love and purpose, transformed from passive neurotic to active participant in life.