Four-Act Structure: How to Use the Story Structure in Films

The four-act structure divides a story into four major parts: the setup, the rising action, the crisis, and the resolution. It’s a modified form of the three-act structure, which lumps the rising action and the crisis together in a hefty second act; the four-act structure separates the two.

The four-act structure can be especially useful if you want to write a symmetrical story built around a midpoint or if you find yourself struggling to pace the events of a more traditional three-act film or stage play.

The four-act story structure for screenplays breaks the action down into the following segments:

1. 1. Act one: The first act of a four-act screenplay is identical to the opening acts from three-act screenplays: Act one comprises the setup (or exposition) of the story. The setup establishes the world of the story (whether supernatural or ordinary) and depicts the day-to-day world of the story’s main character. Before the act is over, however, an inciting incident should occur—one that pulls the protagonist out of their normal world and into the main action of the story, whether that’s wrestling with an internal conflict or resisting the bad guys. The act concludes with a turning point that launches the action into act two.
2. 2. Act two: The second act of a four-act screenplay contains the rising action, in which complications arise that get in the way of the main character accomplishing their goal. Act two often introduces a subplot (or B plot) to further flesh out the story. This act culminates in a midpoint, in which the stakes are raised and the audience finds out the true capability of the characters and the potential drama that awaits.
3. 3. Act three: The second half of the story kicks off with the crisis in the third act, in which the main character attempts to solve the problem or reach their objective only to fail. At this point in the screenplay, the world has gotten the best of the heroes, and all hope seems lost—a moment writers often call “the dark night of the soul.” Both internal and external conflicts increase toward the end of act three, and the main characters have reached a low point. The characters believe they have truly lost, and there is no hope for redemption—although, in reality, it's only a temporary defeat.
4. 4. Act four: The fourth act begins with a new plan. This is when the characters dig down deep inside themselves and find a new way to overcome the challenges they face. The story culminates in the final act with a climax. They once again meet the overarching conflict in a final battle, equipped with a renewed sense of purpose or determination. In the climax, the character comes out either triumphant or unsuccessful, and the plot winds down into the denouement or resolution, in which the story addresses any loose ends.

The most obvious way to incorporate the four-act structure into your own writing—whether you’re working on a screenplay, a stage play, or a novel—is to map out the key plot elements that could or should populate each act. These include Act I (exposition, ordinary world, inciting action or turning point); Act II (rising action, complications, subplot, midpoint); Act III (crisis, “dark night of the soul”); and Act IV (new plan, climax, denouement).

Some writers use these story points as major anchors when they brainstorm. If you prefer to be hyper-organized in your writing process, it can be a useful planning tool to jot down a few notes about each act (perhaps on separate notecards) to help keep the plot points distinct and the pacing even.

Other writers brainstorm in a far more open-ended way and only later do they consider specific structures. If you’re the type of writer who prefers open-ended brainstorming, avoid disrupting your process by thinking about act breaks and a specific plot structure. Just follow your own process for the first draft and consider later down the line whether your plot is taking on a four-act structure.

Become a better filmmaker with the MasterClass Annual Membership. Gain access to exclusive video lessons taught by the world’s best, including Shonda Rhimes, Aaron Sorkin, Spike Lee, David Lynch, Jodie Foster, Martin Scorsese, and more.