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Straight Up (2020) movie poster

Timeline

Straight Up (2020) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Release, runtime and language
2020 · 95 min · English
Echo score 73
JustWatch #7,910 11
Directed by
James Sweeney
Starring
Randall Park, Tracie Thoms, Betsy Brandt, Brendan Scannell, Dana Drori, Hillary Anne Matthews
Budget
$300K

Todd is a highly articulate and obsessive-compulsive gay man in his twenties, grappling with a fear of dying alone. This fear leads him to question his sexuality, leading him to believe he might not be gay. His life takes an unexpected turn when he meets Rory, a clever and struggling actress who also battles her own insecurities. The two form a unique and engaging relationship characterized by constant conversation but a surprising lack of physical intimacy, as they navigate their individual anxieties and search for connection.

Comedy Romance Cast, crew & box office
On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Events in order (13)
  3. 3 Timeline questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like Straight Up
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Straight Up (2020)

Where can you watch Straight Up? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Kanopy, Amazon Video and Apple TV Store: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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13 events in order · contains spoilers

Straight Up Timeline: Events in Chronological Order

Every key event of Straight Up (2020) in order, scene by scene, with when and where it takes place. Use it to untangle flashbacks, time jumps and parallel storylines, to refresh your memory before the sequel or to find the exact scene you are thinking of.

  1. Todd's OCD and early dating attempts

    Todd, a twenty-something from Los Angeles, lives with OCD and has a strong aversion to bodily fluids. He dates men but avoids penetrative sex and struggles with intimacy. His fear of loneliness keeps him pushing forward to seek connection.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  2. First woman hookup and panic

    Todd attempts dating a woman after getting drunk and hooks up with her, but the moment her hymen breaks he freaks out. His psychoanalyst questions whether this experimental phase is wise, while Todd fears being alone and resolves to continue exploring relationships. The episode highlights the conflict between his curiosity and anxiety.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  3. Meeting Rory in the library

    He meets Rory in the self-help section of a library, and they instantly click with their shared offbeat humor. They spend hours talking and feel an immediate connection. Rory moves in with him and joins his various house-sitting jobs.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  4. Friends oppose the relationship

    Todd's friends oppose the relationship, viewing it as a sign of internalized homophobia and undermining its legitimacy. Rory agrees to pursue a romantic relationship with him, though sex remains off the table. The tension centers on how their circle perceives their coupling.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  5. Introducing Rory to the parents

    After introducing Rory to his parents, Todd worries they may like him more for dating a woman, rekindling insecurities about his own identity. He grapples with fear that Rory's presence will redefine how his family sees him. The moment crystallizes the pressure to appease both sides of his life.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  6. Christmas party and meltdown

    At a Christmas party with Todd's friends playing truth or dare, Rory discovers Todd in a compromising position with his gay friend and leaves. The sudden breach deepens Rory's dissatisfaction with their relationship. Todd is left to confront the consequences of his past and his desire for closeness.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  7. Rory moves to Seattle

    Rory grows unhappy with LA life and decides to move to Seattle in search of a fresh start. She envisions a life where emotional connections feel possible outside of Todd. Her decision marks a turning point that shifts the couple's dynamic from closeness to distance.

    Where
    Seattle

  8. Todd's silence after the breakup

    Some time after the breakup, Todd refuses to date anyone and isolates himself from potential relationships. He remains in Los Angeles, while Rory begins building a life apart in Seattle. The separation intensifies the emotional stakes for both.

    Where
    Los Angeles

  9. Rory's Seattle life grows

    Rory settles into an office job in Seattle but still struggles to connect with coworkers. She navigates professional and personal frustrations while adjusting to life away from Todd. The city becomes a new arena for her longing for intimacy.

    Where
    Seattle

  10. A new interest in Rory and its realization

    One of Rory's coworkers develops an interest in her, but she realizes they are too different to form a lasting relationship. This reinforces her ongoing reflection about love and commitment. The mismatch underscores the difficulty of finding compatibility after a breakup.

    Where
    Seattle

  11. Rory calls Todd; leading to a rebound attempt

    Rory calls Todd but hangs up before he can answer, and later she leaves work to find him waiting for her. The moment feels like a chance to bridge the distance between them. They try to reconnect in person, but the next steps remain uncertain.

    Where
    Seattle

  12. Todd proposes; Rory declines

    In a grand romantic gesture, Todd proposes to Rory, but she declines. He delivers an ardent plea, declaring he loves her and doesn't want to be with anyone else. The emotional clash leaves their future explicitly unresolved.

    Where
    Seattle

  13. Final moment: a trio begins to form

    During a scene over a tile game, a third man sits between Todd and Rory, and an intimacy appears to be evolving among the trio. The moment hints at a potential polyamorous dynamic and a future that defies conventional relationship boundaries. The ending keeps both characters in a state of uncertain possibility.

    Where
    Seattle

Last updated: January 20, 2026 at 17:12

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Timeline questions answered

Straight Up Timeline Explained: Your Questions Answered

When does it happen, and why in that order? The questions people ask about the chronology of Straight Up (2020): time jumps, flashbacks, cause and effect between scenes and the correct order of events, each answered with spoilers.

Q1

Why does Todd start dating women after being with men?

Todd's fear of dying alone drives him to question his sexuality. Though he likes the men he dates, he has never been able to have penetrative sex with them due to his aversion to bodily fluids. When his psychoanalyst suggests his exploration of women might be self-destructive, Todd decides to continue because he'd rather try anything than face loneliness.

  • tod sexuality
  • gay
  • dating women
  • fear of being alone
Q2

Why do Todd's friends think his relationship with Rory is internalized homophobia?

Todd's friends believe his attraction to Rory proves he's been repressing his true sexuality. They view the relationship as a way for Todd to appear 'straight' to his family and himself, rather than a genuine connection. This tension exists because Todd himself worries his parents might like him more for dating a woman.

  • internalized homophobia
  • tod's friends
  • rory relationship
Q3

Why does Rory agree to date Todd but not have sex?

Rory has her own struggles with emotional connection and insecurity. She admits to having trouble connecting with others, and both characters share a deep intellectual bond but lack physical intimacy. Their relationship is built on constant conversation and shared humor rather than traditional romance.

  • rory
  • no sex
  • intimacy
  • relationship
Q4

What happens at the Christmas party that makes Rory leave?

During a truth or dare game at Todd's Christmas party, Rory walks in on Todd in a compromising position with his gay friend. This sudden discovery, combined with her existing unhappiness in LA, triggers her decision to leave Todd and move to Seattle.

  • christmas party
  • truth or dare
  • rory leaves
  • gay friend
Q5

Why does Todd propose to Rory in Seattle?

After Rory moves to Seattle, Todd refuses to date anyone and remains isolated in Los Angeles. When Rory calls him but hangs up, Todd travels to Seattle and makes a grand romantic gesture by proposing. When Rory declines, he passionately declares his love for her, showing he wants only her despite their unconventional relationship.

  • proposal
  • seattle
  • love confession
  • romantic gesture
Q6

What does the ending with the three people mean?

The ending shows Todd and Rory playing a tile game in Seattle when another man sits between them, and an intimacy appears to be developing among the three. This ambiguous conclusion hints at a potential polyamorous dynamic, suggesting both characters may be moving toward an unconventional relationship arrangement.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, both Todd and Rory struggle with traditional intimacy, and neither wants children, indicating they're already open to unconventional relationship structures.

  • ending
  • trio
  • polyamorous
  • three people
  • ambiguous
Q7

Why does Rory decide to move to Seattle?

Rory becomes increasingly unhappy with her life in Los Angeles and her relationship with Todd. After walking in on him at the Christmas party, she decides to seek a fresh start in Seattle, hoping to build a life where emotional connections feel possible outside of their complicated relationship.

  • rory moves
  • seattle
  • fresh start
  • los angeles
Q8

Why does Todd freak out when the woman's hymen breaks?

Todd has severe OCD and a strong aversion to bodily fluids. When he attempts to hook up with a woman after getting drunk, the moment her hymen breaks and he encounters blood, his anxiety and OCD trigger a panic response. This event reinforces his difficulty with physical intimacy regardless of gender.

  • hymen
  • panic
  • ocd
  • bodily fluids
Q9

Why does Todd refuse to date anyone after Rory leaves?

After Rory moves to Seattle, Todd isolates himself emotionally and refuses to date anyone. This demonstrates how deeply connected he became to Rory despite their unconventional relationship, showing his commitment to her specifically rather than to any romantic partner.

  • tod refuses to date
  • alone
  • rory breakup
Q10

Why doesn't Rory's coworker work out for her?

Rory reconnects with a coworker in Seattle who takes an interest in her, but she realizes they are too different to form a lasting relationship. This reinforces her ongoing struggle with emotional connection and highlights why she ultimately calls Todd instead.

  • coworker
  • seattle
  • not compatible
  • rory dates

Movie threads

More Movies Like Straight Up, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Straight Up tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Witty Romance Without the Physical like in Straight Up

Character-driven stories where intellectual connection replaces physical intimacy. Find movies like Straight Up that explore relationships built on intellectual chemistry over physical intimacy. These films feature sharp dialogue, neurotic characters, and a focus on emotional connection, perfect for viewers seeking romances that challenge conventional storytelling.

  • talkative
  • introspective
  • neurotic
  • unconventional
  • tender
  • anxious
  • Tone: bittersweet, witty
  • Pacing: steady, conversational
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative follows characters who form a deep, often unconventional, bond rooted in conversation and shared neuroses. The central conflict revolves around their internal anxieties and the societal pressure to conform to a traditional romantic or sexual dynamic, leading to a journey of self-discovery about intimacy.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core focus on intellectual and emotional intimacy as the driving force of romance. They balance witty, talk-heavy scripts with a bittersweet tone, exploring themes of loneliness, identity, and the search for connection in a non-traditional format.

Romantic Comedy movie poster

Romantic Comedy

1983
The Romantics movie poster

The Romantics

2010
Once More, with Feeling! movie poster

Once More, with Feeling!

1960
Something's Gotta Give movie poster

Something's Gotta Give

2003
Destination Wedding movie poster

Destination Wedding

2018
Delicacy movie poster

Delicacy

2012
Sólo con tu pareja movie poster

Sólo con tu pareja

2006
Walking and Talking movie poster

Walking and Talking

1996

Anxious Minds Navigating Intimacy like in Straight Up

Stories about characters grappling with fears of connection. Discover films like Straight Up that delve into the lives of anxious, self-aware characters struggling with intimacy. If you enjoyed the nuanced exploration of OCD and sexuality in Straight Up, you'll find similar thoughtful and character-driven stories here.

  • anxious
  • introspective
  • lonely
  • unconventional
  • tender
  • quirky
  • Tone: bittersweet, introspective
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern focuses on a protagonist grappling with a specific internal struggle that acts as a barrier to intimacy. The plot unfolds through their attempts to connect with others, often leading to unconventional relationships that force them to confront their fears and redefine what connection means for them.

Why they belong together: These movies are united by their deeply character-focused exploration of anxiety and its impact on relationships. They share a moderate pacing that allows for introspection, a medium emotional weight that balances seriousness with humor, and an ambiguous or bittersweet feel reflective of life's complexities.

Intimate Strangers movie poster

Intimate Strangers

2004
The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed movie poster

The Feeling That the Time for Doing Something Has Passed

2024
Straight Up movie poster

Straight Up

2020
Happythankyoumoreplease movie poster

Happythankyoumoreplease

2011
Manhattan Romance movie poster

Manhattan Romance

2015
Friendship! movie poster

Friendship!

2010
Sex and Breakfast movie poster

Sex and Breakfast

2007
Some Girl(s) movie poster

Some Girl(s)

2013

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Every angle

Straight Up (2020) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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