Here are the movie plot archetypes with descriptions and examples:
- Hero’s Journey: A protagonist embarks on an adventurous quest, facing challenges, mentors, and ultimately transforming to achieve a goal.
Examples: Star Wars, The Matrix, Harry Potter series - Coming of Age: Focuses on the growth and maturation of a young character as they transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Examples: Stand By Me, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Lady Bird - Love Triangle: Involves three characters entangled in a complex romantic relationship.
Examples: Titanic, The Twilight Saga, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - Revenge: A character seeks retribution against those who have wronged them or their loved ones.
Examples: Kill Bill, Gladiator, Oldboy - Forbidden Love: Characters from opposing backgrounds or social classes fall in love, facing societal or familial opposition.
Examples: Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story, Titanic - Rags to Riches: A character rises from poverty or obscurity to wealth, success, or recognition.
Examples: Rocky, The Pursuit of Happyness, Cinderella - Underdog: A disadvantaged protagonist faces formidable challenges and overcomes them against all odds.
Examples: Rocky, Rudy, The Karate Kid - Quest: Characters embark on a journey to retrieve a valuable object, attain knowledge, or fulfill a significant purpose.
Examples: Indiana Jones franchise, National Treasure, The Da Vinci Code - Sacrifice: A character makes a selfless act for the greater good, often leading to personal growth or redemption.
Examples: Avengers: Infinity War, The Dark Knight Rises, Unbroken - Mystery: Involves solving a puzzling and often crime-related enigma.
Examples: Se7en, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Knives Out - Betrayal: A character experiences betrayal from someone they trust, leading to emotional turmoil and conflict.
Examples: The Empire Strikes Back, The Godfather Part II, No Country for Old Men - Chosen One: The protagonist is destined to fulfill a particular role or destiny, often with extraordinary abilities.
Examples: The Matrix, Star Wars, Harry Potter series - Fish Out of Water: A character finds themselves in an unfamiliar environment, leading to humorous or challenging situations.
Examples: The Lion King, Big, Black Panther - Redemption: A character seeks to atone for past mistakes or bad actions.
Examples: Shindler’s List, Good Will Hunting, Transformers franchises - The Mentor: An experienced figure guides and trains a less experienced protagonist.
Examples: The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Star Wars, Spider-Man franchises - Overcoming the Monster: The protagonist confronts and defeats a powerful and threatening antagonist.
Examples: Alien, Jaws, The Dark Knight - Escape: Characters strive to break free from confinement or oppressive circumstances.
Examples: Shawshank Redemption, The Great Escape, Jurassic Park - Survival: The main focus is on characters’ efforts to stay alive in challenging situations.
Examples: Cast Away, 127 Hours, The Revenant - War: The story revolves around the conflicts, struggles, and consequences of war.
Examples: Saving Private Ryan, Platoon, Dunkirk - Discovery: Characters uncover hidden truths, lost civilizations, or valuable artifacts.
Examples: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Apollo 13, Hidden Figures - Identity Crisis: A character grapples with their true identity or faces amnesia.
Examples: Fight Club, Memento, Face/Off - Voyage and Return: Characters journey to a strange land, face trials, and then return transformed.
Examples: Back to the Future, Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings - Family Drama: Focuses on familial relationships, conflicts, and dynamics.
Examples: Everybody Knows, Birdman, August: Osage County - Rebellion: Characters challenge authority or oppressive systems.
Examples: Star Wars, The Hunger Games, Braveheart - Time Travel: Characters move backward or forward in time, impacting the past or future.
Examples: Back to the Future, Twelve Monkeys, Interstellar - Power and Corruption: Characters deal with the abuse of power, political intrigue, and corruption.
Examples: Chinatown, The Godfather, Avengers: Civil War - Redemption Quest: The protagonist seeks redemption for past sins or mistakes through a series of trials.
Examples: The Green Mile, Toy Story 3, Logan - Tragedy: A story in which the protagonist faces downfall or failure, often due to their own flaws or circumstances.
Examples: Titanic, Schindler’s List, Moonlight - Survival of the Fittest: Characters must compete or fight against each other to survive or achieve a specific goal.
Examples: The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, Mad Max: Fury Road - Framing Device: The main story is presented within the context of another story, serving as a narrative framework.
Examples: Pulp Fiction, Magnolia, Inception - Stranger in a Strange Land: A character from a different culture or background experiences life in an unfamiliar setting.
Examples: E.T., The Jungle Book, Black Panther - Forbidden Knowledge: Characters pursue knowledge or power that is dangerous or forbidden.
Examples: Indiana Jones films, Prometheus, Ex Machina - Society vs. Individual: Focuses on the conflict between societal norms and the individual’s desires or beliefs.
Examples: The Matrix, V for Vendetta, Whiplash - Supernatural Encounter: Characters encounter supernatural beings, creatures, or events.
Examples: The Exorcist, It Follows, The Conjuring - The Prophecy: The story revolves around a prophecy or prediction that shapes the characters’ actions and fate.
Examples: The Sixth Sense, Planet of the Apes, Star Wars - Seeking Home: The protagonist embarks on a journey to find a place where they belong.
Examples: Homeward Bound, Me Before You, Brokeback Mountain - Framed for a Crime: The protagonist is wrongly accused of a crime they didn’t commit, leading to a quest for justice.
Examples: The Fugitive, The Shawshank Redemption, North by Northwest - Masquerade: Characters conceal their true identities or intentions behind masks or deception.
Examples: Eyes Wide Shut, Spider-Man: Homecoming, The Greatest Showman - Love at First Sight: Characters fall deeply in love immediately upon meeting each other.
Examples: The Princess Bride, Serendipity, Safety Not Guaranteed vs. Nature: The story focuses on characters’ struggles against natural disasters, animals, or environmental challenges.
Examples: The Grey, Cast Away, The Revenant - Heir to the Throne: A character must step up and take on a significant responsibility or leadership role.
Examples: Star Wars, The Lion King, Frozen - Corrupting Influence: Characters are influenced or manipulated by a malevolent force or individual.
Examples: Saw, It, The Dark Knight - The Big Game: The story centers around a high-stakes competition or tournament.
Examples: The Hunger Games, Battle Royale, Ready Player One - Cursed Object: A cursed item or artifact brings misfortune or danger to those who possess it.
Examples: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Poltergeist, It - Journey to the Center: Characters venture into the heart of a location or object to uncover its secrets.
Examples: Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Core, Tron - Mistaken Identity: Characters are mistaken for someone else, leading to humorous or dramatic situations.
Examples: The Prince & Me, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Freaky Friday - Apocalypse Survival: Characters navigate and survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
Examples: Mad Max, 28 Days Later, The Road - Immortality Quest: Characters seek immortality or eternal life, facing challenges and consequences.
Examples: Highlander, Interview with the Vampire, Twilight - Sworn Enemies: Characters who are bitter enemies must join forces to face a common threat.
Examples: Batman vs Superman, Green Lantern vs Sinestro, Alien vs Predator - Prophecy Fulfillment: The protagonist must fulfill a prophecy, often with significant consequences for their world or destiny.
Examples: Star Wars, Harry Potter, Planet of the Apes - The Artifact: Characters quest to find or protect a powerful, magical, or ancient artifact.
Examples: Indiana Jones, National Treasure, Hellboy
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