Hollywood has every single movie plot down to a basic formula, and there are not as many variations as you may think.
Take the classic alien invasion movie: outer space creatures start destroying Earth, a hero kills them all and gets the girl, the ending credits roll and then a hint at a possible sequel pops up. This infographic takes whole movie franchises and breaks them down to their elemental components, demonstrating how easily we fall for basic plots where even the twist at the end has been done before.
As much as the films are broken down and simplified, these story-lines are still incredibly beloved by so many people, and even reading the movie plot formula doesn’t destroy the anticipation for a happy ending.
Formulaic Film Recipes
Find Out the Ingredients for Every Basic Successful Movie Plot
Trend Themes
1. Formulaic Film Plots - Identifying the basic formula behind successful movie plots allows for the potential exploration of disruptive innovations in storytelling techniques and plot structure.
2. Elemental Film Components - Analyzing the elemental components of movie franchises provides an opportunity to disrupt the traditional narrative structure and create unique and captivating storytelling experiences.
3. Anticipated Happy Endings - Recognizing the enduring appeal of movie endings with predictable outcomes opens up possibilities for disruptive innovations that challenge the conventions of closure and create unexpected resolutions.
Industry Implications
1. Film Production - The film production industry has the opportunity to disrupt traditional storytelling methods by leveraging the formulaic nature of successful movie plots to experiment with narrative twists and unconventional plot structures.
2. Content Streaming - The content streaming industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by creating platforms that curate and recommend movies based on alternative plot structures and narrative devices, offering viewers unique and unexpected storytelling experiences.
3. Storytelling Education - The storytelling education industry can capitalize on the formulaic nature of successful movie plots to develop innovative teaching methods that empower aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers to break free from traditional narrative constraints and create fresh and engaging stories.