This Story Format Will Ruin Nearly Every Movie

The standard story format, if pointed out, can ruin most movies if you let it.

It is so formulaic, I am not sure how I never really noticed it before.

Go ahead. Go look for yourself.

Here are 7 movies/stories just off the top of my head that are – essentially – exactly the same.

• Silence Of The Lambs
• Tommy Boy
• Moana
• The Count Of Monte Cristo
• Karate Kid
• Bolt
• The Empire Strikes Back

See there.

I ruined it for you too.

You are welcome.

Here is nearly every story you see or hear in a nutshell: A CHARACTER who wants something encounters a PROBLEM before they can get it. At the peak of their despair, a GUIDE steps into their lives, gives them a PLAN, and CALLS THEM TO ACTION. That action helps them avoid FAILURE and ends in a SUCCESS.

-Donald Miller, Building A StoryBrand