From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.managing-creativity.com/

The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.

The Hero's Journey:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.

and more...

Sample Movie Deconstructed: X-Men (2000)

FADE IN: Context: every few hundred millennia, evolution leaps forward (narration).

Antagonist's Backstory: Magneto as a young Jewish child, pulls the fence open, trying to prevent his mother from the gas chamber.

Introduce the Sword [as Ally]; Capabilities and Inner Challenge: things happen when Rogue touches people.

Intro Hero's Romantic Challenge: Jean Grey talks about the new stage of evolution.

Intro Shape Shifter: Senator Kelly.

Polarization between antagonists and protagonists: Senator Kelly argues with Jean Grey.

Meeting the Mentor: Xavier overlooks the debate.

Meeting Antagonist: Xavier in the crowd.

Polarization between antagonists and protagonists: Xavier tries to convince Magneto to give humans a chance.

Meeting the Hero and his Capabilities: Wolverine winning in the cage.

Foreshadow of the Final Conflict: the conference at Ellis Island on the TV.

Hero meets the Sword: Wolverine sees Rogue in the bar.

Pushed into the Journey: "get outta my bar..;" the fight in the bar.

Refusal of the Call: Wolverine doesn't want to give Rogue a ride.

Overcoming the Refusal: Wolverine thinks again.

Developing Characters and Relationships: Wolverine and Rogue in the car.

Referencing the Hero's Inner Challenge: the army tag.

Developing Hero's Capabilities: Wolverine thrown out of the car; he heals quickly.

Pulled into the First Threshold: Sabretooth attacks; rescued by Storm and Cyclops.

Developing the Antagonism: Sabretooth reports to Magneto. Magneto's Capabilities: he can manipulate metal.

Hero and his Romantic Challenge: Jean Grey touches Wolverine.

Resisting the First Threshold: Wolverine doesn't know where he is, he tries to flee.

New World of the First Threshold: Wolverine unfamiliar with his surroundings; sees the X-Men uniforms.

Guided by the Mentor: Xavier mentally speaks to Wolverine.

Meeting Allies: Xavier introduces Storm and Cyclops.

Resisting the First Threshold: "get out of my way, Cyclops."

Pulled into the First Threshold by the Mentor: Xavier mentally speaking to Wolverine.

The World of the First Threshold: "what is this place?"; the X-Men school.

Backstory of the Antagonist: Xavier references Magneto's past.

Time Pressure: give me 48 hrs