The Hero’s Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.
The Hero’s Journey:
• Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.
• Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.
• Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.
The Hero's Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays.
Consider this:
• Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 – uses the Hero's Journey as a template.
• Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey as a template.
• Shrek 2 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey as a template.
• ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey as a template.
• Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 - uses the Hero's Journey as a template.
• Out of Africa (1985), Terms of Endearment (1983), Dances with Wolves (1990), Gladiator (2000) – All Academy Award Winners Best Film are based on the Hero's Journey.
• Anti-hero stories (Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990) etc) are all based on the Hero's Journey.
• Heroine’s Journey stories (Million Dollar Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all based on the Hero's Journey.
Good Screenplay or Story Ideas
The essence of the good story is the Apotheosis – the illumination or insight that the hero undergoes.
The apotheosis follows the atonement with the father – where the hero confronts that which limits his apotheosis.
Once you know what the apotheosis is and what blocks the hero attaining it, you can (relatively) easily build up to and beyond that point.
The above makes-up the A-story. Then you need a B-story.
Let's use one of the great films of our time as an example: Raging Bull (1980).
The A-story in this is movie is Jake La Motta's relationship with Vickie (his wife) and Joey (his brother). The B-story is Jake's desire to win the Title.
The B-story is completed with the attainment of the Title (through the core processes of Meeting with the Goddess and Woman as Temptress; Seizing the Sword and Rebirth through Death).
The A-story culminates with the Atonement with the Father, where Jake beats up Joey and the Apotheosis, where Jake finds out that Joey et al have all been sleeping with Vickie…
If you deconstruct any movie, you can find the above…but it isn't always easy because the great screenwriters hide their plot movements very well…
With a rough idea of the above, you can begin your step-outline and treatment.
Learn more…
The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at
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Kal Bishop, MBA
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Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at
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