This is the bread and butter of superhero movies, action franchises, and many horror films.
Examples: Marvel and DC superhero films, many streaming action series, horror reboots.
Why it’s popular: Clear stakes, simple good vs. evil, easy to market globally.
Post-COVID trend: These blockbusters dominate streaming libraries and theaters because they’re “safe bets” for mass appeal and brand recognition.
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2. The Quest
Big journeys or missions — traveling to find or save something.
Examples: Fantasy/adventure series on Netflix or Amazon (e.g., The Witcher), sci-fi epics like Stranger Things (which mixes quest with other elements).
Why it’s popular: Supports long-form storytelling and serialized formats, keeps viewers hooked season after season.
Post-COVID trend: Streaming platforms invest heavily in franchise-building quest stories that can be expanded across seasons or spin-offs.
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3. Rags to Riches (and sometimes Rebirth)
Stories about transformation or rise — often in dramas, romances, or biopics.
Examples: Reality-based shows, feel-good movies, or character-driven limited series.
Why it’s popular: Relatable and emotionally satisfying, appeals to broad demographics.
Post-COVID trend: Streaming services use these to diversify their catalog and appeal to niche audiences with uplifting or inspirational stories.<> According to AI, we're down to three storylines.
Except for Adam Sandler, we're not really seeing comedy and a huge % of movies was made with that storyline.
The McGuffin