A storyboard is a graphic layout that sequences illustrations and images with the purpose of visually telling a story. Filmmakers and video creators use storyboards to transfer ideas from thier mind to the screen. Creating an effective story board takes skill, but you can learn from storyboard examples to gain some pro tips.
Take a look at these fantastic professional storyboard examples. These verified storyboards were released by the DGA, and they include storyboard examples from Harry Potter, Star Wars, Inception, Gladiator, Jurassic Park, Moulin Rouge, and many other great films.
Sci-Fi and Fantasy Storyboards
Movie Story board Examples
1. Alien
Scene: Infirmary Scene
Ridley Scott did not draw stick figures here, and while he probably picked up some pretty slick storyboarding skills when he attended the Royal College of Art, it doesn’t mean you should throw in the towel or that you can’t achieve similar results from following his example.
Story boards by Ridley Scott for Ridley Scott’s • Alien
Note: “Action inside the egg is beautiful.”
"It’s got a wonderful defense mechanism... molecular acid storyboards."
Movie Storyboard Examples
2. Pacific Rim
Not a lot of wide shots in these storyboards. Going from control room to outside takes careful film planning. There is a distinct Japanese/Anime vibe.
Very cool how the negative space works as light in this storyboard. Check out the entire story board with the shot specs, take a look below:
Movie Storyboard Examples
3. Jurassic Park
Scene: Raptor Attack Scene
The storyboarding notes help lead you into each new shot. Multiple slides (or cells) for can be used for a single shot, especially if you plan to linger a bit.
Storyboards by David Lowery for Steven Spielberg's • Jurassic Park
Note: “Foot toward camera and…”
"Ah, ah, ah, you didn’t say the magic word (it’s storyboard)."
Movie Storyboard Examples
4. Star Wars: A New Hope
Scene: A Galaxy Far, Far Away
George Lucas did a storyboard for the title sequence. C3PO looks really different in these. Tougher. Lucas knew how he wanted that final shot.
Storyboards by George Lucas for • Star Wars: A New Hope
Movie Storyboard Examples
5. Transformers
Scene: Blackout’s Rampage
I quickly notice thoughtful sketches of the production design. See how the artists visualize destruction? Blocking of the confused soldiers is very interesting, along with being a really pretty story board example.
Storyboards by Ed Natividad for Michael Bay’s • Transformers
Definitely story boards for a Michael Bay film.
"Autobots; assemble... a scene with a storyboard."
Movie Storyboard Examples
6. Inception
Scene: Hallway Fight Scene
How to make a storyboard of a rotating room? The ceiling fan helps you stay oriented. See how the room is drawn the same across multiple slides? Techniques like these are often used in dynamic scenes—learn more in How to Storyboard a Fight Scene.
Storyboards by Gabriel Hardman for Christopher Nolan’s • Inception
Note: The scene numbers added by the storyboard artists.
"Never recreate storyboards from memory… always create new ones."
Movie Story board Examples
7. Edge of Tomorrow
Scene: Cage Drops In Scene
This storyboard shows a scene where Cage drops from the ship into battle. Where so many other films try to make everything look heroic, this film does a great job of showing how random battle can be.
Edge of Tomorrow • Storyboard Example
We get camera movement and an indication that this shot was meant to be continued across multiple storyboard slides. Planning transitions like these is essential for visual flow—learn more in How to Storyboard Camera Movement.
"There is no courage without fear... and a detailed storyboard."
Related Posts
Movie Storyboard Examples
8. There Will Be Blood
Scene: Oil Derrick Scene
The directors are thinking about the background imagery a lot, and that plays on the screen as well. Lots of shot to reverse-shot.
Storyboards by P.K. MacCarthy • Click here to view There Will Be Blood's storyboard
Action Storyboard Examples
Movie Storyboard Examples
9. Gladiator
Scene: Battle Tigers
There is a clear chain of events in these storyboards? Intelligent camera placement leads to depth and layers.
Click to view the full storyboard below:
Storyboarding these scenes beforehand is much cheaper than practicing with real life tigers. Less fun though.
"We’ve got a better chance of survival if we storyboard together..."
Movie Storyboard Examples
10. Tomorrow Never Dies
Scene: Banner Escape
You should always storyboard stunts for extra safety. It will help your stunt coordinators too. Costume designers decided to change both costumes.
Storyboards by Martin Asbury for Roger Spottiswoode's • Tomorrow Never Dies
Movie Storyboard Examples
11. Raiders of the Lost Ark
Scene: The Opening of the Ark
How does the color help tell the story, or communicate goals? Great use of shading. Do you think this storyboard helped them light the scene?
Storyboards by Ed Verreaux for Steven Spielberg's • Raiders of the Lost Ark
Movie Storyboard Examples
12. Forrest Gump
Scene: Meet President Johnson
Zemeckis combined custom footage with old newsreel footage. Covering the scene in close-ups helped them shroud inconsistencies.
Here's what the storyboard would look like, frame-by-frame:
Storyboards by Chris Bonura • Click to view the entire Forest Gump storyboard
"Storyboards are the fruit of the sea."
Movie Storyboard Examples
13. Gone with the Wind
Scene: Fleeing Atlanta
Did the colors in the storyboard help for the lighting schemes later? Storyboard notes help us understand the action. Lots of depth in slide three.
Storyboards by William Cameron Menzies for • Gone With the Wind
"As god as my witness… I’ll never forget to storyboard again."
Movie Storyboard Examples
14. Apocalypse Now
Scene: Ride of the Valkyries
The focus seems to be how to shoot the air cavalry. Notice the carnage behind Col. Kilgore. Do these helicopters look heroic? Evil? Neutral?
Storyboards by Alex Tavoularis for • Apocalypse Now
Movie Storyboard Examples
15. Ali
Scene: Muhammad Ali vs. Ernie Terrell
Directional storyboard arrows show where punches come from. Important to replicate actual fight. Big wide establishing shot of arena creates scope.
Here's what the storyboard would actually look like:
Storyboards by Tim Burgard • Click to view the Ali storyboard
Movie Storyboard Examples
16. Spartacus
Scene: Battle Plans
How many storyboard battle scenes took cues from Spartacus? Slide dedicated to arrows mid-flight. Lots of color in these storyboard samples.
Storyboards by Saul Bass for Stanley Kubrick’s • Spartacus
Interesting composition and angle choice.
Movie Storyboard Examples
17. The Towering Inferno
Scene: Elevator Rescue Scene
Lots of high angles in this storyboard. How good is the smoke continuity? Big action scenes need a lot of planning.
Storyboards by Joseph Musso for • The Towering Inferno
This is a scene with stunts, special effects, and a difficult location.
Movie Storyboard Examples
19. Salt
Scene: Rooftop Scene
This storyboard shows a scene where Salt is hanging from a rope and eventually lets go. Notice how the storyboard artist understand composition and how to create background imagery.
Salt Storyboard Example by Tim Burgard
There are references to a camera pan with the rope swing as well.
"We've got a defector... he brought storyboards"
Movie Storyboard Examples
20. Interview with the Vampire
Scene: Ending Scene
Spoiler: this storyboard shows the final scene where Lestat bites Mallory.
Interview with the Vampire Storyboard Example
Notice how the pacing of the scene is referenced in the storyboard notes. The scene plays out a bit differently in the movie, which may have been done on purpose or maybe the shot didn't work out as planned.
"I'm going to give you the storyboard example... I never had."
Musical Storyboard Examples
Movie Storyboard Examples
21. Austin Powers 3
Scene: Opening
When you're shooting a scene that involves stunts and a visual effect component, it's super important to storyboard camera movement down to a tee.
Jay Roach had only eight hours to shoot one of the best opening sequence, and you can see that it did not stop him from nailing down that task.
"Well, no offense, Sir Stevie but you've got to have mojo storyboard, baby. Yeah."
Movie Storyboard Examples
22. Moulin Rouge
Scene: Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend
The use of directional arrows keeps us oriented. POV shot of Sabine reaching out is one slide that jumps out to me. Close-ups to wide shots.
Storyboards by David Russell for Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge
Baz Luhrmann uses lots of angle changes in this scene, and you can see the complicated edit visualized during the storyboard process.
"I’ve arranged a meeting with you and a storyboard… totawwy awone..."
Movie Storyboard Examples
23. The Sound of Music
Scene: Do-Re-Mi
Lots of symmetry in these shots. A ton of complicated choreography. Great depth in many of the slides due to creative blocking.
Storyboards by Maurice Zuberano for The Sound of Music
There is a fantasy element to how much ground they cover.
Horror Storyboard Examples
Movie Storyboard Examples
25. Get Out
Scene: Sunken Place Scene
This digital storyboard shows a scene where Chris falls into the sunken place after being hypnotized by Missy Armitage.
Get Out Sunken Place Storyboard Example by Eric Yamamoto
Here's a continuation of this storyboard:
Get Out Sunken Place #2 Storyboard Example by Eric Yamamoto
"Sink through the storyboard."
Movie Storyboard Examples
26. Psycho
Scene: Trouble in the Shower
Knife shot is exactly the same in the film. Look at the intended close-up of her mouth when she’s stabbed. Sex, comfort, and murder collide.
Happy face in the first few slides. Huge tonal shift in this scene.
Psycho • Trouble in the Shower
"Well, a boy’s best friend is his storyboard."
Movie Storyboard Examples
27. The Birds
Scene: Playground Scene
This storyboard example shows the birds gathering on the school playground while the children are inside the school.
The Birds • Storyboard Example
This scene plays out differently in the actual film, but the overall purpose of the storyboard is still very much present.
Children Get Attacked By Birds
"Alright children now put your storyboards away."
Fantasy Storyboard Examples
Movie Storyboard Examples
28. Spider-Man 2
Scene: Train Battle
This storyboard looks like a comic book…Spidey is losing, then winning. Lots of directional arrows.
Storyboards by Chris Buchinsky for Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man 2
We need at least three more Spider-Man reboots!
Spider-Man 2 • Train Battle
Movie Storyboard Examples
29. Logan
Scene: Decapitation Scene
This storyboard shows the scene where Logan decapitates Jackson. This is a really detailed storyboard example by a very talented storyboard artist.
Logan Storyboard by Mark Vena
There were a lot of brutal scenes all throughout Logan, and the storyboard artist's job is to capture the emotion in the sketch.
Logan • Trailer
"Charles the world isn't the same anymore... except for storyboards."
Movie Storyboard Examples
30. Ant-Man
Scene: Ant Rescue Scene
Notice how storyboard artist Steven Markowski uses lines around the face to signal a surprised emotion from Scott Lang.
Ant-Man Storyboard by Steven Markowski
Movie Storyboard Examples
31. Iron Man
Scene: Pepper Catches Tony Scene
This storyboard example shows a scene in Iron Man where Pepper catches Tony attempting to remove his suit after his first mission.
Iron Man Storyboard Example by David Duncan
Movie Storyboard Examples
32. Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix
Scene: Battle at the Department of Mysteries
Directional arrows help keep us organized. High angle shot when they enter the Department. Slide two illustrates confusion.
Storyboards by Jim Cornish for David Yates’ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Notice how it’s a point of view shot when Harry casts a spell.
Battle at the Department of Mysteries • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
"I must not tell lies… I must make storyboards."
Movie Storyboard Examples
33. Percy Jackson
Scene: Medusa Scene
This storyboard example shows the scene where Percy Jackson must confront the Gorgon, Medusa. Notice they're sized for "anamorphic."
Percy Jackson Storyboard by Tim Burgard
The storyboard example has sound effects are added as well as detailed shot descriptions that help tell the story through visuals.
Percy Jackson • Medusa Scene
"Ssssneek a peek... at some storyboard examplesssss."
TV Storyboard Examples
Television Storyboard Examples
34. Game of Thrones
Scene: Daenerys Targaryen Give Birth Scene
This storyboard shows a scene where Daenerys gives birth to three dragons which works out perfectly for everyone in the last season.
Daenerys Gives Birth Storyboard Example
TV Storyboard Examples
35. Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Scene: Mouth of Hell
Parallel action occurs on the same storyboard. More depth with the wider shots. Storyboards are great for any effects-heavy TV show or film.
Storyboards by Charles Ratteray for Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer
You can start to see why Whedon was called on to direct The Avengers.
TV Storyboard Examples
36. Westworld
Scene: Reckoning
Similar to the storyboard example above, you can show parallel action on a single storyboard. Notice how important the arrows are in this storyboard and how they inform the order of the edits.
Westworld Season 2 Storyboard Example by Dan Caplan
Here is the trailer from season 2 of Westworld:
Westworld • Season 2 Trailer
"The violent delight have violent storyboards"
Animation Storyboard Examples
Animation Storyboard Examples
37. Kung Fu Panda
Scene: Training Scene
This animatic shows a scene where Po attempts Kung Fu training.
Kung Fu Panda Storyboard Example by Angelo Libutti
Because this is an animation storyboard the images you see in this example are the actual building blocks for the final image.
Training Scene
"Don't worry master... I'll never give up storyboarding."
Animation Storyboard Examples
39. Up
Scene: Opening Scene
This storyboard shows the opening scene in Up, which from my understanding is super uplifting and not painful at all.
Up • Storyboard Example
Again, because this storyboard was made for an animated feature film you can see how closely the storyboard example is the final product.
Opening Scene from • Up
"Don't you know this is an exclusive club? Only storyboards get in here."
Animation Storyboard Examples
40. Tom and Jerry
Scene: Orphan Episode
Here you can see some of the earliest animation storyboard examples from an episode of Tom and Jerry.
Tom and Jerry • Storyboard Example
Animation Storyboard Examples
41. Summer Camp Island
Scene: Witch Episode
This storyboard shows an important moment in the show where the youngsters realize their camp counselors are witches. How fun!
Summer Camp Island • Storyboard Example
Check out the scene below to see how the storyboard lead to thew final scene, and how closely they resembles each other.
Summer Camp Island • Episode
"We're about to make a bunch of pot holders... and storyboards"
Animation Storyboard Examples
42. Batman
Scene: Series Intro
This storyboard shows the introduction sequence for the Batman Animated Series. Seeing these slides brings back sweet memories.
There is no better clarification on how useful storyboards can be when you see one from an animated film or television show. Animators often understand visual literacy better than many film directors.
Batman Animated • Storyboard Example
Animation Storyboard Examples
43. Adventure Time
Scene: Tree Trunks Alien Scene
This storyboard example from the animated show Adventure Time shows how you can add dialogue and screen direction to your animated storyboards to make them as specific as needed.
Adventure Time • Storyboard Example
Video Game Storyboard Examples
Video Game Storyboard Examples
44. Super Mario Odyssey
Scene: Game Intro Scene
This storyboard example shows the intro scene for the video game, Super Mario Odyssey, which allows you to play the game either as Mario... or as Mario's hat, which is exactly as fun as it sounds.
Super Mario Odyssey Video Game • Storyboard Example
Storyboards can be used for film, television, animation, and video games because they are the perfect tool for communicating visual goals.
Super Mario Odyssey • Intro
"It'sa meee... a-storyboard! Okie dokie!"
Video Game Storyboard Examples
45. Gears of War
Scene: Mad World Trailer
This storyboard example shows the trailer for Gears of War. This trailer featured the song "Mad World", and helped create a successful launch for the series. The games are great, but no doubt the trailer helped a lot.
Gears of War • Storyboard Example by Dwayne Turner
Check out the trailer to see how the storyboard translated on screen:
Gears of War • "Mad World" Trailer
"I'll take those storyboards!"
Video Game Storyboard Examples
46. Major League Baseball
Scene: PS3 Move Trailer
This storyboard example shows the trailer for Major League Baseball for the Playstation 3. This storyboard was created to show how the PS move system could mentally transport players onto the field.
Major League Baseball • Storyboard Example by Dwayne Turner
"Baseball is 90% mental and the other half is storyboards"
ABOUT THESE STORYBOARD EXAMPLES
Storyboards force creative filmmaking
Ever had a great idea for a shot or perhaps an entire scene? Everything is visualized perfectly in your mind, but will it make it to the screen?
What you need is a storyboard. Storyboards are what professional directors and production companies use to clearly communicate visual ideas with their team. Cavemen used storyboards. The Ancient Egyptians used storyboards.
Bottom line: Storyboards work.
While some of the reasons storyboards work so well may seem painfully obvious, there are more nuanced rationales that many novice (and professional) filmmakers tend to overlook.
You may not have a huge budget, so naturally, you think you’re limited. That line of thinking can be harmful to your project because what you’re actually doing is limiting your creativity, which in turn limits the effectiveness of your vision, which in turns limits your project.
Don’t waste valuable energy thinking about limitations. Take that energy and create storyboard ideas for your scene (or look through websites where to find storyboard artists for hire). Make sure to spend some time sketching out your storyboard ideas, even if they're just as samples. You’ll often hear the suggestion to:
“Draw your storyboard ideas with stick figures if you’re not an artist.”
I strongly disagree.
I firmly believe that you should take your time drawing an ugly storyboard because then you’re forced to draw an ugly background, an ugly foreground, ugly characters, and thoughtful shot compositions. If you want to refine your skills, you can even explore Storyboard Classes Online to develop a stronger foundation.
Suddenly, new storyboard ideas are popping into your head:
- Maybe a special easter egg hidden in the background of a shot.
- Or perfect symmetry for a specific point in the story.
- Perhaps a match cut from one image to another.
These are great cinematic goals, and they’re often the product of storyboarding. Tim Burton movies and Wes Anderson films come to mind when I think about precise shot composition and unique production design.
They put imagery on the screen that you won’t find anywhere in the existing world. They had their departments build, scout, and piece together a world that, at one point, only existed in their minds.
How do you think they communicated their visions? Their teams used storyboards to act as examples for their vision. Learn as much as you can from these movie storyboard examples and see how you can take your dream from your head to the big screen.
STORYBOARDING WITH STUDIOBINDER
Create the perfect storyboard
When you study professional storyboards like these, you quickly begin to understand how much effort goes into the planning stages of a film.
Successful projects use the pre-production phase to the fullest. When you create a tangible plan for your production, you will limit possible miscommunications, and maximize creative output from your team.
If you use storyboarding software like StudioBinder, you can show how each scene will play out, and keep your entire plan organized in a single digitally accessible place.
Music Video Storyboard with StudioBinder • Subscribe on YouTube
Your entire production team can collaborate from anywhere at anytime. Instead of wasting hours playing phone tag with assistants or scheduling late night conference calls because of time zone differences.
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