Movie Storyboard Examples

Storyboards are the blueprint of visual storytelling, laying out how scenes unfold before anything is animated or shot. While some storyboarding apps are limited in functionality, we provide layout customization from 1-5 columns. This is especially useful if you really want to emphasize a particular action sequence, or test out the pacing of a scene.

With storyboarding, a simple sketch or reference image capturing the camera movement, angles, shot sizes, and VFX is incredibly valuable for your team. Not only will you save countless hours during production, you'll also ensure that your vision stays alive. 

We've put together the best storyboard examples in film to show you how directors visualize their ideas. Bookmark this guide and use it as inspiration to help streamline your entire video pre-production process.

Animated Movie Storyboard Example

1. Beauty and the Beast

This storyboard from the animated movie Beauty and the Beast shows Beast's transformation after Belle declares her love.

These early sketches, which were drawn by Disney artists Chris Sanders and Brenda Chapman, captures the "magic" and emotional shift in the scene. This movie storyboard example displays the power of visual storytelling and has remained an iconic scene in film animation history.

Now watch how the actual final scene played out in this video clip:

Animation Movie Storyboard Examples

2. Aladdin

There's a reason why Aladdin is considered to be one of the best Disney movies ever. That has to do with the story, emotional arc of the characters and the world they created. That's why storyboarding exists and what makes it very efficient to get the scene's tone, pacing and emotions across, before the actual animation even starts.

When we look at this animated movie storyboard example Aladdin, you'll notice Jasmine's curiosity of the magical carpet. Jasmine puts her faith in Aladdin and joins him for a magic carpet ride.

Notice how the characters interact with each other, the blocking in the scene, and even the camera movement that they had in mind.

Now compare that with how this (now famous) scene from Aladdin played out:

Animated Movie Storyboard Examples

3. WALL-E

WALL-E is an animated film classic, but also exhibits one of the best storyboard examples for film. What you'll notice in this film storyboard example is the very first interaction with Eve and how the comedic timing plays out. In addition to this, notice how the emotions are coming across from WALL-E's eyes; the storyboarding process is where you can really "feel" for your protagonist.

Now watch how this scene actually played out in the final product:

With StudioBinder's digital storyboard software, you can upload your own sketches or upload reference images for your scene. You are not required to be a master storyboard artist in the slightest bit! That way, you can preview your storyboard, much like an animation before the animation begins.

Musical Movie Storyboard Examples

4. Moulin Rouge

There may not be a movie as grand and grandiose as Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge and you get that sense even from the movie storyboards. We have epic scale, exaggerated characters and reactions, a frenetic montage, and a sense of rhythm. If the quality of a storyboard is judged based on how closely it captures the final result, this might be a contender for greatness.

When it comes to movie storyboard examples in a musical genre, Moulin Rouge really takes the cake.

Action Movie Storyboard Examples

5. Edge of Tomorrow

These storyboard panels from Edge of Tomorrow thrive in their detail and the dynamism of the scene. When you can get this kind of detailed action and movement out of your storyboard, it gives everyone on your team a very visceral sense of how the scene should be captured and edited without you having to explain it.

The true power of storyboards happens when the images tell the complete story like this movie storyboard example does.

Action Movie Storyboard Examples

6. Ant-Man

Not many movie storyboard examples tackle the interplay of size and scale like Ant-Man but these storyboards do a fantastic job getting that across. The details are all there as well as the dynamic angles and compositions to make Scott's interactions initially threatening but eventually triumphant.

When it comes to examples of movie storyboards, you really must consider the "vision" of the scene, from camera movement to camera angles.

Superhero Action Film Storyboard Examples

7. Logan

One of the more difficult aspects to get across in a storyboard is motion and speed. In this example from Logan, we get both of those captured and displayed beautifully. The savagery of the attack coupled with a sense of speed and motion. When considering film storyboard examples in action, this one makes the list.

Action Movie Storyboard Examples

8. The Towering Inferno

When you mix practical effects with miniature work and stunts, you have to involve multiple teams who clearly understand what is required in a scene. This storyboard film example from The Towering Inferno captures the level of detail that each department needs to fully understand what's needed.

Also, the high contrast really adds to the intensity and danger of the scene which is also important to communicate to the team.

Action Movie Storyboard Examples

9. Salt

One element that really works in this storyboard from Salt is the use of descriptions that clearly explain what action is happening in each panel. As this is clearly a big and dangerous stunt, making sure that everyone involved in multiple departments understands precisely what will happen is benefits both the logistics/planning as well as safety.

In StudioBinder, you'll notice that you can even include a text box that can be stylized to match the visuals in your story. You can mention key details about the scene, camera angles, aesthetics, etc.

Action Movie Storyboard Examples

10. Pacific Rim

These storyboards from Pacific Rim really illustrate the power of color, not just to make the images pop but to help separate scenes and locations, especially in a frenetic montage sequence like this. Notice, too, how two panels are used to capture a single motion of the monster's tail from right to left, suggesting the epic scale of the battle too large to be contained in a single image.

Superhero Action Movie Storyboard

11. Spider-Man 2

Impacts, motion blur, and even a sense of sound design all come across in these storyboards from Spider-Man 2. This iconic battle between Dr. Octopus and Spidey feels like it jumps off the page. The first step to achieving dynamic action on screen is to achieve it on the page so that every on the team understands what a sequence like this will involve. A massive set piece like this requires a massive amount of prep work, starting with the storyboard.

Sci-Fi Movie Storyboard Examples

12. Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

When your subject doesn't emote or use body language like humans, it can be tricky to get their performance across.

Consider this movie storyboard example from Dawn of the Planet of the Apes where Caesar's actions and performance are crafted on the storyboard. Then, if you're working with a live animal on set or even to help guide the motion capture (mocap) actor's performance, these storyboards become a crucial reference point.

Sci-Fi Movie Storyboard Examples

13. Inception

As we've seen, storyboards are essential when tackling any sort of action sequence. This hotel room corridor fight from Inception is a great movie storyboard example. The orientation of the actors in relation to the room needed to be ironed out in advance, especially considering that the rotating set required a great deal of timing and rehearsal to keep the actors and stunt team safe.

Thriller Film Storyboard Examples

14. Parasite

Part of the greatness of the film Parasite is how it navigates different tones, from a dark comedy to a thriller, and back again. In this opening sequence, we get one of the more lighter, innocent moments as Ki-Tek attempts to find a Wi-Fi signal. Not only is each shot clearly presented, the style of the panels also suggests that same lighter tone.

When you consider the best storyboard examples for film, this one from Parasite does an incredible job with tone and pacing.

Thriller Movie Storyboard Example

15. Knives Out

If there's one thing we can learn from Rian Johnson's Knives Out storyboards is that artistic skill is secondary. As long as the storyboard clearly demonstrates the basic vision for your shots, stick figures and doodles will work just fine. This is incredibly valuable because with any storyboard examples for film, you don't need to be the best storyboard artist.

In this case, Marta is surrounded by knives and it clearly suggests what's actually happening in the scene -- everyone is out to get her.

In StudioBinder, you'll have the option to pull up the screenplay scene right alongside the main panel which will help provide more context for any storyboard you're building.

Horror Movie Storyboard Examples

16. Get Out

The Sunken Place sequence in Get Out is a fantastic use of abstract space, but how do you get that across in a storyboard? One way, as this movie storyboard example illustrates, is to use arrows to clearly delineate direction and movement in an other wise formless space. This is particularly important for the special and visual effects departments who will need to work together to pull a scene like this off.

Now watch how the entire scene actually played out from Get Out's film storyboard to the screen.

Horror Movie Storyboard Examples

17. Psycho

Alfred Hitchcock's plan for the shower murder in Psycho was always a fragmented and disorienting montage. Fragments of actions, constantly switching perspectives, and abstract violence designed to "suggest" more than "show." To pull a scene like this off, every one of these camera shots and angles was designed with meticulous detail in these storyboards by the legend Saul Bass.

Watch how this scene actually turned out from storyboard to screen.

Horror Film Storyboard Examples

18. Interview with the Vampire

Notice how the script beats play out in the storyboard. This is a fantastic example of a scene gets translated from script to storyboard, and how each tells the story. You can also see how background can be treated — lacking detail but still creating a mood. All the detail is reserved for the characters, capturing this shocking and visceral moment with strong compositions and shocking violence.

Drama Film Storyboard Examples

19. Ali

Composition is a key aspect to any good storyboard example for film. How you arrange the characters and angle the "camera," communicate much to both the actors and camera department. Take this storyboard from Ali where the variety of camera angles and compositions give us the sense of the fight's ebb and flow, when Ali is at his most powerful and dominating.

Drama Movie Storyboard Examples

20. There Will Be Blood

A scene like the oil derrick explosion in Paul Thomas Anderson's There Will Be Blood requires intense preparation because you have so many departments involved like stunts, special effects, production design, etc. Notice the details in the illustrations that give us a sense of place and how the actors and stunt team will be interacting with the set. This is valuable information every movie storyboard examples should contain.

Comedy Film Storyboard Examples

21. Austin Powers in Goldmember

In a musical sequence like this hilarious bit in Austin Powers 3, where choreography, cinematography, and editing need to work completely in sync, the storyboards need to be laser-focused. Each panel depicts the characters, the composition, the actions, and the camera movement with extreme clarity.

Blockbuster Movie Storyboard Examples

22. Forrest Gump

This film storyboard example from Forrest Gump is a great lesson in how to draw attention to the most important elements in a shot. Forrest and Johnson are brighter than the background characters so we still get a sense of the environment of the scene but our focus stays with our principles. This technique also applies to the punchline in the scene: Forrest's injured rear-end. This is one of the most famous movie storyboard examples from any drama film.

Blockbuster Storyboard Examples Movies

23. Gladiator

This sequence in Ridley Scott's Gladiator is a frenzied bit of action and these storyboards really capture the panic and aggression. Despite being somewhat fragmented narratively from panel to panel, the illustrations are clean and clear so that each shot is specifically designed and constructed. The best storyboard examples for movies can also help evoke the emotion of a scene, not just what's happening.

Vintage Drama Movie Storyboard Examples

24. Spartacus

For Spartacus, the Battle of the Appian Way sequence is nothing short of stunning. The full color and richly detailed storyboards not only gives us a clear perspective on each shot, we can feel the pacing for the final sequence come through. This is another valuable benefit of storyboarding: it's not only about individual shots but how those shots will play in context.

You might even bring your editor into the process so they can get a sense of how the scene will unfold. These famous movie storyboard examples should serve as an inspiration point to what is possible!

Vintage Drama Movie Storyboard Examples

25. The Sound of Music

Musical sequences will always benefit from storyboarding. When you take that much time to choreograph a sequence, why wouldn't take just as much time to plan out how that choreography will work on-screen? You can tell from this example from The Sound of Music that they took their time visualizing how this iconic sequence plays out. And when you watch the final version, you can tell just how much care was put in.