What makes an action movie great? It’s not just explosions—it’s timing, choreography, editing, and story stakes. From incredible set pieces to beautifully-choreographed action to amazing one-liners, action is a popular film genre for a reason. Popular action movies take all shapes and forms. This list includes everything from superhero movies to Hong Kong action thrillers and even a couple of Star Wars flicks thrown in for good measure.And with so many new action movies hitting theaters and streaming platforms, it’s a perfect time to revisit classics that shaped the genre. So buckle up—here comes the definitive ranking of the best action…
A storyboard is a graphic layout that sequences illustrations and images to tell a story visually. It is the backbone of visual storytelling, helping filmmakers, marketers, and educators communicate their ideas clearly and effectively.Continue reading 46 Storyboard Examples from Movies, Animation, and Games (with FREE Storyboard Templates)
Whether you searched them out yourself, or whether someone recommended you “work on structure,” all writers have come across a screenplay structure in their day. Some swear by it, others liken it to creative cancer. The truth is, whether you like them or not, there is value in understanding what the formulas are and how they are used. Today, we’ll learn the screenplay structures you need to know, how they work, and run a few scripts through them.Continue reading Screenplay Structure Examples — A Guide for Screenwriters
The 2016 linguistically-focused sci-fi thriller Arrival is one of five excellent films directed by Denis Villeneuve in as many years. Few filmmakers can maintain such high levels of both quality and quantity as Villeneuve. Join us in our Arrival movie analysis.Continue reading Arrival Explained: Villeneuve’s Balance of Fear & Intrigue
The Usual Suspects script won the Oscar for best writing and launched the careers of both Christopher McQuarrie and Bryan Singer. The movie is currently listed at #32 on the IMDB top 100. While the ending will go down in history as one of the great twist endings, the entire script is exceptional. From the characterizations to the flashback structure, and that "tough-as-nails" dialogue that never gets old. We'll break it down including story beats, dialogue, and that insane ending.Continue reading The Usual Suspects Script: Plot, Quotes, and Screenplay PDF Download
Best of...20102011201220132014201520162017201820192010-2019 2014 was a year of innovations. Boyhood was shot over the span of 12 years to show the young actor growing up in real-time. Birdman brought the concept of a one-shot (or seemingly one-shot) film to the masses. But it was also the year where entertaining blockbusters (Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes to name two) held artistic merit and were worthy to stand among Oscar contenders.Looking back on the past decade, 2014 was a great year at the movies. As part of StudioBinder’s ongoing series to examine films of the…