Top 5 Plot Points of All Time
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ก.พ. 2025
- While every story is a little bit different, most of them have a few things in common. This week, we're looking at some of our favorite plot points ever.
The Picks:
Inciting Incident - The Social Network
First Act Break - The Matrix
Midpoint - Back to the Future
Second Act Break - Casablanca
Climax - Silence of the Lambs
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I still maintain that Back to the Future is one of the tightest Hollywood scripts ever written. It's a setup and payoff master class.
It was one of the best -- if not the best -- scifi/ family movie of the 1980s.
Absolutely, hands down, one of the best movies ever written. And not just because it's fun and likable, but exactly as you said - it's a master class in story structure; setup and payoff. You could teach an entire first year screenwriting course just by studying the plotting of this film.
Rene Cantu “Payoff” in regards to how screenwriters introduce some sort of story element earlier in the script and then bring it back later in a more effective manner.
Examples in BTTF would include Marty riding his skateboard around and hitching onto cars in the first act then using that as the basis for the awesome chase around the town square in the second act; also that he dreams of being a rock star and bombs out for the talent show auditions, then blows the roof off the school introducing everyone to rock and roll; also Lorraine reminiscing about how she and George fell in love, then Marty interrupting all of that, which became the second-biggest plot motivator of the whole story.
Bob Gale did an amazing job of making use out of all the exposition in the film and turning it all into crucial plot action later. That’s the basis of narrative “setup and payoff.”
@@anthonyt6649 I think you might need to watch this movie again, there was no sex but a very awkward moment nonetheless.
@@kamuelalee Yep. Very high in the list of "best ofs" of all time as well.
I think this is the first CineFix list where I have actually seen most of the movies mentioned.
Mr0strich...me too :)
It's a top 5, that's not an accomplishment. Celebrate with champagne when it's a top 10 list.
no 'The Mirror', either.
I think it may be because they were using well known examples or may be trying to be more modern (hopefully the former). Though I will certainly be coming back for this list because I have a hard time with judging the pacing of a movie.
Mainly because "The Mirror" has no plot points
So the perfect story from the CineFix Master Class...
Man gets heart broken
Man takes Red Pill
Man accidentally fucks up his timeline
Man realizes woman still loves him
Woman accidentally triggers the Boss Fight too early
Alright, now I just gotta fill this stuff in with dialogue and I've got me a movie.
I'd watch that!
You know what...that could actually work!
This sounds like Predestination w/ Ethan Hawke
84% on Rotten Tomaters. So pretty good.
that's pretty much already The Matrix
I thoroughly enjoy the amount of extra detail this channel goes through even though they only have to talk about the movies on the list. Just saying, guys, we notice and appreciate it
What about the Midpoint in "The Godfather", where Michael goes from being uninvolved with the family issues to becoming a murderer? I feel that at least it deserved a honorable mention.
I'm with you pop. Love that line. Has a good double meaning.
The Godfather nails everyone of these plot points.
Although they don't verbally point it out, they do show that clip at 2:11
The midpoint in Godfather is when Sonny gets killed though
@@jny5179 no that's more the beginning of the end. The actual midpoint is when they set up the meeting.
The moment when Clarice starts to realize it's actually Buffalo Bill is SO NERVE-WRACKING.
Arriving at Rivendell/The Council of the Ring is what a lot of screenwriting books describe as Sequence C. The first (but failed) attempt by the Protagonist to resolve the central conflict. Frodo thinks he’ll be able to go back after this point but he’s dragged farther into the being away from where he’d like to be.
Gandalf’s Death is the Midpoint, the twist that upsets the positive progress of Sequence D.
that moment in the silence of the lambs is one of the best pieces of directing ever
Editing. ;)
Writing.
Good shit, plot points make more sense to me now. Thanks CineFix!
"Speed" has the clearest plot points - First act in the elevator, second act on the bus, Third act in the subway.
Holy hell I remember that scene from Silence of the Lambs... In a movie full of twists and shocks, the moment you realize they're all à the wrong house and Clarisse is all alone is the most heart stopping.
i like how you guys cut in a scene from back to the future in black and white into the casablanca part to not break the tone of the black/white. good for the eyes ;)
i love how you started playing "as time goes by" as background music as you lead to #4, Casablanca. One of my favorite movies of all time.
I've been waiting for The Silence Of The Lambs to appear in one of these lists for a long time, and you couldn't have picked a better way to include its brilliance. Great video!
My favorite plot point is when everything clicks. Like there's a bunch of seemingly disconnected stories or timelines that suddenly all make sense and come together. Most memorably I think of "Crazy, Stupid, Love," and most recently, "Arrival." Both have a great moment where we finally get a full realization of what's going on
and interstellar
WatchMojo is McDonald's.
Cinefix is a fucking 5 star restaurant.
Jake G 2187 That's so accurate.
Jake G 2187 "Great Value"
*Michelin Star you mean
Perfect 👌
omg, your so right!
One of my favorite all in moments going into act two is in crazy stupid love when Ryan gosling asks Steve Carrell at the bar "so you in or are you out?" And Steve says "in"
Another great analysis! I love the 5 plot lines and movie pics for each. It was a little emotional watching it on the day Jonathan Demme passed away. Great job again Cinefix!
Silence is great. The icing on the cake for me is that she reloaded her weapon after she shoots Buffalo Bill.
This channel proves you can still make a video with the most interesting topics, unlike the most random ever in WatchMojo.
I really love it when you do lists like this. It's more than just the top scenes, but the list structure teaches you about the basic structure of storytelling and shows perfect examples of techniques used to tell a good story.
I was worried that this one wouldn't be good.
I was a fucking idiot.
Great picks!! One of my favorite "starting 2nd act" plot points has to be when Tom Hanks' agent Hanratty meets Leo Decaprio's Frank Abagnale in the motel room. It was a turn as startlingly unexpected as it was dramatic, and rocketed the movie into Act 2, changing the FBI's target from an unknown, sophisticated criminal mastermind into a teenage counterfeiting prodigy with a face but no name. Plus, the WALLET!!
Fantastic video!! So many people confuse dialogue for screenwriting. It isn't. It's the icing on the cake; the wrapping on the gift. You guys have done an excellent job at pointing out how story structure actually works, and you give perfect examples. Kudos. I'm bookmarking this for future use. Bravo!
That Silence of the Lambs scene definitely deserved to be here!
Just seeing that footage... It's the most tense I've ever felt from a movie.
This is why I love Cinefix.. They go so deep and actually know film. Not just make random Top 10 lists like other channels.
So I'll take this video essay to mean that The Lord of the Rings (Fellowship specifically) was perfectly plotted in every way? Good, my inner nerd approves ;)
It's the only way I'm coping that you all hinted at it the whole time and NEVER used it...
But, as always, very fun and enlightening video!
It's not that it's perfectly plotted, it's just that it follows the basic steps of the archetypal hero's journey to the letter. Because of this, the story structure has a lot in common with basically every adventure or action film ever.
Great, thanks for ruining my coping mechanism, Daniel.
I was positive they were going to end it with #1 being SOMETHING from the fellowship. Honorable mentions from everyone, and no placement on the list.
I assumed it it because they have been doing videos about the differences between the books and the movies, and therefore was very much on their minds.
There are so many classic moments throughout all three films I bet CineFix could include a moment from any movie on ALL of their lists. But that wouldn't be fair d:
Unwaveringly my favorite channel. Cinema can be so magnificent.
5 honorable mentions
1) The Godfather - where Michael decides to protect Vito from incoming assassins
2) Inception - when you find out that Fisher has had dream training before on the 1st dream level
3) Lawrence of Arabia - when Lawrence has to shoot the child
4) Do the Right Thing - when the music box gets hit by a baseball bat
5) Toy Story 3 - when you find out that Lotso is evil
Harrison Clark I think Fisher's dream training reveal should be at number 3 since it changes the plot drastically. It is not really a 'red pill' moment because the protanist doesn't have a choice to make.
5) is more actually a number 3 since it changes the plot, the choice was before considering the protagonist is Woody when he decides to leave and look for Andy. number 5 might be falling in the trash container.
I think when Michael kills Sollozzo in The Godfather is a far more prescient plot point than the hospital scene you mention here.
Idk if the Inception one should get an honorable mention. Maybe scene where Joker confronts the mob bosses in The Dark Knight
In "From Dusk Till Dawn" you know nothing about the REAL movie until the Plot.
From Dusk Till Dawn has the most drastic mid point shift I can think of. Awesome movie!
It's a strange movie mix of plots and feeling that works, amazing
Such a huge shift in tone and everything has some issues though :c I adored the first half and then haaaaaaated the second half.
Written by Tarantino as well!
@@lolaandjoe123 Yeah, me too. The 2nd half just seemed too silly for my taste.
I love you guys, please don't change, you teach us so much from film, I learned so much, things I wouldn't have thought of on my own, THANK YOU
Do my eyes deceive me? Have I seen every movie on a Cinefix list?! The end is near!
One of the absolute best movies for thinking about "plot points" or key moments in the story arc:
MIDNIGHT RUN
(This movie has to be on the Top Ten Overlooked Gems too).
Every single twist comes at just the right moment for the rhythm and momentum and it all builds to the last two minutes. Perfect.
Love your vids - every time I see one of these, there's always a movie in your list that makes me go, "I gotta see that one" and add it to my ever growing collection of movies I gotta see before I die.
patting myself on the back for having seen three of these
you should do a top 10 shortfilms video!!
La Jetee and Meshes of the Afternoon are great.
yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
yes
One for live-action & one for animation.
I nominate 12:01. Not the 1993 Jack Sholder dog, but the 1990 short directed by Jonathon Heap. 30 minutes of tight direction.
Could you do a "Top Man Against System Movies"
Blade Runner
The Dark Knight
Law Abiding Citizen
The Great Dictator
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Dead Poets Society
Silence
Very different movies, would love to see your opinion
Please tell me you just forgot to include Brazil in your list.
Theon Kinslayer this isn't watchmojo
Theon Kinslayer take that shit over to watch mojo.
Mr. Bean's Holiday
The movie Falling Down might fit, even though the guy fighting against society is a pretty clear villain
Seen 3/5 of these! A new record for me! 😂❤ Love that this channel keeps giving me more movies to watch
For me, the elevator scene in Drive(2011) is an amazing example of when the whole movie is summed up to one point that sets and settles all the conflicts in the movie.
i think this is your best structured list, though most of the picks are surprisingly populist (for Cinefix)
For me. Watching these videos is like going to film school. It teaches you how things work, so later i can use that information to better understand the medium. Thanks for all the knowledge that you've given me Cinefix. Keep up the good work.
Oh and could you make an entire video on why Citizen Kane is the greatest movie of all time.
And Then later one of Godfather, 2001, Pulp Fiction etc.
Oh what a good list! And an excellent way of showing how to use good plot points through a movie.
yeeeeees a cinefix video ,thank you guys , you are my favorite channel
Very well done! A mini movie/writing class. I may not agree with your final choices, there are so many movies to choose from, but well done!!
best top 5! love all the movies you picked! a lot of them were some of my favorite movies of all time.
Of course, you left out some of my favorite plot points. But you have brought some to my attention I never really thought about. Back To The Future's midpoint comes to mind. Good one.
Cinefix is the best...and so are the comments, almost always intelligent and on point.
I love that everything is connected to fellowship. It is easily among my favorite movies of all time
I'd like to see a list of family relationships in movies affecting the plot.
I feel like a more apt title would be "5 best instances of Joseph Campbell's Monomyth".
you guys are the amazing!!!!!!!!!! keep the amazing work up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
please some do some top ten videos for:
1) music scores
2) comedy characters
3) sequels
4) franchises
5) cameos
6) musicals
7) fourth wall breaks
your abstract "top____" videos are really great, love the content
I just finished watching "The Social Network", and then it gets featured in a new list by Cinefix. That movie was great
I feel like a honorable mention to 2001 when Hal doesnt open the pod bay door would have been satisfying for me
"What about that moment near the end of buddy comedies where the two characters decide they hate each other for no reason, mope for a few minutes, and then make up suddenly?"
...said no one ever
another great list no arguments here
Cinefix is love. Cinefix is life.
So surprised you guys missed the chance to mention The Third Man at #3. There's hardly a midpoint shift I can think of that was better executed or more impactful to the story. BTTF is perfect though.
You guys help me when I have trouble being enthusiastic about watching movies, thank you so much!
Chinatown's sister-daughter scene? Isn't that your no.1 movie? Oh well. The last one is among my favourite movies right alongside Chinatown so I can't complain.
Have to say for once its nice to see a more modern take on a list. I have seen every single one of these films (even Casablanca being old) and feel it was for the better. I hope you guys continue down this path, nice job.
I didn't even know what a plot point was until I watched your video. I've told more than 300 stories to film screenwriters: Avatar, Titanic, The Matrix, bits in Jaws, etc., etc.
This may actually be - in my opinion - the best Cinefix movie list yet.
I'm glad CineFix likes Fellowship of the Ring as much as I do, since it was used as an example for every part. :-)
I'm only 17 and I love movies! Specially older ones, to bad my parents don't but they are always surprising on how much know thanks to you guys!!! Keep up the great work!!
Brilliant informative video. Thanks Cinefix
I think Back to the Future makes use of derivations of its theme better than any movie in history. It's already supremely iconic, but they slide it in there at every pivotal moment as sort of a chime for when shit's hitting the fan and I love it.
This channel is incredible
You know that The Lord of the Rings is the best plot driven movie(s) of all time when it literally makes an honorable mention for every single category
Top Ten Movie Bar Scenes
Robert Wieder, Coyote Ugly dance/bar fights would be the entire video.
that's actually a great idea! two of my favorite bar scenes:
- the departed: cranberry juice scene
- inglorious basterds: the, you know, bar scene ;)
Kain9996 Any of the Cornetto Trilogy and their infamous pub scenes in each respective movie
A major part of the movie Predestination takes place in a bar. The dialogue is wonderful.
Top Gun
Good Will Hunting
Back to the Future is one of my all time favourite films but never gets a mention so I'm so very verryyy happy its got a mention here 😁
I appropriate that you choose more modern options to discuss. Showing a movie that I've already seen and explaining why it's impactful is more enjoyable than some obscure older movie.
this helped me understand structure way better than most other things! plot structure is still really hard to get my head around!
Fantastic video. Personally, I'm a huge fan of how that scene in Silence of the Lambs was set up.
The Goonies is my favorite movie of all time. When they get to the well and Andi decides to stay and basically risk her life is a good plot twist.
I'd love to see you take on movie music! Best scores, compilation soundtracks, use of pre-existing music in a film etc
As much as I love these lists, what will happen when you run out of good list ideas?
They will continue to make captivating lists about best movie shoes
and it will be better than watch mojo
Dorothy's ruby slippers better get an honourable mention at least!
crazy7chameleon it's called WatchMojo
They only make a video a week so it will take a very long time before they run out of ideas unlike other channels that make 5 lists a day on poorly-researched bullshit.
Awesome list!
REALLY good one Guys! Thanks so much!
Top 10 uses of Mise-en-scene
Ordet? The Grand Budapest Hotel?
Amelie: you can feel textures in the mundane objects
Dogtooth: minimal but effective use of them
Any Jackie Chain movies: this you know
I actually can't believe they haven't made one yet
Great!
I believe they called this one, "best set design"
These need to be more frequent.. I live for these.
@@pkdude5334 I know they work so hard for these masterpieces! And I love them so much, of course I would want more! Still do!
5:16 Such a great movie from 1985... er... 1988... er... 1985.
yeah lol what was that!?
Watching "The silence of the lambs" alone at night was a bad idea.
That was great. Will be watching it again!
Another fantastic video, thanks guys!
Could you do one about film *composers/scores* next?
Technically I would listen to Clint read the phone book... I have no interest in movie making, but have ended up watching all of his videos and learning a shitload of very cool stuff. Thanks dude.
great list you guys.
I love this channel!
I like this list! Thank you!👍👌😎😊
Great list! Surprisingly no hipster choices... XD
Excellent as always.
How about doing a list of the top Ensemble protagonists?
This would be movies like Breakfast Club, Lord of the Rings, excetera. This would not include movies where there is a group of people however one or two are really the main characters and the rest supporting characters.
What, no mention of "I am your father" as the 3rd act plot point? That could be one of the best 3rd act plot points in cinema.
Do you have a top climax list? Is The Good the Bad and the Ugly on it? Is there any climax actually better?
(Probably yes)
u guys killed this wow gj !!!
hello :) can you do something like "Best Chemistry between actors" or something along those lines??
excellent, guys!
You guys are extremely talented. And that's not an accident. ;)
I like this approach to watching and judging videos. This is something entirely different than the usual favourite bad-guy or worse sequels to movies.
I think my favourite plot point would be the Inciting Incident, it's the moment of anticipation for what will happen now we know the character and now we know the character will venture out, willingly or forced.
Obviously it depends entirely on how the plot point is being executed, but purely from a structural perspective, this is my favourite.
Could you do another one with a different thematic structure? This was great!
This is a video distinctly worthy of more study. More succinctly, how do these plot points work with the traditional Pyramid shape diagram of a plot? Thanks! Thumbs way up!