Seven FIlm Plots

Overcoming the Monster – Man VS Monster - The hero must defeat real or imagined 'monsters' to re-establish the status quo - often by absorbing the 'evil' into his or her own worldview. Examples of this are Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.

Rags to Riches - Often the hero is plucked from seeming obscurity and given great wealth and power only to have it taken away. The story revolves around the protagonist's struggle to re-acquire his or her new status, through the defeat of a newfound set of obstacles.

The Quest  - The hero must overcome obstacles, recruit the help of friends, defeat enemies and save the world, possibly using a magical or symbolic artefact.

Voyage and Return - The defeat of a monster (often a metaphor for the hero's failings) is a mainstay of this plot. Back to the Future is an example of this.

Comedy - Comedy is often about using the absurd to make observations about people at their worst. The best comedy uses its own internal logic to highlight inappropriate behaviour that can lead to the same kind of resolution as the Rebirth plot. 

Tragedy - Usually centres around a high status character who is forced into a situation where he or she is downtrodden and the important things in life are taken. Often this is used as a starting point for a story, leading to revenge, justice, enlightenment, liberation etc. The Godfather series is an example of this.

Rebirth – Man VS Himself - where a protagonist must learn that adherence to his or her past life and values will not help growth or change. The largely symbolic 'death' of the hero usually occurs at around the mid to three-quarter point in the story, from which he/she rises again, stronger, wiser, and in control, usually with a mind-set that enhances the world around him or her. A Christmas Carol is a prime example of this as Scrooge gets visited by 3 ghosts of Christmas and starts to change his ways.