Save the Cat Beat Sheet
Use a visual Save the Cat beat sheet template to map 15 screenplay beats, structural mirrors, and Act Two pressure before drafting.
Commercial genre films and screenplays with a clear protagonist arc.
Interactive preview
Drag the beats, pan the canvas, or zoom in
Map the turning points first.
Put these beats down before you write the scene list. The order matters less than the connections: what causes what, what mirrors what, and where the story changes direction.
- 01Opening Image
- 02Theme Stated
- 03Setup
- 04Catalyst
- 05Debate
- 06Break into Two
- 07B Story
- 08Fun and Games
- 09Midpoint
- 10Bad Guys Close In
- 11All Is Lost
- 12Dark Night of the Soul
- 13Break into Three
- 14Finale
- 15Final Image
From framework to working map.
- 01
Place the 15 beats on the canvas before writing scenes.
- 02
Draw links between mirrored beats, especially opening image to final image.
- 03
Check whether the B story changes the protagonist before the finale.
Best fit
- Feature screenplays
- Commercial genre stories
- Writers who need a clear Act Two roadmap
Watch for
- Can feel mechanical if every beat is treated as a rule.
- Needs adaptation for ensembles and passive protagonists.
A little context before you map.
The Save the Cat beat sheet is a 15-beat screenplay structure popularized by Blake Snyder. It breaks a feature film into specific story moments such as Catalyst, Midpoint, All Is Lost, and Finale.
A visual map shows relationships that a list hides, including the opening and final image mirror, theme payoff, and how the B story changes the main plot.
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