Lots of Log Lines

A bunch of sample log lines from recent films.

By Ken Aguado and Doug Eboch

In our travels as the “pitch guys,” we are often asked to talk about log lines. It’s not hard to see why. Of all the kinds of pitches, the most widely-used in the film and TV business is the humble log line. Usually two or three sentences, running 50 words or less, it’s the briefest answer to the question, “So, what’s it about?”

But for all their brevity, crafting a good log line can be surprisingly difficult. In our book, The Hollywood Pitching Bible (now in its 4th edition), we spend 20 pages on the topic, which is a good indication of how much thought goes into creating a good one. So, if you’re new to log lines, read our book.

Below are some examples of log lines from recent movies. We’re doing existing movies because our examples will only be helpful if you know the story and thereby can understand the choices we’ve made. But before you read these samples, we need to give you a few caveats, so hang in there. This is important.

• The following are what we call “stand alone” log lines — the most complete versions of log lines. These log lines assume they must “stand alone” as the entire pitch. If all you are pitching is a log line, these are the Cadillacs of log lines. If you know these films, sure, there might be simpler log lines, but try to imagine if the films didn’t exist. What would the listener need to know? This is one tricky aspects of pitching. Because you know your story so well, it’s sometimes hard to imagine what the listener doesn’t know. We wrote these log lines as if we were pitching them as our original ideas, and so took nothing for granted. We tried to balance clarity with brevity.
• Even when the movie is based on famous underlying material, we assumed that the listener was unfamiliar with that material. That said, information related to a story being based on a true story or a famous book (or other I.P.) is often included in log lines because it’s valuable in Hollywood.
• You will see we included the MPAA rating. Of course, all these existing films were rated by the MPAA. But remember that we are presenting these log lines as if the films didn’t already exist and many pitches (especially writer pitches of film ideas) will include the intended MPAA rating. (But of course, you wouldn’t include the MPAA rating if the log line were intended for, say, a film festival submission, unless the film has actually been rated by the MPAA.) TV series pitches rarely reference an MPAA rating, but sometimes they do to convey tone.
• Lastly, these log lines are less about poetry and more about maximum clarity. We’ve included the word-count just for your reference, but of course it’s never included in an actual log line. Please leave us comments below, and let us know what you think.

“American Hustle” is an R-rated crime drama, based on the 1970’s Abscam scandal. A small-time, con artist and his seductive lover are forced by the FBI into a dangerous sting operation involving political corruption and the Mafia. (38 words)

“Arrival” is a PG-13 science fiction drama. When mysterious extraterrestrial ships arrive on Earth, a lonely female linguist races to decipher the alien’s strange language to prevent a global war. But as she begins to understand the aliens, she begins to understand the painful memories that haunt her. (48 words)

“Baby Driver” is an action crime drama. A talented, young getaway-driver dreams of a better life after one last heist. But when the job goes awry, he must flee both the police and his dangerous criminal partners. (37 words)

“Bad Moms” is an R-rated comedy. Three over-stressed suburban moms have a life-changing experience when they ditch their responsibilities for a night and go on a bender. But their new free-spirited lifestyle puts them on a collision course with the perfectionist moms in the PTA. (45 words)

“Big Hero 6” is a PG animated superhero film set in the future. After the death of his older brother, a young robotics genius befriends a child-like medical robot. Together they team up with a group of robotics students to defeat the evil scientist who may have killed the older brother. (51 words)

Based on a true story, “Captain Phillips” is a PG-13 thriller. In 2009, Captain Phillips, his crew, and cargo ship are hijacked and taken hostage by desperate Somali pirates. But when negotiations break down, the resourceful captain struggles to keep himself and his crew alive. (45 words)

“Cinderella” is a PG romantic fantasy. In a medieval kingdom, a poor young woman is magically transformed into a fine lady for one night, catching the eye of the Prince. With no idea who she is, the Prince sets out to find his true love.” (45 words)

“The Conjuring” is an R-rated supernatural horror film. When a family experiences disturbing events at their remote farmhouse, they hire a married couple of paranormal investigators. But as the terror escalates, the couple must risk a dangerous exorcism to rid the house of its evil spirit. (46 words)

“Creed” is a PG-13 sports/drama. The illegitimate African-American son of the late heavyweight boxing champ seeks to make his own name as a prizefighter. But when his father’s former boxing rival agrees to train him, the young fighter will have to overcome old and new emotional challenges to become a champion. (51 words)

“Deadpool” is an R-rated superhero comedy. After a foul-mouthed mercenary is subjected to an experiment that gives him the power to heal almost instantly, he sets out to rescue the woman he loves and get revenge on the man who nearly destroyed his life. (44 words)

“Dr. Strange” is a PG-13 superhero fantasy film. After a brilliant surgeon’s hands are damaged, his search for a cure leads him into a world of sorcery and alternate realms. But when an evil entity attacks from another dimension, the surgeon is drawn into the battle to save the Earth. (50 words)

“Edge of Tomorrow” is a PG-13 sci-fi/action film, set in the near future. When Earth is attacked by monstrous aliens, a cowardly public relations officer becomes the key to defeating the invaders when he finds himself re-living the same battle over and over again. (44 words)

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them” is a PG-13 action/fantasy film set in New York City in the 1920s. When a visiting British wizard accidently releases several dangerous magical creatures, he must recapture the creatures before they harm anyone and reveal the secret magic world to the public. (49 words)

“Frozen” is a PG animated family adventure. When a magical princess accidentally curses her kingdom with eternal winter, her spunky younger sister must team with a rugged mountain man to save the princess and the kingdom. (36 words)

“Get Out” is an R-rate horror film. When a young black photographer meets his white girlfriend’s parents at their remote estate, bizarre and racially-tinged events unfold. The photographer suspects he is the subject of a deadly plot and must uncover the truth before it’s too late. (46 words)

“Gone Girl” is an R-rated psychological thriller, based on a bestselling novel. An unfaithful husband is suspected of murder when his seemingly-perfect wife disappears. But as the husband tries to prove his innocence, he uncovers disturbing things about the woman he married. (42 words)

Based on a true story, “Hidden Figures” is a racial drama set in the early 1960s. A group of talented black women overcome segregation and misogyny by using their incredible math skills to help the early NASA space program. (39 words)

Based on the bestseller, “The Hunger Games” is a PG-13 sci-fi adventure film set in a dystopian future. A resourceful but unassuming teenage girl must learn to be a warrior when she is forced to compete in a televised fight to the death against twenty-three other teenage competitors. (48 words)

“Identity Thief” is an R-rated comedy. A mild-manner accountant’s life is ruined when his identity is stolen by a kooky female thief. To clear his name, the accountant must find the thief and bring her to justice while being chased by an assortment of unsavory characters. (46 words)

“Inside Out” is a PG animated comedy set inside the mind of a troubled teenage girl where each emotion is personified. But when the girl becomes depressed and runs away from home, the emotion “Joy” must go on a dangerous quest through the girl’s mind to restore emotional balance. (49 words)

“Interstellar” is a PG-13 sci-fi adventure. With the Earth dying, a reluctant astronaut who is also a single father embarks on a journey to explore a mysterious wormhole and find a new home for humanity while fighting to keep his promise to his daughter that he will return. (48 words)

“Kingsmen: The Secret Service” is an R-rated action comedy. A tough British street kid is recruited into an elite aristocratic spy organization called the Kingsmen. But when the Kingsmen are betrayed, the street kid must save the world from a genocidal tech genius. (43 words)

“La La Land” is a PG-13 classic Hollywood musical romance set in Los Angeles. A struggling actress and aspiring jazz pianist fall deeply in love, but find that balancing their career aspirations and true love ain’t so easy. (38 words)

Based on real events, “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” is a PG-13 historical drama about an African-American man who served as White House butler for eight US Presidents. Over the course of 30 years, the Butler and his family must survive the sweeping social changes confronting America. (46 words)

“The Lego Movie” is a PG animated comedy/adventure set inside a fantastic world of Lego toys. A cheerful but ordinary construction worker is mistaken for the “chosen one” and embarks on a quest to save the Lego universe from an evil tyrant bent on stifling creativity and mobility. (48 words)

“Lucy” is an R-rated sci-fi action film. An American woman living abroad accidently ingests an experimental drug when forced to be a drug mule. But when the drug gives her superhuman abilities she tries to understand what’s happening to her, while evading capture by the dangerous gang that gave her the drug. (52 words)

“Maleficent” is a PG-13 action fantasy, based on the story of Sleeping Beauty from the evil queen’s point of view. When she is jilted in love, young Maleficent casts an evil spell on the daughter of her lover. But she begins to reconsiders her evil ways when the young lady falls under her care. (54 words)

“The Martian” is a PG-13 science fiction survival drama. When a resourceful astronaut is accidentally left behind on Mars with no supplies, it will take all his courage and scientific knowledge to survive until a rescue mission can arrive. (39 words)

“The Maze Runner” is a PG-13 sci-fi thriller set in the future. A teen boy is trapped in a community surrounded by a colossal maze structure, built by unknown captors. The teen must prove his ability as a “runner” when he joins an elite group of teens who search for a way out of the ever-changing, deadly maze. (58 words)

“Pacific Rim” is a sci-fi action film set in the near future. When giant monsters from the ocean overrun the world, mankind builds giant piloted robots to battle the beasts. A top robo-pilot mourning the loss of his co-pilot must train an inexperienced young woman as his new co-pilot to save the world. (51 words)

“The Revenant” is an R-rated survival drama set in 1823. After a trapper is mauled by a bear in a frozen wilderness, his companions kill his son and leave the trapper for dead. Summoning unimaginable will, the trapper traverses the hostile terrain to seek revenge on his betrayers. (48 words)

“The Ride Along” is PG-13 buddy comedy. A fast-talking, high school security guard gets in over his head when he accompanies his girlfriend’s street-cop brother investigating a dangerous international smuggler. (30 words)

“Split” is a PG-13, psychological horror film. When an introverted teenager is taken prisoner by a deranged man with multiple personalities, she must befriend his benign personalities to help her escape before his murderous personality emerges. (36 words)

“Spy” is an R-rated action comedy. When every CIA agent’s cover is blown, a dowdy, inexperienced female analyst must transform herself into a super-spy to stop a glamorous female arms dealer in possession of a nuclear bomb. (37 words)

“Straight Outta Compton” is an R-rated musical drama about the rise and fall of the 1980s rap group NWA. Five young black men from tough Compton, California struggle with gangs, the police, and a shady music business when they form a popular but controversial rap group. (46 words)

“Suicide Squad” [2016 version] is a PG-13 action/fantasy film. When a supernatural creature threatens earth, a secret government agency recruits a team of super-villains to save the planet. But getting these dangerous criminals to work together soon proves to be the biggest challenge. (49 words)

Based on a true story, “Sully” is a PG-13 drama. After a veteran airline pilot and his passengers survive a miraculous landing in the Hudson River, the pilot must defend his actions when he becomes the target of an FAA investigation. (41 words)

“This is the End” is an R-rated supernatural comedy set in Hollywood. The good times come to the end for a group of shallow Hollywood actors who must fight to survive when the world is gripped by a global apocalypse — the Rapture. (42 words)

Based on the inspirational true story, “Unbroken” is a PG-13 World War II drama about survival and courage. When US Olympian Louie Zamperini’s bomber is shot down during a mission, he must summon unprecedented determination to survive shark infested waters and then prolonged brutal capture in a Japanese POW camp. (50 words)

Based on a true story, “The Wolf of Wall Street” is an R-Rated black comedy about the rise of an ambitious young stockbroker in the late 80s. But when the broker’s lavish lifestyle and criminal excess soon attracts the attention of the FBI and he must fight for everything he’s built. (51 words)

“Wonder Woman” is a PG-13 superhero, action/fantasy set during WWI. A magical warrior princess raised on an isolated island teams up with a dashing American spy to defeat an evil god, whom she believes is behind the war. (38 words)

“World War Z” is a PG-13 Sci-Fi adventure film. A UN Employee must leave his family to help stop a Zombie apocalypse. Racing against time, he travels the world to find the origins of the deadly pandemic that threatens to destroy humanity. (42 words)

“Zootopia” is a PG animated mystery set in a city of civilized animals. A little bunny fulfills her big dream of becoming a cop. But to prove her worth, she must team with a con artist fox to expose a criminal conspiracy that causes animals to go wild. (48 words)

Please let us know what you think.

Ken Aguado is an Emmy-winning producer, screenwriter and author. His most recent films are “Miracle on 42nd Street” and “An Interview with God,” which he also wrote. He is also the co-author of The Hollywood Pitching Bible, with screenwriter Doug Eboch. You can follow Ken on Twitter @kaguado.