The 100+ Most Common Storytelling Clichés

I am always trying to be original as a writer, and not always succeeding. Sometimes it helps to take a look at the most common cliches and see which ones I can skip in my work, and which one I may need

Ready? Let's get started.

'The Sixth Sense'Credit: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The 100 Most Common Storytelling Clichés

The Classic Foundations

• The Chosen One: A hero destined by fate to save the world.
• Love at First Sight: Characters falling in love instantly without development.
• The Villain Monologue: Antagonists explaining their plan, allowing the hero to escape.
• The Final Battle: A high-stakes showdown determining the world's fate.
• Deus Ex Machina: An improbable event or character solving a hopeless conflict.
• The Mentor Dies: The wise guide perishes to force the hero’s growth.
• The Hero’s Journey: The standard cycle of adventure, trial, and return.
• The Misunderstood Villain: An antagonist with sympathetic origins or "good" intentions.
• The Happy Ending: All problems resolve perfectly for a "lived happily ever after" finish.
• The Damsel in Distress: A female character requiring rescue to drive the plot.

Character Archetypes

• The Twist Ending: A sudden revelation that has become predictable through overuse.
• The Sidekick: A secondary character used primarily for comedy or moral support.
• The Tragic Backstory: Traumatic past events used to garner instant audience sympathy.
• The Magical Artifact: A powerful object that serves as the story's primary goal.
• The Dead Parent: A hero motivated by the loss of one or both parents.
• The Prophecy: A foretold script of events that must come to pass.
• The Evil Empire: An authoritarian regime serving as the monolithic antagonist.
• The Hero's Sacrifice: A protagonist dying to ensure the mission's success.
• The Love Triangle: Romantic tension shared between three central characters.
• The Training Montage: Fast-paced preparation scenes set to uplifting music.

Plot Devices & Twists

• Unrequited Love: One character longing for another who does not return the feeling.
• The Unreliable Narrator: A storyteller who purposefully misleads or lacks the full truth.
• Forbidden Love: Romance blocked by social, racial, or cultural taboos.
• The Evil Mentor: A trusted teacher revealed to be the true antagonist.
• The Fake-Out Death: A character "dies" only to return later unharmed.
• The Villainous Hero: The supposed savior is revealed to be the villain.
• The Time Loop: Characters reliving the same period until a condition is met.
• The Betrayal: A shocking turn by a trusted ally to create drama.
• The Clueless Authority: Incompetent police or leaders who ignore the real threat.
• The Dead Love Interest: Killing a partner solely to motivate the protagonist.

Romantic & Narrative Tropes

• Voiceover Narration: A character explaining the plot directly to the audience.
• The Quest for Revenge: A hero driven exclusively by a desire for vengeance.
• The Meet Cute: An awkward or charming first encounter between love interests.
• The Pure Evil Villain: An antagonist who wants destruction without any clear motive.
• The Special Mark: A birthmark or symbol identifying the destined hero.
• Nerdy to Cool: A social outcast becoming popular through a makeover or event.
• The Ticking Clock: A strict time limit imposed to increase narrative tension.
• Fated Love: Characters destined to be together by supernatural forces.
• The Evil Twin: An identical sibling appearing to cause chaos or confusion.
• The Unlikely Hero: An ordinary person thrust into extraordinary circumstances.

Conflict & Resolution

• The Big Misunderstanding: Conflict caused by a simple lack of communication.
• Mentor Sacrifice: The guide dies specifically so the hero can escape.
• The Secret Relative: The revelation that the hero and villain are related.
• The Redemption Arc: A villainous character slowly turning toward the light.
• Amnesia: Memory loss used to delay a revelation or reset a character.
• The Lone Wolf: A protagonist who stubbornly refuses all help.
• The Secret Identity: A hero hiding their true self to protect loved ones.
• The Last-Minute Escape: Narrowly avoiding death through pure luck.
• The Final Showdown: The inevitable one-on-one fight between rivals.
• The Ragtag Misfits: A diverse group of outcasts forming an effective team.
• The Redshirt: An unnamed character killed off just to show a threat is real.
• The MacGuffin: An object everyone wants that has no real importance to the plot.
• Plot Armor: The hero surviving impossible odds because the story requires it.
• Enemies to Lovers: Two characters who hate each other eventually falling in love.
• The "Only One Bed": Forced proximity trope used to spark romantic tension.
• The Talking Animal: A non-human sidekick who provides sass or wisdom.
• Stormtrooper Aim: Highly trained villains who can never hit the protagonist.
• The Liar Revealed: A third-act conflict where a character's secret is exposed.
• The Power of Friendship: Defeating a god-like villain through emotional bonds.
• The False Protagonist: A character who seems like the lead but dies early.
• The Magical Minority: A supporting character with mystical powers who aids the lead.
• The Mary Sue / Gary Stu: A character so perfect they lack relatable flaws.
• The Red Herring: A clue or character designed solely to mislead the audience.
• Refusal of the Call: The hero initially rejecting the adventure out of fear.
• Superhuman Endurance: A hero fighting through wounds that would kill anyone else.
• The Tech Genius: A character who can hack any system in seconds.
• "It Was All a Dream": Ending a story by revealing none of it happened.
• The Mole: A hidden traitor within the hero’s inner circle.
• The Noble Savage: An indigenous character used as a moral or spiritual guide.
• In Love with the Best Friend: Long-term platonic friends realizing they want more.
• One Last Job: A retired professional forced back for one final mission.
• Heroic BSOD: A protagonist becoming catatonic after a traumatic revelation.
• Heel-Face Turn: A major villain suddenly joining the hero’s side.
• Face-Heel Turn: A major hero suddenly betraying everyone for the villain.
• The Cliffhanger: Ending a story on an unresolved, high-tension moment.
• The Dark Reflection: A villain who represents what the hero could have become.
• Infinite Ammo: Characters firing weapons for minutes without ever reloading.
• The Farm Boy Hero: A savior hailing from the most humble rural origins.
• Grumpy/Sunshine: A duo consisting of one cynical and one optimistic person.
• The Cavalry: An unexpected army arriving at the last second to win.
• Fridge Horror: A realization that occurs after the story that makes it darker.
• Chekhov’s Gun: An innocuous object mentioned early that becomes the solution.
• The Arrogant Noble: A wealthy antagonist who underestimates the "lowly" hero.
• The Three Trials: The hero must complete exactly three tasks to succeed.
• The Tournament Arc: The plot pausing for a structured combat competition.
• The Body Swap: Characters switching minds to learn empathy for each other.
• Parallel Worlds: A "What If" version of the story in another dimension.
• Accidental Hero: Someone who saves the day while trying to do something else.
• The Inner Demon: A character literally or figuratively fighting their dark side.
• The Secret Society: A hidden group that has controlled history for centuries.
• "I'm Getting Too Old for This": The grizzled veteran archetype nearing retirement.
• The Beach Episode: A sudden break in the plot for characters to relax.
• Monster of the Week: A new, unrelated threat appearing in every installment.
• The Cold Sweat Wake-up: A character bolting upright in bed after a nightmare.
• "He's Standing Right Behind Me": A character insulting someone who is listening.
• The Found Family: Strangers who become a tighter unit than biological kin.
• The Invincible Villain: An antagonist who cannot be hurt until a specific weakness is found.
• The Last of Their Kind: A hero whose motivation stems from being a sole survivor.
• The Mirror Match: The hero fighting a villain with the exact same powers.
• The "We Are Not So Alike" Speech: The villain trying to prove the hero is just as bad.

Summing It All Up

These are the major cliches, but I bet you have others to add. I want to hear about the ones that drive you crazy.

Let me know what you think in the comments.