Every good story begins with a moment that changes everything. Whether in books, plays, or films, the inciting incident is crucial in capturing the audience’s attention and giving the story a purpose.
In this blog post, we’ll explore what an inciting incident is, its different types, and some of the best examples in original storytelling.
Let’s go.
What Is An Inciting Incident?
An inciting incident is an event that disrupts the protagonist’s ordinary world and forces them to take action. It is the catalyst that sets the story into motion and introduces the central conflict. Without this crucial moment, the narrative would lack direction and urgency.
It is often defined as the event that sparks the protagonist’s journey, usually occurring early in the story. It can be anything from receiving shocking news to witnessing a life-changing event.
Essentially, it answers the question: “Why does this story happen now?”
Types of Inciting Incidents
Not all inciting incidents are the same. Different types serve various storytelling purposes. Also, there’s a difference whether it’s a short film or a full-length movie. In a short film, it typically occurs within the first 1-3 minutes. In a full-length, it usually occurs around the 10-15 minute mark but sometimes earlier or later depending on the pacing.
There are three main types of inciting incidents:
Ambiguous Inciting Incident
- The exact moment that triggers the story is unclear or open to interpretation.
- Example: In Inception, it’s debatable whether the true inciting incident is Cobb’s wife’s death or the offer to plant an idea in someone’s mind.
Causal Inciting Incident
- The inciting incident is deliberate and directly results from a previous event, creating a clear cause-and-effect chain.
- Example: In Gladiator, Maximus refuses to support Commodus, leading to his family’s murder and his enslavement.
Coincidental Inciting Incident
- The protagonist is thrown into the story due to sheer coincidence or accident.
- Example: In The Bourne Identity, Jason Bourne is fished out of the ocean with amnesia, setting him on a path to uncover his past.
The are other variations, however, they all fall under the three above.
Inciting Incident Examples
To better understand how inciting incidents function, let’s look at some examples:
- Eyes Wide Shut: Alice admits to fantasizing about a naval officer, ruining Bill’s perception of their marriage, and sending him on a night-long journey of sexual exploration.
- The Godfather: Don Corleone refuses to help a drug dealer, leading to an assassination attempt on him. This forces his resisting son, Michael, into the family business.
- Fight Club: The Narrator meets Tyler Durden on a flight. While the Narrator’s dissatisfaction with his consumer-driven life is already evident, it’s Tyler who introduces the philosophy that ultimately changes everything.
- Amadeus: Salieri hears the music of the young Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Salieri is immediately struck by Mozart’s genius and is both awed and deeply threatened by his talent.
- Cold War: Wiktor and Zula, meet for the first time during an audition for a folk music ensemble in post-World War II Poland. Wiktor, a music director, is immediately captivated by Zula, a young woman with a troubled past, who is chosen to join the group.
Final Words on The Inciting Incident Definition and Examples
Without the inciting incident, there’s no reason for the protagonist to begin a journey. Understanding its role and variations helps screenwriters craft engaging narratives that hook audiences from the beginning.
There are experimental movies without a precise inciting incident but that’s logical for such a genre. However, even experimental films have a conflict since without one there’s no story.
So, the next time you watch a film, pay attention to that one moment that changes everything – that’s the inciting incident in action!
framebyframecritic 
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