Save the Cat Genre Tester

What are Blake Snyder's 10 story genres?

Save the Cat! groups every story into one of ten genres. Each has a clear premise and typical beat structure. Here is the full list with a short definition:

• Monster in the House. A monster (literal or metaphorical), a confined space, and a sin that brought the monster in. The stakes are primal: survive, don't get eaten. Examples: Alien, Jaws, Get Out, Fatal Attraction. Structure around confinement and escalation.
• Golden Fleece. A road, a team or buddy, and a prize,often the journey itself or what the hero learns. The external quest mirrors internal growth. Examples: Star Wars, The Wizard of Oz, Ocean's Eleven. Structure around waypoints and the team.
• Out of the Bottle. A wish, a genie, or a magical rule that changes reality. The fun is in the premise and the lesson learned when the magic ends. Examples: Liar Liar, Freaky Friday, Groundhog Day. Structure around the rule and its consequences.
• Dude with a Problem. An ordinary person in an extraordinary crisis. No superpowers,just grit, ingenuity, and survival. Examples: Die Hard, The Martian, Taken. Structure around escalating obstacles and a clear ticking clock.
• Rites of Passage. A life transition, ordeal, or coming-of-age. Illness, loss, divorce, growing up,the focus is on how the protagonist changes through the experience. Examples: Ordinary People, Kramer vs. Kramer. Structure around the stages of the ordeal.
• Buddy Love. Two people at the center: odd couple, romance, or friendship. The story is about the relationship,how they clash, bond, and change each other. Examples: Thelma & Louise, When Harry Met Sally. Structure around the relationship beats.
• Whydunit. A mystery to solve: who did it, or why did it happen? The audience follows the investigation and the twist. Examples: Chinatown, Se7en, Gone Girl. Structure around clues, red herrings, and the revelation.
• The Fool Triumphant. An underdog or "fool" whom everyone underestimates. They prove the world wrong and triumph. Examples: Forrest Gump, Legally Blonde, Rocky. Structure around the fool's growth and the moment they exceed expectations.
• Institutionalized. A group, family, or institution,and the cost of belonging. Stories about systems: joining, surviving, or escaping. Examples: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, The Godfather, Animal House. Structure around the group's rules and the price of loyalty.
• Superhero. A protagonist with extraordinary ability or responsibility. The weight of the gift (or curse) and how they use it defines the story. Examples: Gladiator, Batman, Schindler's List. Structure around the hero's code and the sacrifice they must make.

How to use this Save the Cat genre quiz

This free screenwriting genre quiz takes under a minute. Use it to clarify where your script fits before you outline or pitch:

1. Answer the six multiple-choice questions honestly,think about the main engine of your story, not every subplot.
2. At the end you get one of the 10 Save the Cat genres plus a short explanation and examples.
3. Use the result to choose the right beat sheet and structure (e.g. our Beat Sheet Calculator) and to pitch your script in one clear genre.
4. Share your result on social media if you like,the quiz is designed to be shareable and runs entirely in your browser.

Why knowing your script's genre matters

Readers, producers, and audiences have built-in expectations for each type of story. A Monster in the House script that wanders into a long road movie in the second act can feel broken; a Whydunit that forgets to plant clues will disappoint. When you know your genre, you can lean into its beats and avoid the pitfalls.

Blake Snyder's 10 genres are not the same as "comedy" or "drama",they describe the story engine (quest, relationship, mystery, survival, etc.). Pinning down your genre early helps you outline with confidence and pitch with clarity.