Ever notice that every blockbuster movie has the same fundamental pieces? A hero, a journey, some conflicts to muck it all up, a reward, and the hero returning home and everybody applauding his or her swag? Yeah, scholar Joseph Campbell noticed first—in 1949. He wrote The Hero with a Thousand Faces, in which he outlined the 17 stages of a mythological hero's journey.

About half a century later, Christopher Vogler condensed those stages down to 12 in an attempt to show Hollywood how every story ever written should—and, uh, does—follow Campbell's pattern. We're working with those 12 stages, so take a look. (P.S. Want more? We have an entire Online Course devoted to the hero's journey.)

Ordinary World

Geppetto's a kindly old woodworker. He doesn't have a family, but he has a close bond with his cat Figaro and fish Cleo. One night, Geppetto sees a wishing star and asks for his latest and greatest puppet, Pinocchio, to become a real boy.

Call to Adventure

Hearing Geppetto's wish, the Blue Fairy comes down from the heavens and brings Pinocchio to life. She tells him that she will complete his transformation into a human should he prove himself to be "brave, truthful, and unselfish." To that end, she hires a cricket named Jiminy to act as his conscience.

Refusal of the Call

Geppetto's overjoyed at this new development, and eagerly sends Pinocchio off to his first day of school the next morning. Unfortunately, Pinocchio is snagged by two con artists named Honest John and Gideon, who convince him to take a job with the Great Stromboli, a legendary puppeteer.

Meeting the Mentor

Pinocchio is a big hit at Stromboli's show that night, but he's horrified to learn that Stromboli now owns him. The jerk even locks him in a cage. Luckily, the Blue Fairy comes to the rescue, freeing Pinocchio and giving him advice for the rest of his journey.

Crossing the Threshold

Pinocchio rushes back home, but he's snagged once again by Honest John and Gideon. John and Gideon are now working for the Coachman, a shady character who brings disobedient boys to a place called "Pleasure Island" for reasons not yet known...

Tests, Allies, Enemies

Pinocchio befriends a kid named Lampwick (never trust a kid with a name like Lampwick) and together they indulge in Pleasure Island's plentiful debaucheries. As it turns out, however, this whole operation is simply a ploy by the Coachman to transform young kids into donkeys.

Yikes.

Lampwick fully transforms into a donkey, while Pinocchio only sprouts ears and a tail before he manages to escape.

Approach to the Inmost Cave

Pinocchio finally returns home, but Geppetto isn't there. Bummer. Luckily, a letter conveniently falls from the heavens saying that Geppetto was swallowed by a whale named Monstro while searching for Pinocchio. With that, our wooden pal ties a rock to his tail, jumps down to the ocean floor, and goes in search of Monstro.

Ordeal

After some looking, Pinocchio finds Monstro. He's a scary dude. Pinocchio tries to swim away, but he ends up getting consumed by the big galoot.

Reward (Seizing the Sword)

Geppetto and Pinocchio have a warm reunion, but Pinocchio quickly starts thinking of an escape plan. First, they build a fire. Once enough smoke builds up, Monstro begins to cough and our heroes are finally expelled from his stomach.

The Road Back

Geppetto and Pinocchio are on a raft, desperately trying to escape Monstro, but it looks hopeless. Eventually the raft is upended and Pinocchio selflessly pulls Geppetto to shore, even though it costs him his life.

Resurrection

Geppetto's crying over Pinocchio unmoving body. Suddenly, something amazing happens—Pinocchio comes back to life. And that's not all, folks—he also becomes a real human boy. The kid must've fulfilled the Blue Fairy's words.

Return With the Elixir

With that, the family is happily reunited. While they dance, Jiminy receives his own reward: a gold, star-shaped badge reading "Official Conscience."