What Is a Logline?
A logline is a one- or two-sentence summary of a film. It has four parts: who (the protagonist), what happened (the event that starts it), what they have to do (the goal) and why it's hard (the obstacle or the price). A good logline makes you curious without giving away the ending.
Four parts
- Who: the protagonist, in one adjective ("a butcher drowning in debt").
- What happened: the concrete event that sets the story going.
- What they have to do: the goal they go after.
- Why it's hard: the obstacle in front of the goal, or the price of reaching it.
Length
Aim for 25–40 words and never go past two sentences. Carry concrete nouns and verbs, not adjectives and decoration.
Wrong / Right
"A man decides to change his life and sets out on a great journey." — No one in particular, no event, no obstacle.
"A butcher drowning in debt discovers his son is secretly working for the rival supermarket, and has to choose between his pride and his family."
Checklist
- Is the protagonist defined by a single adjective?
- Is there a concrete event that starts the story?
- Is the goal clear?
- Can you feel the obstacle or the price?
- Does it hold back the ending?
- Is it under 40 words?
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Last updated: September 14, 2026