Save the Cat Beat Sheet Template
A free 15-beat sheet template built around the Save the Cat structure. Page targets inline, beat definitions inline, PDF export with one click. Auto-saves to your browser.
The Save the Cat beat sheet maps fifteen narrative turning points to specific page targets. This template walks you through every beat — opening image, catalyst, midpoint, all is lost, finale — and exports a clean PDF so you can take the structure into your draft.
A snapshot of the world before change. Sets tone and the protagonist's status quo.
Someone (often not the protagonist) states the thematic premise the story will test.
Introduce the protagonist, supporting cast, world, and the things-that-need-fixing.
The inciting event that disrupts the protagonist's world.
Protagonist resists the call. The question: should they go?
Protagonist commits — proactively enters the new world or new approach.
A secondary story (often romantic or mentor) that carries the theme.
The promise of the premise. The reason the audience came.
A false victory or false defeat — the stakes are raised.
External pressure increases. Internal flaws crack the team or protagonist.
The low point. A whiff of death — literal or metaphorical.
Protagonist faces the abyss before the breakthrough.
Theme synthesizes A and B story. Protagonist has a new approach.
Climax. The protagonist applies the lesson and resolves the central problem.
Mirror of the opening image. Proof that change has occurred.
Beats are auto-saved to your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
How to Use the Beat Sheet Template
Three steps from blank template to printable beat sheet.
Fill the 15 Beats
Move through the structure beat by beat. Each card has a page target and a one-line definition.
Sharpen the Midpoint
The midpoint and all-is-lost beats are load-bearing. Spend extra time here before drafting.
Export the PDF
Generate a clean PDF beat sheet you can paste into your script document or pin above your desk.
Why Use the Save the Cat Beat Sheet
The most widely used structural blueprint in modern screenwriting.
All 15 Beats Built In
Opening image, theme stated, setup, catalyst, debate, break into two, B story, fun and games, midpoint, bad guys close in, all is lost, dark night, break into three, finale, final image.
Page Targets Inline
Each beat shows the conventional page target so you can calibrate your script length while outlining.
Auto-Save
Your beat sheet saves to your browser automatically. Close the tab and return — your work is still there.
PDF Export
Generate a one-click PDF beat sheet to share with collaborators, contest readers, or development executives.
Works Offline
Once loaded, the tool works without a connection. Outline on a flight, on a train, anywhere.
Free, No Signup
No email, no paywall, no usage cap. Always available.
Beat Sheet Template FAQ
What is a Save the Cat beat sheet?
The Save the Cat beat sheet is a 15-beat story structure framework created by Blake Snyder. It maps the major narrative turning points of a screenplay — from opening image to final image — to specific page targets, giving writers a concrete blueprint for structuring a feature script. The system is widely used because it is concrete enough to follow and flexible enough to bend across genres.
How long is a Save the Cat beat sheet?
The original system is calibrated to a 110-page feature screenplay. The catalyst hits around page 12, the break into two around 25, the midpoint at 55, all is lost at 75, and break into three at 85. These targets compress or expand for shorter formats — a pilot or short film keeps the proportions but adjusts the page numbers.
What is the most important beat in the Save the Cat structure?
The midpoint is the load-bearing beat. It either delivers a false victory that masks a deeper problem, or a false defeat that reframes the protagonist's strategy. Stories that drift in Act II almost always have a weak midpoint. Sharpen this beat early and the rest of the structure falls into place.
Can I use Save the Cat for TV pilots and limited series?
Yes — with adjustments. Pilots typically run 12 beats instead of 15, since you do not resolve the central dramatic question in the first hour. Limited series often treat the entire arc as one Save the Cat structure, with each episode containing its own smaller beat sheet. The framework scales with thought.
Is the beat sheet template free?
Yes. There is no signup, no paywall, and no usage limit. Export to PDF as many beat sheets as you want at no cost.
Where is my beat sheet saved?
Your beat sheet is stored in your browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded to any server. If you clear browser data your beat sheet is gone — so export to PDF when you finish a session.
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