11 Types Of Conflict To Add Interest To Your Screenplay

Conflict is defined as the act of two characters (or entities) with oppositional viewpoints challenging each other until one of them ostensibly wins by the end of the story. They may also both lose or both win. Sometimes, it’s more about the struggle of trying to achieve a result.

It is the backbone of drama because it drives the narrative dynamics of a story while we learn more about what motivates each character to make their respective choices and take definitive actions. Conflict creates tension, suspense, excitement, and activates both characters and audiences as they track who has the upper hand at various stages in the story.

Conflict also explores and leaves a thematic residue inviting audiences to discuss the plot and final outcome of the story in relation to how it aligns with their personal moral and ethical codes.

Conflict also ranges in intensity from the high-stakes survivalist battle to save the world in Alien and World War Z to the subtle, percolating angst in relationship canvases like Tár. Even sports movies like Creed or King Richard require thematic substance to supplement the white-knuckle action on screen.

In its broadest narrative terms, conflict is divided into two main silos – INTERNAL and EXTERNAL. Good films have one. Great films have both which work in tandem. External conflict is arguably the easier to write because it is the HOW of the conflict. Internal conflict is the WHY. Both matter.

This article explores some key types of conflict that writers may use in their stories.

1) Moral

Morality refers to a character’s personal or collective values and beliefs which categorize something as being either right or wrong. Although such stories like Boy Erased dabble in the morally gray are of conversion therapy, each character has a binary opinion on homosexuality.

Moral issues include contentious issues like same sex marriage, incarceration, or abortion. Morality is largely subjective and can be fixed or evolve over time.

A moral conflict arises when two main characters have diametrically-opposed worldviews battle it out to the conclusion of the story until either one wins, both win, or nobody wins. It can also arise when a character is faced with a moral dilemma and must choose between to equally bad options to achieve a higher good.

2) Limiting Beliefs

This comes under the umbrella of wo/man against themselves. Certainly, there will be numerous external factors fueling a character’s internal conflict such as family expectations, financial situation and time constraints, but ultimately they are grappling with fear. The main character is typically triggered by a crisis of confidence and spends time to heal, decide what they want in life and go for it. Consider Leonardo Di Caprio’s character Rick Dalton’s in Once Upon A Time In Hollywood who struggles with his looming irrelevance on the screen.

Various underdog stories, where the unlikely winners make it big often through protracted periods of protracted ridicule and self-doubt of whether their visions can be realized. We Crashed tells the story of Adam and Rebekah Neumann “creating a new consciousness” in shared workspaces despite the ending of the TV series.

3) Physical

Physical conflict, as its name suggests, involves physical contact such as Rocky vs Creed. Brute strength is perhaps the easiest to show on screen – sheer stamina, grit and perseverance. The winners and losers are relatively easy to identify. But physical conflict must be accompanied by emotional growth to make these movies work. A good example is Randy Robinson convincingly portrayed by Mickey Rourke as the over-the-hill boxer desperate to stage a successful comeback and win back his daughter’s and his own self-respect.

4) Personality

This type of conflict is more than a meeting of strong minds and hearts. Many romantic comedies begin with two mortal enemies yelling and screaming at each other before they realize that it was all flirting and fall in love (again). Their differences are resolvable. Observe the familiar rom com trope of Julia Roberts and George Clooney in Ticket To Paradise who unite in acrimony to derail their daughter’s wedding. Both are strong-willed people who don’t easily change their minds – not initially at least. Until they do for theirs and their daughter’s happiness.

Whiplash, starring Miles Teller as Andrew, the diligent drummer in a music conservatory who is mentored by the tyrannical Fletcher (J.K. Simmons) to realize his full potential is a useful example.

5) Nature
 
This type of conflict relates to the ongoing battle between man and something bigger such as beasts or naturally occurring disasters. They demonstrate the cosmic nature of humankind and help us understand the fleeting nature of life and remind us of our place in the universe. King Kong, Godzilla, and San Andreas.

6) Supernatural

Any type of conflict that arrives outside the observable understandable world is classed as supernatural conflict. This includes ghosts, curses and other deities which typically clash with the natural human world. The Grudge and Insidious illustrate such movies.

7) Humanity

This type of conflict examines issues that are deeply philosophical and philanthropic. Are humans destined to always be at war with themselves? Are humans permanently hard-wired to be in conflict even if our existence is threatened. Terminator 3 effectively explores this theme.

8) Technological

This is man’s ongoing battle against machines, robots, AI and sentient technology. Themes often include the dangers of playing god and not fully understanding the potential of what they’ve created. The Matrix is a classic sci-fi example of sentient technology becoming harmful to mankind. Frankenstein and M3gan examine this in the horror genre.

9) Social

Think of stories surrounding social status. In Lady Chatterly’s Lover, Constance’s main conflict was the she had an affair with a groundskeeper – person of lower cast. Many high school movies such as Mean Girls rely on characters trying to beak into the popular crowd, the cool kids versus the nerds.

10) Destiny

This relates to the concept of fate. Is our future set or can we change it? can we fully control our lives or are decisions made for us. Destiny also touches on themes of whether our futures are set or can they be forged? There are also aspects of the reluctant hero or “The Chosen One” in stories like Lord Of The Rings where Frodo becomes the ring bearer.

11) Dystopia

These are often cautionary tales of what might happen if malevolent forces are left unchecked and eventually over-run our lives. Will normalcy return. The Handmaid’s Tale and The Hunger Games movies are classic examples.

Choosing The Best Conflict For Your Screenplay

It all comes down to the story you want to tell.

What are your characters’ deepest wants and needs? Which of these are conscious and which are subconscious?

What are their unconscious wounds and traumas that are evident in all their thoughts and actions?

The transition from the un/subconscious to the conscious best drives your character’s growth.

Screenwriters should include inner and outer conflicts to layer their screenplays.

Conflicts should be identifiable and of material consequence. A character navigating a new city and losing their bus ticket is more of an inconvenience than a conflict.

The stakes should be high and not easily overcome. They should also not be too easily overcome.

Conflicts should be integral to a character’s character and should test them throughout the entire story.