Training Montages
Arguably the quintessential montage category, the Training Montage is typically a sequence focused on the protraganist as they undergo a transformation from mere mortal to heroic champion. VIEW

Investigation Montages
Sometimes the hero just needs to go to the library for awhile and do clever cross-referencing. Rather than subject the audience to hours of tedium, the director employs an Investigation Montage to collapse the research process into a few minutes of clever vignettes. VIEW

Building Montages
No other montage captures the value of organized society like the Building Montage does. Its basic feature is that something is being produced / fixed / renovated. Its a "hands on" montage which typically depicts a group of people doing varied tasks to make a plan come together. VIEW

Dating Montages
Almost always found in movies targeted to the female gender, Dating Montages capture the early courtship of two (or more) characters. It is usually carefree and light-hearted, alternating scenes of playful frolicking with poignent moments of deep emotional connection between the would-be lovers. VIEW

Flashback Montages
Sometimes even the best hero has a moment of crisis. Typically this crisis is of an inner turmoil nature, something has happened that shakes the hero to the core and makes him or her ponder if they are really on the right path. VIEW

Sports Montages
A hallmark of the "Team of Rejects Wins the Super Bowl/World Serious/State Championship", the Sports Montage is similar to the Training Montage but has several important differences. While the Training Montage is all "practice" before that real action begins, Sports Montages typically include scenes from actual competition where the funny mistakes are actually hurting the team. VIEW

Cleaning Montages
Sometimes you just need to grab a mop and get scrubbing. The Cleaning Montage is really that: our hero or heroes cleaning. It's different from a Building Montage in that nothing new is being made. And it's not really a Training Montage either, since who really needs training to take out the garbage? VIEW

Shopping Montages
The Shopping Montage (usually involving a female protagonist) is the pinnacle of self-improvement. We start with a mundane and boring character and finish with a beautiful goddess full of the self-confidence needed to take on the world. VIEW