The Movie Magic Retrospective invites your team to review the last sprint like a film production: brainstorm new ideas, cut what’s not working, and celebrate what should continue for blockbuster results.

When to use this template

Use this retrospective when you want to encourage creativity and fresh thinking, especially after a sprint with major changes, mixed results, or when energy is low.

How to facilitate

Open with a short introduction, setting a playful movie-themed tone and explaining each column as a phase of filmmaking.

Give everyone a few quiet minutes to reflect and add notes to the three columns: New Scenes to Shoot, Scenes to Cut, and Keep Rolling.

Invite each team member to present their cards, encouraging details and film analogies for engagement.

Group similar cards and facilitate a discussion for each column, focusing on creative solutions, lessons learned, and celebrating successes.

Guide the team in prioritizing the top actions from the New Scenes to Shoot and Scenes to Cut columns.

Assign clear owners and due dates for at least one concrete action from each improvement column.

Wrap up by sharing a 'movie trailer' for the next sprint, summarizing what’s changing and what stays for the sequel.

Pro Tips

Lean into the theme—use movie references or soundtracks to keep things lighthearted and energizing.

Encourage everyone to get creative with card titles, like casting new team roles or pitching scene changes.

Check in with quieter team members to make sure all voices are heard in each 'scene.'

FAQ

What if my team doesn’t resonate with the movie theme?

Focus on the column intentions and allow participants to approach it in their own style—fun themes are an icebreaker but not required for valuable outcomes.

How do we keep discussions on track with such a creative format?

Anchor each conversation to the column prompts and the goal of turning insights into practical actions. The theme should enhance, not distract from, real improvements.

What if we run out of time during lively discussions?

Keep an eye on the clock and prioritize processing actionable items. Consider follow-ups for deeper debates that don’t fit in the retrospective timeframe.

Want a custom template?

Create a retrospective template tailored to your team's needs with our AI-powered generator

Try AI Template Generator

At a glance

Duration
40–50 min
Team Size
4-10 people
Columns
3 columns
Base Format
Start, Stop, Continue

Ready to get started?

Use this template to run your next retrospective

🎬 Movie Magic Retrospective

Lights, camera, action! Step onto the set and review our project as if it’s a blockbuster movie. Let’s direct our next act by deciding what scenes to add, cut, or keep for a grand finale!

Template Columns

🌟 New Scenes to Shoot

🛑 Scenes to Cut

🎞️ Keep Rolling

About this template