How to Write AI Video Prompts That Actually Work (50+ Examples)
The difference between a mediocre AI video and a great one almost always comes down to the prompt. Most people write prompts that are either too vague or too cluttered with contradictory instructions. This guide breaks down the exact structure that produces consistent results across every major AI video tool, then gives you 50+ tested prompts organized by genre that you can use immediately or adapt to your own content.
The Anatomy of a Great AI Video Prompt
Common Prompt Mistakes and How to Fix Them
Horror and Thriller Prompts
A flickering hallway light reveals a shadowy figure standing motionless at the far end of a hospital corridor, security camera footage style, grainy and desaturated
Tip: Security camera and found footage styles add authenticity to horror clips
An abandoned Victorian dollhouse on a dusty attic floor, one of the tiny doors slowly creaks open by itself, dim attic lighting with a single beam from a window
Tip: Small-scale horror with miniature objects can be more unsettling than large-scale scares
Dense fog rolls across a moonlit cemetery, a single willow tree sways unnaturally against the wind direction, slow dolly forward shot
Tip: Describing movement that contradicts natural physics creates effective unease
A child's music box sitting on a windowsill begins playing by itself at 3 AM, pale blue moonlight casts long shadows across an empty nursery
Tip: Specific times and familiar objects made unfamiliar are classic horror elements that AI renders well
Rain-streaked window of a parked car on an empty road at night, a pale face briefly appears in the rearview mirror then vanishes, shot from the driver perspective
Tip: First-person perspectives increase immersion in horror content
An old rotary phone rings in a condemned building covered in dust and cobwebs, the receiver slowly lifts off the hook on its own, wide shot with shallow depth of field
Tip: Inanimate objects acting autonomously is a reliable horror prompt pattern
A long dark staircase descending into a basement, a single bare lightbulb swings creating moving shadows on concrete walls, handheld camera slowly approaching the stairs
Tip: Describe the camera movement to control pacing in horror scenes
A forest trail at twilight where all the trees have carved faces with hollow eyes, mist creeping along the ground, wide establishing shot pulling backward
Tip: Backward camera movement creates a sense of retreat and vulnerability
An empty school classroom at night, chalk writing appears on the blackboard letter by letter spelling an unknown word, fluorescent lights buzz and flicker overhead
Tip: Unseen forces creating visible effects let the viewer's imagination do the heavy lifting
A mirror in a dimly lit bathroom shows a reflection that moves half a second behind the person in front of it, close-up on the mirror surface, warm tungsten lighting
Tip: Describing a specific temporal mismatch gives the model a clear visual target
Children's and Educational Prompts
A friendly cartoon fox with a red scarf teaching the alphabet on a chalkboard in a cozy forest classroom, Pixar-style 3D animation, warm golden lighting
Tip: Name a specific animation studio style (Pixar, Ghibli, Disney) to anchor the visual treatment
Colorful planets of the solar system slowly orbiting a smiling cartoon sun, each planet has a friendly face, flat illustration style with pastel background
Tip: Giving objects faces (anthropomorphizing) works well in children's educational content
A baby elephant learning to spray water from its trunk in a sunny savanna, water droplets catch rainbow light, watercolor animation style
Tip: Watercolor style is forgiving of AI imperfections and looks intentionally artistic
A group of diverse children planting seeds in a garden, time-lapse of colorful flowers growing from the soil, bright storybook illustration style with soft outlines
Tip: Time-lapse within a single prompt works when the subject stays in frame
A cheerful robot helping a child build a sandcastle on a sunny beach, waves gently lapping in the background, clean cel animation style with bold outlines
Tip: Cel animation style with bold outlines produces the clearest results for young audiences
Numbers one through ten appearing as friendly bouncing characters on a playground, each number is a different bright color, 2D animation with confetti effects
Tip: Abstract concepts like numbers work best when given physical properties like bouncing or dancing
A curious kitten discovering snow for the first time, pawing at snowflakes falling gently in a backyard garden, soft pastel color palette, gentle camera tracking
Tip: First-time discovery narratives create natural curiosity and engagement
Underwater scene with a smiling sea turtle swimming past colorful coral reef, small fish swim alongside in formation, Pixar-style rendering with volumetric light rays through water
Tip: Underwater scenes with light rays are a strength of current AI models
A paper airplane folding itself step by step from a flat sheet of paper, then flying out an open window into a blue sky, stop-motion paper craft style
Tip: Stop-motion and craft styles are well-suited to educational step-by-step content
A treehouse in a giant oak tree with tiny windows glowing warmly at twilight, a rope ladder swings gently, fireflies dotting the scene, storybook watercolor illustration
Tip: Establishing shots with inviting environments set the stage for children's narratives
History, Real Estate, and General Purpose Prompts
A bustling medieval marketplace with merchants selling spices and textiles under canvas canopies, cobblestone streets, 14th century European clothing, warm afternoon light, documentary cinematography
Tip: Specify the century and region to anchor clothing, architecture, and atmosphere accurately
Ancient Egyptian workers moving limestone blocks along a sand ramp toward a half-built pyramid, vast desert landscape, golden hour lighting, wide cinematic shot
Tip: Wide shots work better for large-scale historical scenes than close-ups
A Viking longship cutting through stormy North Atlantic waves, warriors bracing against rain, dark clouds and dramatic lightning, aerial tracking shot
Tip: Weather and sea conditions add dynamism to naval historical scenes
A 1920s jazz club interior with musicians playing on a small stage, art deco decor, cigarette smoke in amber spotlight beams, warm sepia-toned cinematography
Tip: Interior scenes with specific decor styles produce more convincing period settings
Silk Road caravan of camels crossing sand dunes at sunset, traders in traditional robes, long shadows stretching across rippled sand, documentary drone shot
Tip: Drone-style shots for landscape-heavy historical scenes produce dramatic establishing footage
A Roman forum filled with citizens in togas debating, marble columns and statues visible, Mediterranean sunlight casting sharp shadows, steadicam walk-through perspective
Tip: Walk-through perspective puts the viewer inside historical spaces
A samurai meditating in a Zen rock garden during cherry blossom season, petals falling slowly, traditional Japanese architecture in background, contemplative wide shot
Tip: Quiet, meditative scenes with natural elements are among the most reliable AI video outputs
Medieval monks illuminating manuscripts in a candlelit monastery scriptorium, gold leaf catching flickering light, extreme close-up on hands and parchment
Tip: Close-ups on hands doing detailed work can be hit-or-miss with AI; test with your specific model
An ancient Greek amphitheater carved into a hillside overlooking the sea, actors performing on the stage far below, late afternoon golden light, sweeping aerial shot
Tip: Architecture-focused historical prompts are more reliable than character-focused ones
Industrial revolution factory interior with steam-powered machinery, workers operating large metal gears, shafts of light through dirty windows, gritty documentary style
Tip: Specify lighting sources (windows, fires, lamps) to give the model concrete visual anchors
Smooth dolly shot through a modern open-concept living room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a city skyline, minimalist furniture, late afternoon golden light streaming in
Tip: Always specify camera movement for real estate: slow dolly, pan, or tracking shots sell space
Aerial drone shot slowly descending toward a Mediterranean-style villa with terracotta roof, swimming pool, and manicured gardens, clear blue sky, golden hour
Tip: Aerial-to-ground descent shots are the most impactful opening for property videos
A modern kitchen with marble countertops and brass fixtures, camera slowly panning across the island revealing a bright breakfast nook, natural morning light
Tip: Reveal shots that pan to show connected spaces communicate flow and layout
Twilight exterior of a contemporary home with warm interior lights glowing through large windows, landscaping lights illuminating the walkway, dusk blue sky
Tip: Twilight shots with interior lights on create the most aspirational real estate imagery
A sunlit master bathroom with freestanding bathtub positioned under a skylight, white marble floors, green plants on shelves, spa-like atmosphere, slow zoom out
Tip: Spa-like bathrooms perform best with zoom-out shots that reveal the full space
A steaming cup of coffee on a wooden table by a rainy window, droplets streaming down glass, cozy warm interior lighting, close-up with shallow depth of field, lo-fi aesthetic
Tip: Mood-driven prompts with sensory details (steam, rain, warmth) generate highly shareable content
Hands typing rapidly on a laptop keyboard with code reflected in glasses, dark room lit only by monitor glow, cinematic close-up, shallow depth of field
Tip: Tech and productivity scenes work well as B-roll when you focus on hands rather than faces
A neon-lit city street in Tokyo at night after rain, reflections on wet pavement, pedestrians with umbrellas, handheld camera at street level, cyberpunk color grading
Tip: Wet surfaces double the visual impact of any lighting by adding reflections
Time-lapse of a desert landscape from sunrise to sunset, shadows moving across sand dunes, stars appearing as sky darkens, tripod locked wide shot
Tip: Full day-to-night time-lapses work when the composition is simple and the camera is static
A golden retriever running in slow motion through shallow ocean water on a beach at sunset, water splashing around its legs, backlit by warm sun, telephoto lens compression
Tip: Specifying lens type (telephoto, wide-angle) gives the model a concrete visual reference for framing
Fresh fruit falling into clear water in slow motion against a clean white background, creating splashes and bubbles, product photography lighting, 120fps look
Tip: Product-style shots with clean backgrounds and slow motion are highly reliable AI outputs
Northern lights aurora borealis dancing across an Arctic sky above a frozen lake, green and purple ribbons of light reflected in ice, wide astrophotography shot
Tip: Natural phenomena like auroras, storms, and volcanoes are AI video strengths due to abundant training data
A vinyl record spinning on a turntable with the needle in the groove, warm ambient room lighting, bookshelf blurred in background, close-up overhead shot, vintage film grain
Tip: Adding film grain or vintage treatments can mask AI artifacts while adding aesthetic value
Aerial flyover of a winding mountain road cutting through autumn forest, vibrant red and orange foliage, morning mist in the valleys, cinematic drone footage
Tip: Aerial nature shots with seasonal colors are among the most visually impressive AI video outputs
A paper boat floating down a rain gutter stream on a suburban street, leaves and petals flowing alongside it, low angle macro perspective, overcast soft lighting
Tip: Unusual camera angles (macro, worm's-eye, overhead) make ordinary subjects visually compelling
A chef's hands sprinkling sea salt flakes onto a perfectly seared steak, steam rising, dark kitchen background with focused overhead light, extreme slow motion
Tip: Food content performs best with dramatic lighting, steam or smoke, and extreme close-ups
A hot air balloon rising above a misty valley at dawn, patchwork farmland visible below, soft pastel sky, smooth ascending camera following the balloon, peaceful ambient mood
Tip: Ascending camera movements paired with rising subjects create a natural sense of optimism and scale
Close-up of an old mechanical watch with exposed gears turning, golden components reflecting warm light, macro photography with extreme shallow depth of field, black background
Tip: Mechanical movement at macro scale is consistently well-rendered by current video models
A lone figure walking along a misty forest path in autumn, fallen leaves covering the ground, light filtering through the canopy, slow tracking shot from behind
Tip: Shots from behind eliminate face rendering challenges while maintaining human presence in the scene
Bioluminescent jellyfish drifting through dark ocean water, blue and green glow illuminating particles suspended in the current, macro underwater cinematography, slow motion
Tip: Bioluminescent and underwater glow effects are visually striking and well within current AI capabilities
A row of colorful beach huts on white sand with turquoise water in the background, a gentle breeze moving the flags on top of each hut, wide locked-off shot with vivid color grading
Tip: Static wide shots with subtle movement like flags or waves are among the most reliable and visually clean AI video outputs
Conclusion
Writing effective AI video prompts is a learnable skill with a simple underlying structure. Lead with a clear subject, define the action, set the scene, and specify the style. Avoid vague adjectives, contradictory instructions, and multi-action overloads. Use the examples in this guide as starting points, then adapt the structure to your own content needs. The more specific and visually concrete your prompt, the closer the output will match your intent.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should an AI video prompt be?
Aim for 20 to 50 words per prompt. Shorter prompts leave too much to the model's interpretation, while prompts over 75 words often contain contradictions or get partially ignored. The sweet spot is a single sentence that covers subject, action, scene, and style.
Do different AI video tools require different prompt styles?
The core structure (subject, action, scene, style) works across all tools. However, some models respond better to specific terminology. Runway responds well to camera movement descriptions. Sora handles complex physics prompts better than most. Framesurfer uses prompts for scene planning, so narrative descriptions work best.
Can I use the same prompt for both AI images and AI videos?
Image prompts can serve as a starting point, but video prompts should always include a described action or movement. A still image prompt like 'a mountain lake at sunset' becomes a video prompt by adding motion: 'a mountain lake at sunset with a gentle breeze creating ripples on the surface, slow pan right across the shoreline.'
Why does my AI video look different from what I described?
The most common causes are vague language, contradictory instructions, or requesting elements the model was not trained to produce well (like specific text, brand logos, or identifiable faces). Try simplifying your prompt to the four core components and removing any abstract descriptors.
Should I include negative prompts for AI video?
Some tools support negative prompts (describing what you do not want), but most consumer-facing video generators do not. If your tool supports it, useful negative prompts include 'no text overlay, no watermark, no blurry elements.' Otherwise, focus on making your positive prompt specific enough that unwanted elements are implicitly excluded.