Here's our definition: An inciting incident is the first major plot point in the movie that usually occurs between one and three minutes in. It's the major change or formative event that ignites the protagonist's connection with the antagonist.

When should an inciting incident happen?

It alerts them to what the story will be about, and gives them a rough idea of where the plot is headed. That means you should place the inciting incident early in the story, ideally within the first 20-30 pages if it's a novel.

Can the inciting incident occur before the story begins?

The inciting incident. This event is so prevalent in film it has become an accepted rule that every screenplay needs one to start the story, a prompt that sets the plot in motion. ... This is something that happens before the story, but we don't find out until much later.