Tier list / ranking video: structure, script and how to clone it

Tier list / ranking video is a proven short-video structure. Here is why it holds attention, how its beats are timed, a script you can start from, and the command that clones it for your own subject.

Why this format works

Ranking formats hold attention because the viewer wants to see where their favourite lands. The list is a promise: every row is a payoff, and the last row is the punchline.

Structure breakdown

1. 1. Hook (0–3s)

   State the category and the controversy in one line: “Ranking every X, and number one will upset people.”

2. 2. Reveal cadence (3–45s)

   One subject per 2–4 seconds. Each gets a spoken verdict plus one visual gag — a rank badge, a chart, a zoomin.

3. 3. Escalation (45–70s)

   Move the ranking from “bad” to “god tier” so intensity rises; here is where the b-roll and captions get louder.

4. 4. Punchline (last 5s)

   The top slot lands on the unexpected pick; cut immediately, no outro.

A script you can start from

Segments, takes and selection anchors — this is the part of the project that changes when you re-run the format:

<script>
<segment> id="tier-a">
  <take>Ranking every streaming app. || Number one || @used-every-day is one you already deleted.</take>
</segment>
<segment> id="tier-b">
  <take>Fourth place: || @nice-interface great interface, || unskippable ads.</take>
</segment>
</script>

What you need

• — A ranked list of 5–10 subjects
• — One visual per subject (screenshot or b-roll)
• — A caption style that fits a fast cadence

Run it

npx skills add hypit-ai/hypit -g
hypit run clone --reference ./reference/tier-list.mp4 --script ./tier-list.svs

The reference video stays fixed. Change the script, re-run, and you get a new edit in the same format — that is the whole point of cloning instead of prompting.

Keep reading

• All clone formats
• Use cases
• Comparisons
• Quickstart
• Glossary

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