Important: Sora is no longer available
You can still use Sora prompt examples as creative starting points, but you can’t currently submit them to OpenAI’s Sora app, website, or API. OpenAI says the web and app experiences ended on April 26, 2026, and the Sora API ended on September 24, 2026. The prompts below are original examples for inspiration—not tested Sora generations—and could be adapted for another video tool. (help.openai.com)
Copyable video prompt examples
These examples describe a subject, an action, a setting, and a visual treatment. They are editorial examples, not promises that a particular model will produce the requested result.
1. Neon-lit street portrait
A woman in a long red coat walks through a lively city street at night. Neon shop signs reflect in the rain-slick pavement as pedestrians pass in the background. Follow her at walking pace in a medium-wide shot; warm red and gold lights contrast with cool blue shadows. Natural, cinematic look.
Adapt it: Replace the subject, clothing, location, or lighting. Keep the central action simple if the person’s movement is the priority.
2. Wildlife in a winter landscape
A small group of mammoths moves slowly across a snow-covered meadow. Wind lifts loose snow around their feet; dark evergreens and distant mountains frame the scene. Low viewpoint, soft afternoon light, restrained natural colors, quiet and majestic mood.
Adapt it: Change the animal, weather, landscape, or viewpoint. Treat viewpoint language as a description of the shot, not a guaranteed camera control.
3. Coastal aerial scene
Aerial view of waves breaking against rugged coastal cliffs at sunset. A lighthouse stands on a small offshore island, with green scrub along the cliff tops. The camera glides parallel to the shoreline; golden light catches the white surf. Calm, cinematic landscape footage.
Adapt it: Swap in a real or imagined coastline and specify what should remain visible as the view moves. A prompt describing an aerial perspective doesn’t guarantee precise camera movement.
4. Whimsical character close-up
A tiny, fluffy blue creature crouches beside a glowing candle in a cozy paper-crafted room. It leans closer, eyes widening as the flame flickers. Close-up framing, warm amber light, soft shadows, playful and curious mood.
Adapt it: Change the character, prop, material, or emotion. Give the character one clear action rather than a long list of simultaneous movements.
5. Short product spot
A matte-black travel mug rests on a clean stone counter beside a bright window. A hand pours steaming coffee into it; a thin ribbon of steam curls into the light. Slow push-in, uncluttered composition, soft morning colors, premium but understated advertising style.
Adapt it: Replace the product and its defining features. Keep the background simple when the product needs to stay the focus.
How to adapt a prompt
Use this as a writing aid, not a guaranteed Sora formula:
- Choose one main subject and action. For example: “a cyclist rides through a tunnel.”
- Set the scene. Add the place, time of day, weather, or a few relevant background details.
- Describe the look and mood. Choose a visual treatment and lighting that fit the idea.
- Clarify the shot in ordinary language. Say what the viewer sees—such as a close-up or a wide view—but don’t assume the wording provides deterministic camera control.
- Revise one thing at a time. If an output misses the intended mood, change the lighting description; if the action is unclear, simplify or restate it.
OpenAI’s archived Sora 2 prompting guide described prompts as creative direction rather than a contract, and recommended iteration. It also distinguished prompt prose from API parameters such as model, size, and duration. The guide is now marked archived and may refer to outdated models or APIs, so it should not be treated as current Sora operating instructions. (developers.openai.com)
Example revision: Start with “A cyclist rides through a tunnel.” To emphasize atmosphere, add “after rain, with cool overhead lights reflecting on the road.” To emphasize motion, describe the visible action simply: “the cyclist pedals steadily toward the far exit.” These are descriptive edits, not verified controls or tested Sora results.
Can you use these with the Sora production API?
No—not with OpenAI’s Sora API now. OpenAI’s Help Center states that the API was discontinued on September 24, 2026. So there is no current Sora API submission path to follow, and this article does not provide a runnable Sora request. (help.openai.com)
OpenAI’s Sora 2 prompting guide documented API use before discontinuation, but it is archived. Treat any older endpoint, model name, parameter list, or code sample as historical—not as a working production integration. For a video tool that is currently available, check that provider’s current documentation for prompt inputs and API parameters; don’t assume they work the same way Sora’s did.
What these examples do—and don’t—show
OpenAI’s original Sora page displayed example prompts for scenes such as a neon-lit Tokyo walk, mammoths in a snowy landscape, and a papercraft coral reef. Those examples can inspire new ideas, but prompt text alone does not show that a prompt was independently tested or that another video model will produce the same result. OpenAI now identifies the Sora product as unavailable. (openai.com)
Sources
What to know about the Sora discontinuation