This study uses results of a series of analogue models, scanned data of natural landslides, and sections of natural failed slopes to investigate the kinematics and internal deformation during the failure of an unstable slope. The models simulate collapse of granular slopes by focusing on the spatial and temporal distribution of their internal structures. Model results show that the collapse of granular slopes resulted in different-generation extensional normal faults at the back of the slope, and contractional structures such as overturned folds, shealth folds and thrusts at the toe of the slope. The failure surfaces and the volume of the failure mass changed both spatially and temporally. Our model results show also that the nature of runout base has a significant influence on the kinematics and internal deformational structures. The runout distance increased with decreasing basal friction of a rigid runout base, and the topography at the slope toe was much gentler in the model with lower basal friction along the rigid runout base. The runout distance was shortest in the granular slope with deformable runout base. More extensional normal faults occurred in the model with low-friction runout base, whereas more shortening structures formed in the model with high-friction runout base. Similar tomodel results, our field observations indicate the presence of at least two generations of failure surfaces where the older ones are steeper.