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May 25, 2015 15 screenplay examples from each genre for you to download and study. In this post, we’ve curated just for you three screenplay examples from each of the five major genres: drama, comedy, action/adventure, thriller and horror. Each screenplay example listed below comes in a PDF for easy download and has been carefully chosen by us to represent one of the best examples of a script in. Padmarajan malayalam movie script pdf. 7/30/2018 0 Comments. But the kind of humor that goes through the movie makes him a classic. We reserve the right to restrict yourself to a free trial or paid service and to prohibit combining free trials or other promotions. Please help improve it or discuss these questions on the talk page.
Screenplays, movie scripts and transcripts organized alphabetically:
13 Ghosts by Neal Marshall Stevens (based on the screenplay by Robb White) revised by Richard D'Ovidio
16 Blocks by Richard Wenk
One Eight Seven by Scott Yagemann
25th Hour by David Benioff
2001 Maniacs by Chris Kobin & Tim Sullivan
2010 The Odyssey Continues by Peter Hyams (based on the novel by Arthur C. Clarke)
3 Kings by David O. Russell (story by John Ridley)
40 Year Old Virgin by Judd Apatow & Steve Carell
Eight Legged Freaks (Originally Titled Arac Attack) by Jesse Alexander & Ellory Elkayem
8 Mile (aka Untitled Detroit Project) by Scott Silver
Above the Law by Steven Pressfield & Ronald Shusett & Andrew Davis
Absolute Power by William Goldman (based on the book by David Baldacci)
Adaptation by Charlie Kaufman & Donald Kaufman
Adaptation by Charlie Kaufman & Donald Kaufman
The Addams Family by Larry Wilson and Caroline Thompson (rewrite by Paul Rudnick based on the characters by Charles Addams)
An Affair to Remember by Alfred Hayes
After School Special by David H. Steinberg
After the Truth (Nichts als die Wahrheit) by Christopher & Kathleen Riley
Alfie by Elaine Pope & Charles Shyer (based on the screenplay by Bill Naughton based on the play by Bill Naughton)
American Splendor by Robert Pulcini & Shari Springer Berman
An Officer and a Gentleman by Douglas Day Stewart
Anatomy of a Murder by Wendell Mayes
Angel Eyes by Gerald DiPego
Any Given Sunday by Jamie Williams & Richard Wiener, John Logan, Daniel Pyne
Apache Drums by David Chandler
Arac Attack (Released as Eight Legged Freaks) by Jesse Alexander & Ellory Elkayem
Armageddon by Robert Roy Pool & Jonathan Hensleigh
Asylum (Batman Vs Superman) by Andrew Kevin Walker (revised by Akiva Goldsman)
Awakenings by Steven Zaillian (based on the book by Oliver Sacks)
Bad Boys by Michael Barrie & Jim Mulholland and Doug Richardson
Bad Lieutenant by Abel Ferrara & Zo Lund
Barbershop by Mark Brown & Don D Scott
Batman Begins by David Goyer
Battle for the Planet of the Apes part 1 by Paul Dehn and John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington
Battle for the Planet of the Apes part 2 by Paul Dehn and John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington
Beauty Shop by Kate Lanier
Being Human by Bill Forsyth
Beneath the Planet of the Apes by Paul Dehn
The Big Easy by Jack Baran & Jim McBride (Original screenplay by Daniel Petrie, Jr.
The Big Sleep by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett, Jules Furthman (from the novel by Raymond Chandler)
The Birds by Daphne Du Maurier, Evan Hunter
Blood Relations The Sun Wars (filmed as The Hills Have Eyes) by Wes Craven
Blood Work by Brian Helgeland (based on the novel by Michael Connelly)
The Blues Brothers by John Landis & Dan Aykroyd
Body Heat by Lawrence Kasdan
The Bodyguard by Lawrence Kasdan
Bonfire of the Vanities by Michael Cristofer, Based on the novel by Tom Wolfe
Born on the Fourth of July (part 1) by Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic (based on the book my Ron Kovic)
Born on the Fourth of July (part 1) by Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic (based on the book my Ron Kovic)
Born on the Fourth of July (part 2) by Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic (based on the book my Ron Kovic)
Born on the Fourth of July (part 2) by Oliver Stone and Ron Kovic (based on the book my Ron Kovic)
The Bourne Supremacy by Tony Gilroy and Brian Helgeland (based on the novel by Robert Ludlum)
Boy Who Never Slept by Solomon Rothman
Break by Oliver Stone
Breakdown by Jonathan Mostow
Brick by Rian Johnson
Broken Arrow By� Graham Yost
Call Northside 777 (part 1) by Jay Dratler
Call Northside 777 (part 2) by Jay Dratler
Capote by Dan Futterman (based on the book Capote: A Biography by Gerald Clarke)
Casablanca by Julius Epstien, Philip Epstien, & Howard Koch
Catwoman by John D. Brancato, Michael Ferris & John Rogers
Cellular by Larry Cohen, revised by Chris Morgan, revised by J. Mackye Gruber & Eric Bress
Charlie's Angels by Ed Soloman & John August, with revisions by Zak Penn
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (formerly The Hundred Year Winter) by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (revised by Andrew Adamson) based on the book The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis)
City of Joy by Gerald Brach and Roland Joffe Based on the book by Dominique LaPierre
A Clockwork Orange by Stanley Kubrick
Close Encounters of The Third Kind (part 1) by Steven Spielberg
Close Encounters of The Third Kind (part 2) by Steven Spielberg
Clue (part 1) by Jonathan Lynn
Clue (part 2) by Jonathan Lynn
Cobb by Ron Shelton Based on material by Al Stump
Collateral by Stuart Beattie, revised by Frank Darabont, revised by Michael Mann
Collateral Damage by Ronald Roose
Commando by Richard Tuggle
Committed (filmed as Crazylove) by Carol Watson
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind by Charlie Kaufman
Confidence by Doug Jung
The Contest by Judith Berg & Sandra Berg
Cortes by Nicholas Kazan
Courage Under Fire by Patrick Sheane Duncan
Cradle to the Grave by John O'Brian & Channing Gibson
Crash by Paul Haggis & Bobby Moresco
Crazylove (was Committed) by Carol Watson
Crime Spree by Brad Mirman
The Crow: 2037 A New World of Gods and Monster by Rob Zombie
The Crying Game by Neil Jordan
Custody by Eric Stuyvesant
Dances With Wolves by Michael Blake
Death to Smoochy by Marty Kaplan
Deceptions by Richard Taylor
Duel by Richard Matheson
The Devil's Advocate by Jonathan Lemkin and Tony Gilroy (based on the novel by Andrew Neiderman)
Diamond Dead by Brian Cooper
Diamond Dead by Brian Cooper
Diamond Dead by Brian Cooper
Die Hard 2 by Doug Richardson revisions by Steven E. de Souza
The Distinguished Gentleman by Adam Resnick
Doom by Christpher Cleveland
A Dry White Season by Euzhan Palcy Based on the novel by Andre Brink
Edward Ford by Lem Dobbs
Eight Legged Freaks (Originally Titled Arac Attack) by Jesse Alexander & Ellory Elkayem
Elizabethtown by Cameron Crowe
Encrypt by Richard Taylor
Equilibrium by Kurt Wimmer
Equilibrium by Kurt Wimmer
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (release title) The Secret of the Planet of the Apes (working title) part 1 by Paul Dehn
Escape from the Planet of the Apes (release title) The Secret of the Planet of the Apes (working title) part 2 by Paul Dehn
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by Charlie Kaufman
Executive Decision by Jim Thomas & John Thomas
F by Howard A. Rodman
Fallen by Nicholas Kazan
Far From Heaven by Todd Haynes
The Flintstones by Steven E. DeSouza
Fortune Cookie by Rob Thomas
Freaked by Tim Burns, Tom Sterns & Alex Winter
Freddy vs. Jason by Damian Shannon & Mark J. Swift
Freddy vs. Jason by Damian Shannon & Mark J. Swift
From Here To Eternity by Daniel Taradash (based on the novel by James Jones)
From Here To Eternity by Daniel Taradash (based on the novel by James Jones)
The Fugitive by David N. Twohy
Fun With Dick and Jane Part 1 by Mordecai Richler
Fun With Dick and Jane Part 2 by Mordecai Richler
Game 6 by Don DeLillo
Get Carter by David Mckenna
Get Rich or Die Trying (aka Untitled 50 Cent Project) by Terence Winter
The Getaway by Walter Hill
Giant by Fred Guidol & Ivan Moffat (based on the novel by Edna Ferber)
Girl With a Pearl Earring by Olivia Hetreed
Glory Road by David Callaham, Revisions by Wesley Strick
Go To Hell by Michael J. Heagle & Raymond P. Whalen
The Godfather III by Mario Puzo and Francis Ford Coppola
The Gods of Comedy by Bill Steinkellner & Cheri Steinkellner
Good Fellas by Nicholas Pileggi & Martin Scorsese
Good Night, and Good Luck by George Clooney & Grant Heslov
A Goofy Movie by Jymn Magon
The Goonies by Chris Columbus
Gothika by Sebastian Gutierrez
Halloween: Resurrection by Larry Brand & Steve Hood
Hard to Kill by Steven Pressfield & Ronald Shusett & Steven Seagal
Hardware by Richard Stanley, revised by Michael Fallon
Hardware by Richard Stanley, revised by Michael Fallon
Heat by Michael Mann
Heist by David Mamet
Hellraiser: Bloodline by Peter Atkins
Hellraiser: Hellseeker by Carl Dupre
Hellraiser: Hellseeker by Carl Dupre & Tim Day
Hellraiser: Deader by Neal Marshall Stevens & Tim Day
Hellraiser: Deader by Neal Marshall Stevens & Tim Day
The Hills Have Eyes (was Blood Relations The Sun Wars) by Wes Craven
The Hitcher by Eric Red
Holes by Richard Kelly (based upon the novel by Louis Sachar
Hook (part 1) by Jim Hart (story by Jim Hart & Nick Castle based on characters created by Sir James M. Barrie)
Hook (part 2) by Jim Hart (story by Jim Hart & Nick Castle based on characters created by Sir James M. Barrie)
Horror Inc. by Michael J. Heagle & Raymond P. Whalen
Hotel Rwanda by Keir Pearson & Terry George
Hudson Hawk by Steven de Souza, Revisions by Dan Waters, Story by Bruce Willis & Robert Kraft
Human Nature by Charlie Kaufman
The Hundred Year Winter (filmed as The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe) by Christopher Markus & Stephen McFeely (revised by Andrew Adamson) based on the book The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis)
The Hudsucker Proxy by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen and Sam Raimi
Hustle & Flow by Craig Brewer
I, Robot by Hillary Seitz
In The Heat of the Night by Stirling Silliphant
In The Mouth of Madness by Michael De Luca
Indiana Jones and the Raiders Of The Lost Ark by Lawrence Kasdan
Innerspace by Jeffrey Boam
Inside Man by Russel Gewirtz
Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, based on the novel by Anne Rice
Inventing the Abbotts by Ken Hixon
The Island by Caspian Tredwell-Owen
The Island of Dr. Moreau by Richard Stanley & Michael Herr, based on the novel by H. G. Wells
The Island of Dr. Moreau by Richard Stanley & Michael Herr, based on the novel by H. G. Wells
Italian Job by Donna Powers & Wayne Powers
The Jacket by Massy Tadjedin (based on a previous screenplay by Marc Rocco)
Jade by Joe Eszterhas
Jeepers Creepers 2 by Victor Salva
Jimmy and Judy by Randall K. Rubin & Jon Schroder
Karate Kid by Robert Mark Kamen
Katie's Choice by Deborah Amelon
Kids by Harmony Korine
Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy by Norm Hiscock, Bruce McCulloch, Kevi McDonald, Mark McKinney & Scott Thompson
Killing Charlie Kaufman by Rick Cunningham
Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang (You'll Never Die In This Town Again) by Shane Black
Kiss of the Spider Woman by Leonard Schrader
Labyrinth by Laura Phillips & Terry Jones
Land of the Dead by George A. Romero
Last Action Hero by Zak Penn and Adam Leff, current draft by Shane Black and David Arnott, doctored by William Goldman
Last Action Hero (first draft) by Zak Penn and Adam Leff
The Last Bachelor by Pablo Fenjves
The Last Boy Scout by Shane Black
The Last Samurai by John Logan, revised by Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
The Last Samurai by John Logan, revised by Edward Zwick & Marshall Herskovitz
Legally Blonde by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith
Lethal Weapon II by Jeffrey Boam story by Shane Black and Warren Murphy
Lethal Weapon 4 by Channing Gibson, Story by Jonathan Lemkin and Alfred Gough & Miles Millar, Based on characters created by Shane Black
Liar, Liar by Tom Shadyac and Mike Binder
Liberty Street (filmed as Life on Liberty Street) by Deborah Jones
License to Drive by Neil Tolkin
Life on Liberty Street (was Liberty Street) by Deborah Jones
The Life of David Gale by Charles Randolph
The Lion King by Irene Mecchi, Jonathan Roberts
Little Black Book by Melissa Carter
Lost in Translation by Sophia Coppola
Luna by Matt Corman & Chris Ord
Malibu's Most Wanted by Fax Bahr, Adam Small, Jamie Kennedy & Nick Swardson
The Maltese Falcon by John Huston (from the novel by Dashiell Hammett)
Man on Fire by Brian Helgeland, based on the novel by A.J. Quinnell
Man Trouble by Carole Eastman (as Adrien Joyce)
The Man Who Knew Too Much by John Michael Hayes
The Manchurian Candidate by Dean Georgaris (based on the novel by Richard Condon and screenplay by George Axelrod) revised by Daniel Pyne
Mandingo by Norman Wexler
Maria Full of Grace (Maria/Screenplay) by Joshua Marston
Matchstick Men by Nick Griffin & Ted Griffin (Based on the book by Eric Garcia)
The Matrix by Andy & Larry Wachowski
Maverick by William Goldman
Mean Girls by Tina Fey (based on the book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman)
Memphis Belle by Monte Merrick
Miami Vice by Michael Mann (based on Miami Vice created by Anthony Yerkovich)
Midnight Express by Billy Hayes, William Hoffer & Oliver Stone
Mighty Joe Young by Mark Rosenthal & Lawrence Konner
Million Dollar Baby by Paul Haggis (based on the short story by F.X.Toole)
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Monster's Ball by Milo Addica & Will Rokos
Mr. And Mrs. Smith by Simon Kinberg
Mr. Holland's Opus by Patrick Sheane Duncan
Munich by Tony Kushner & Eric Roth (based on the book Vengence by George Jonas)
Munich by Tony Kushner & Eric Roth (based on the book Vengence by George Jonas)
Natural Born Killers by Quentin Tarantino
Near Dark by Kathryn Bigelow & Eric Red
New York Minute by Emily Fox (revisions by Mark Steilen)
Newsies by Bob Tzudiker & Noni White, rewrite by David Fallon & Tom Rickman
Nichts als die Wahrheit (After the Truth) by Christopher & Kathleen Riley
Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors by Wes Craven & Bruce Wagner
Nightmare on Elm Street 6: Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare by Rachel Talalay & Michael De Luca
North By Northwest by Ernest Lehman
Now or Never by John Kamps
Ocean's Eleven by Ted Griffin (based on a screenplay by Harry Brown and Charles Lederer and a story by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell)
An Officer and a Gentleman by Douglas Day Stewart
Office Space by Mike Judge
On Air by Rob Thomas
The Omen by David Seltzer
One Eight Seven by Scott Yagemann
Only Angels Have Wings by Jules Furthman
Out of Sight by Scott Frank & Elmore Lenord
Outbreak by Lawrence Dworet & Robert Roy Pool
The Pacifier by Thomas Lennon & Robert Ben Garant
Paradox by Bob Gale
Paths of Glory by Stanley Kubrick & Jim Thompson
The Perfect Neighbor (was The Perfect Stranger) by Richard Dana Smith
The Perfect Stranger (filmed as The Perfect Neighbor) by Richard Dana Smith
A Perfect World by John Lee Hancock
Planet of the Apes part 1 by Rod Serling
Planet of the Apes part 2 by Rod Serling
Planet of the Apes part 3 by Rod Serling
Planet of the Apes by Charles Eastman
Planet of the Apes part 1 by Michael Wilson
Planet of the Apes part 2 by Michael Wilson
Planet of the Men part 1 by Pierre Boulle
Planet of the Men part 2 by Pierre Boulle
Planet of the Apes Revisited part 1 (became Beneath the Planet of the Apes) by Paul Dehn
Planet of the Apes Revisited part 2 (became Beneath the Planet of the Apes) by Paul Dehn
Beneath the Planet of the Apes by Paul Dehn
The Secret of the Planet of the Apes (working title) Escape from the Planet of the Apes) (release title) part 1 by Paul Dehn
The Secret of the Planet of the Apes (working title) Escape from the Planet of the Apes) (release title) part 2 by Paul Dehn
Escape from the Planet of the Apes part 1 by Paul Dehn
Escape from the Planet of the Apes part 2 by Paul Dehn
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes by Paul Dehn
Battle for the Planet of the Apes part 1 by Paul Dehn and John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington
Battle for the Planet of the Apes part 2 by Paul Dehn and John William Corrington and Joyce Hooper Corrington
Return to the Planet of the Apes part 1 by Adam Rifkin
Return to the Planet of the Apes part 2 by Adam Rifkin
Planetfall by Michael J. Heagle
Poltergeist by Steven Spielberg
The Poseidon Adventure by Stirling Silliphant
The Poseidon Adventure by Stirling Silliphant
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Possession by David Henry Hwang (based on the book by A. S. Byatt)
The Postman by Brian Helgeland & Eric Roth, novel by David Brin
The Power of One by Robert Mark Kamen Based on the novel by Bryce Courtenay
Prime Directive (filmed as Transformers) by John Rogers (revisions by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci)
The Private Life of Sherlock Homes by Billy Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond
The Punisher by Jonathan Hensleigh, Revised by Michael Tolkin
The Punisher by Mark Robert Kamen
Queen of the Damned by Scott Abbott and Michael Petroni, Based on the novel by Anne Rice
Quills by Doug Wright
Quiz Show by Paul Attanasio
Rear Window by John Michael Hayes
Red Planet by Chuck Pfarrer & Jonathan Lemkin
Rent by Stephen Chbosky (current revisions by Chris Columbus) (based on the stage musical by Jonathan Larson)
Rent by Stephen Chbosky (current revisions by Chris Columbus) (based on the stage musical by Jonathan Larson)
The Replacements by Vince McKewin (revised by Mark Steven Johnson & Gwen Lurie)
Return to the Planet of the Apes part 1 by Adam Rifkin
Return to the Planet of the Apes part 2 by Adam Rifkin
The Ringer by Ricky Blitt
Robin Hood, The Prince of Thieves by Pen Densham & John Watson
Robocop by Edward Neumeier & Michael Miner
Rock & Rule by Peter Sauder & John Halfpenny
Rough Diamonds (filmed as Wild Things: Diamonds in the Rough) by Andy Hurst & Ross Helford
The Royal Tenenbaums by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson
The Rules of Attraction by Roger Avery
Saboteur by Alfred Hitchcock, Peter Viertel & Joan Harrison
Save the Last Dance by Duane G. Adler, revisions by Toni-Ann Johnson, revisions by Cheryl Edwards
A Scanner Darkly by Charlie Kaufman adapted from A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick
Scarface by Oliver Stone
The Secret of the Planet of the Apes (working title) Escape from the Planet of the Apes) (release title) part 1 by Paul Dehn
The Secret of the Planet of the Apes (working title) Escape from the Planet of the Apes) (release title) part 2 by Paul Dehn
Secret Window by David Koepp (based on the novella by Stephen King)
Shadow of the Vampire by Steven Katz
Sideways by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor (based on the novel by Rex Pickett)
Slackers by David H. Steinberg
Slash by Stephen Francis and Gus Silber
Slay the Dreamer by Mark Lane & Donald Freed
Sleepaway Camp III by Fritz Goron
Snatch by Guy Richie
Something Borrowed (filmed as The Wedding Date) by Dana Fox
Something's Gotta Give by Nancy Meyers
Space Cowboys By Ken Kaufman and Howard Klausner
Spanglish by James L. Brooks
Spartan by David Mamet
Speed by Graham Yost
Special by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio
The Spirit of St. Louis by Billy Wilder & Wendell Mayes
Star Trek 10: Nemesis by John Logan
Stay by David Benioff
Stir of Echos by David Koepp (based on the novel by Richard Matheson
Strangers on a Train by Raymond Chandler & Czenzi Ormonde
Stuart Little 2 by Bruce Joel Rubin revised by Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel
SuperFights by Keith Strandburg
Superman by J.J. Abrams
Suspect Zero by Zak Penn (with revisions by Billy Ray)
Sweet November by Kurt Voelker (based on the screenplay by Herman Raucher) revised by Becky Johnson
Swordfish by Skip Woods
Syriana by Stephen Gaghan (based on the book See No Evil by Robert Baer)
Taking Lives by Jon Bokenkamp (based on the novel by Michael Pye) previous revisions by Nicholas Kazan, H. Seitz, David Ayer
Tarzan's Secret Treasure by Myles Connolly & Paul Gangelin
Thief by Michael Mann
The Thin Red Line by Terrence Malick (based on the novel by James Jones)
The Thing by Bill Lancaster (From the story Who Goes There by Don A. Stuart)
Thir13en Ghosts by Neal Marshall Stevens (based on the screenplay by Robb White) revised by Richard D'Ovidio
Thirteen Ghosts by Neal Marshall Stevens (based on the screenplay by Robb White) revised by Richard D'Ovidio
This Boy's Life by Robert Getchell based on the book by Tobias Wolff
Three Days of the Condor by Lorenzo Semple & David Rayfiel
Three Kings by David O. Russell (story by John Ridley)
Three Men and a Baby by Jim Cruickshank, James Orr, and Coline Serreau
The Three Musketeers by David Loughery
Thunderheart by John Fusco
Ticker by Paul B. Margolis
Timeline by George Nolfi (based on the novel by Michael Crichton)
Timeline by George Nolfi (based on the novel by Michael Crichton)
Tin Cup by John Norville and Ron Shelton
Tin Men by Barry Levinson
Tombstone by Kevin Jarre
Training Day by David Ayer
Transformers (Prime Directive) by John Rogers (revisions by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci)
The Treasure Of Sierra Madre by Robert Rossen from the novel by B. Traven
Tripping Forward by Chris Fogleman and Marcus Nash
Troy by Michael Tabb
Troy by David Benioff
True Crime by Stephen Schiff based on the novel by Andrew Klavan
True Romance by Quentin Tarantino
Twins by William Osborne & William Davies Revisions by Timothy Harris & Hersehel Weingrod and William Goldman
Untitled 50 Cent Project (filmed as Get Rich Or Die Trying) by Terence Winter
Vagrant by Charlie Vargas
Vikings by Michael Traeger
Virtuosity by Eric Bernt
Waking up the Day by Mark Lee
Walk The Line by Gill Dennis & James Mangold
A Walk to Remember by Karen Janszen
Warm Springs by Margaret Nagle
Warriors by Walter Hill (From the novel by Sol Yurick)
The Wedding Crashers by Steve Faber & Bob Fisher
The Wedding Date (was Something Borrowed) by Dana Fox
When Harry Met Sally by Nora Ephron
Wild Things: Diamonds in the Rough (was Rough Diamonds) by Andy Hurst & Ross Helford
Wild, Wild West by S.S. Wilson & Brent Mattock and Jeffery Price & Peter S. Seaman, Story by Jim Thomas and John Thomas
Wish List by C. David Stephens
The Witches of Eastwick by Michael Cristofer (based on the book by John Updike)
X-Men By Ed Solomon & Christopher McQuarrie
X-men 2 by David Hayter (story by Bryan Singer and David Hayter) Current revisions by Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
X2 by David Hayter (story by Bryan Singer and David Hayter) Current revisions by Michael Dougherty & Dan Harris
You'll Never Die In This Town Again (Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang) by Shane Black
Zapper by Jim Strain
November 11, 2015. 5 of the best movie scripts to learn from in each major genre.Professional film scripts are one of the best tools screenwriters have at their disposal. There is nothing else that gives you the practical experience of how it all comes together than reading a produced screenplay. But what are the best movie scripts to read, and why?In this post, we break down five of the in each major genre—drama, comedy, action/adventure, thriller and horror. And why you need to read them.It’s by not only reading scripts, but really breaking them down, getting inside them and figuring out why they work, that you’ll get the most out of them as a screenwriter.Let’s dive on in and take a look at the top movie scripts in each genre you should read.One of the best drama film scripts you should read: American Beauty.Alan Ball graduated from Florida State University with a degree in theater arts. He went on to write for the theater and then television, penning Grace Under Fire and Cybil.Although there are elements of comedy in American Beauty, for which he won the Oscar for best screenplay in 2000, it is overall a drama. And, in our opinion, a modern masterpiece of screenwriting.The script opens with Jane staring into the camera—a handheld device operated by an unseen man—nonchalantly discussing killing her father.We then cut to said father—a supposed loser named Lester Burnham—and follow him as he begins another miserable day at the office.
All the while we hear his voiceover from beyond the graveIn fact, the opening twenty-five pages are a masterclass in how to establish character, stakes and genre as the script pulls you into a web of lies set in a suburban hell.There are some truly terrific examples of in this script. One of our favorites is the “cute meet” between Lester and his daughter Jane’s best friend, Angela. Check out Lester’s “cute meet” with Angela.Ball has a terrific visual style which you’ll pick up and imbibe into your own writing while reading and studying this script.There are no major formatting quirks in Ball’s writing. But the first thing you may notice when you start reading is that he likes to underline his sluglines.Like we always say, there are no “rules” when it comes to. However, there are differences between spec scripts’ style and a pro scripts’ style.Overall, it’s best to keep things simple.
This means not underlining sluglines in your spec script, as Ball does here. He can do it because he’s Alan Ball. And so why give a potentially grumpy script reader at a company even the slightest reason to reject your spec?One of the best comedy scripts you should read: Youth In Revolt.We could’ve picked any number of comedy script classics for this section— Groundhog Day, Annie Hall, Some Like It Hot, etc.—but we thought we’d go with a little underrated comedy gem by the name of Youth In Revolt.Gustin Nash’s writing in this screenplay is funny as hell. He broke onto the scene after writing nine spec screenplays with a comedy he wrote in four weeks called Charlie Bartlett.Then, after reading C.D. Payne’s novel, Youth In Revolt, Nash decided to adapt it into a screenplay. He said modestly at the time, “Here was a chance to take credit for writing something that was much better than what I’d come up with on my own.”But his take on Youth In Revolt is a blast and the movie is every bit as good as the book. If you write comedy movie scripts, you’ve probably already been told to and, generally, pack in as much humor in every line as possible.Nash’s script is a perfect of example of how to do just that.
Note the level of comedy in the script.From the opening page, Nash has us laughing. Look at how he introduces a protagonist in Nick Twisp who’s readily identifiable from his dialogue and actions.
And funny.From there on in, the script is a riot of teenage angst and sexual yearning, with a nice side-helping of surrealism thrown in for good measure.Reading comedy movie scripts like this will also teach how to keep a consistent tone throughout. In this case, it’s funny and absurd, yet with an emotional heart and great characters.One of the best action movie screenplays you should read: Raiders of the Lost Ark.Lawrence Kasdan was commissioned by George Lucas to write Raiders of the Lost Ark. How it all came together was very much a group effort, though, between Kasdan, Lucas and Spielberg.All three worked on fleshing out the script during a series of now infamous story meetings in January 1978. The result of which was one of the best action/adventure movie scripts ever written.Action/adventure scripts are notorious for having great concepts but thin characters. This screenplay, however, is a great example of how to elevate a protagonist’s personality above a paper thin cut-out.Making Indy a compelling hero, was the first thing Lucas concentrated on in those early story meetings. And by reading the script you get a great sense of how this was achieved.For example, see how the writers do this by giving Indy a personal motivation to his quest in the shape of Marion.The Raiders of the Lost Ark screenplay is also a fantastic tool for learning how to create all those twists and turns required in any action/adventure movie script.Kasdan achieves this by utilizing a composed of seven specific sequences. Each one takes Indy alternately closer and further away from his goal—the Ark of the Covenant.(You can read more about how Kasdan achieves this in the Raiders of the Lost Ark breakdown in our screenwriting book)Reading the script will also give you the opportunity to check out one of the best exposition scenes in history: Indy’s scene with the army intelligence guys How to handle a ton of exposition.Download the script and study this scene.
It will tell you all you need to know about hiding. Overall, this is one of the most essential movie scripts to study for action/adventure writers.One of the best thriller scripts you should read: Fargo.The other Best Screenplay Oscar winner on our list is the Coens’ crime thriller masterpiece, Fargo.
Thank you very much for the suggestions. I just watched 10 cloverfield.
I’ve had trouble finding it either in it’s current form or when it was “The Cellar”. I love the Matrix but never thought of reading it for some reason and Children of men, very good call.I found your resources outstanding. What a collection of scripts. Thank you again for taking the time to respond to my post.
I have just recently found your website and it has really elevated my writing. I’m working on a very high concept idea with a director for a team of sci-fi producers and your site has helped immeasurably. Really, thank you for this gem of a site. I’m drawn to selfless resources and this site is bookmarked for me.Cheers!!
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