101 Greatest Screenplays Of The 21st Century: Horror Pic Tops Writers Guilds List – Deadline

Now, youre in the sunken place.

If you recognize that line, you know the film whose script the Writers Guild of America just voted as the best of the past 22 years. Jordan Peeles Oscar-winning Get Out tops the WGAs just-released list of the 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (So Far). See the full list below.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, The Social Network, Parasite, No Country for Old Men and Moonlight round out the top six. All of them won a Screenplay Oscar, but three of the next four on the WGAs list There Will Be Blood (No. 7),Inglorious Basterds (No. 8) and Memento (No. 10) did not. The No. 9 script, Almost Famous, took Academy Award for Adapted Screenplay.

Christopher Nolan wrote four of the 101 top screenplays 2000sMemento,2008sThe Dark Knight (No. 26), 2010s Inception (No. 37) and 2006sThe Prestige(No. 82). Dark Night and Prestige were co-penned by his brother Jonathan Nolan, who also wrote the short short upon whichMementowas based.

Quentin Tarantino placed three scripts on the list with 2009s Inglourious Basterds, 2019s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and 2012s Django Unchained. Sodid Joel & Ethan Coen with 2007s No Country for Old Men, 2009sA Serious Man and 2013s Inside Llewyn Davis.Alfonso Cuarn also wrote or co-wrote three of the films:Children of Men(No. 18, 2006),Roma(No. 62, 2018) andY tu mam tambin(No. 86, 2001).

Charlie Kaufman penned two of the top dozen screenplays withEternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind(2004) andAdaptation(2022). Annie Mumulo & Kristen Wiig made the top showing among women, No. 12 forBridesmaids(2011), with Diana Ossana at No. 13 for 2005sBrokeback Mountain, which she wrote with Larry McMurtry.

Greta Gerwig placed a pair of screenplays on the list:Lady Bird (No. 16; 2007) and Little Women (No. 89; 2019).

Aaron Sorkin also hit a double with 2010s The Social Networkand 2011sMoneyball(No. 56). Michael Arndt is another double honoree, forLittle Miss Sunshine (2006) and Toy Story 3 (2010), as is Wes Anderson, having scripted 2001s The Royal Tenenbaums(No. 14, with Owen Wilson) and 2014s The Grand Budapest Hotel.

The person with the most films on todays WGA list who did not receive Oscar nominations for those same titles is Paul Thomas Anderson. He penned There Will Be Blood, The Master (No. 84, 2012) and The Phantom Thread (No. 87, 2017).

One interesting inclusion from the Writers Guild tally is Mad Max: Fury Road, a film that has so few lines of dialogue that director George Miller had to beat back rumors that Fury Road had no script before it started filming.

This contemporary list spans the past 20-plus years of film, spotlighting a wide array of acclaimed, culture-defining movies and the screenwriters who wrote them, per the WGA.

As voted upon by the members of the Writers Guilds West and East, the list of the 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (so far) is both a celebration of the great writers and screenplays of the last 21 years and a study of how writing for the screen has evolved and diversified since the 20th Century, said Aaron Mendelsohn, chair of WGAWs Publicity & Marketing Committee, which conceived the Guilds latest 101 list. . Plus, its a great conversation and argument starter.

Here is the full list, including the film, writers, year and studio:

1. Get Out (2017)Written by Jordan PeeleUniversal

2. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)Written by Charlie Kaufman, Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre BismuthFocus Features

3. The Social Network (2010)Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, Based Upon the Book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben MezrichColumbia/Sony

4. Parasite (2019)Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, Story by Bong Joon HoNeon

5. No Country for Old Men (2007)Written for the Screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Based on the Novel by Cormac McCarthyMiramax/Paramount Vantage

6. Moonlight (2016)Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraneyA24

7. There Will Be Blood (2007)Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson, Based on the Novel Oil! by Upton SinclairParamount Vantage

8. Inglourious Basterds (2009)Written by Quentin TarantinoWeinstein/Universal

9. Almost Famous (2000)Written by Cameron CroweDreamWorks

10. Memento (2000)Screenplay by Christopher Nolan, Based on the Short Story by Jonathan NolanNewmarket

11. Adaptation. (2002)Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman, Based on the Book The Orchid Thief by Susan OrleanColumbia / Sony

12. Bridesmaids (2011)Written by Annie Mumulo & Kristen WiigUniversal

13. Brokeback Mountain (2005)Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana, Based on the Short Story by Annie ProulxFocus Features

14. The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)Written by Wes Anderson & Owen WilsonTouchstone

15. Sideways (2004)Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Based on the Novel by Rex PickettFox Searchlight

16. Lady Bird (2017)Written by Greta GerwigA24

17. Her (2013)Written by Spike JonzeWarner Bros.

18. Children of Men (2006)Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarn & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & HawkOstby, Based on the Novel The Children of Men by P.D. JamesUniversal

19. Lost in Translation (2003)Written by Sofia CoppolaFocus Features

20. Michael Clayton (2007)Written by Tony GilroyWarner Bros.

21. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)Written by Michael ArndtFox Searchlight

22. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)Written by Quentin TarantinoColumbia/Sony

23. Promising Young Woman (2020)Written by Emerald FennellFocus Features

24. Juno (2007)Written by Diablo CodyFox Searchlight

25. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)Screenplay by Wes Anderson, Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo GuinnessFox Searchlight

26. The Dark Knight (2008)Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, Story by Christopher Nolan & David S.Goyer, Based Upon Characters Appearing in Comic Books Published by DC Comic, BatmanCreated by Bob KaneWarner Bros.

27. Arrival (2016)Screenplay by Eric Heisserer, Based on the Story Story of Your Life Written by Ted ChiangParamount

28. Jojo Rabbit (2019)Screenplay by Taika Waititi, Based on the Book Caging Skies by Christine LeunensFox Searchlight

29. Inside Out (2015)Screenplay by Meg LeFauve, Original Story by Pete Docter and Ronnie Del CarmenDisney/Pixar

30. The Departed (2006)Screenplay by William Monahan, Based on the Motion Picture Infernal Affairs, Written Alex Makand Felix ChongWarner Bros.

31. Spotlight (2015)Written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthyOpen Road

32. Whiplash (2014)Written by Damien ChazelleSony Pictures Classics

33. Up (2009)Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthyDisney-Pixar

34. Mean Girls (2004)Screenplay by Tina Fey, Based on the Book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind WisemanParamount

35. WALL-E (2008)Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original Story by Andrew Stanton, Pete DocterDisney-Pixar

36. Pans Labyrinth (2006)Written by Guillermo del ToroWarner Bros.

37. Inception (2010)Written by Christopher NolanWarner Bros.

38. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, Based on the Novel Q & A by Vikas SwarupFox Searchlight

39. Before Sunset (2004)Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke, Story by Richard Linklater & KimKrizan, Based on Characters Created by Richard Linklater & Kim KrizanWarner Bros.

40. In Bruges (2008)Written by Martin McDonaghFocus Features

41. Mulholland Dr. (2001)Written by David LynchUniversal

42. A Serious Man (2009)Written by Joel Coen & Ethan CoenFocus Features

43. Amlie (2001)Screenplay by Guillame Laurant and Jean-Pierre JeunetMiramax

44. Toy Story 3 (2010)Screenplay by Michael Arndt, Story by John Lasseter Andrew Stanton and Lee UnkrichDisney-Pixar

45. The Favourite (2018)Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamaraFox Searchlight

46. Zodiac (2007)Screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Based on the Book by Robert GraysmithParamount

47. Gladiator (2000)Screenplay by David Franzoni and John Logan and William Nicholson, Story by David FranzoniDreamWorks/Universal

48. The Incredibles (2004)Written by Brad BirdDisney-Pixar

49. Knives Out (2019)Written by Rian JohnsonLionsgate

50. Ex Machina (2015)Written by Alex GarlandUniversal / A24

51. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)Written by Alejandro G. Irritu Nicols Giacobone Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando BFox Searchlight

52. The Lives of Others (2006)Written by Florian Henckel von DonnerschmarckSony Pictures Classics

53. Nightcrawler (2014)Written by Dan GilroyOpen Road

54. 12 Years a Slave (2013)Screenplay by John Ridley, Based on Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup20th Century Fox

55. The Big Short (2015)Screenplay by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, Based on the Book by Michael LewisParamount

56. Moneyball (2011)Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin, Based on the Book byMichael LewisColumbia/Sony

57. Black Panther (2018)Written by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee andJack KirbyDisney

58. You Can Count on Me (2000)Written by Kenneth LonerganParamount

59. Boyhood (2014)Written by Richard LinklaterIFC

60. Finding Nemo (2003)Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds, Original Story by AndrewStantonDisney-Pixar

61. The Hurt Locker (2009)Written by Mark BoalSummit

62. Roma (2018)Written by Alfonso CuarnNetflix

63. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)Screenplay by Terence Winter, Based on the Book by Jordan BelfortParamount

64. Hell or High Water (2016)Written by Taylor SheridanLionsgate

65. Manchester by the Sea (2016)Written by Kenneth LonerganAmazon

66. A Separation (2011)Written by Asghar FarhadiSony Pictures Classics

67. Spirited Away (2001)Written by Hayao MiyazakiDisney

68. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)Written by George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nico LathourisWarner Bros.

69. Booksmart (2019)Written by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins and Susanna Fogel and Katie SilbermanUnited Artists

70. City of God (2002)Screenplay by Brulio Montovani, Based on the Novel by Paulo LinsMiramax

71. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018)Screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, Story by Phil Lord, Based on the Marvel ComicsColumbia/Sony

72. Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)Written by Joel Coen & Ethan CoenCBS Films

73. The Kings Speech (2010)Screenplay by David SeidlerWeinstein

74. Django Unchained (2012)Written by Quentin TarantinoWeinstein

75. Oceans Eleven (2001)Screenplay by Ted Griffin, Based on a Screenplay by Harry Brown and Charles Lederer and aStory by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden RussellWarner Bros.

76. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)Screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson, Based on the Book TheFellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienNew Line

77. Shaun of the Dead (2004)Written by Simon Pegg and Edgar WrightUniversal

78. Erin Brockovich (2000)Written by Susannah GrantUniversal

79. Call Me by Your Name (2017)Screenplay by James Ivory, Based on the Novel by Andr AcimanSony Pictures Classics

80. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)Written by Martin McDonaghFox Searchlight

81. The Lobster (2015)Written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis FilippouA24

82. The Prestige (2006)Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, Based on the Novel by ChristopherPriestTouchstone/Warner Bros.

83. Midnight in Paris (2011)Written by Woody AllenSony Pictures Classics

84. The Master (2012)Written by Paul Thomas AndersonWeinstein

85. Argo (2012)Screenplay by Chris Terrio, Based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J.Mendez and the Wired Magazine Article The Great Escape by Joshuah BearmanWarner Bros.

86. Y tu mam tambin (2001)Written by Carlos Cuarn & Alfonso CuarnIFC

87. Phantom Thread (2017)Written by Paul Thomas AndersonFocus Features

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101 Greatest Screenplays Of The 21st Century: Horror Pic Tops Writers Guilds List - Deadline