As a cinephile, I firmly believe that legendary director Alfred Hitchcock hit the nail on the head when he said, “A fantastic film requires three essential elements: the script, the script, and the script.” Indeed, Hitchcock emphasized the pivotal role of screenwriting in the world of filmmaking. While it’s not the only crucial factor in creating a movie, his quote underscores the profound impact a film’s script can have – from setting its tone to determining its success, especially when striving for award-winning status.
As a cinephile, I can’t help but marvel at the prestigious recognition bestowed by The Academy during the Oscars. In two distinct categories – Best Original Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay – they honor the year’s finest scripts. Writing plays a pivotal role in many films, and these awards often find their way to movies that claim other significant Oscars, such as Best Picture. Yet, there are some extraordinary films whose scripts are so compelling that The Academy chooses to recognize them solely for their exceptional screenplays. Here’s a list of ten exceptional movies that walked away with an Oscar for their screenplay, leaving no other accolades in their wake.
Edward Berger’s film “Conclave” was considered a significant Oscar contender throughout the 2025 season. Set within the Vatican, this gripping thriller centers around Cardinal Lawrence as he navigates organizing a papal conclave following an unexpected event. With an impressive ensemble cast featuring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow, and Isabella Rossellini, it’s the exceptional screenplay – adapted from Robert Harris’ book of the same name – that truly shines in “Conclave”.
| Writer | Peter Straughan |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2025 Oscars |
| Category | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 8 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | Anora |
Following impressive victories at BAFTA and SAG, some enthusiastic spectators speculated that “Conclave” could potentially challenge the leading contender for Best Picture that year, “Anora“. However, with five significant accolades, including Best Picture and Best Editing, “Conclave’s” best shot at an Oscar was in categories other than Adapted Screenplay, since “Anora” was not eligible. Despite missing out on the top award, “Conclave” continues to be a beloved choice among fans even after the awards season concluded.
Humorous, flamboyant, and fierce, Cord Jefferson’s directorial debut, American Fiction, was one of the contenders for Best Picture in the competitive 2024 lineup. Adapted from Percival Everett’s novel Erasure, the film follows the character Thelonious “Monk” Ellison, a writer who pens a poorly received book full of racial stereotypes as a jest. Once Monk publishes his work under an alias, the book stirs controversy in communities unaware that it’s meant to be satirical.
| Writer | Cord Jefferson |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2024 Oscars |
| Category | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 5 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | Oppenheimer |
Despite initial expectations, “Oppenheimer” was poised for a significant win during the 2024 Oscars, with its victory seemingly assured since that summer. However, to everyone’s surprise, “American Fiction” triumphed in the Best Adapted Screenplay category, proving the strength of Jefferson’s script by outshining the film that swept most categories.
As a film enthusiast, let me tell you that “Anatomy of a Fall” is an absolute gem. Directed by Justine Triet, this multilingual legal drama revolves around the life of Sandra Voyter, portrayed brilliantly by Sandra Hüller. Her husband, Samuel, tragically falls out of their house window and dies. The narrative unfolds as Sandra stands trial to establish whether it was an accident or if she pushed him.
The film is a rollercoaster ride filled with unexpected twists and turns, and every actor delivers a top-notch performance. However, what truly sets “Anatomy of a Fall” apart is its exceptional screenplay, particularly the ending. The climax leaves you questioning everything you thought you knew about the story, making it an unforgettable watch.
| Writers | Justine Triet and Arthur Harari |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2024 Oscars |
| Category | Best Original Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 5 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | Oppenheimer |
In a different scenario, “Anatomy of a Fall” might have contended for an Oscar, but ultimately didn’t. However, if France had submitted Triet’s film for the Best International Feature Film category, it could have been a strong contender. Interestingly, 2024 marked the first year that multiple International Films were competing against each other for the Best Picture award, making the race for Best International Feature Film particularly intense had “Anatomy of a Fall” been included among the nominees, such as “The Zone of Interest.” Regardless, “Anatomy of a Fall” received a well-deserved Oscar for Best Original Screenplay and left a lasting impression on audiences.
As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but marvel at Taika Waititi’s Oscar-winning screenplay for “Jojo Rabbit.” This film, a comical take set in Nazi Germany, might seem like an improbable concept on paper, especially when compared to the humorless source material, “Caging Skies” by Christine Leunens. But Waititi brilliantly transforms this premise into a unique blend of laughter and tears, crafting “Jojo Rabbit” into a hilarious yet heart-wrenching masterpiece that narrates the journey of a young boy’s growth towards rejecting Nazism.
| Writer | Taika Waititi |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2020 Oscars |
| Category | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 6 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | Parasite |
Although many consider Parasite’s Best Picture triumph at the 2020 Oscars as an exceptional victory, Jojo Rabbit managed an impressive feat by winning the Best Adapted Screenplay award that year. Taika Waititi faced stiff competition to claim this prize, even against popular choices like Little Women and The Irishman, which was the most-nominated film of the night. While Jojo Rabbit richly deserved all the Academy recognition it received, it might have had a better chance in another year, avoiding potential overshadowing during Parasite’s historic Best Picture win.
Drawing from real-life events, the film BlacKkKlansman narrates the story of Ron Stallworth (played by John David Washington), Colorado Springs’ first Black detective. He embarks on an undercover mission to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. The movie keeps viewers on edge, as they fear that Stallworth’s disguise might be uncovered at any moment. Moreover, BlacKkKlansman garnered considerable acclaim for its gripping storytelling and cinematic prowess, with many critics praising it as a “reaffirmation of the director’s legendary talent.
| Writers | Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, Kevin Willmott, Spike Lee |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2019 Oscars |
| Category | Best Adapted Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 6 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | Green Book |
In a remarkable turn of events, Spike Lee, along with co-writers Charlie Wachtel, David Rabinowitz, and Kevin Willmott, triumphed at the Oscars, clinching the Best Adapted Screenplay award for their work on BlacKkKlansman. As he gratefully accepted the prize, Lee joyously threw his arms around presenter Samuel L. Jackson. Regrettably, that year’s Best Picture was a tight competition between Roma and eventual victor, Green Book; with BlacKkKlansman‘s Best Adapted Screenplay win being the most promising outcome for Lee and his team. Ironically, when Spike Lee was last nominated for an Oscar for scriptwriting, a film titled Driving Miss Daisy, which shares a strikingly similar plot to Green Book, took home the award for Best Picture. Lee himself humorously acknowledged this pattern, saying, “Anytime someone’s driving somebody, I lose.
Throughout much of the 2010s, people mainly recognized Jordan Peele as part of a duo. Yet, Peele significantly transformed his persona and the horror genre with the unveiling of his 2017 directorial debut, “Get Out.” This film focuses on Black photographer Chris Washington, portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya, as he encounters Rose’s family for the first time, leading to a chilling twist. Critics acclaimed “Get Out” for its powerful acting, direction, and particularly its gripping screenplay rich in social commentary.
| Writer | Jordan Peele |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2018 Oscars |
| Category | Best Original Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 4 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | The Shape of Water |
In an unusual instance where the Academy recognized a horror film, “Get Out” garnered four Oscar nominations, among them Best Picture. Notably, Jordan Peele won for Best Original Screenplay, making history as the first African-American to claim this award. Remarkably, “Get Out” triumphed over an extremely competitive lineup in the Original Screenplay category, which included “The Shape of Water,” a fellow Best Picture winner, “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri,” the runner-up for Best Picture, and “Lady Bird,” the debut film of another acclaimed director, Greta Gerwig.
Fans had been eagerly awaiting another film from Spike Jonze for quite some time by the time the movie “Her” hit theaters in 2013. The sci-fi film tells the story of Theodore, a melancholic writer, who develops a romantic relationship with Samantha, an advanced artificial intelligence system similar to Siri. “Her” was well-received for its sophisticated approach to science fiction and its poignantly emotional central plotline.
| Writer | Spike Jonze |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2014 Oscars |
| Category | Best Original Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 5 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | 12 Years a Slave |
Similarly to horror films, science fiction isn’t often celebrated by the Academy, making the five Oscar nominations for the movie “Her” even more noteworthy. Jonze won for his work on the film’s screenplay, its only victory. Regrettably, since “Her”, Jonze hasn’t directed another narrative film yet, but taking a break after such an impressive Oscar win seems understandable.
The movie “Juno” focuses on the title character, portrayed by Elliot Page, who learns she’s pregnant and chooses to place the baby up for adoption with what appears to be an adorable couple. However, their relationship issues might be more complicated than they initially seem. This film gained massive popularity, propelling Elliot Page to stardom and exposing viewers to a range of fresh expressions, thanks to writer Diablo Cody’s inventive dialogue.
| Writer | Diablo Cody |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 2008 Oscars |
| Category | Best Original Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 4 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | No Country for Old Men |
Beyond winning over crowds, Juno also gained recognition from the Academy, receiving four nominations. Screenwriter Diablo Cody even won the award for Best Original Screenplay for her work on Juno, edging out fellow Best Picture nominee Michael Clayton to claim the prize. Given that No Country for Old Men won Best Picture, it seems that Juno’s screenplay victory was perhaps the most favorable outcome for the comedy.
For his second feature film, he directed “Pulp Fiction“. This non-linear crime drama weaves together four distinct crime narratives set in the city of Los Angeles. Since its debut, “Pulp Fiction” has earned classic status, and its poster is a must-have for any film enthusiast’s college dorm room decor.
| Writers | Quentin Tarantino, Roger Avary |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 1995 Oscars |
| Category | Best Original Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 7 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | Forrest Gump |
As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but reflect on the moment when Quentin Tarantino and Roger Avary triumphed with the Best Original Screenplay award for “Pulp Fiction” at the Oscars. However, despite its brilliance, the movie was unable to clinch any other categories that year, largely overshadowed by “Forrest Gump’s” dominance. Yet, the Oscar recognition for “Pulp Fiction” ignited several iconic film careers, including Tarantino himself, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman, among others. Furthermore, it breathed new life into the industry. Regardless of not winning Best Picture, “Pulp Fiction’s” reputation as a must-watch classic is solidified, and the Best Original Screenplay award more than suffices for this cinematic masterpiece.
In 1941, Orson Welles’ groundbreaking film, Citizen Kane, created quite a stir when it premiered. Despite an unconventional opening that featured the death of Charles Foster Kane, portrayed by Welles himself, the movie intrigued audiences as they followed a group of journalists trying to decipher the meaning behind Kane’s final utterance, “Rosebud.” It was later revealed that “Rosebud” represented a sled from Kane’s childhood, the one and only time he experienced true happiness amidst his extravagant and successful existence.
| Writers | Herman J. Mankiewicz, Orson Welles |
|---|---|
| Ceremony | 1942 Oscars |
| Category | Best Original Screenplay |
| Total Oscar Nominations | 9 |
| That Year’s Best Picture Winner | How Green Was My Valley |
Although Citizen Kane received widespread recognition, with 9 Oscar nominations, and ultimately won the Best Original Screenplay award for Orson Welles and Herman J. Mankiewicz, it’s interesting to note that the film that took home the Best Picture trophy at the 1942 Academy Awards was How Green Was My Valley. This lesser-known film is now remembered as the one that defeated Citizen Kane for Best Picture, providing a compelling example of instances where the Academy’s decision might not align with popular opinion.
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2025-05-19 03:30