The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

television Television, sometimes shortened to TV, is a telecommunication medium for transmitting moving images and sound. The term can refer to a television set, or the medium of television transmission. Television is a mass medium for advertising, ...

, and

radio Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a tr ...

writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the Writers Guild of America, East and Writers Guild of America West since 1949.

Eligibility

The screen awards are for films that were exhibited theatrically during the preceding calendar year. The television awards are for series that were produced and aired between December 1 and November 30, regardless of how many episodes aired during this time period. Additionally, scripts must be produced under the jurisdiction of the WGA or under a collective bargaining agreement in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by to ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island coun ...

, or the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and ...

Lifetime achievement awards

Each year at the awards, two lifetime achievement awards are presented. One is for screenwriting, and the other is for TV writing: *

Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement The Laurel Award for TV Writing Achievement is an honorary award presented by the Writers Guild of America for the greatest achievement in television writing. Along with the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement, it is one of two lifetime a ...

Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement The Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement (also known as the Screen Laurel Award) is a lifetime achievement award given by the Writers Guild of America. It is given "to that member of the Guild who, in the opinion of the current Board of Dir ...

History

In 2004, the awards show was broadcast on television for the first time. In the years 2008 through 2018, the awards also included

video game Video games, also known as computer games, are electronic games that involves interaction with a user interface or input device such as a joystick, controller, keyboard, or motion sensing device to generate visual feedback. This feedba ...

writing.

Discontinued categories

* Best Written Musical (1949–1969) * Best Written Western (1949–1951) * Best Written Film Concerning American Scene (1949–1952) * Best Written Drama (1949–1969) ** Best Drama Written Directly for the Screenplay (1970–1984) ** Best Drama Adapted from Another Media (1970–1984) * Best Written Comedy (1949–1969) ** Best Comedy Written Directly for the Screenplay (1970–1984) ** Best Comedy Adapted from Another Media (1970–1984) * Best Videogame Writing (2008–2018)

Ceremonies

1st Writers Guild of America Awards The 1st Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers of 1948. Winners were announced in 1949. Winners and nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. References External links WGA.org {{WGA Awar ...

* 2nd Writers Guild of America Awards * 3rd Writers Guild of America Awards *

4th Writers Guild of America Awards The 4th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers of 1951. Winners were announced in 1952. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. References External linksWGA.org {{WGA Awards Chron ...

* 5th Writers Guild of America Awards *

6th Writers Guild of America Awards The 6th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers of 1953. Winners were announced in 1954. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Special Awards References External linksWGA.org {{WGA ...

7th Writers Guild of America Awards The 7th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers of 1954. Winners were announced in 1955. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Special Awards References External linksWGA.org {{WG ...

* 8th Writers Guild of America Awards * 9th Writers Guild of America Awards * 10th Writers Guild of America Awards * 11th Writers Guild of America Awards * 12th Writers Guild of America Awards * 13th Writers Guild of America Awards * 14th Writers Guild of America Awards *

15th Writers Guild of America Awards The 15th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1962. Winners were announced in 1963. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Awards ...

16th Writers Guild of America Awards The 16th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1963. Winners were announced in 1964. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Award ...

* 17th Writers Guild of America Awards *

18th Writers Guild of America Awards The 18th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best Screenwriter, film writers and television writers of 1965. Winners were announced in 1966. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television ...

* 19th Writers Guild of America Awards * 20th Writers Guild of America Awards * 21st Writers Guild of America Awards *

22nd Writers Guild of America Awards The 22nd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1969. Winners were announced in 1970. Winners and Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Awar ...

23rd Writers Guild of America Awards The 23rd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1970. Winners were announced in 1971. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Awards ...

24th Writers Guild of America Awards The 24th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1971. Winners were announced in 1972. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Award ...

25th Writers Guild of America Awards The 25th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1972. Winners were announced at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Los Angeles, California on March 16, 1973. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are list ...

* 26th Writers Guild of America Awards * 27th Writers Guild of America Awards *

28th Writers Guild of America Awards The 28th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1975. Winners were announced in 1976. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Award ...

43rd Writers Guild of America Awards The 43rd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best television, and film writers of 1990. Winners were announced in 1991. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Documentary Specia ...

* 44th Writers Guild of America Awards * 45th Writers Guild of America Awards * 46th Writers Guild of America Awards * 47th Writers Guild of America Awards * 48th Writers Guild of America Awards * 49th Writers Guild of America Awards * 50th Writers Guild of America Awards *

51st Writers Guild of America Awards The 51st Writers Guild of America Awards, given in 1999, honored the film and television best writers of 1998. Film Best Adapted Screenplay ''Out of Sight'' – Scott Frank *''A Civil Action'' – Steven Zaillian *'' Gods and Monsters'' – Bill ...

* 52nd Writers Guild of America Awards *

53rd Writers Guild of America Awards The 53rd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best writing in film, television and radio of 2000. Nominees for television and radio were announced on January 10, 2001, while nominees for film were announced on February 7, 2001. Winners we ...

* 54th Writers Guild of America Awards * 55th Writers Guild of America Awards *

56th Writers Guild of America Awards The 56th Writers Guild of America Awards, given in 2004, honored the film and television best writers of 2003. Winners Film Best Adapted Screenplay ''American Splendor'' - Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini *'' Cold Mountain'' - Anthony ...

57th Writers Guild of America Awards The 57th Writers Guild of America Awards, given on February 19, 2005, honored the film and television best writers of 2004. Winners and nominees Film Adapted Screenplay '' Sideways'' - Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor *''Before Sunset'' - Ri ...

58th Writers Guild of America Awards The 58th Writers Guild of America Awards, given on February 4, 2006, honored the best film and television writers of 2005. Winners and nominees Film Adapted Screenplay ''Brokeback Mountain'' – Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana *'' Capote'' ...

59th Writers Guild of America Awards The 59th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film and television writers of 2006. Winners and nominees Film Best Adapted Screenplay '' The Departed'' - William Monahan *'' Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glo ...

* 60th Writers Guild of America Awards * 61st Writers Guild of America Awards *

62nd Writers Guild of America Awards The 62nd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film, television, and videogame writers of 2009. Winners were announced on February 20, 2010. Nominees Names in bold denote the winners. Film Best Adapted Screenplay * ''Crazy Heart' ...

* 63rd Writers Guild of America Awards *

64th Writers Guild of America Awards The 64th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film, television, and videogame writers of 2011. Winners were announced on February 19, 2012. Nominees Film Original ''Midnight in Paris'' — Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Cl ...

65th Writers Guild of America Awards The 65th Writers Guild of America Awards honor the best film, television, radio and video-game writers of 2012. The television and radio nominees were announced on December 6, 2012. Film nominees were announced on January 4, 2013. All winners w ...

* 66th Writers Guild of America Awards * 67th Writers Guild of America Awards * 68th Writers Guild of America Awards * 69th Writers Guild of America Awards *

70th Writers Guild of America Awards The 70th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best in film, television, radio and video-game writing of 2017. Winners were announced on February 11, 2018 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, California and the Edison Ballroom, New Y ...

* 71st Writers Guild of America Awards *

72nd Writers Guild of America Awards The 72nd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best writing in film, television and radio of 2019. Nominees for television and radio were announced on December 5, 2019, while nominees for film were announced on January 6, 2020. Winners wer ...

73rd Writers Guild of America Awards The 73rd Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best writing in film, television and radio of 2020. Nominees for television and radio were announced on February 3, 2021, while nominees for film were announced on February 16, 2021. The winner ...

74th Writers Guild of America Awards The 74th Writers Guild of America Awards were held on March 20, 2022, to honor the best writing in film, television and radio of 2021. The nominees for television and radio were announced on January 13, 2022, while the nominees for the film catego ...

Winners

A * denotes a film that also went on to win an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

Films

Current awards

;Best Original Screenplay * 1968: ''

Bonnie and Clyde Bonnie Elizabeth Parker (October 1, 1910May 23, 1934) and Clyde Chestnut (Champion) Barrow (March 24, 1909May 23, 1934) were an American criminal couple who traveled the Central United States with their gang during the Great Depression. The c ...

'' – David Newman and Robert Benton * 1969: '' The Producers'' –

Mel Brooks Mel Brooks (born Melvin James Kaminsky; June 28, 1926) is an American actor, comedian and filmmaker. With a career spanning over seven decades, he is known as a writer and director of a variety of successful broad farces and parodies. He began ...

* * 1985: '' Broadway Danny Rose'' –

Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...

* 1986: ''

Witness In law, a witness is someone who has knowledge about a matter, whether they have sensed it or are testifying on another witnesses' behalf. In law a witness is someone who, either voluntarily or under compulsion, provides testimonial evidence, e ...

'' –

Pamela Wallace Pamela Wallace (born 1949 in Exeter, California) is an American screenwriter and author. She won an Oscar for co-writing the screenplay for the movie ''Witness''. Wallace has also written 25 romance novels, under her own name and the pseudonyms P ...

, William Kelley, and

Earl W. Wallace Earl W. Wallace (October 23, 1942 – May 12, 2018) was an American screen and television writer who began his career in the 1970s writing episodes of the hit CBS Western series ''Gunsmoke'', one of which inspired him, his wife Pamela, and Willia ...

* * 1987: ''

Hannah and Her Sisters ''Hannah and Her Sisters'' is a 1986 American comedy-drama film which tells the intertwined stories of an extended family over two years that begins and ends with a family Thanksgiving dinner. The film was written and directed by Woody Allen, w ...

'' –

* * 1988: '' Moonstruck'' – John Patrick Shanley * * 1989: '' Bull Durham'' –

Ron Shelton Ronald Wayne Shelton (born September 15, 1945) is an American film director and screenwriter and former minor league baseball infielder. Shelton is known for the many films he has made about sports. His 1988 film ''Bull Durham'', based in part o ...

* 1990: '' Crimes and Misdemeanors'' –

* 1991: '' Avalon'' – Barry Levinson * 1992: '' Thelma & Louise'' –

Callie Khouri Carolyn Ann "Callie" Khouri (born November 27, 1957) is an American film and television screenwriter, producer, and director. In 1992, she won the Academy Award for Best Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen for the film ''Thelma & Louise' ...

* * 1993: '' The Crying Game'' –

Neil Jordan Neil Patrick Jordan (born 25 February 1950) is an Irish film director, screenwriter, novelist and short-story writer. His first book, '' Night in Tunisia'', won a Somerset Maugham Award and the Guardian Fiction Prize in 1979. He won an Academ ...

* * 1994: '' The Piano'' –

Jane Campion Dame Elizabeth Jane Campion (born 30 April 1954) is a New Zealand filmmaker. She is best known for writing and directing the critically acclaimed films ''The Piano'' (1993) and '' The Power of the Dog'' (2021), for which she has received a tot ...

* * 1995: '' Four Weddings and a Funeral'' – Richard Curtis * 1996: ''

Braveheart ''Braveheart'' is a 1995 American historical drama film directed and produced by, and starring Mel Gibson. Gibson portrays Sir William Wallace, a late-13th century Scottish warrior who led the Scots in the First War of Scottish Independence ...

'' – Randall Wallace * 1997: '' Fargo'' – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen * * 1998: '' As Good as It Gets'' –

Mark Andrus Mark Andrus, born December 13, 1955 in Los Angeles, is an American screenwriter. After receiving a Master of Business Administration from UC Riverside, Andrus decided to take a creative writing class while waiting to hear from the law schools to ...

and

James L. Brooks James Lawrence Brooks (born May 9, 1940) is an American director, producer, screenwriter and co-founder of Gracie Films. His television and film work includes ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'', ''Taxi'', ''The Simpsons'', '' Broadcast News'', ''As G ...

* 1999: '' Shakespeare in Love'' –

Marc Norman Marc or MARC may refer to: People * Marc (given name), people with the first name * Marc (surname), people with the family name Acronyms * MARC standards, a data format used for library cataloging, * MARC Train, a regional commuter rail system of ...

and

Tom Stoppard Sir Tom Stoppard (born , 3 July 1937) is a Czech born British playwright and screenwriter. He has written for film, radio, stage, and television, finding prominence with plays. His work covers the themes of human rights, censorship, and polit ...

* * 2000: '' American Beauty'' – Alan Ball * * 2001: '' You Can Count on Me'' – Kenneth Lonergan * 2002: '' Gosford Park'' – Julian Fellowes * * 2003: '' Bowling for Columbine'' –

Michael Moore Michael Francis Moore (born April 23, 1954) is an American filmmaker, author and left-wing activist. His works frequently address the topics of globalization and capitalism. Moore won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for ' ...

* 2004: '' Lost in Translation'' – Sofia Coppola * * 2005: ''

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind ''Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (also simply known as ''Eternal Sunshine'') is a 2004 American romantic science fiction drama film written by Charlie Kaufman, directed by Michel Gondry, and starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet. Pi ...

'' –

Charlie Kaufman Charles Stuart Kaufman (; born November 19, 1958) is an American filmmaker and novelist. He wrote the films '' Being John Malkovich'' (1999), '' Adaptation'' (2002), and '' Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' (2004). He made his directorial ...

, Michael Gondry, and Pierre Bismuth * * 2006: ''

Crash Crash or CRASH may refer to: Common meanings * Collision, an impact between two or more objects * Crash (computing), a condition where a program ceases to respond * Cardiac arrest, a medical condition in which the heart stops beating * Couch ...

'' – Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco * * 2007: ''

Little Miss Sunshine ''Little Miss Sunshine'' is a 2006 American tragicomedy road film and the feature film directorial debut of the husband–wife team of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. The screenplay was written by first-time writer Michael Arndt. The film s ...

'' –

Michael Arndt Michael Arndt is an American screenwriter. He is best known as the writer of the films ''Little Miss Sunshine'' (2006), ''Toy Story 3'' (2010), and '' Star Wars: The Force Awakens'' (2015). Arndt won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenpl ...

* * 2008: '' Juno'' – Diablo Cody * * 2009: ''

Milk Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modulat ...

'' – Dustin Lance Black * * 2010: ''

The Hurt Locker ''The Hurt Locker'' is a 2008 American war thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal. It stars Jeremy Renner, Anthony Mackie, Brian Geraghty, Christian Camargo, Ralph Fiennes, David Morse, and Guy Pearce. The film follow ...

'' – Mark Boal * * 2011: '' Inception'' – Christopher Nolan * 2012: ''

Midnight in Paris ''Midnight in Paris'' is a 2011 fantasy comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender ( Owen Wilson), a screenwriter, who is forced to confront the shortcomings of his relationship with his materi ...

'' –

* * 2013: ''

Zero Dark Thirty ''Zero Dark Thirty'' is a 2012 American thriller film directed by Kathryn Bigelow and written by Mark Boal. The film dramatizes the nearly decade-long international manhunt for Osama bin Laden, leader of terrorist network Al-Qaeda, after ...

'' – Mark Boal * 2014: ''

Her Her is the objective and possessive form of the English-language feminine pronoun she. Her, HER or H.E.R. may also refer to: Arts, entertainment and media Music * H.E.R. (born 1997), American singer ** ''H.E.R.'' (album), 2017 * HIM (Finnish ...

'' –

Spike Jonze Adam H. Spiegel (born October 22, 1969), known professionally as Spike Jonze, is an American filmmaker, actor, musician, and photographer. His work includes commercials, film, music videos, skateboard videos and television. Jonze began his ca ...

* * 2015: '' The Grand Budapest Hotel'' – Wes Anderson and

Hugo Guinness Hugo Arthur Rundell Guinness (born 12 September 1959) is a British artist, illustrator, and writer. He is known for his illustrations in ''The New York Times'' and his bold, graphic black-and-white block prints, many of which have appeared in fil ...

* 2016: '' Spotlight'' – Tom McCarthy and

Josh Singer Josh Singer (born 1972) is an American screenwriter and producer. He is best known for writing '' The Fifth Estate'' (2013), '' Spotlight'' (2015), ''The Post'' (2017) and '' First Man'' (2018). He won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenpl ...

* * 2017: ''

Moonlight Moonlight consists of mostly sunlight (with little earthlight) reflected from the parts of the Moon's surface where the Sun's light strikes. Illumination The intensity of moonlight varies greatly depending on the lunar phase, but even the ful ...

'' –

Barry Jenkins Barry Jenkins (born November 19, 1979) is an American filmmaker. After making his filmmaking debut with the short film ''My Josephine'' (2003), he directed his first feature film '' Medicine for Melancholy'' (2008) for which he received an Ind ...

; story by

Tarell Alvin McCraney Tarell Alvin McCraney (born October 17, 1980) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and actor. He is the chair of playwriting at the Yale School of Drama and a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble. He co-wrote the 2016 film ''Moonlight'' ...

* * 2018: '' Get Out'' –

Jordan Peele Jordan Haworth Peele (born February 21, 1979) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He is best known for his film and television work in the comedy and horror genres. Peele's breakout role came in 2003, when he was hired as a cast membe ...

* * 2019: ''

Eighth Grade Eighth grade (or grade eight in some regions) is the eighth post-kindergarten year of formal education in the US. The eighth grade is the ninth school year, the second, third, fourth, or final year of middle school, or the second and/or final ye ...

'' –

Bo Burnham Robert Pickering "Bo" Burnham (born 1990) is an American comedian, musician, songwriter, actor, and filmmaker. His comedy work often combines musical, sketch, and stand-up elements with filmmaking. Following his success as one of the earlie ...

* 2020: ''

Parasite Parasitism is a close relationship between species, where one organism, the parasite, lives on or inside another organism, the host, causing it some harm, and is adapted structurally to this way of life. The entomologist E. O. Wilson h ...

'' –

Bong Joon-ho Bong Joon-ho (, ; Hanja: 奉俊昊; born September 14, 1969) is a South Korean film director, producer and screenwriter. The recipient of four Academy Awards, his filmography is characterised by emphasis on social themes, genre-mixing, black h ...

and

Han Jin-won Han Jin-won (, born 1986) is a South Korean screenwriter. He is best known for his work on '' Parasite'' as writer, which earned him critical appraisal and recognition including an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay at the 92nd Academy Awa ...

; story by Bong Joon-ho * *2021: '' Promising Young Woman'' —

Emerald Fennell Emerald Lilly Fennell (; born 1 October 1985) is an English actress, filmmaker, and writer. She has received many awards and nominations, including an Academy Award, two British Academy Film Awards, one Screen Actors Guild Award, and nominatio ...

* *2022: '' Don't Look Up'' — Adam McKay and

David Sirota David J. Sirota (born November 2, 1975) is an American journalist, columnist at ''The Guardian'', editor for '' Jacobin'', author, television writer, and screenwriter. He is also a political commentator and radio host based in Denver. He is a nati ...

;Best Adapted Screenplay * 1985: ''

The Killing Fields A killing field is a concept in military science. Killing field may also refer to: * Killing Fields, a number of sites in Cambodia where collectively more than a million people were killed and buried by the Khmer Rouge regime, during its rule o ...

'' – Bruce Robinson * 1986: '' Prizzi's Honor'' – Richard Condon and Janet Roach * 1987: ''

A Room with a View ''A Room with a View'' is a 1908 novel by English writer E. M. Forster, about a young woman in the restrained culture of Edwardian era England. Set in Italy and England, the story is both a romance and a humorous critique of English society a ...

'' –

Ruth Prawer Jhabvala Ruth Prawer Jhabvala (; 7 May 19273 April 2013) was a British author and screenwriter. She is best known for her collaboration with Merchant Ivory Productions, made up of director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant. In 1951, Jhabvala ma ...

* * 1988: '' Roxanne'' –

Steve Martin Stephen Glenn Martin (born August 14, 1945) is an American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician. He has won five Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, and was awarded an Honorary Academy Award in 2013. Additionally, he was nominate ...

* 1989: '' Dangerous Liaisons'' –

Christopher Hampton Sir Christopher James Hampton ( Horta, Azores, 26 January 1946) is a British playwright, screenwriter, translator and film director. He is best known for his play ''Les Liaisons Dangereuses'' based on the novel of the same name and the film ...

* * 1990: ''

Driving Miss Daisy '' Driving Miss Daisy'' is a 1989 American comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford and written by Alfred Uhry, based on his 1987 play of the same name. The film stars Jessica Tandy, Morgan Freeman, and Dan Aykroyd. Freeman reprised his r ...

'' – Alfred Uhry * * 1991: '' Dances with Wolves'' – Michael Blake * * 1992: '' The Silence of the Lambs'' – Ted Tally * * 1993: '' The Player'' – Michael Tolkin * 1994: ''

Schindler's List ''Schindler's List'' is a 1993 American epic historical drama film directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and written by Steven Zaillian. It is based on the 1982 novel ''Schindler's Ark'' by Australian novelist Thomas Keneally. The film f ...

'' – Steven Zaillian * * 1995: ''

Forrest Gump ''Forrest Gump'' is a 1994 American comedy-drama film directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Eric Roth. It is based on the 1986 novel of the same name by Winston Groom and stars Tom Hanks, Robin Wright, Gary Sinise, Mykelti Williamson ...

'' – Eric Roth * * 1996: '' Sense and Sensibility'' –

Emma Thompson Dame Emma Thompson (born 15 April 1959) is a British actress. Regarded as one of the best actresses of her generation, she has received numerous accolades throughout her four-decade-long career, including two Academy Awards, two British A ...

* * 1997: '' Sling Blade'' – Billy Bob Thornton * * 1998: ''

L.A. Confidential ''L.A. Confidential'' (1990) is a neo-noir novel by James Ellroy and the third of his L.A. Quartet series. It is dedicated to Mary Doherty Ellroy. The epigraph is "A glory that costs everything and means nothing"—Steve Erickson. Plot The s ...

'' – Brian Helgeland and Curtis Hanson * * 1999: '' Out of Sight'' – Scott Frank * 2000: ''

Election An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual or multiple individuals to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operat ...

'' –

Alexander Payne Constantine Alexander Payne (; born February 10, 1961) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. He is best known for the films ''Citizen Ruth'' (1996), ''Election'' (1999), '' About Schmidt'' (2002), '' Sideways'' (2004), '' The D ...

and Jim Taylor * 2001: ''

Traffic Traffic comprises pedestrians, vehicles, ridden or herded animals, trains, and other conveyances that use public ways (roads) for travel and transportation. Traffic laws govern and regulate traffic, while rules of the road include traffic ...

'' – Stephen Gaghan * * 2002: '' A Beautiful Mind'' –

Akiva Goldsman Akiva J. Goldsman (born July 7, 1962) is an American filmmaker. He is known for making motion pictures and adaptations of popular novels. Goldsman's filmography as a screenwriter includes '' The Client''; '' Batman Forever'' and its sequel '' ...

* * 2003: '' The Hours'' – David Hare * 2004: '' American Splendor'' – Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini * 2005: '' Sideways'' –

and Jim Taylor * * 2006: ''

Brokeback Mountain ''Brokeback Mountain'' is a 2005 American neo-Western romantic drama film directed by Ang Lee and produced by Diana Ossana and James Schamus. Adapted from the 1997 short story of the same name by Annie Proulx, the screenplay was written ...

'' –

Larry McMurty Larry Jeff McMurtry (June 3, 1936March 25, 2021) was an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work was predominantly set in either the Old West or contemporary Texas.

and

Diana Ossana Diana Lynn Ossana (born August 24, 1949) is an American writer who has collaborated on writing screenplays, teleplays, and novels with author Larry McMurtry since they first worked together in 1992, on the semi-fictionalized biography ''Pretty ...

* * 2007: ''

The Departed ''The Departed'' is a 2006 American epic crime thriller film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by William Monahan. It is both a remake of the 2002 Hong Kong film '' Infernal Affairs'' and also loosely based on the real-life Boston Win ...

'' –

William Monahan William J. Monahan (born November 3, 1960) is an American screenwriter and novelist. His second produced screenplay was '' The Departed'', a film that earned him a Writers Guild of America Award and Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. ...

* * 2008: '' No Country for Old Men'' – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen * * 2009: '' Slumdog Millionaire'' – Simon Beaufoy * * 2010: '' Up in the Air'' –

Jason Reitman Jason R. Reitman (; born October 19, 1977) is a Canadian-American actor and filmmaker, best known for directing the films '' Thank You for Smoking'' (2005), '' Juno'' (2007), '' Up in the Air'' (2009), '' Young Adult'' (2011), and '' Ghostbuste ...

* 2011: '' The Social Network'' –

Aaron Sorkin Aaron Benjamin Sorkin (born June 9, 1961) is an American playwright, screenwriter and film director. Born in New York City, he developed a passion for writing at an early age. Sorkin has earned an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, five Primetime ...

* * 2012: '' The Descendants'' –

, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash * * 2013: ''

Argo In Greek mythology the ''Argo'' (; in Greek: ) was a ship built with the help of the gods that Jason and the Argonauts sailed from Iolcos to Colchis to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The ship has gone on to be used as a motif in a variety of ...

'' – Chris Terrio * * 2014: '' Captain Phillips'' – Billy Ray * 2015: '' The Imitation Game'' – Graham Moore * * 2016: ''

The Big Short ''The Big Short: Inside the Doomsday Machine'' is a nonfiction book by Michael Lewis about the build-up of the United States housing bubble during the 2000s. It was released on March 15, 2010, by W. W. Norton & Company. It spent 28 weeks on ' ...

'' – Adam McKay and

Charles Randolph Charles Randolph is an American screenwriter and producer for film and television. In 2015, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay along with Adam McKay for co-writing ''The Big Short''. In 2019, he wrote and produced the film '' ...

* * 2017: '' Arrival'' –

Eric Heisserer Eric Andrew Heisserer (born 1970) is an American filmmaker, comic book writer, television writer, and television producer. His screenplay for the film ''Arrival'' earned him a Best Adapted Screenplay nomination at the 89th Academy Awards in 201 ...

* 2018: '' Call Me by Your Name'' —

James Ivory James Francis Ivory (born June 7, 1928) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. For many years, he worked extensively with Indian-born film producer Ismail Merchant, his domestic as well as professional partner, and with scree ...

* * 2019: '' Can You Ever Forgive Me?'' – Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty * 2020: '' Jojo Rabbit'' –

Taika Waititi Taika David Cohen (born 16 August 1975), known professionally as Taika Waititi ( ), is a New Zealand filmmaker, actor, and comedian. He is a recipient of an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Grammy Award, and has received two nominations at ...

* *2021: ''

Borat Subsequent Moviefilm ''Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan'' (or simply ''Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'' or ''Borat 2'') is a 2020 mockumentary black comedy film directed by Ja ...

'' — Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Peter Baynham & Erica Rivinoja & Dan Mazer & Jena Friedman & Lee Kern; story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Dan Swimer & Nina Pedrad; based on characters created by Sacha Baron Cohen * 2022: ''

CODA Coda or CODA may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * Movie coda, a post-credits scene * ''Coda'' (1987 film), an Australian horror film about a serial killer, made for television *''Coda'', a 2017 American experimental film from Na ...

'' – Sian Heder * ;Best Documentary Screenplay * 2005: Super Size Me – Morgan Spurlock * 2006: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room –

Alex Gibney Philip Alexander Gibney (; born October 23, 1953) is an American documentary film director and producer. In 2010, ''Esquire'' magazine said Gibney "is becoming the most important documentarian of our time". Gibney's works as director include '' ...

* 2007:

Deliver Us from Evil "Deliver us from evil" is a line from the Lord's Prayer in the Bible. Deliver Us from Evil may also refer to: Books * Deliver Us from Evil (novel), ''Deliver Us from Evil'' (novel), a novel by David Baldacci * ''Deliver Us from Evil: Defeating T ...

– Amy J. Berg * 2008: Taxi to the Dark – Alex Gibney * 2009: Waltz with Bashir – Ari Folman * 2010: The Cove – Mark Monroe * 2011: Inside Job – Charles Ferguson * 2012: Better This World – Katie Galloway, and Kelly Duane de la Vega * 2013: Searching for Sugar Man – Malik Bendjelloul * 2014:

Stories We Tell ''Stories We Tell'' is a 2012 Canadian documentary film written and directed by Sarah Polley and produced by the National Film Board of Canada The National Film Board of Canada (NFB; french: Office national du film du Canada (ONF)) is Cana ...

– Sarah Polley * 2015:

The Internet's Own Boy ''The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz'' is a 2014 American biographical documentary film about Aaron Swartz written, directed, and produced by Brian Knappenberger. The film premiered in the ''US Documentary Competition program'' ca ...

: The Story of Aaron Swartz –

Brian Knappenberger Brian Knappenberger is an American documentary filmmaker, known for ''The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz'', ''We Are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists'', and Turning Point: 9/11 and the War on Terror and his work on Bloomber ...

* 2016: Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief – Alex Gibney * 2017:

Command and Control Command and control (abbr. C2) is a "set of organizational and technical attributes and processes ... hatemploys human, physical, and information resources to solve problems and accomplish missions" to achieve the goals of an organization o ...

–

Robert Kenner Robert Kenner is an American film and television director, producer, and writer. Kenner is best known for directing the film ''Food, Inc''. as well as the films, ''Command and Control'', '' Merchants of Doubt'', and ''When Strangers Click''. K ...

, Brian Pearle, Kim Roberts, and Eric Schlosser * 2018:

Jane Jane may refer to: * Jane (given name), a feminine given name * Jane (surname), related to the given name Film and television * Jane (1915 film), ''Jane'' (1915 film), a silent comedy film directed by Frank Lloyd * Jane (2016 film), ''Jane'' (20 ...

– Brett Morgen * 2019:

Bathtubs Over Broadway ''Bathtubs Over Broadway'' is a 2018 American documentary film directed by Dava Whisenant. Comedy writer Steve Young’s assignment to scour bargain-bin vinyl for a late-night segment becomes an unexpected, decades-spanning obsession when he stu ...

– Ozzy Inguanzo, and Dava Whisenant * 2020: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley – Alex Gibney *2021:

The Dissident ''The Dissident'' is a 2020 American documentary film directed and produced by Bryan Fogel. It follows the assassination of Jamal Khashoggi and Saudi Arabia's effort to control international dissent. The film had its world premiere at the Sund ...

— Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel

Discontinued categories

;Best Written Drama * 1949: '' The Snake Pit'' – Frank Partos and Millen Brand * 1950: '' All the King's Men'' – Robert Rossen * 1951: '' Sunset Boulevard'' – Charles Brackett,

Billy Wilder Billy Wilder (; ; born Samuel Wilder; June 22, 1906 – March 27, 2002) was an Austrian-American filmmaker. His career in Hollywood spanned five decades, and he is regarded as one of the most brilliant and versatile filmmakers of Classic Holly ...

, and D. M. Marshman Jr. * * 1952: '' A Place in the Sun'' – Michael Wilson and Harry Brown * * 1953: ''

High Noon ''High Noon'' is a 1952 American Western film produced by Stanley Kramer from a screenplay by Carl Foreman, directed by Fred Zinnemann, and starring Gary Cooper. The plot, which occurs in real time, centers on a town marshal whose sense ...

'' – Carl Foreman * 1954: '' From Here to Eternity'' –

Daniel Taradash Daniel Taradash (January 29, 1913 – February 22, 2003) was an American screenwriter. Taradash's credits include '' Golden Boy'' (1939), ''From Here to Eternity'' (1952), ''Rancho Notorious'' (1952), ''Don't Bother to Knock'' (1952), '' Dési ...

* * 1955: ''

On the Waterfront ''On the Waterfront'' is a 1954 American crime drama film, directed by Elia Kazan and written by Budd Schulberg. It stars Marlon Brando and features Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb, Rod Steiger, Pat Henning, and Eva Marie Saint in her film debut. ...

'' – Budd Schulberg * * 1956: '' Marty'' – Paddy Chayefsky * * 1957: '' Friendly Persuasion'' – Michael Wilson * 1958: ''

12 Angry Men ''Twelve Angry Men'' is an American courtroom drama written by Reginald Rose concerning the jury of a homicide trial. It was broadcast initially as a television play in 1954. The following year it was adapted for the stage. It was adapted for a ...

'' –

Reginald Rose Reginald Rose (December 10, 1920 – April 19, 2002) was an American screenwriter. He wrote about controversial social and political issues. His realistic approach was particularly influential in the anthology programs of the 1950s. Rose w ...

* 1959: '' The Defiant Ones'' – Nedrick Young and Harold Jacob Smith * * 1960: ''

The Diary of Anne Frank ''The Diary of a Young Girl'', also known as ''The Diary of Anne Frank'', is a book of the writings from the Dutch-language diary kept by Anne Frank while she was in hiding for two years with her family during the Nazi occupation of the Netherl ...

'' – Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett * 1961: ''

Elmer Gantry ''Elmer Gantry'' is a satirical novel written by Sinclair Lewis in 1926 that presents aspects of the religious activity of America in fundamentalist and evangelistic circles and the attitudes of the 1920s public toward it. The novel's protagonis ...

'' –

Richard Brooks Richard Brooks (May 18, 1912 – March 11, 1992) was an American screenwriter, film director, novelist and film producer. Nominated for eight Oscars in his career, he was best known for ''Blackboard Jungle'' (1955), ''Cat on a Hot Tin Roof'' ...

* * 1962: '' The Hustler'' –

Sidney Carroll Sidney Carroll (May 25, 1913 – November 3, 1988) was an American film and television screenwriter. Although Carroll wrote most frequently for television, he is perhaps best remembered today for writing the screenplays for ''The Hustler'' (1961) ...

and Robert Rossen * 1963: ''

To Kill a Mockingbird ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' is a novel by the American author Harper Lee. It was published in 1960 and was instantly successful. In the United States, it is widely read in high schools and middle schools. ''To Kill a Mockingbird'' has become ...

'' – Horton Foote * * 1964: '' Hud'' –

Harriet Frank Jr. Harriet Frank Jr. (born Harriet Goldstein; March 2, 1923 – January 28, 2020) was an American screenwriter and producer. Working with her husband Irving Ravetch, Frank received many awards during her career, including the New York Film Critics ...

and Irving Ravetch * 1965: ''

Becket ''Becket or The Honour of God'' (french: Becket ou l'honneur de Dieu) is a 1959 play written in French by Jean Anouilh. It is a depiction of the conflict between Thomas Becket and King Henry II of England leading to Becket's assassination in 117 ...

'' –

Edward Anhalt Edward Anhalt (March 28, 1914 – September 3, 2000) was an American screenwriter, producer, and documentary filmmaker. After working as a journalist and documentary filmmaker for Pathé and CBS-TV, he teamed with his wife Edna Anhalt, one of ...

* * 1966: '' The Pawnbroker'' – Edward Lewis Wallant, Morton Fine, and David Friedkin * 1967: '' Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' – Ernest Lehman * 1968: ''

'' – David Newman and Robert Benton * 1969: '' The Lion in Winter'' – James Goldman * ;Best Original Drama * 1970: ''

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid ''Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'' is a 1969 American Western buddy film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman. Based loosely on fact, the film tells the story of Wild West outlaws Robert LeRoy Parker, known as Butch C ...

'' –

William Goldman William Goldman (August 12, 1931 – November 16, 2018) was an American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter. He first came to prominence in the 1950s as a novelist before turning to screenwriting. He won Academy Awards for his screenplays '' ...

* * 1971: ''

Patton George Smith Patton Jr. (November 11, 1885 – December 21, 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh United States Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, and the Third United States Army in France ...

'' –

Francis Ford Coppola Francis Ford Coppola (; ; born April 7, 1939) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He is considered one of the major figures of the New Hollywood filmmaking movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Coppola is the recipient of five ...

and Edmund H. North * * 1972: '' Sunday Bloody Sunday'' –

Penelope Gilliatt Penelope Gilliatt (; born Penelope Ann Douglass Conner; 25 March 1932 – 9 May 1993) was an English novelist, short story writer, screenwriter, and film critic. As one of the main film critics for ''The New Yorker'' magazine in the 1960s an ...

* 1973: '' The Candidate'' –

Jeremy Larner Jeremy Larner (born March 20, 1937) is an author, poet, journalist and speechwriter. He won an Oscar in 1972 for Best Original Screenplay, for writing '' The Candidate.'' Childhood Jeremy Larner was born in New York, and grew up in Indianapolis, ...

* * 1974: '' Save the Tiger'' –

Steve Shagan Stephen H. Shagan (October 25, 1927 – November 30, 2015) was an American novelist, screenwriter, and television and film producer. Shagan was born in Brooklyn, New York to Rachel (née Rosenzweig) and Barnard H. "Barney" Shagan.

* 1975: ''

Chinatown A Chinatown () is an ethnic enclave of Chinese people located outside Greater China, most often in an urban setting. Areas known as "Chinatown" exist throughout the world, including Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Aust ...

'' – Robert Towne * * 1976: '' Dog Day Afternoon'' – Frank Pierson * * 1977: ''

Network Network, networking and networked may refer to: Science and technology * Network theory, the study of graphs as a representation of relations between discrete objects * Network science, an academic field that studies complex networks Mathematic ...

'' – Paddy Chayefsky * * 1978: '' The Turning Point'' – Arthur Laurents * 1979: '' Coming Home'' –

Nancy Dowd Nancy Dowd (born 1945) is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter most famous for her films ''Slap Shot'' and '' Coming Home''. Career Dowd is a graduate of the UCLA Film School. Her brother Ned Dowd inspired the story behind ''Slap Shot'' base ...

Robert C. Jones Robert Clifford Jones (March 30, 1936 – February 1, 2021) was an American film editor, screenwriter, and educator. He received an Academy Award for the screenplay of the film '' Coming Home'' (1978). As an editor, Jones had notable collabor ...

, and Waldo Salt * * 1980: ''

The China Syndrome ''The China Syndrome'' is a 1979 American disaster thriller film directed by James Bridges and written by Bridges, Mike Gray, and T. S. Cook. The film stars Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas (who also produced), Scott Brady, James ...

'' –

Mike Gray Harold Michael Gray (October 26, 1935 – April 30, 2013) was an American writer, screenwriter, cinematographer, film producer and director. Career Film and TV In 1965, Mike Gray and Jim Dennett co-founded The Film Group, a Chicago film pro ...

, T. S. Cook and

James Bridges James Bridges (February 3, 1936June 6, 1993) was an American screenwriter, film director, producer, and actor. He is a two-time Oscar nominee: once for Best Original Screenplay for '' The China Syndrome'' and once for Best Adapted Screenplay fo ...

* 1981: '' Melvin and Howard'' – Bo Goldman * * 1982: '' Reds'' –

Warren Beatty Henry Warren Beatty (né Beaty; born March 30, 1937) is an American actor and filmmaker, whose career spans over six decades. He was nominated for 15 Academy Awards, including four for Best Actor, four for Best Picture, two for Best Director, ...

and Trevor Griffiths * 1983: ''

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (or simply ''E.T.'') is a 1982 American science fiction film produced and directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Melissa Mathison. It tells the story of Elliott, a boy who befriends an extraterrestrial, d ...

'' – Melissa Mathison * 1984: '' Tender Mercies'' – Horton Foote * ;Best Adapted Drama * 1970: ''

Midnight Cowboy ''Midnight Cowboy'' is a 1969 American drama film, based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. The film was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, with notable smaller ...

'' – Waldo Salt * * 1971: '' I Never Sang for My Father'' – Robert Anderson * 1972: '' The French Connection'' –

Ernest Tidyman Ernest Ralph Tidyman (January 1, 1928 – July 14, 1984) was an American author and screenwriter, best known for his novels featuring the African-American detective John Shaft. He also co-wrote the screenplay for the film version of ''Shaft'' wi ...

* * 1973: ''

The Godfather ''The Godfather'' is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola, who co-wrote the screenplay with Mario Puzo, based on Puzo's best-selling 1969 novel of the same title. The film stars Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, James Caa ...

'' – Mario Puzo and

* * 1974: '' Serpico'' – Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler * 1975: '' The Godfather Part II'' –

and Mario Puzo * * 1976: ''

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest may refer to: * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (novel), a 1962 novel by Ken Kesey * ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (play), a 1963 stage adaptation of the novel starring Kirk Douglas * ''One Flew Over the ...

'' – Bo Goldman and

Lawrence Hauben Lawrence Alan Hauben (3 March 1931 – 22 December 1985) was an American actor and screenwriter. Born in New York, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay along with Bo Goldman for ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975) at the 48t ...

* * 1977: '' All the President's Men'' –

* * 1978: '' Islands in the Stream'' –

Denne Bart Petitclerc Denne Bart Petitclerc (May 15, 1929 – February 3, 2006) was an American journalist, war correspondent, author, television producer, and screenwriter. Biography Born in Montesano, Washington, Petitclerc was five years old when his father, Edmu ...

* 1979: '' Midnight Express'' –

Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Stone won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay as writer of '' Midnight Express'' (1978), and wrote the gangster film remake '' Sc ...

* * 1980: ''

Kramer vs. Kramer ''Kramer vs. Kramer'' is a 1979 American legal drama film written and directed by Robert Benton, based on Avery Corman's 1977 novel of the same name. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep, Jane Alexander, and Justin Henry. It tells the stor ...

'' – Robert Benton * * 1981: ''

Ordinary People ''Ordinary People'' is a 1980 American drama film directed by Robert Redford in his directorial debut. The screenplay by Alvin Sargent is based on the 1976 novel of the same name by Judith Guest. The film follows the disintegration of an uppe ...

'' –

Alvin Sargent Alvin Sargent (April 12, 1927 – May 9, 2019) was an American screenwriter. He won two Academy Awards for Best Adapted Screenplay, for ''Julia'' (1977), and ''Ordinary People'' (1980). Sargent's other prominent works include screenplays of th ...

* * 1982: '' On Golden Pond'' – Ernest Thompson * * 1983: ''

Missing Missing or The Missing may refer to: Film * ''Missing'' (1918 film), an American silent drama directed by James Young * ''Missing'' (1982 film), an American historical drama directed by Costa-Gavras * ''Missing'' (2007 film) (''Vermist''), a Bel ...

'' – Costa-Gavras and

Donald E. Stewart Donald E. Stewart (24 January 193028 April 1999) was an American screenwriter, best known for his screenplay for ''Missing'', which won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the Writers Guild of America Award, the London Film Critics' C ...

* * 1984: ''

Reuben, Reuben ''Reuben, Reuben'' is a 1983 comedy-drama film directed by Robert Ellis Miller and starring Tom Conti, Kelly McGillis (in her film debut), Roberts Blossom, Cynthia Harris, and Joel Fabiani. The film was adapted by Julius J. Epstein from the 196 ...

'' – Julius J. Epstein ;Best Written Comedy * 1949: '' Sitting Pretty'' – F. Hugh Herbert * 1950: '' A Letter to Three Wives'' – Joseph L. Mankiewicz * * 1951: '' All About Eve'' – Joseph L. Mankiewicz * * 1952: '' Father's Little Dividend'' – Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich * 1953: '' The Quiet Man'' – Frank Nugent * 1954: ''

Roman Holiday ''Roman Holiday'' is a 1953 American romantic comedy film directed and produced by William Wyler. It stars Audrey Hepburn as a princess out to see Rome on her own and Gregory Peck as a reporter. Hepburn won an Academy Award for Best Actres ...

'' – Ian McLellan Hunter, Dalton Trumbo, and

John Dighton John Gervase DightonCollections"John Dighton"''British Film Institute''. Retrieved 30 August 2020. (8 December 1909 – 16 April 1989) was a British playwright and screenwriter. Dighton was born in London to Basil Lewis Dighton, of West Ken ...

* * 1955: '' Sabrina'' –

, Samuel Taylor, and Ernest Lehman * 1956: '' Mister Roberts'' –

Joshua Logan Joshua Lockwood Logan III (October 5, 1908 – July 12, 1988) was an American director, writer, and actor. He shared a Pulitzer Prize for co-writing the musical ''South Pacific'' and was involved in writing other musicals. Early years Logan w ...

and Frank Nugent * 1957: '' Around the World in 80 Days'' –

James Poe James Wilber Poe (October 4, 1921 – January 24, 1980) was an American film and television screenwriter. He is best known for his work on such films as ''Around the World in 80 Days'' (for which he jointly won an Academy Award for Best Ada ...

John Farrow John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS (10 February 190427 January 1963) was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...

, and S. J. Perelman * * 1958: '' Love in the Afternoon'' –

and

I. A. L. Diamond I. A. L. Diamond (born Ițec (Itzek) Domnici; June 27, 1920 – April 21, 1988) was a Moldovan–American screenwriter, best known for his collaborations with Billy Wilder. Life and career Diamond was born in Ungheni, Iași County, Bessarabia, R ...

* 1959: '' Me and the Colonel'' –

S. N. Behrman Samuel Nathaniel Behrman (; June 9, 1893 – September 9, 1973) was an American playwright, screenwriter, biographer, and longtime writer for ''The New Yorker''. His son is the composer David Behrman. Biography Early years Behrman's parents, Z ...

and

George Froeschel George Froeschel (9 March 1891 – 22 November 1979) was an Austrian novelist and screenwriter. In 1943, he received two Academy Award nominations for co-writing screenplays for ''Mrs. Miniver'' and ''Random Harvest''. He won the Academy Award f ...

* 1960: ''

Some Like It Hot ''Some Like It Hot'' is a 1959 American crime comedy film directed, produced and co-written by Billy Wilder. It stars Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, with George Raft, Pat O'Brien, Joe E. Brown, Joan Shawlee, Grace Lee Whitne ...

'' –

and

* 1961: '' The Apartment'' –

and

* * 1962: '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' – George Axelrod * 1963: ''

That Touch of Mink ''That Touch of Mink'' is a 1962 American romantic comedy film directed by Delbert Mann and starring Cary Grant, Doris Day, Gig Young, and Audrey Meadows. Plot Cathy Timberlake, an unemployed New York City career woman, goes to the unemploymen ...

'' – Stanley Shapiro and Nate Monastar * 1964: '' Lilies of the Field'' –

* 1965: ''

Dr. Strangelove ''Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'', known simply and more commonly as ''Dr. Strangelove'', is a 1964 black comedy film that satirizes the Cold War fears of a nuclear conflict between the Soviet Union and ...

'' –

Stanley Kubrick Stanley Kubrick (; July 26, 1928 – March 7, 1999) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and photographer. Widely considered one of the greatest filmmakers of all time, his films, almost all of which are adaptations of nove ...

, Terry Southern, and Peter George * 1966: ''

A Thousand Clowns ''A Thousand Clowns'' is a 1965 American comedy-drama film directed by Fred Coe and starring Jason Robards, Barbara Harris, Martin Balsam, and Barry Gordon. An adaptation of a 1962 play by Herb Gardner, it tells the story of an eccentric come ...

'' – Herb Gardner * 1967: ''

The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming ''The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming'' is a 1966 American comedy film directed and produced by Norman Jewison for the United Artists. It is based on the 1961 Nathaniel Benchley novel ''The Off-Islanders'', and was adapted for th ...

'' – William Rose * 1968: '' The Graduate'' –

Calder Willingham Calder Baynard Willingham Jr. (December 23, 1922 – February 19, 1995)Alex MacaulayBiographical entry of Calder Willinghamfrom the New Georgia Encyclopedia was an American novelist and screenwriter. Before the age of 30, after three novels ...

and Buck Henry * 1969: '' The Odd Couple'' – Neil Simon ;Best Original Comedy * 1970: '' Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' –

Paul Mazursky Irwin Lawrence "Paul" Mazursky (April 25, 1930 – June 30, 2014) was an American film director, screenwriter, and actor. Known for his dramatic comedies that often dealt with modern social issues, he was nominated for five Academy Awards: three ...

and Larry Tucker * 1971: '' The Out-of-Towners'' – Neil Simon * 1972: '' The Hospital'' – Paddy Chayefsky * * 1973: '' What's Up, Doc?'' –

Peter Bogdanovich Peter Bogdanovich (July 30, 1939 – January 6, 2022) was an American director, writer, actor, producer, critic, and film historian. One of the " New Hollywood" directors, Bogdanovich started as a film journalist until he was hired to work on ...

, Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton * 1974: '' A Touch of Class'' – Melvin Frank and Jack Rose * 1975: ''

Blazing Saddles ''Blazing Saddles'' is a 1974 American satirical western black comedy film directed by Mel Brooks, who also wrote the screenplay with Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Alan Uger. The film stars Cleavon Little and Gene Wilde ...

'' –

, Norman Steinberg,

Andrew Bergman Andrew Bergman (born February 20, 1945) is an American screenwriter, film director, and novelist. His best-known films include ''Blazing Saddles'', '' The In-Laws'', '' The Freshman'' and '' Striptease''. Early life Born to a Jewish family, Ber ...

, Richard Pryor, and Alan Uger * 1976: ''

Shampoo Shampoo () is a hair care product, typically in the form of a viscous liquid, that is used for cleaning hair. Less commonly, shampoo is available in solid bar format. Shampoo is used by applying it to wet hair, massaging the product into the ...

'' – Robert Towne and

* 1977: '' The Bad News Bears'' – Bill Lancaster * 1978: '' Annie Hall'' –

and Marshall Brickman * * 1979: '' Movie Movie'' – Larry Gelbart and

Sheldon Keller Sheldon Bernard "Shelly" Keller (August 20, 1923 – September 1, 2008) was an American screenwriter and composer. Life and career Keller was born in Chicago and attended University of Illinois, where he began writing comedy with his fraternity br ...

* 1980: '' Breaking Away'' – Steve Tesich * * 1981: '' Private Benjamin'' – Nancy Meyers, Harvey Miller, and

Charles Shyer Charles Richard Shyer (born October 11, 1941) is an American film director, screenwriter and producer. Shyer's films are predominantly comedies, often with a romantic-comedy overtone. His films include '' Private Benjamin'' (1980), ''Irreconcila ...

* 1982: '' Arthur'' – Steve Gordon * 1983: ''

Tootsie ''Tootsie'' is a 1982 American satirical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Sydney Pollack and starring Dustin Hoffman. Its supporting cast includes Pollack, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman, Bill Murray, Charles Durning, Geo ...

'' – Don McGuire, Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal * 1984: ''

The Big Chill Big Chill can refer to: * The Big Chill (music festival), an annual music and comedy festival held in England * ''The Big Chill'' (film), a 1983 American film directed by Lawrence Kasdan *The Big Chill at the Big House, a 2010 U.S. college ice hoc ...

'' –

Lawrence Kasdan Lawrence Edward Kasdan (born January 14, 1949) is an American filmmaker. He is the co-writer of the '' Star Wars'' films '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980), '' Return of the Jedi'' (1983), '' The Force Awakens'' (2015), and '' Solo: A Star Wars ...

and

Barbara Benedek Barbara Benedek (born 1948) is an American screenwriter best known for co-writing the 1983 film '' The Big Chill'', for which she received a Writers Guild of America Award and several award nominations. Career Benedek was a psychiatric researche ...

;Best Adapted Comedy * 1970: ''

Goodbye, Columbus ''Goodbye, Columbus'' is a 1959 collection of fiction by the American novelist Philip Roth, comprising the title novella "Goodbye, Columbus"—which first appeared in ''The Paris Review''—and five short stories. It was his first book and was ...

'' – Arnold Schulman * 1971: '' MASH'' – Ring Lardner Jr. * * 1972: '' Kotch'' – John Paxton * 1973: ''

Cabaret Cabaret is a form of theatrical entertainment featuring music, song, dance, recitation, or drama. The performance venue might be a pub, a casino, a hotel, a restaurant, or a nightclub with a stage for performances. The audience, often dinin ...

'' – Jay Presson Allen * 1974: '' Paper Moon'' –

* 1975: '' The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz'' –

Lionel Chetwynd Lionel Chetwynd (born January 29, 1940) is a British-American screenwriter, director and producer. Life and career Lionel Chetwynd was born to a Jewish family in Hackney, London, the son of Betty (née Dion) and Peter Chetwynd. His family move ...

and Mordecai Richler * 1976: '' The Sunshine Boys'' – Neil Simon * 1977: '' The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' – Blake Edwards and

Frank Waldman Frank Waldman (March 15, 1919 – September 5, 1990) was an American screenwriter who frequently worked with Blake Edwards and his brother Tom Waldman.Beck, Jerry ditor(2005). ''Pink Panther: The Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Cat in Town.'' ...

* 1978: '' Oh, God!'' – Larry Gelbart * 1979: '' Heaven Can Wait'' –

Elaine May Elaine Iva May (née Berlin; born April 21, 1932) is an American comedian, filmmaker, playwright, and actress. She has received numerous awards including an Oscar, a BAFTA, a Grammy, and a Tony. She made her initial impact in the 1950s with he ...

and

and '' Same Time, Next Year'' – Bernard Slade * 1980: '' Being There'' –

Jerzy Kosiński Jerzy Kosiński (born Józef Lewinkopf; ; June 14, 1933 – May 3, 1991) was a Polish-American novelist and two-time President of the American Chapter of P.E.N., who wrote primarily in English. Born in Poland, he survived World War II and, as a ...

* 1981: '' Airplane!'' – Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker * 1982: '' Rich and Famous'' – Gerard Ayres * 1983: '' Victor/Victoria'' – Blake Edwards * 1984: ''

Terms of Endearment ''Terms of Endearment'' is a 1983 American family comedy-drama film directed, written, and produced by James L. Brooks, adapted from Larry McMurtry's 1975 novel of the same name. It stars Debra Winger, Shirley MacLaine, Jack Nicholson, Dann ...

'' –

* ;Best Written Musical * 1949: '' Easter Parade'' – Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, and Sidney Sheldon * 1950: '' On the Town'' – Adolph Green and Betty Comden * 1951: '' Annie Get Your Gun'' – Sidney Sheldon * 1952: '' An American in Paris'' –

Alan Jay Lerner Alan Jay Lerner (August 31, 1918 – June 14, 1986) was an American lyricist and librettist. In collaboration with Frederick Loewe, and later Burton Lane, he created some of the world's most popular and enduring works of musical theatre b ...

* * 1953: ''

Singin' in the Rain ''Singin' in the Rain'' is a 1952 American musical romantic comedy film directed and choreographed by Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen, starring Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds and featuring Jean Hagen, Millard Mitchell and Cyd C ...

'' – Betty Comden and Adolph Green * 1954: '' Lili'' – Helen Deutsch and Paul Gallico * 1955: '' Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' – Albert Hackett, Frances Goodrich, and Dorothy Kingsley * 1956: '' Love Me or Leave Me'' – Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart * * 1957: ''

The King and I ''The King and I'' is the fifth musical by the team of Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is based on Margaret Landon's novel '' Anna and the King of Siam'' (1944), which is in turn derived from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, governess to the chil ...

'' – Ernest Lehman * 1958: ''

Les Girls ''Les Girls'' (also known as ''Cole Porter's Les Girls'') is a 1957 American CinemaScope musical comedy film directed by George Cukor and produced by Sol C. Siegel, with Saul Chaplin as associate producer. The screenplay by John Patrick was ba ...

'' – Vera Caspary and John Patrick * 1959: '' Gigi'' –

* * 1960: '' The Five Pennies'' – Robert Smith, Jack Rose, and Melville Shavelson * 1961: '' Bells Are Ringing'' – Betty Comden and Adolph Green * 1962: ''

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...

'' – Ernest Lehman * 1963: ''

The Music Man ''The Music Man'' is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments ...

'' – Meredith Willson, Franklin Lacey, and Marion Hargrove * 1964: Not awarded * 1965: ''

Mary Poppins It may refer to: * ''Mary Poppins'' (book series), the original 1934–1988 children's fantasy novels that introduced the character. * Mary Poppins (character), the nanny with magical powers. * ''Mary Poppins'' (film), a 1964 Disney film star ...

'' – Bill Walsh and

Don DaGradi Don DaGradi (March 1, 1911 – August 4, 1991) was an American writer for Disney who started out as a layout artist on 1940s cartoons including "Der Fuehrer's Face" in 1943. He eventually moved into animated features with the film ''Lady and the ...

* 1966: ''

The Sound of Music ''The Sound of Music'' is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. It is based on the 1949 memoir of Maria von Trapp, ''The Story of the Trapp Family Singers''. S ...

'' – Maria Augusta Trapp, Howard Lindsay,

Russel Crouse Russel Crouse (20 February 1893 – 3 April 1966) was an American playwright and librettist, best known for his work in the Broadway writing partnership of Lindsay and Crouse. Life and career Born in Findlay, Ohio, Crouse was the son of Sarah (n� ...

, and Ernest Lehman * 1967: Not awarded * 1968: ''

Thoroughly Modern Millie ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' is a 1967 American musical- romantic comedy film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Julie Andrews. The screenplay, by Richard Morris based on the 1956 British musical ''Chrysanthemum'', follows a naïve yo ...

'' – Richard Morris * 1969: '' Funny Girl'' – Isobel Lennart ;Best Written Film Concerning Problems with the American Scene * 1949: '' The Snake Pit'' – Frank Partos and Millen Brand * 1950: '' All the King's Men'' – Robert Rossen * 1951: '' The Men'' – Carl Foreman * 1952: ''

Bright Victory ''Bright Victory'' is a 1951 American drama romance war film directed by Mark Robson and starring Arthur Kennedy and Peggy Dow. Plot During World War II, American sergeant Larry Nevins is blinded by a German sniper while fighting in North Af ...

'' – Robert Buckner ;Best Written Western * 1949: '' The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'' –

John Huston John Marcellus Huston ( ; August 5, 1906 – August 28, 1987) was an American film director, screenwriter, actor and visual artist. He wrote the screenplays for most of the 37 feature films he directed, many of which are today considered ...

* * 1950: '' Yellow Sky'' – W. R. Burnett and

Lamar Trotti Lamar Jefferson Trotti (October 18, 1900 – August 28, 1952) was an American screenwriter, producer, and motion picture executive. Early life and education Trotti was born in Atlanta, US. He became the first graduate of the Henry W. Grady C ...

* 1951: '' Broken Arrow'' – Albert Maltz

Television

Video games

The video game category was first added in 2008, but discontinued after the 2019 awards. ;Outstanding Achievement in Video Game Writing * 2008: '' Dead Head Fred'' – Dave Ellis, Adam Cogan * 2009: '' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed'' – Haden Blackman, Shawn Pitman, John Stafford, and Cameron Suey * 2010: '' Uncharted 2: Among Thieves'' –

Amy Hennig Amy Hennig (born August 19, 1964) is an American video game director and script writer, formerly for the video game company Naughty Dog. She began her work in the industry on the Nintendo Entertainment System, with her design debut on the Super ...

* 2011: '' Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – Patrice Désilets, Jeffrey Yohalem, and

Corey May Corey May is an American video game writer. He is currently the Narrative Director for Austin video game developer Certain Affinity. May is also the co-founder and President of Sekretagent Productions, a production company based in Los Angeles ...

* 2012: '' Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception'' – Amy Hennig * 2013: '' Assassin's Creed III: Liberation'' – Richard Farrese and Jill Murray * 2014: ''

The Last of Us ''The Last of Us'' is a 2013 action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog and published by Sony Computer Entertainment. Players control Joel (The Last of Us), Joel, a smuggler tasked with escorting a teenage girl, Ellie (The Last of Us), Ell ...

'' – Neil Druckmann * 2015: '' The Last of Us: Left Behind'' – Neil Druckmann * 2016: '' Rise of the Tomb Raider'' – John Stafford, Cameron Suey, Rhianna Pratchett, and

Philip Gelatt Philip Gelatt is an American film director, writer, producer and video game writer. He is best known for his work on the animated film, '' The Spine of Night'' and the Netflix animated series, ''Love, Death & Robots''. Life and career Gelatt was ...

* 2017: '' Uncharted 4: A Thief's End'' – Neil Druckmann,

Josh Scherr Josh Scherr is an American video game writer and designer best known for his work on the ''Uncharted'' series. Career Josh Scherr received his Master of Fine Arts in Animation from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 1995. He worked on seve ...

Tom Bissell Tom Bissell (born January 9, 1974) is an American journalist, critic, and fiction writer. In 2021, he co-developed the television series '' The Mosquito Coast'' based on the novel of the same name. He is also known for his work as a writer of vid ...

, and Ryan James * 2018: ''

Horizon Zero Dawn ''Horizon Zero Dawn'' is a 2017 action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The plot follows Aloy, a young hunter in a world overrun by machines, who sets out to uncover her past. The ...

'' – John Gonzalez, Benjamin McCaw, Ben Schroder, Anne Toole, Dee Warrick, and Meg Jayanth * 2019: ''

God of War A war god in mythology associated with war, combat, or bloodshed. They occur commonly in both monotheistic and polytheistic religions. Unlike most gods and goddesses in polytheistic religions, monotheistic deities have traditionally been p ...

'' – Matt Sophos, Richard Zangrande Gaubert, and Cory Barlog

References

External links

Writers Guild of America awards list

Writers Guild of America, East website

Writers Guild of America, West website
* {{Film awards American film awards American television awards Awards established in 1949 1949 establishments in the United States

Eligibility

Lifetime achievement awards

Categories

History

Discontinued categories

Ceremonies

Winners

Films

Current awards

Discontinued categories

Television

Video games

See also

References

External links