The Writers Guild of America Awards is an award for film,

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 advertisin ...

, 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 transmi ...

writing including both fiction and non-fiction categories given by the

Writers Guild of America, East The Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) is a labor union representing writers in film, television, radio, news, and online media. The Writers Guild of America, East is affiliated with the Writers Guild of America West. Together the guilds admin ...

and

Writers Guild of America West The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) is a labor union representing film, television, radio, and new media writers. It was formed in 1954 from five organizations representing writers, including the Screen Writers Guild. It has around 20,000 mem ...

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 tot ...

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

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 count ...

, 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 European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...

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 * Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement

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 fee ...

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

29th Writers Guild of America Awards The 29th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1976. Winners were announced in 1977. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Award ...

30th Writers Guild of America Awards The 30th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1977. Winners were announced in 1978. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Awar ...

31st Writers Guild of America Awards The 31st Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writers and television writers of 1978. Winners were announced in 1979. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Awa ...

* 32nd Writers Guild of America Awards * 33rd Writers Guild of America Awards * 34th Writers Guild of America Awards *

35th Writers Guild of America Awards The 35th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best television, and film writers of 1982. Winners were announced in 1983. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Special Awards R ...

36th Writers Guild of America Awards The 36th Writers Guild of America Award, Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best television, and Film writer, film writers of 1983. Winners were announced in 1984. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldf ...

* 37th Writers Guild of America Awards * 38th Writers Guild of America Awards * 39th Writers Guild of America Awards * 40th Writers Guild of America Awards * 41st Writers Guild of America Awards * 42nd Writers Guild of America Awards * 43rd Writers Guild of America Awards *

44th Writers Guild of America Awards The 44th Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best television, and film writers of 1991. Winners were announced in 1992. Winners & Nominees Film Winners are listed first highlighted in boldface. Television Documentary Spec ...

61st Writers Guild of America Awards The 61st Writers Guild of America Awards honored the best film writer, film, television writer, television, and Television writer#Video game writing, videogame writers of 2008. Winners were announced on February 7, 2009. Nominees Names in bold d ...

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'' – David Newman and

Robert Benton Robert Douglas Benton (born September 29, 1932) is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known as the writer and director of the film ''Kramer vs. Kramer'', for which he won the Academy Award for Best Director and Best Adapted S ...

* 1969: '' The Producers'' – Mel Brooks * * 1985: ''

Broadway Danny Rose ''Broadway Danny Rose'' is a 1984 American black-and-white comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It follows a hapless theatrical agent who, by helping a client, gets dragged into a love triangle involving the mob. The film stars Allen a ...

'' – Woody Allen * 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, William Kelley, and Earl W. Wallace * * 1987: '' Hannah and Her Sisters'' – Woody Allen * * 1988: ''

Moonstruck ''Moonstruck'' is a 1987 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and co-produced by Norman Jewison, written by John Patrick Shanley, and starring Cher, Nicolas Cage, Danny Aiello, Olympia Dukakis, and Vincent Gardenia. The film follows L ...

'' –

John Patrick Shanley John Patrick Shanley (born October 13, 1950) is an American playwright, screenwriter, and director. He won the 1988 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for the film ''Moonstruck''. His play, '' Doubt: A Parable'', won the 2005 Pulitzer P ...

* * 1989: ''

Bull Durham ''Bull Durham'' is a 1988 American romantic comedy sports film. It is partly based upon the minor-league baseball experiences of writer/director Ron Shelton and depicts the players and fans of the Durham Bulls, a minor-league baseball team in ...

'' – Ron Shelton * 1990: ''

Crimes and Misdemeanors ''Crimes and Misdemeanors'' is a 1989 American existential comedy-drama film written and directed by Woody Allen, who stars alongside Martin Landau, Mia Farrow, Anjelica Huston, Jerry Orbach, Alan Alda, Sam Waterston, and Joanna Gleason. ...

'' – Woody Allen * 1991: ''

Avalon Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in the ...

'' –

Barry Levinson Barry Lee Levinson (born April 6, 1942) is an American filmmaker, comedian and actor. Levinson's best-known works are mid-budget comedy drama and drama films such as '' Diner'' (1982); ''The Natural'' (1984); '' Good Morning, Vietnam'' (1987); ...

* 1992: ''

Thelma & Louise ''Thelma & Louise'' is a 1991 American road crime comedy-drama film directed by Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri. It stars Susan Sarandon as Louise and Geena Davis as Thelma, two friends who embark on a road trip that ends up in unfores ...

'' – Callie Khouri * * 1993: ''

The Crying Game ''The Crying Game'' is a 1992 thriller film written and directed by Neil Jordan, produced by Stephen Woolley, and starring Stephen Rea, Miranda Richardson, Jaye Davidson, Adrian Dunbar, Ralph Brown, and Forest Whitaker. The film explores the ...

'' –

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 (short story collection), Night in Tunisia'', won a Somerset Maugham Award and the Guardian ...

* * 1994: ''

The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical drama, period drama film written and directed by Jane Campion. Starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin in her first major acting role, the film focuses on a Elective mutism, mute Scott ...

'' – Jane Campion * * 1995: ''

Four Weddings and a Funeral ''Four Weddings and a Funeral'' is a 1994 British romantic comedy film directed by Mike Newell. It is the first of several films by screenwriter Richard Curtis to feature Hugh Grant, and follows the adventures of Charles (Grant) and his circle ...

'' –

Richard Curtis Richard Whalley Anthony Curtis (born 8 November 1956) is a New Zealand-born British screenwriter, producer and film director. One of Britain's most successful comedy screenwriters, he is known primarily for romantic comedy films, among them '' ...

* 1996: '' Braveheart'' –

Randall Wallace Randall Wallace (born July 28, 1949) is an American screenwriter, film director, producer, and songwriter who came to prominence by writing the screenplay for the historical drama film ''Braveheart'' (1995). His work on the film earned him a nom ...

* 1997: '' Fargo'' – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen * * 1998: ''

As Good as It Gets ''As Good as It Gets'' is a 1997 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by James L. Brooks, who co-wrote it with Mark Andrus. The film stars Jack Nicholson as a misanthropic, bigoted, and obsessive–compulsive novelist, Helen Hunt as ...

'' – Mark Andrus and James L. Brooks * 1999: ''

Shakespeare in Love ''Shakespeare in Love'' is a 1998 romantic period comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard, and produced by Harvey Weinstein. It stars Gwyneth Paltrow, Joseph Fiennes, Geoffrey Rush, Colin ...

'' – Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard * * 2000: '' American Beauty'' – Alan Ball * * 2001: '' You Can Count on Me'' –

Kenneth Lonergan Kenneth Lonergan (born October 16, 1962) is an American film director, playwright, and screenwriter. He is the co-writer of the film ''Gangs of New York'' (2002), and wrote and directed '' You Can Count on Me'' (2000), ''Margaret'' (2011), and ' ...

* 2002: ''

Gosford Park ''Gosford Park'' is a 2001 satirical black comedy mystery film directed by Robert Altman and written by Julian Fellowes. It was influenced by Jean Renoir's French classic ''La Règle du jeu'' ('' The Rules of the Game''). The film stars ...

'' – Julian Fellowes * * 2003: ''

Bowling for Columbine ''Bowling for Columbine'' is a 2002 documentary film written, produced, directed, and narrated by Michael Moore. The film explores what Moore suggests are the primary causes for the Columbine High School massacre in 1999 and other acts of gun ...

'' – Michael Moore * 2004: '' Lost in Translation'' –

Sofia Coppola Sofia Carmina Coppola (; born May 14, 1971) is an American filmmaker and actress. The youngest child and only daughter of filmmakers Eleanor Coppola, Eleanor and Francis Ford Coppola, she made her film debut as an infant in her father's acclaimed ...

* * 2005: '' Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind'' – Charlie Kaufman,

Michael Gondry Michel Gondry (; born 8 May 1963) is a French filmmaker noted for his inventive visual style and distinctive manipulation of mise en scène. Along with Charlie Kaufman, he won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay as one of the writers ...

, and Pierre Bismuth * * 2006: '' Crash'' –

Paul Haggis Paul Edward Haggis (born March 10, 1953) is a Canadian screenwriter, film producer, and director of film and television. He is best known as screenwriter and producer for consecutive Best Picture Oscar winners ''Million Dollar Baby'' (2004) and ...

and Bobby Moresco * * 2007: '' Little Miss Sunshine'' – Michael Arndt * * 2008: '' Juno'' –

Diablo Cody Brook Maurio (''née'' Busey; born June 14, 1978), known professionally by the pen name Diablo Cody, is an American writer and producer. She gained recognition for her candid blog and subsequent memoir, '' Candy Girl: A Year in the Life of an Unl ...

* * 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-modula ...

'' –

Dustin Lance Black Dustin Lance Black (born June 10, 1974) is an American screenwriter, director, producer, and LGBT rights activist. He is known for writing the film ''Milk'', for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay in 2009. He has also sub ...

* * 2010: '' The Hurt Locker'' –

Mark Boal Mark Boal (born January 23, 1973) is an American journalist, screenwriter, and film producer. Before he became a prominent figure of cinema, Boal worked as a journalist for such publications as ''Rolling Stone'', ''The Village Voice'', ''Salon' ...

* * 2011: ''

Inception ''Inception'' is a 2010 science fiction action film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, who also produced the film with Emma Thomas, his wife. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio as a professional thief who steals information by infi ...

'' –

Christopher Nolan Christopher Edward Nolan (born 30 July 1970) is a British-American filmmaker. Known for his lucrative Hollywood blockbusters with complex storytelling, Nolan is considered a leading filmmaker of the 21st century. His films have grossed $5&nb ...

* 2012: '' Midnight in Paris'' – Woody Allen * * 2013: '' Zero Dark Thirty'' –

* 2014: '' Her'' – Spike Jonze * * 2015: ''

The Grand Budapest Hotel ''The Grand Budapest Hotel'' is a 2014 comedy-drama film written and directed by Wes Anderson. Ralph Fiennes leads a seventeen-actor ensemble cast as Monsieur Gustave H., famed concierge of a twentieth-century mountainside resort in the fiction ...

'' –

Wes Anderson Wesley Wales Anderson (born May 1, 1969) is an American filmmaker. His films are known for their eccentricity and unique visual and narrative styles. They often contain themes of grief, loss of innocence, and dysfunctional families. Cited by ...

and Hugo Guinness * 2016: ''

Spotlight Spotlight or spot light may refer to: Lighting * Spot lights, automotive auxiliary lamps * Spotlight (theatre lighting) * Spotlight, a searchlight * Stage lighting instrument, stage lighting instruments, of several types Art, entertainment, an ...

'' –

Tom McCarthy Thomas McCarthy (also Tom and Tommy) may refer to: Academia *Thomas A. McCarthy (born 1940), American professor of philosophy *Thomas J. McCarthy (born 1956), American professor of polymer chemistry at the University of Massachusetts *J. Thomas Mc ...

and Josh Singer * * 2017: '' Moonlight'' – Barry Jenkins; story by Tarell Alvin McCraney * * 2018: '' Get Out'' – Jordan Peele * * 2019: '' Eighth Grade'' – Bo Burnham * 2020: '' Parasite'' – Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won; story by Bong Joon-ho * *2021: ''

Promising Young Woman ''Promising Young Woman'' is a 2020 thriller film written, co-produced, and directed by Emerald Fennell in her feature directorial debut. It stars Carey Mulligan as a troubled young woman haunted by a traumatic past as she navigates balancing fo ...

'' — Emerald Fennell * *2022: '' Don't Look Up'' — Adam McKay and David Sirota ;Best Adapted Screenplay * 1985: '' The Killing Fields'' –

Bruce Robinson Bruce Robinson (born 2 May 1946) is an English actor, director, screenwriter and novelist. He wrote and directed the cult classic ''Withnail and I'' (1987), a film with comic and tragic elements set in London in the late 1960s, which drew on hi ...

* 1986: ''

Prizzi's Honor ''Prizzi's Honor'' is a 1985 American black comedy crime film directed by John Huston, starring Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner as two highly-skilled mob assassins who, after falling in love, are hired to kill each other. The screenplay co-w ...

'' – Richard Condon and Janet Roach * 1987: '' A Room with a View'' – Ruth Prawer Jhabvala * * 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 ''Dangerous Liaisons'' is a 1988 American period romantic drama film directed by Stephen Frears from a screenplay by Christopher Hampton, based on his 1985 play '' Les liaisons dangereuses'', itself adapted from the 1782 French novel of the s ...

'' – Christopher Hampton * * 1990: '' Driving Miss Daisy'' –

Alfred Uhry Alfred Fox Uhry (born December 3, 1936) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He has received an Academy Award, two Tony Awards and the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for dramatic writing for ''Driving Miss Daisy''. He is a member of the Fellowship ...

* * 1991: ''

Dances with Wolves ''Dances with Wolves'' is a 1990 American epic western film starring, directed, and produced by Kevin Costner in his feature directorial debut. It is a film adaptation of the 1988 novel '' Dances with Wolves'' by Michael Blake that tells the ...

'' – Michael Blake * * 1992: '' The Silence of the Lambs'' –

Ted Tally Ted Tally (born April 9, 1952) is an American playwright and screenwriter. He adapted the Thomas Harris novel '' The Silence of the Lambs'' into the film of the same name, for which he received the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay, the ...

* * 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 Steven Ernest Bernard Zaillian (born January 30, 1953) is an American screenwriter, film director and producer. He won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award and a BAFTA Award for his screenplay ''Schindler's List'' (1993) and has earned Oscar no ...

* * 1995: '' Forrest Gump'' –

Eric Roth Eric R. Roth (born March 22, 1945) is an American screenwriter. He has been nominated six times for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay — for ''Forrest Gump'' (1994), '' The Insider'' (1999), ''Munich'' (2005), '' The Curious Case o ...

* * 1996: ''

Sense and Sensibility ''Sense and Sensibility'' is a novel by Jane Austen, published in 1811. It was published anonymously; ''By A Lady'' appears on the title page where the author's name might have been. It tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, Elinor (age 19) a ...

'' – Emma Thompson * * 1997: ''

Sling Blade A sling blade or kaiser blade is a heavy, hooked, steel blade at the end of a long (around ) handle that is usually made of wood. The blade is double-edged, and both sides are usually kept sharp. It is used to cut brush, briar, and undergrowth. ...

'' –

Billy Bob Thornton Billy Bob Thornton (born August 4, 1955) is an American actor, filmmaker and musician. He had his first break when he co-wrote and starred in the 1992 thriller ''One False Move'', and received international attention after writing, directing, a ...

* * 1998: '' L.A. Confidential'' –

Brian Helgeland Brian Thomas Helgeland (born January 17, 1961) is an American screenwriter, film producer and director. He is most known for writing the screenplays for the films ''L.A. Confidential'' and ''Mystic River''. He also wrote and directed the films ...

and

Curtis Hanson Curtis Lee Hanson (March 24, 1945 – September 20, 2016) was an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. His directing work included the psychological thriller '' The Hand That Rocks the Cradle'' (1992), the neo-noir crime film ''L. ...

* * 1999: ''

Out of Sight ''Out of Sight'' is a 1998 American crime comedy film directed by Steven Soderbergh and written by Scott Frank, adapted from Elmore Leonard's 1996 novel of the same name. The first of several collaborations between Soderbergh and actor Georg ...

'' –

Scott Frank A. Scott Frank (born March 10, 1960) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and author. Frank has received two Academy Award nominations for Best Adapted Screenplay for ''Out of Sight'' (1998) and ''Logan'' (2017). His film work, c ...

* 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 opera ...

'' – Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor * 2001: '' Traffic'' –

Stephen Gaghan Stephen Gaghan (; born May 6, 1965) is an American screenwriter and director. He is noted for writing the screenplay for Steven Soderbergh's film '' Traffic'', based on a Channel 4 series, for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted S ...

* * 2002: '' A Beautiful Mind'' – Akiva Goldsman * * 2003: '' The Hours'' – David Hare * 2004: ''

American Splendor ''American Splendor'' is a series of autobiographical comic books written by Harvey Pekar and drawn by a variety of artists. The first issue was published in 1976 and the last one in September 2008, with publication occurring at irregular interv ...

'' –

Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini Shari Springer Berman (born July 13, 1963) and Robert Pulcini (born August 24, 1964) are an American team of filmmakers. Biographies Both Springer Berman and Pulcini were born in New York City, New York, New York (state), New York. Springer Be ...

* 2005: ''

Sideways ''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama road film directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel of the same name, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymo ...

'' – Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor * * 2006: '' Brokeback Mountain'' – Larry McMurty and Diana Ossana * * 2007: '' The Departed'' – William Monahan * * 2008: ''

No Country for Old Men ''No Country for Old Men'' is a 2007 American neo-Western crime thriller film written and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, based on Cormac McCarthy's 2005 novel of the same name. Starring Tommy Lee Jones, Javier Bardem, and Josh Brolin, th ...

'' – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen * * 2009: ''

Slumdog Millionaire ''Slumdog Millionaire'' is a 2008 British drama film that is a loose adaptation of the novel '' Q & A'' (2005) by Indian author Vikas Swarup. It narrates the story of 18-year-old Jamal Malik from the Juhu slums of Mumbai. Starring Dev Pa ...

'' – Simon Beaufoy * * 2010: '' Up in the Air'' – Jason Reitman * 2011: ''

The Social Network ''The Social Network'' is a 2010 American biographical drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, based on the 2009 book ''The Accidental Billionaires'' by Ben Mezrich. It portrays the founding of social networking websi ...

'' – Aaron Sorkin * * 2012: ''

The Descendants ''The Descendants'' is a 2011 American comedy-drama film directed by Alexander Payne. The screenplay by Payne, Nat Faxon, and Jim Rash is based on the 2007 novel of the same name by Kaui Hart Hemmings. The film stars George Clooney in the mai ...

'' – Alexander Payne,

Nat Faxon Nathaniel Faxon (born October 11, 1975) is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. A frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing '' The Descendants'' (2011) ...

, and

Jim Rash James Rash (born July 15, 1971) is an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. He portrayed the role of Dean Craig Pelton on the NBC sitcom ''Community'' (2009–2015), for which he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Bes ...

* * 2013: '' Argo'' –

Chris Terrio Chris Terrio (born December 31, 1976) is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known for writing the screenplay for the 2012 film ''Argo'', for which he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Terrio also won the W ...

* * 2014: '' Captain Phillips'' – Billy Ray * 2015: ''

The Imitation Game ''The Imitation Game'' is a 2014 American historical drama film directed by Morten Tyldum and written by Graham Moore, based on the 1983 biography '' Alan Turing: The Enigma'' by Andrew Hodges. The film's title quotes the name of the game c ...

'' – Graham Moore * * 2016: '' The Big Short'' – Adam McKay and Charles Randolph * * 2017: '' Arrival'' – Eric Heisserer * 2018: '' Call Me by Your Name'' — James Ivory * * 2019: ''

Can You Ever Forgive Me? ''Can You Ever Forgive Me?'' is a 2018 American biographical film directed by Marielle Heller and with a screenplay by Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty, based on the 2008 confessional memoir of the same name by Lee Israel. Melissa McCarthy sta ...

'' –

Nicole Holofcener Nicole Holofcener (; born March 22, 1960) is an American film and television director and screenwriter. She has directed six feature films, including ''Walking and Talking'', '' Friends with Money'' and ''Enough Said'', as well as various televis ...

and

Jeff Whitty Jeffrey Daniel Whitty (born September 30, 1971) is an American playwright, actor, and screenwriter. For the stage musical ''Avenue Q'', he won the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. For his work on the Fox Searchlight film '' Can You Ever F ...

* 2020: '' Jojo Rabbit'' – Taika Waititi * *2021: '' Borat Subsequent Moviefilm'' — Screenplay by

Sacha Baron Cohen Sacha Noam Baron Cohen (born 13 October 1971) is an English actor, comedian, producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for his creation and portrayal of the fictional satirical characters Ali G, Borat Sagdiyev, Brüno Gehard, and Admiral ...

& 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'' –

Sian Heder Sian Heder (; born June 23, 1977) is an American television writer, television producer, and filmmaker who is best known for writing and directing the films '' Tallulah'' and ''CODA''. ''CODA'' earned Heder an Academy Award for Best Adapted Scree ...

* ;Best Documentary Screenplay * 2005:

Super Size Me ''Super Size Me'' is a 2004 American documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. Spurlock's film follows a 30-day period from February 1 to March 2, 2003, during which he ate only McDonald's f ...

–

Morgan Spurlock Morgan Valentine Spurlock (born November 7, 1970) is an American documentary filmmaker, humorist, television producer, screenwriter and playwright. Spurlock's films include '' Super Size Me'' (2004), '' Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden?'' ( ...

* 2006: Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room – Alex Gibney * 2007: Deliver Us from Evil – Amy J. Berg * 2008: Taxi to the Dark – Alex Gibney * 2009:

Waltz with Bashir ''Waltz with Bashir'' ( he, ואלס עם באשיר, translit. ''Vals Im Bashir'') is a 2008 Israeli adult animated war documentary drama film written, produced, and directed by Ari Folman. It depicts Folman's search for lost memories o ...

–

Ari Folman Ari Folman ( he, ארי פולמן) (born December 17, 1962) is an Israeli film director, screenwriter, animator, and film-score composer. He directed the Oscar-nominated animated documentary film ''Waltz with Bashir'' (2008) and the live-ac ...

* 2010: The Cove – Mark Monroe * 2011:

Inside Job An insider threat is a malicious threat to an organization that comes from people within the organization, such as employees, former employees, contractors or business associates, who have inside information concerning the organization's security ...

– Charles Ferguson * 2012: Better This World – Katie Galloway, and Kelly Duane de la Vega * 2013:

Searching for Sugar Man ''Searching for Sugar Man'' is a 2012 documentary film about a South African cultural phenomenon, written and directed by Malik Bendjelloul, which details the efforts in the late 1990s of two Cape Town fans, Stephen "Sugar" Segerman and Craig ...

– Malik Bendjelloul * 2014: Stories We Tell –

Sarah Polley Sarah Ellen Polley (born January 8, 1979) is a Canadian actress,Howell, Peter (September 24, 1999)"Nobody's Starlet: Toronto's Sarah Polley is Only 20 but already a veteran actor so secure in her craft she can thumb her nose at Hollywood" ''Tor ...

* 2015: The Internet's Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz – Brian Knappenberger * 2016: Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief – Alex Gibney * 2017: Command and Control – Robert Kenner, Brian Pearle, Kim Roberts, and Eric Schlosser * 2018: Jane –

Brett Morgen Brett D. Morgen (born October 11, 1968) is an American documentary filmmaker. His directorial credits include ''The Kid Stays in the Picture'' (2002), '' Crossfire Hurricane'' (2012), '' Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck'' (2015), ''Jane'' (2017), an ...

* 2019: Bathtubs Over Broadway – Ozzy Inguanzo, and Dava Whisenant * 2020: The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley – Alex Gibney *2021: The Dissident — Mark Monroe and Bryan Fogel

Discontinued categories

;Best Written Drama * 1949: ''

The Snake Pit ''The Snake Pit'' is a 1948 American psychological drama film directed by Anatole Litvak and starring Olivia de Havilland, Mark Stevens, Leo Genn, Celeste Holm, Beulah Bondi, and Lee Patrick. Based on Mary Jane Ward's 1946 semi-autobiogra ...

'' – Frank Partos and

Millen Brand Millen Brand (January 19, 1906 – March 19, 1980) was an American writer and poet. His novels, ''The Outward Room'' (1938) and ''Savage Sleep'' (1968), addressed mental health institutions and were bestsellers in their day. Personal life B ...

* 1950: ''

All the King's Men ''All the King's Men'' is a 1946 novel by Robert Penn Warren. The novel tells the story of charismatic populist governor Willie Stark and his political machinations in the Depression-era Deep South. It was inspired by the real-life story of U ...

'' – Robert Rossen * 1951: ''

Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a boulevard in the central and western part of Los Angeles, California, that stretches from the Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades east to Figueroa Street in Downtown Los Angeles. It is a major thoroughfare in ...

'' –

Charles Brackett Charles William Brackett (November 26, 1892 – March 9, 1969) was an American screenwriter and film producer. He collaborated with Billy Wilder on sixteen films. Life and career Brackett was born in Saratoga Springs, New York, the son of ...

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

Carl Foreman Carl Foreman, CBE (July 23, 1914 – June 26, 1984) was an American screenwriter and film producer who wrote the award-winning films ''The Bridge on the River Kwai'' and ''High Noon'', among others. He was one of the screenwriters who were black ...

* 1954: ''

From Here to Eternity ''From Here to Eternity'' is a 1953 American drama romance war film directed by Fred Zinnemann, and written by Daniel Taradash, based on the 1951 novel of the same name by James Jones. The picture deals with the tribulations of three U.S. A ...

'' – Daniel Taradash * * 1955: '' On the Waterfront'' –

Budd Schulberg Budd Schulberg (born Seymour Wilson Schulberg, March 27, 1914 – August 5, 2009) was an American screenwriter, television producer, novelist and sports writer. He was known for his novels '' What Makes Sammy Run?'' and ''The Harder They Fall;'' ...

* * 1956: '' Marty'' –

Paddy Chayefsky Sidney Aaron "Paddy" Chayefsky (January 29, 1923 – August 1, 1981) was an American playwright, screenwriter and novelist. He is the only person to have won three solo Academy Awards for writing both adapted and original screenplays. He was ...

* * 1957: '' Friendly Persuasion'' – Michael Wilson * 1958: '' 12 Angry Men'' – Reginald Rose * 1959: '' The Defiant Ones'' –

Nedrick Young Nedrick Young (March 23, 1914 – September 16, 1968), also known by the pseudonym Nathan E. Douglas, was an American actor and screenwriter often blacklisted during the 1950s and 1960s for refusing to confirm or deny membership of the Comm ...

and Harold Jacob Smith * * 1960: '' The Diary of Anne Frank'' –

Frances Goodrich Frances Goodrich (December 21, 1890 – January 29, 1984) was an American actress, dramatist, and screenwriter, best known for her collaborations with her partner and husband Albert Hackett. She received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama with her h ...

and

Albert Hackett Albert Maurice Hackett (February 16, 1900 – March 16, 1995) was an American actor, dramatist and screenwriter most noted for his collaborations with his partner and wife Frances Goodrich. Early years Hackett was born in New York City, the s ...

* 1961: '' Elmer Gantry'' – Richard Brooks * * 1962: ''

The Hustler ''The Hustler'' is a 1961 American sports romantic drama film directed by Robert Rossen from Walter Tevis's 1959 novel of the same name, adapted by Rossen and Sidney Carroll. It tells the story of small-time pool hustler "Fast Eddie" Felson a ...

'' – Sidney Carroll and Robert Rossen * 1963: '' To Kill a Mockingbird'' –

Horton Foote Albert Horton Foote Jr. (March 14, 1916March 4, 2009) was an American playwright and screenwriter. He received Academy Awards for his screenplays for the 1962 film ''To Kill a Mockingbird'', which was adapted from the 1960 novel of the same name ...

* * 1964: '' Hud'' – Harriet Frank Jr. and Irving Ravetch * 1965: '' Becket'' – Edward Anhalt * * 1966: '' The Pawnbroker'' – Edward Lewis Wallant,

Morton Fine Morton Fine (December 24, 1916 – March 7, 1991) was an American screenwriter. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Fine worked in an advertising agency, a bookstore, and an aircraft factory before joining the Army Air Force in 1942. A graduate of ...

, and

David Friedkin David Friedkin (March 8, 1912 – October 15, 1976) was an American writer and director of radio shows, film, and television shows. Early life and education Friedkin was born on March 8, 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri to Russian Jewish immigrant ...

* 1967: ''

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? ''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'' is a play by Edward Albee first staged in October 1962. It examines the complexities of the marriage of a middle-aged couple, Martha and George. Late one evening, after a university faculty party, they receive ...

'' –

Ernest Lehman Ernest Paul Lehman (December 8, 1915 – July 2, 2005) was an American screenwriter. He was nominated six times for Academy Awards for his screenplays during his career, but did not win. At the 73rd Academy Awards in 2001, he received an Ho ...

* 1968: '' Bonnie and Clyde'' – David Newman and

* 1969: '' The Lion in Winter'' –

James Goldman James Goldman (June 30, 1927 – October 28, 1998) was an American playwright and screenwriter. He won an Academy Award for his screenplay '' The Lion in Winter'' (1968). His younger brother was novelist and screenwriter William Goldman. Biog ...

* ;Best Original Drama * 1970: '' Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid'' – William Goldman * * 1971: '' Patton'' – Francis Ford Coppola and Edmund H. North * * 1972: ''

Sunday Bloody Sunday "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is a song by Irish rock band U2. It is the opening track from their 1983 album ''War'' and was released as the album's third single on 21 March 1983 in the Netherlands and West Germany. "Sunday Bloody Sunday" is noted ...

'' – Penelope Gilliatt * 1973: '' The Candidate'' – Jeremy Larner * * 1974: ''

Save the Tiger Save, SAVE, or Saved may refer to: Places *Save (Garonne), a river in southern France *Save River (Africa), a river in Zimbabwe and Mozambique *Sava, a river in Eastern Europe also known as Save *Savè, Benin, a commune and city * Save, Govuro ...

'' – Steve Shagan * 1975: '' Chinatown'' –

Robert Towne Robert Towne (born Robert Bertram Schwartz;'' Easy Riders, Raging Bulls'' by Peter Biskind page 30, 1999 Bloomsbury edition November 23, 1934) is an American screenwriter, producer, director and actor. He started with writing films for Roger ...

* * 1976: ''

Dog Day Afternoon ''Dog Day Afternoon'' is a 1975 American biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and produced by Martin Bregman and Martin Elfand. The film stars Al Pacino, John Cazale, James Broderick, and Charles Durning. The screenplay is wr ...

'' – Frank Pierson * * 1977: '' Network'' –

* * 1978: '' The Turning Point'' –

Arthur Laurents Arthur Laurents (July 14, 1917 – May 5, 2011) was an American playwright, theatre director, film producer and screenwriter. After writing scripts for radio shows after college and then training films for the U.S. Army during World War II ...

* 1979: '' Coming Home'' – Nancy Dowd, Robert C. Jones, and

Waldo Salt Waldo Miller Salt (October 18, 1914 – March 7, 1987) was an American screenwriter who won Academy Awards for both ''Midnight Cowboy'' and '' Coming Home''. Early life and career Salt was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Winifred (n ...

* * 1980: '' The China Syndrome'' – Mike Gray, T. S. Cook and James Bridges * 1981: ''

Melvin and Howard ''Melvin and Howard'' (stylized as ''Melvin (and Howard)'') is a 1980 American comedy-drama film directed by Jonathan Demme. The screenplay by Bo Goldman was inspired by real-life Utah service station owner Melvin Dummar, who was listed as the b ...

'' –

Bo Goldman Robert "Bo" Goldman (born September 10, 1932) is an American screenwriter and playwright. He has received two Academy Awards for his screenplays of ''One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' (1975) and '' Melvin and Howard'' (1980). Early life and edu ...

* * 1982: ''

Reds Reds may refer to: General * Red (political adjective), supporters of Communism or socialism * Reds (January Uprising), a faction of the Polish insurrectionists during the January Uprising in 1863 * USSR (or, to a lesser extent, China) during th ...

'' –

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'' –

Melissa Mathison Melissa Marie Mathison (June 3, 1950 – November 4, 2015) was an American film and television screenwriter and an activist for the Tibetan independence movement. She was best known for writing the screenplays for the films ''The Black Stallion'' ...

* 1984: ''

Tender Mercies ''Tender Mercies'' is a 1983 American drama film directed by Bruce Beresford. The screenplay by Horton Foote focuses on Mac Sledge, a recovering alcoholic country music singer who seeks to turn his life around through his relationship with a young ...

'' –

* ;Best Adapted Drama * 1970: '' Midnight Cowboy'' –

* * 1971: ''

I Never Sang for My Father ''I Never Sang for My Father'' is a 1970 American drama film, based on the 1968 play of the same name. It tells the story of a widowed college professor who feels dominated by his aging father, yet still has regrets about his plan to leave him be ...

'' – Robert Anderson * 1972: '' The French Connection'' – Ernest Tidyman * * 1973: '' The Godfather'' –

Mario Puzo Mario Francis Puzo (; ; October 15, 1920 – July 2, 1999) was an American author, screenwriter, and journalist. He is known for his crime novels about the Italian-American Mafia and Sicilian Mafia, most notably '' The Godfather'' (1969), whi ...

and Francis Ford Coppola * * 1974: ''

Serpico ''Serpico'' is a 1973 American neo-noir biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino in the title role. The screenplay was adapted by Waldo Salt and Norman Wexler from the book of the same name written by ...

'' –

and

Norman Wexler Norman Wexler (August 16, 1926 – August 23, 1999) was an American screenwriter whose work included films such as ''Saturday Night Fever'', ''Serpico'' and '' Joe''. A New Bedford, Massachusetts native and 1944 Central High School gradua ...

* 1975: ''

The Godfather Part II ''The Godfather Part II'' is a 1974 American epic crime film produced and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The film is partially based on the 1969 novel ''The Godfather'' by Mario Puzo, who co-wrote the screenplay with Coppola. ''Part II'' s ...

'' – Francis Ford Coppola and

* * 1976: '' One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest'' –

and Lawrence Hauben * * 1977: ''

All the President's Men ''All the President's Men'' is a 1974 non-fiction book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward, two of the journalists who investigated the June 1972 break-in at the Watergate Office Building and the resultant political scandal for ''The Washingto ...

'' – William Goldman * * 1978: '' Islands in the Stream'' – Denne Bart Petitclerc * 1979: '' Midnight Express'' – Oliver Stone * * 1980: '' Kramer vs. Kramer'' –

* * 1981: '' Ordinary People'' – Alvin Sargent * * 1982: '' On Golden Pond'' –

Ernest Thompson Ernest Thompson (born Richard Ernest Thompson; November 6, 1949) is an American writer, actor, and director. He won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for '' On Golden Pond'', an adaptation of his own play of the same name. Early l ...

* * 1983: '' Missing'' –

Costa-Gavras Costa-Gavras (short for Konstantinos Gavras; el, Κωνσταντίνος Γαβράς; born 12 February 1933) is a Greek-French film director, screenwriter, and producer who lives and works in France. He is known for films with political and s ...

and Donald E. Stewart * * 1984: '' Reuben, Reuben'' – Julius J. Epstein ;Best Written Comedy * 1949: '' Sitting Pretty'' – F. Hugh Herbert * 1950: ''

A Letter to Three Wives ''A Letter to Three Wives'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy-drama which tells the story of a woman who mails a letter to three women, telling them she has left town with the husband of one of them, but not saying which one. It stars Jeanne Cr ...

'' – Joseph L. Mankiewicz * * 1951: ''

All About Eve ''All About Eve'' is a 1950 American drama film written and directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, and produced by Darryl F. Zanuck. It is based on the 1946 short story "The Wisdom of Eve" by Mary Orr, although Orr does not receive a screen credit ...

'' – Joseph L. Mankiewicz * * 1952: ''

Father's Little Dividend ''Father's Little Dividend'' is a 1951 American comedy film directed by Vincente Minnelli and starring Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor. The movie is the sequel to '' Father of the Bride'' (1950). Plot In this sequel to '' Fat ...

'' –

and

* 1953: ''

The Quiet Man ''The Quiet Man'' is a 1952 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Ford. It stars John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen. The screenplay by Frank S. Nugent was based on a 1933 ''Saturday Ev ...

'' – Frank Nugent * 1954: '' Roman Holiday'' –

Ian McLellan Hunter Ian McLellan Hunter (8 August 1915 – 5 March 1991) was an English screenwriter, best remembered for fronting for the blacklisted Dalton Trumbo as the credited writer of ''Roman Holiday'' in 1953. Hunter was himself later blacklisted. ''Roman ...

, Dalton Trumbo, and John Dighton * * 1955: '' Sabrina'' – Billy Wilder, Samuel Taylor, and

* 1956: '' Mister Roberts'' – Joshua Logan and Frank Nugent * 1957: ''

Around the World in 80 Days ''Around the World in Eighty Days'' (french: link=no, Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours) is an adventure novel by the French writer Jules Verne, first published in French in 1872. In the story, Phileas Fogg of London and his newly employe ...

'' – James Poe, John Farrow, and

S. J. Perelman Sidney Joseph Perelman (February 1, 1904 – October 17, 1979) was an American humorist and screenwriter. He is best known for his humorous short pieces written over many years for ''The New Yorker''. He also wrote for several other magazines ...

* * 1958: '' Love in the Afternoon'' – Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond * 1959: ''

Me and the Colonel ''Me and the Colonel'' is a 1958 American comedy film based on the play ''Jacobowsky und der Oberst'' by Franz Werfel. It was directed by Peter Glenville and stars Danny Kaye, Curd Jürgens and Nicole Maurey. Kaye won a Golden Globe Award for ...

'' – S. N. Behrman and George Froeschel * 1960: '' Some Like It Hot'' – Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond * 1961: ''

The Apartment ''The Apartment'' is a 1960 American romantic comedy-drama film directed and produced by Billy Wilder from a screenplay he co-wrote with I. A. L. Diamond. It stars Jack Lemmon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston, Jack Kruschen, Dav ...

'' – Billy Wilder and I. A. L. Diamond * * 1962: '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' –

George Axelrod George Axelrod (June 9, 1922 – June 21, 2003) was an American screenwriter, producer, playwright and film director, best known for his play ''The Seven Year Itch'' (1952), which was adapted into a film of the same name starring Marilyn Mon ...

* 1963: '' That Touch of Mink'' –

Stanley Shapiro Stanley Shapiro (July 16, 1925 – July 21, 1990) was an American screenwriter and producer responsible for three of Doris Day's most successful films. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Shapiro earned his first screen credit for ''South Sea Woman ...

and Nate Monastar * 1964: '' Lilies of the Field'' – James Poe * 1965: '' Dr. Strangelove'' – Stanley Kubrick,

Terry Southern Terry Southern (May 1, 1924 – October 29, 1995) was an American novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and university lecturer, noted for his distinctive satirical style. Part of the Paris postwar literary movement in the 1950s and a companion to ...

, and Peter George * 1966: '' A Thousand Clowns'' –

Herb Gardner Herbert George Gardner (December 28, 1934 – September 25, 2003), was an American commercial artist, cartoonist, playwright and screenwriter. Early life Born in Brooklyn, New York, Gardner was the son of a bar owner. His late brother, Robert ...

* 1967: '' The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming'' – William Rose * 1968: ''

The Graduate ''The Graduate'' is a 1967 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Mike Nichols and written by Buck Henry and Calder Willingham, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Charles Webb, who wrote it shortly after graduating from W ...

'' – Calder Willingham and

Buck Henry Buck Henry (born Henry Zuckerman; December 9, 1930 – January 8, 2020) was an American actor, screenwriter, and director. Henry's contributions to film included his work as a co-writer for Mike Nichols's ''The Graduate'' (1967) for which he r ...

* 1969: '' The Odd Couple'' –

Neil Simon Marvin Neil Simon (July 4, 1927 – August 26, 2018) was an American playwright, screenwriter and author. He wrote more than 30 plays and nearly the same number of movie screenplays, mostly film adaptations of his plays. He has received mo ...

;Best Original Comedy * 1970: ''

Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice ''Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice'' is a 1969 American comedy-drama film directed by Paul Mazursky, written by Mazursky and Larry Tucker, who also produced the film, and starring Natalie Wood, Robert Culp, Elliott Gould, and Dyan Cannon. The origi ...

'' – Paul Mazursky and Larry Tucker * 1971: '' The Out-of-Towners'' –

* 1972: ''

The Hospital ''The Hospital'' is a 1971 American satirical film directed by Arthur Hiller and starring George C. Scott as Dr. Herbert Bock. It was written by Paddy Chayefsky, who was awarded the 1972 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. 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 ...

, David Newman, and

* 1974: '' A Touch of Class'' – Melvin Frank and Jack Rose * 1975: '' Blazing Saddles'' – Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman,

Richard Pryor Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor Sr. (December 1, 1940 – December 10, 2005) was an American stand-up comedian and actor. He reached a broad audience with his trenchant observations and storytelling style, and is widely regarded as on ...

, and Alan Uger * 1976: '' Shampoo'' –

and

* 1977: ''

The Bad News Bears ''The Bad News Bears'' is a 1976 American sports comedy film directed by Michael Ritchie and written by Bill Lancaster. It stars Walter Matthau as an alcoholic ex-baseball pitcher who becomes a coach for a youth baseball team known as the Bears. ...

'' –

Bill Lancaster William Henry Lancaster (November 17, 1947 – January 4, 1997) was an American screenwriter and actor. Early life He was born November 17, 1947, in Los Angeles, California, the son of Burt Lancaster (1913–1994) and Norma Anderson (1917–198 ...

* 1978: ''

Annie Hall ''Annie Hall'' is a 1977 American satirical romantic comedy-drama film directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay written by him and Marshall Brickman, and produced by Allen's manager, Charles H. Joffe. The film stars Allen as Alvy Singer, w ...

'' – Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman * * 1979: ''

Movie Movie ''Movie Movie'' is a 1978 American double bill directed by Stanley Donen. It consists of two films: ''Dynamite Hands'', a boxing ring morality play, and ''Baxter's Beauties of 1933'', a musical comedy, both starring the husband-and-wife team of G ...

'' –

Larry Gelbart Larry Simon Gelbart (February 25, 1928 – September 11, 2009) was an American television writer, playwright, screenwriter, director and author, most famous as a creator and producer of the television series ''M*A*S*H'', and as co-writer of the B ...

and Sheldon Keller * 1980: ''

Breaking Away ''Breaking Away'' is a 1979 American coming of age comedy-drama film produced and directed by Peter Yates and written by Steve Tesich. It follows a group of four male teenagers in Bloomington, Indiana, who have recently graduated from high sc ...

'' – Steve Tesich * * 1981: '' Private Benjamin'' –

Nancy Meyers Nancy Jane Meyers (born December 8, 1949) is an American filmmaker. She has written, produced, and directed many critically and commercially successful films including '' Private Benjamin'' (1980), '' Irreconcilable Differences'' (1984), ''Baby ...

, Harvey Miller, and Charles Shyer * 1982: ''

Arthur Arthur is a common male given name of Brythonic origin. Its popularity derives from it being the name of the legendary hero King Arthur. The etymology is disputed. It may derive from the Celtic ''Artos'' meaning “Bear”. Another theory, more wi ...

'' – Steve Gordon * 1983: '' Tootsie'' – Don McGuire,

and

Murray Schisgal Murray Joseph Schisgal (November 25, 1926 – October 1, 2020) was an American playwright and screenwriter. Life and career Schisgal was born in Brooklyn, New York City. He was the son of Jewish immigrants, Irene (Sperling), a bank clerk, and Ab ...

* 1984: '' The Big Chill'' – Lawrence Kasdan and Barbara Benedek ;Best Adapted Comedy * 1970: '' Goodbye, Columbus'' –

Arnold Schulman Arnold Schulman (born August 11, 1925) is an American playwright, screenwriter, producer, a songwriter and novelist. He was a stage actor long associated with the American Theatre Wing and the Actors Studio. Biography Born to a Jewish family i ...

* 1971: '' MASH'' – Ring Lardner Jr. * * 1972: ''

Kotch ''Kotch'' is a 1971 American comedy-drama film directed by Jack Lemmon and starring Walter Matthau, Deborah Winters, Felicia Farr, Charles Aidman, and Ellen Geer. Adapted by John Paxton from Katharine Topkins' 1965 novel of the same name, the ...

'' –

John Paxton John Paxton (May 21, 1911, Kansas City, Missouri – January 5, 1985, Santa Monica, California) was an American screenwriter. Some of his films include ''Murder, My Sweet'' in 1944, '' Cornered'' in 1945, ''Crossfire'' in 1947 (an adaptation o ...

* 1973: '' Cabaret'' –

Jay Presson Allen Jay Presson Allen (March 3, 1922 – May 1, 2006) was an American screenwriter, playwright, stage director, television producer, and novelist. Known for her withering wit and sometimes-off-color wisecracks, she was one of the few women making a ...

* 1974: '' Paper Moon'' – Alvin Sargent * 1975: '' The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz'' – Lionel Chetwynd and

Mordecai Richler Mordecai Richler (January 27, 1931 – July 3, 2001) was a Canadian writer. His best known works are '' The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz'' (1959) and '' Barney's Version'' (1997). His 1970 novel '' St. Urbain's Horseman'' and 1989 novel ...

* 1976: ''The Sunshine Boys (1975 film), The Sunshine Boys'' –

* 1977: ''The Pink Panther Strikes Again'' – Blake Edwards and Frank Waldman * 1978: ''Oh, God! (film), Oh, God!'' –

* 1979: ''Heaven Can Wait (1978 film), Heaven Can Wait'' – Elaine May and

and ''Same Time, Next Year (film), Same Time, Next Year'' – Bernard Slade * 1980: ''Being There'' – Jerzy Kosiński * 1981: ''Airplane!'' – Jim Abrahams, David Zucker (filmmaker), David Zucker and Jerry Zucker (film director), Jerry Zucker * 1982: ''Rich and Famous (1981 film), Rich and Famous'' – Gerard Ayres * 1983: ''Victor/Victoria'' – Blake Edwards * 1984: ''Terms of Endearment'' – James L. Brooks * ;Best Written Musical * 1949: ''Easter Parade (film), Easter Parade'' –

, and Sidney Sheldon * 1950: ''On the Town (film), On the Town'' – Adolph Green and Betty Comden * 1951: ''Annie Get Your Gun (film), Annie Get Your Gun'' – Sidney Sheldon * 1952: ''An American in Paris (film), An American in Paris'' – Alan Jay Lerner * * 1953: ''Singin' in the Rain'' – Betty Comden and Adolph Green * 1954: ''Lili'' – Helen Deutsch and Paul Gallico * 1955: ''Seven Brides for Seven Brothers'' –

, and Dorothy Kingsley * 1956: ''Love Me or Leave Me (film), Love Me or Leave Me'' – Daniel Fuchs and Isobel Lennart * * 1957: ''The King and I (1956 film), The King and I'' –

* 1958: ''Les Girls'' – Vera Caspary and John Patrick (dramatist), John Patrick * 1959: ''Gigi (1958 film), Gigi'' – Alan Jay Lerner * * 1960: ''The Five Pennies'' – Robert Smith, Jack Rose, and Melville Shavelson * 1961: ''Bells Are Ringing (film), Bells Are Ringing'' – Betty Comden and Adolph Green * 1962: ''West Side Story (1961 film), West Side Story'' –

* 1963: ''The Music Man (1962 film), The Music Man'' – Meredith Willson, Franklin Lacey, and Marion Hargrove * 1964: Not awarded * 1965: ''Mary Poppins (film), Mary Poppins'' – Bill Walsh (producer), Bill Walsh and Don DaGradi * 1966: ''The Sound of Music (film), The Sound of Music'' – Maria Augusta Trapp, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse, and

* 1967: Not awarded * 1968: ''Thoroughly Modern Millie'' – Richard Morris * 1969: ''Funny Girl (film), Funny Girl'' – Isobel Lennart ;Best Written Film Concerning Problems with the American Scene * 1949: ''

'' – Frank Partos and

* 1950: ''

'' – Robert Rossen * 1951: ''The Men (1950 film), The Men'' –

* 1952: ''Bright Victory'' – Robert Buckner ;Best Written Western * 1949: ''The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (film), The Treasure of the Sierra Madre'' – John Huston * * 1950: ''Yellow Sky'' – W. R. Burnett and Lamar Trotti * 1951: ''Broken Arrow (1950 film), 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 (game designer), 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 * 2011: ''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'' – Patrice Désilets, Jeffrey Yohalem, and Corey May * 2012: ''Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception'' – Amy Hennig * 2013: ''Assassin's Creed III: Liberation'' – Richard Farrese and Jill Murray * 2014: ''The Last of Us'' – 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 * 2017: ''Uncharted 4: A Thief's End'' – Neil Druckmann, Josh Scherr, Tom Bissell, and Ryan James * 2018: ''Horizon Zero Dawn'' – John Gonzalez, Benjamin McCaw, Ben Schroder, Anne Toole, Dee Warrick, and Meg Jayanth * 2019: ''God of War (2018 video game), God of War'' – 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 Writers Guild of America 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