The remainder of the WGA’s top 10 consists of Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight,” Paul Thomas Anderson’s “There Will Be Blood,” Quentin Tarantino’s “Inglourious Basterds,” Cameron Crowe’s “Almost Famous,” and Christopher Nolan’s “Memento.” Anderson has three scripts in the top 101 (“There Will Be Blood” at #7, “The Master” at #84, and “Phantom Thread” at #87), as does Tarantino (“Inglorious Basterds” at #8, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” at #22, and “Django Unchained” at #74). Writers with multiple ranked scripts include Aaron Sorkin, Charlie Kaufman, and Wes Anderson.
Check out the WGA’s full list of the 101 greatest screenplays of the 21st century below (courtesy of Deadline):
Get Out (2017) Written by Jordan Peele Universal
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) Written by Charlie Kaufman, Story by Charlie Kaufman & Michel Gondry & Pierre Bismuth Focus Features
The Social Network (2010) Screenplay by Aaron Sorkin, Based Upon the Book The Accidental Billionaires by Ben Mezrich Columbia/Sony
Parasite (2019) Screenplay by Bong Joon Ho and Han Jin Won, Story by Bong Joon Ho Neon
No Country for Old Men (2007) Written for the Screen by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen, Based on the Novel by Cormac McCarthy Miramax/Paramount Vantage
Moonlight (2016) Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney A24
There Will Be Blood (2007) Screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson, Based on the Novel Oil! by Upton SinclairParamount Vantage
Inglourious Basterds (2009) Written by Quentin Tarantino Weinstein/Universal
Almost Famous (2000) Written by Cameron Crowe DreamWorks
Memento (2000) Screenplay by Christopher Nolan, Based on the Short Story by Jonathan Nolan Newmarket
Adaptation. (2002) Screenplay by Charlie Kaufman and Donald Kaufman, Based on the Book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean Columbia / Sony
Bridesmaids (2011) Written by Annie Mumulo & Kristen Wiig Universal
Brokeback Mountain (2005) Screenplay by Larry McMurtry & Diana Ossana, Based on the Short Story by Annie Proulx Focus Features
The Royal Tenenbaums (2001) Written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson Touchstone
Sideways (2004) Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Based on the Novel by Rex Pickett Fox Searchlight
Lady Bird (2017) Written by Greta Gerwig A24
Her (2013) Written by Spike Jonze Warner Bros.
Children of Men (2006) Screenplay by Alfonso Cuarón & Timothy J. Sexton and David Arata and Mark Fergus & Hawk Ostby, Based on the Novel The Children of Men by P.D. James Universal
Lost in Translation (2003) Written by Sofia Coppola Focus Features
Michael Clayton (2007) Written by Tony Gilroy Warner Bros.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Written by Michael Arndt Fox Searchlight
Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) Written by Quentin Tarantino Columbia/Sony
Promising Young Woman (2020) Written by Emerald Fennell Focus Features
Juno (2007) Written by Diablo Cody Fox Searchlight
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) Screenplay by Wes Anderson, Story by Wes Anderson & Hugo Guinness Fox Searchlight
The Dark Knight (2008) Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, Story by Christopher Nolan & David S. Goyer, Based Upon Characters Appearing in Comic Books Published by DC Comic, BatmanCreated by Bob Kane Warner Bros.
Arrival (2016) Screenplay by Eric Heisserer, Based on the Story “Story of Your Life” Written by Ted Chiang Paramount
Jojo Rabbit (2019) Screenplay by Taika Waititi, Based on the Book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens Fox Searchlight
Inside Out (2015) Screenplay by Meg LeFauve, Original Story by Pete Docter and Ronnie Del Carmen Disney/Pixar
The Departed (2006) Screenplay by William Monahan, Based on the Motion Picture Infernal Affairs, Written Alex Mak and Felix Chong Warner Bros.
Spotlight (2015) Written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy Open Road
Whiplash (2014) Written by Damien Chazelle Sony Pictures Classics
Up (2009) Screenplay by Bob Peterson, Pete Docter, Story by Pete Docter, Bob Peterson, Tom McCarthy Disney-Pixar
Mean Girls (2004) Screenplay by Tina Fey, Based on the Book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman Paramount
WALL-E (2008) Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon, Original Story by Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter Disney-Pixar
Pan’s Labyrinth (2006) Written by Guillermo del Toro Warner Bros.
Inception (2010) Written by Christopher Nolan Warner Bros.
Slumdog Millionaire (2008) Screenplay by Simon Beaufoy, Based on the Novel Q & A by Vikas Swarup Fox Searchlight
Before Sunset (2004) Screenplay by Richard Linklater & Julie Delpy & Ethan Hawke, Story by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan, Based on Characters Created by Richard Linklater & Kim Krizan Warner Bros.
In Bruges (2008) Written by Martin McDonagh Focus Features
Mulholland Dr. (2001) Written by David Lynch Universal
A Serious Man (2009) Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen Focus Features
Amélie (2001) Screenplay by Guillame Laurant and Jean-Pierre Jeunet Miramax
Toy Story 3 (2010) Screenplay by Michael Arndt, Story by John Lasseter Andrew Stanton and Lee Unkrich Disney-Pixar
The Favourite (2018) Written by Deborah Davis and Tony McNamara Fox Searchlight
Zodiac (2007) Screenplay by James Vanderbilt, Based on the Book by Robert Graysmith Paramount
Gladiator (2000) Screenplay by David Franzoni and John Logan and William Nicholson, Story by David Franzoni DreamWorks/Universal
The Incredibles (2004) Written by Brad Bird Disney-Pixar
Knives Out (2019) Written by Rian Johnson Lionsgate
Ex Machina (2015) Written by Alex Garland Universal / A24
Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014) Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu Nicolás Giacobone Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bó Fox Searchlight
The Lives of Others (2006) Written by Florian Henckel von Donnerschmarck Sony Pictures Classics
Nightcrawler (2014) Written by Dan Gilroy Open Road
12 Years a Slave (2013) Screenplay by John Ridley, Based on Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup 20th Century Fox
The Big Short (2015) Screenplay by Charles Randolph and Adam McKay, Based on the Book by Michael Lewis Paramount
Moneyball (2011) Screenplay by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin, Story by Stan Chervin, Based on the Book by Michael Lewis Columbia/Sony
Black Panther (2018) Written by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Disney
You Can Count on Me (2000) Written by Kenneth Lonergan Paramount
Boyhood (2014) Written by Richard Linklater IFC Films
Finding Nemo (2003) Screenplay by Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds, Original Story by Andrew Stanton Disney-Pixar
The Hurt Locker (2009) Written by Mark Boal Summit
Roma (2018) Written by Alfonso Cuarón Netflix
The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) Screenplay by Terence Winter, Based on the Book by Jordan Belfort Paramount
Hell or High Water (2016) Written by Taylor Sheridan Lionsgate
A Separation (2011) Written by Asghar Farhadi Sony Pictures Classics
Spirited Away (2001) Written by Hayao Miyazaki Disney
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Written by George Miller, Brendan McCarthy, Nico Lathouris Warner Bros.
Booksmart (2019) Written by Emily Halpern & Sarah Haskins and Susanna Fogel and Katie Silberman United Artists
City of God (2002) Screenplay by Bráulio Montovani, Based on the Novel by Paulo Lins Miramax
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) Screenplay by Phil Lord and Rodney Rothman, Story by Phil Lord, Based on the Marvel Comics Columbia/Sony
Inside Llewyn Davis (2013) Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen CBS Films
The King’s Speech (2010) Screenplay by David Seidler Weinstein
Django Unchained (2012) Written by Quentin Tarantino Weinstein
Ocean’s Eleven (2001) Screenplay by Ted Griffin, Based on a Screenplay by Harry Brown and Charles Lederer and a Story by George Clayton Johnson & Jack Golden Russell Warner Bros.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) Screenplay by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson, Based on the Book The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien New Line
Shaun of the Dead (2004) Written by Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright Universal
Erin Brockovich (2000) Written by Susannah Grant Universal
Call Me by Your Name (2017) Screenplay by James Ivory, Based on the Novel by André Aciman Sony Pictures Classics
Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017) Written by Martin McDonagh Fox Searchlight
The Lobster (2015) Written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou A24
The Prestige (2006) Screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, Based on the Novel by Christopher Priest Touchstone/Warner Bros.
Midnight in Paris (2011) Written by Woody Allen Sony Pictures Classics
The Master (2012) Written by Paul Thomas Anderson Weinstein
Argo (2012) Screenplay by Chris Terrio, Based on a selection from The Master of Disguise by Antonio J. Mendez and the Wired Magazine Article “The Great Escape” by Joshuah Bearman Warner Bros.
Y tu mamá también (2001) Written by Carlos Cuarón & Alfonso Cuarón IFC Films
Phantom Thread (2017) Written by Paul Thomas Anderson Focus Features
Superbad (2007) Written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg Columbia/Sony
Little Women (2019) Screenplay by Greta Gerwig, Based on the Novel by Louisa May Alcott Columbia/Sony
BlacKkKlansman (2018) Written by Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee, Based on the Book by Ron Stallworth Focus Features
The Farewell (2019) Written by Lulu Wang A24
La La Land (2016) Written by Damien Chazelle Lionsgate
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006) Screenplay by Sacha Baron Cohen & Anthony Hines & Peter Baynham & Dan Mazer, Story by Sacha Baron Cohen & Peter Baynham & Anthony Hines & Todd Phillips, Based on a Character Created by Sacha Baron Cohen 20th Century Fox
The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005) Written by Judd Apatow & Steve Carell Universal
Ratatouille (2007) Screenwriter: Brad Bird, Original Story by Jan Pinkava, Jim Capobianco, Brad Bird, Additional Story Material by Emily Cook & Kathy Greenberg, Bob Peterson Disney-Pixar
Lars and the Real Girl (2007) Written by Nancy Oliver MGM
Nomadland (2020) Written for the Screen by Chloe Zhao, Based on the Book by Jessica Bruder Searchlight
Winter’s Bone (2010) Screenplay by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini, Based on the Novel by Daniel Woodrell Roadside Attractions
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) Written by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Based Upon the Odyssey by Homer Touchstone / Universal
Legally Blonde (2001) Screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith, Based on the Book by Amanda Brown MGM
Silver Linings Playbook (2012) Screenplay by David O. Russell, Based on the Novel by Matthew Quick Weinstein Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Sign up for our Email Newsletters here.
