The WGA Lists the 101 Greatest Scripts of the 21st Century

With all these end-of-the-year lists rolling in, the WGA has released a fun one. It tracks what its members have voted to be the 101 best screenplays of the 21st century so far.

“As voted upon by the members of the Writers Guilds West and East, the list of the 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (so far) is both a celebration of the great writers and screenplays of the last 21 years and a study of how writing for the screen has evolved and diversified since the 20th Century,” said Aaron Mendelsohn, chair of WGAW’s Publicity & Marketing Committee. 

As you peruse the list, you'll come across people like Greta Gerwig, Michael Arndt, Aaron Sorkin, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Quentin Tarantino multiple times (among others). The list is a fun one because it gets to look at modern movies that were written in a time with (relatively speaking) more diversity and a plethora of different voices putting stories onto the screen. 

Any snubs? I feel like Synecdoche, New York should be one there, but maybe that's just me. Let the debate begin. 

Let us know how many of the movies you're seen and scripts you've read in the comments. 

The WGA Lists the 101 Greatest Scripts of the 21st Century

1. Get Out (2017)
Written by Jordan Peele
Universal

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

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

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

5. 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

6. Moonlight (2016)
Screenplay by Barry Jenkins, Story by Tarell Alvin McCraney
A24

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

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

9. Almost Famous (2000)
Written by Cameron Crowe
DreamWorks

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

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

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

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

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

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

16. Lady Bird (2017)
Written by Greta Gerwig
A24

17. Her (2013)
Written by Spike Jonze
Warner Bros.

18. 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

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

20. Michael Clayton (2007)
Written by Tony Gilroy
Warner Bros.

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

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

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

24. Juno (2007)
Written by Diablo Cody
Fox Searchlight

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

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

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

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

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

30. The Departed (2006)
Screenplay by William Monahan, Based on the Motion Picture Infernal Affairs, Written Alex Mak
and Felix Chong
Warner Bros.

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

32. Whiplash (2014)
Written by Damien Chazelle
Sony Pictures Classics

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

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

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

36. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
Written by Guillermo del Toro
Warner Bros.

37. Inception (2010)
Written by Christopher Nolan
Warner Bros.

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

39. 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.

40. In Bruges (2008)
Written by Martin McDonagh
Focus Features

41. Mulholland Dr. (2001)
Written by David Lynch
Universal

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

43. Amélie (2001)
Screenplay by Guillame Laurant and Jean-Pierre Jeunet
Miramax

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

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

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

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

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

49. Knives Out (2019)
Written by Rian Johnson
Lionsgate

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

51. Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014)
Written by Alejandro G. Iñárritu Nicolás Giacobone Alexander Dinelaris, Jr. & Armando Bó
Fox Searchlight

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

53. Nightcrawler (2014)
Written by Dan Gilroy
Open Road

54. 12 Years a Slave (2013)
Screenplay by John Ridley, Based on Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
20th Century Fox

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

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

57. Black Panther (2018)
Written by Ryan Coogler & Joe Robert Cole, Based on the Marvel Comics by Stan Lee and
Jack Kirby
Disney

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

59. Boyhood (2014)
Written by Richard Linklater
IFC

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

61. The Hurt Locker (2009)
Written by Mark Boal
Summit

62. Roma (2018)
Written by Alfonso Cuarón
Netflix

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

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

65. Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Written by Kenneth Lonergan
Amazon

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

67. Spirited Away (2001)
Written by Hayao Miyazaki
Disney

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

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

70. City of God (2002)
Screenplay by Bráulio Montovani, Based on the Novel by Paulo Lins
Miramax

71. 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

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

73. The King’s Speech (2010)
Screenplay by David Seidler
Weinstein

74. Django Unchained (2012)
Written by Quentin Tarantino
Weinstein

75. 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.

76. 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

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

78. Erin Brockovich (2000)
Written by Susannah Grant
Universal

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

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

81. The Lobster (2015)
Written by Yorgos Lanthimos and Efthymis Filippou
A24

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

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

84. The Master (2012)
Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
Weinstein

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

86. Y tu mamá también (2001)
Written by Carlos Cuarón & Alfonso Cuarón
IFC

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

88. Superbad (2007)
Written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
Columbia/Sony

89. Little Women (2019)
Screenplay by Greta Gerwig, Based on the Novel by Louisa May Alcott
Columbia/Sony

90. BlacKkKlansman (2018)
Written by Charlie Wachtel & David Rabinowitz and Kevin Willmott & Spike Lee, Based on the
Book by Ron Stallworth
Focus Features

91. The Farewell (2019)
Written by Lulu Wang
A24

92. La La Land (2016)
Written by Damien Chazelle
Lionsgate

93. 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

94. The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005)
Written by Judd Apatow & Steve Carell
Universal

95. 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

96. Lars and the Real Girl (2007)
Written by Nancy Oliver
MGM

97. Nomadland (2020)
Written for the Screen by Chloe Zhao, Based on the Book by Jessica Bruder
Searchlight

98. Winter’s Bone (2010)
Screenplay by Debra Granik & Anne Rosellini, Based on the Novel by Daniel Woodrell
Roadside Attractions

99. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
Written by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen, Based Upon the Odyssey by Homer
Touchstone / Universal

100. Legally Blonde (2001)
Screenplay by Karen McCullah Lutz & Kirsten Smith, Based on the Book by Amanda Brown
MGM

101. Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
Screenplay by David O. Russell, Based on the Novel by Matthew Quick
Weinstein