BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
AND THEY SAY HOLLYWOOD DOESN'T HAVE ORIGINAL IDEAS... THEY HAVE AT LEAST 5 A YEAR!

~2000~1990~1980~1970~1960~1950~1940~1930~


**The writing categories the Academy gave out have gone through numerous changes throughout the years, so many in fact that they could not all be listed on the award pages themselves. As a result I have created a time line showing the changes in categories. It should be noted that while at different times credit for story was separate from the screenplay awards, and other times it was a combined award, but on this site we will only be recognizing the screenwriters for simplicity purposes.**

To See The Timeline


2009

Mark Boal
for
The Hurt Locker (2009)
Quentin Tarantino
for
Inglourious Basterds (2009)
Alessandro Camon and
Oren Moverman
for
The Messenger (2009)
Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
for
A Serious Man (2009)
Bob Peterson, Pete Docter and Thomas McCarthy
for
Up (2009)


2008

Courtney Hunt
for
Frozen River (2008)
Mike Leigh
for
Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)
Martin McDonagh
for
In Bruges (2008)
Dustin Lance Black
for
Milk (2008)
Andrew Stanton, Pete Docter,
Jim Reardon
for
WALL-E (2008)


2007

Diablo Cody
for
Juno (2007)
Nancy Oliver
for
Lars And The Real Girl (2007)
Tony Gilroy
for
Michael Clayton (2007)
Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava,
Jim Capobianco
for
Ratatouille (2007)
Tamara Jenkins
for
The Savages (2007)


2006

Guillermo Arriaga
for
Babel (2006)
Iris Yamashita and Paul Haggis
for
Letters From Iwo Jima (2006)
Michael Arndt
for
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)
Guillermo Del Toro
for
Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
(El Labertino Del Fauno)
Peter Morgan
for
The Queen (2006)


2005

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Paul Haggis and Bobb Moresco
for
Crash (2005)
George Clooney and
Grant Heslov
for
Good Night, And Good Luck. (2005)
Woody Allen
for
Match Point (2005)
Noah Baumbach
for
The Squid And The Whale (2005)
Stephan Gaghan
for
Syriana (2005)


2004


2003

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

1996

1995

1994

1993

1992

1991

1990

1989

1988

1987

1986

1985

1984
1983

1982

1981

1980

1979

1978

1977

1976

1975

1974

1973

1972

1971

1970

1969

1968

1967

1966

1965

1964

1963

1962

1961

1960

1959

1958
**NOTE** - Originally the writers credited for The Defiant Ones were Nathan E. Douglas and Harold Jacob Smith. This was because Nedrick Young was blacklisted during this period and had to use Nathan E. Douglas as a pseudonym. At the request of his widow The Academy decided to restore his real name to the records on 06/22/93.

1957

1956

1955

1954

1953

1952

1951

1950

1949

1948
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Motion Picture Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1947

1946

1945

1944

1943

1942

1941

1940

1939
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1938
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1937
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1936
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1935
**NOTE** - In this year they announced the winner along with 2nd and 3rd place recipients.
**NOTE** - The nomination for Gregory Rogers was not considered an official nomination as he was a write-in vote.
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1934
**NOTE** - In this year they announced the winner along with 2nd and 3rd place recipients.
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1932/1933
**NOTE** - In this year they announced the winner along with 2nd and 3rd place recipients.
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1931/1932
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1930/1931
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

1929/1930
**NOTE** - There was only 1 general category called "Best Writing" in this year, however I have listed the same winners and nominees under both the "Adapted" and "Original" lists since there was only one category.
**NOTE** - According to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Science, no nominees were officially announced this year, only the winners were unveiled, however according to their internal files all of the films listed above were under consideration. In addition only the screenplay itself was announced, not the writers involved, however they are listed above.

1928/1929
**NOTE** - There was only 1 general category called "Best Writing" in this year, however I have listed the same winners and nominees under both the "Adapted" and "Original" lists since there was only one category.
**NOTE** - According to the Academy Of Motion Picture Arts and Science, no nominees were officially announced this year, only the winners were unveiled, however according to their internal files all of the films listed above were under consideration. In addition only the screenplay itself was announced, not the writers involved, however they are listed above.
**NOTE** - During this time the person, not the movie was nomintaed for their work for the entire year. However, for unknown reasons Hans Kraly was only recognised as the winner for his work on The Patriot.

1927-1928
**NOTE** - Charles Chaplin won a special award this year for The Circus. A letter to Chaplin explains the award: "The Academy Board of Judges on merit awards for individual achievements in motion picture arts during the year ending August 1, 1928, unanimously decided that your name should be removed from the competitive classes, and that a special first award be conferred upon you for writing, acting, directing and producing 'The Circus.' The collective accomplishments thus displayed place you in a class by yourself."
**NOTE** - During this time the person, not the movie was nomintaed for their work for the entire year.
**NOTE** - There was not a specific category for original screenplays in this year. The nominees listed above were nominees from the category called "Best Original Story". Only original work could be nominated in this category, and since there was no category for Original Screenplay in this year only story, the nominees from that category are listed instead.

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