Read Oscar-Contending Screenplays from 2016 Films

For screenwriters, and students of screenwriting, it's the most wonderful time of the year — Oscar season, when studios publicly release copies of the screenplays for some of their most prestigious films in time for holiday reading. The idea is to get them in front of Academy voters, guild members, and critics groups — but they're great reading for scriptwriters at all levels who want to study the blueprints for films they admire. At this writing, there were 42 screenplays online. We'll update this list if more become available.

20th Century Women
by Mike Mills

Anthropoid
by Sean Ellis and Anthony Frewin

Arrival
by Eric Heisserer
Based on "Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang

The Birth of a Nation
by Nate Parker
from a story by Nate Parker and Jean McGianni Celestin

Bridget Jones's Baby
by Helen Fielding and Dan Mazer and Emma Thompson
based on the characters and story created by Helen Fielding

Captain Fantastic
by Matt Ross

The Comedian
Story by Art Linson
Screenplay by Art Linson & Jeff Ross and Richard LaGravenese and Lewis Friedman

Denial
Screenplay by David Hare
Based on the book History on Trial by Deborah E. Lipstadt

Elle
Written by David Birke
Based on the novel Oh… by Philippe Djian

Equity
Story by Sarah Megan Thomas, Alysia Reiner, Amy Fox
Screenplay by Amy Fox

Eye in the Sky
Screenplay by Guy Hibbert

Fences
Screenplay by August Wilson
Based upon his play

The Founder
by Robert Siegel

The Girl on the Train
By Erin Cressida Wilson
Adapted from the novel by Paula Hawkins

Gold
By Patrick Massett & John Zinman

Hail, Caesar!
Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen

Hell or High Water
Written by Taylor Sheridan

The Hollars
By James C. Strouse

I Saw the Light
Written by Marc Abraham

Jackie
By Noah Oppenheim

Julieta
By Pedro Almodóvar

Kubo … and the Two Strings
Screenplay by Marc Haimes, Chris Butler
Story by Shannon Tindle, Marc Haimes

Land of Mine
Written by Martin Zandvliet

Lion
By Luke Davies

Love & Friendship
Adapted from Jane Austen's unfinished novella
by Whit Stillman

Loving
Written by Jeff Nichols

Maggie's Plan
By Rebecca Miller
Based on a story by Karen Rinaldi

Manchester by the Sea
Written by Kenneth Lonergan

The Meddler
By Lorene Scafaria

Miles Ahead
Written by Steven Baigelman & Don Cheadle

A Monster Calls
Written by Patrick Ness
Based on the novel by Patrick Ness
Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd

Moonlight
Written by Barry Jenkins
Based on "In Moonlight Black Boys Look Blue" by Tarell Alvin McCraney

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
Written by Nia Vardalos

Nocturnal Animals
By Tom Ford
Based upon the novel Tony and Susan by Austin Wright

The Red Turtle
Original story and screenplay by Michael Dudok De Wit

The Secret Life of Pets
Written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio and Brian Lynch

Silence
By Jay Cocks & Martin Scorsese

Sing
Written by Garth Jennings

Sing Street
By John Carney

Sully
by Todd Komarnicki
Based on the Book Highest Duty: My Search for What Really Matters
by Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger III and Jeffrey Zaslow

Toni Erdmann
Written by Maren Ade

Zootopia
Original Screenplay by Jared Bush, Phil Johnston
Story by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush, Jim Reardon, Josie Trinidad, Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee