50 of the best screenplays to read and download in every genre.
Looking for the best screenplays to read? You’re in the right place. We’ve been strong advocates for the benefits of reading screenplays for a long time as it’s one of the simplest ways to learn how to write.
With that in mind, we’ve put together a mega list of the fifty best screenplays to read for aspiring screenwriters.
This list of the best screenplays to read is grouped into the five main genres you’ll find in Hollywood today: drama, comedy, action/adventure, thriller and horror. (We prefer to call sci-fi, western, romance, etc. sub-genres of these five and you’ll find examples of these in the lists below too.)
A quick note on spec scripts vs. shooting scripts.
Both “shooting” movie scripts and “spec” movie scripts are included in this list.
If you’re an aspiring screenwriter trying to break into the industry with a spec, it’s important to ignore all the little formatting quirks that often come with shooting movie scripts. Sluglines with periods instead of dashes, large chunks of descriptive text, excessive use of camera angles and so on, are all expressions of writers who’ve made it.
If you haven’t yet, keep things simple by sticking to regular spec script formatting. So, without further ado, it’s time to get to the first best screenplay in our list…
Best screenplays to read: drama.
1. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
screenplay by Charlie Kaufmann.
Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy erases memories of being with girl. This typically Kaufman-esque story could arguably be called best screenplay he’s ever written. Watch out for the long chunks of description, though, as this style isn’t recommended in spec movie scripts.
2. Good Will Hunting.
screenplay by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
This best screenplay winner began life as Damon’s final assignment for his Harvard playwriting class. Then he turned to Affleck to help turn it into a script. They then set about developing the story into a thriller about a young man targeted by the FBI. It was Rob Reiner who persuaded them to turn it into a drama and focus on the relationship between Will and his psychologist.
3. Jerry Maguire.
screenplay by Cameron Crowe.
Easily the best of Crowe’s screenplays to date and the one that broke him into the Hollywood A-list. Earned a Best Screenplay nomination and is a personal favorite of screenwriter Craig Mazin.
4. Little Children.
screenplay by Todd Field and Tom Perrotta.
Based on the novel by Tom Perrotta, this is a skillfully woven tale of suburban angst that retains a very novelistic feel. An excellent case study in how to make voiceover work for and not against your script.
5. Lost In Translation.
screenplay by Sofia Coppola.
Coppola spent six months writing a series of short stories and “impressions of Tokyo” that went on to become a seventy-page script. As understated as the movie itself, this screenplay is a real lesson in how to construct “small” scenes that move the story forward and keep the reader interested.
6. Straight Outta Compton.
screenplay by Johnathan Herman and Andrea Berloff.
Unsure of what direction the script should take, a first draft arose out of ten months of research, interviewing as many people associated with rap group NWA as possible. The result was this blistering account of the group’s rise and fall and was only Berloff’s second produced feature and Herman’s first.
7. The Truman Show.
screenplay by Andrew M. Niccol.
Originally a dark sci-fi thriller set in New York City and titled “The Malcolm Show,” Niccol’s one-page treatment would go on to become one of the greatest high concepts in movie history and best screenplays of all time. Nominated for the best screenplay Oscar but lost out to the schmaltzy Shakespeare In Love.
8. Up In the Air.
screenplay by Jason Reitman.
Like The Truman Show, this is another screenplay that expertly weaves comedy into its overall drama. Adapted from the novel by Walter Kirn, by one of the best script writers in Hollywood—Jason Reitman—this is a modern classic and definitely one of the best screenplays to read for aspiring screenwriters, no matter what their genre preference.
9. The Visitor.
screenplay by Tom McCarthy.
This is arguably a better script than the one McCarthy won the best screenplay Oscar for: Spotlight. Beautifully tight and sparse writing about a lonely professor learning to loosen up after discovering a couple of illegal immigrants living in his New York apartment.
10. Whiplash.
screenplay by Damien Chazelle.
Having already won acclaim as a short film of the same title, Chazelle decided to adapt it into a feature and the result is one of the best screenplays to read in recent years. You can really feel Andrew’s torment and passion in these pages.
Best screenplays to read: Comedy.
1. (500) Days of Summer.
screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber.
Neustadter and Weber began this screenplay by simply writing down on index cards all of the most painful relationship experiences they’d ever had. Many of them wound up in the final draft and it’s this mixing of realism with its avant-garde structure that makes it a great script to read for the aspiring writer.
2. Bridesmaids.
screenplay by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig.
This best screenplay choice broke new ground by having female characters indulge in moments of “poop humor” in a way not seen before on screen. But beyond the infamous wedding dress scene, there’s a heart to this script and a vulnerable protagonist with whom we can all identify.
3. The Hangover.
screenplay by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore.
Written on spec by writing team Lucas and Moore (Four Christmases, Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past), this script is a near-perfect execution of a very high concept. Along with (500) Days of Summer, this is probably the best screenplay to come out in 2009.
4. Hannah and Her Sisters.
screenplay by Woody Allen.
Bookended by Thanksgiving dinner parties and with a novelistic feel, this best screenplay Oscar winner is a perfect blend of comedy with weighty themes about the meaning of life. While Allen himself may remain dissatisfied with the ending, this is one of his best screenplays to read if you’re a comedy writer.
5. Mean Girls.
screenplay by Tina Fey.
Tina Fey turned her hand to feature writing with this adaptation from a book by Rosalind Wiseman. The writing is just as smart, funny and relevant as when the movie first came out over ten years ago.
6. Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
screenplay by John Hughes.
Some may put a movie like Ferris Bueller’s Day Off or The Breakfast Club as their choice for quintessential John Hughes comedy. For us, it’s this Steve Martin/John Candy two-hander. Without a doubt, the best screenplay to read if you’re writing a comedy road trip movie. Or any comedy for that matter.
7. Sideways.
screenplay by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor.
Rex Pickett’s novel begins with Miles at home and takes a while before he hits the road with Jack. Payne and Taylor, however, get the story moving right off the bat by opening with Miles getting ready for the trip. And the pace doesn’t let up in this darkly funny story of middle-aged angst.
8. Stranger Than Fiction.
screenplay by Zach Helm.
Dismissed by some as Charlie Kaufman-lite, this is the best screenplay to read to get your creative juices flowing if you write dark comedy. Imaginative, thought-provoking, high concept and, best of all, extremely funny.
9. There’s Something About Mary.
screenplay by Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly, John J. Strauss, and Ed Decter.
One thing many aspiring comedy screenwriters fail to do is add set pieces to their spec screenplays. From Ted picking Mary up for prom, to getting arrested for cruising, this is the best screenplay to learn how to elevate a simple situation into a big comedic set piece.
10. When Harry Met Sally.
screenplay by Nora Ephron.
Heavily influenced by Woody Allen, this screenplay grew out of a simple conversation between Ephron and the movie’s director, Rob Reiner: can a man and woman ever remain just platonic friends? The result was this best screenplay Oscar nominee and a classic of the rom-com genre.
Best screenplays to read: action/adventure.
1. The Bourne Ultimatum.
screenplay by Tony Gilroy, Scott Z. Burns, and George Nolfi.
Reading this script feels like you’re watching Peter Greengrass’ choppy, frenetic direction. It’s all right there on the page and studying this script will really show you how to give action scenes a sense of urgency.
2. The Dark Knight.
screenplay by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan.
Christopher Nolan helped bring a much darker edge to the Batman franchise with Batman Begins, and this collaboration with his brother is an even better screenplay. Absorb all you can from this exceptional piece of work.
3. Die Hard.
screenplay by Jeb Stuart and Steven E. DeSouza.
De Souza reportedly wrote the script to this seminal action movie as if the antagonist, Gruber, were the protagonist. He said, “If he had not planned the robbery and put it together, Bruce Willis would have just gone to the party and reconciled or not with his wife. You should sometimes think about looking at your movie through the point of view of the villain who is really driving the narrative.” Wise words indeed.
4. Ocean’s Eleven.
screenplay by Ted Griffin.
Griffin took the story and script from the 1960 version and, with the help of Steven Soderbergh’s direction, created one the coolest heist movies of all time. Definitely one of the best movie scripts to read and study if you’re an action writer.
5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
screenplay by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Peter Jackson.
Screenwriters Walsh, Boyens and Jackson approached writing the screenplay by making significant edits to the novel and zeroing in on much more on Frodo’s story with the ring. Absolute required reading for any aspiring fantasy/adventure writers.
6. Inside Out.
screenplay by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, and Josh Cooley.
There are so many writing lessons to be learned from reading this best screenplay Oscar-nominated script. The way all the characters’ emotions are chosen for optimal conflict. The way Riley isn’t interested in stereotypically feminine pursuits but is a hockey enthusiast. The way the theme of emotions connecting people together is thread through her journey, etc. Yet another Pixar classic.
7. Lone Survivor.
screenplay by Peter Berg.
The big takeaway from reading this screenplay is the value of research. Berg met the families of the deceased and had the story’s protagonist, Luttrell, move in with him while writing the script. Oh, and he also embedded with Navy Seals for a month in Iraq. Now that’s dedication to the craft.
8. Looper.
screenplay by Rian Johnson.
Johnson has said of writing the script he wanted it to be character based rather than focus on the mechanics of time-travel. He drew inspiration from movies such as The Terminator, 12 Monkeys, and Witness. One of the best screenplays to read if you love mixing sci-fi with ironic humor and time-travel.
9. The Matrix.
screenplay by the Wachowskis.
The Wachowskis pitched the script to Warner Bros. who were initially skeptical of its philosophical musings and tricky SFX for the time. They then decided to bring on board underground comic book artists Steve Skroce and Geof Darrow to storyboard the entire film, shot-by-shot. Warners were impressed and the rest, as they say, is history.
10. Zombieland.
screenplay by Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick.
Having kicked the idea around for several years, Reese and Wernick originally wrote the story as a TV spec. It was director Ruben Fleischer who helped develop it into a feature by adding in a specific destination to the characters’ road trip in the form of the amusement park.
Best screenplays to read: thriller.
1. Collateral.
screenplay by Stuart Beattie, Frank Darabont and Michael Mann.
Three of the best script writers in Hollywood collaborated for this modern classic. Beattie originally had the idea for the movie aged seventeen while riding in the back of a cab in his native Sydney. He then worked up a two-page treatment called The Last Domino, which he turned into a screenplay. Later he was lucky enough to be put in touch with Darabont and then Mann who both contributed revisions.
2. The Departed.
screenplay by William Monahan.
Monahan’s reworking of the original Asian gangster movie Infernal Affairs as a fight between Boston’s police department and the Irish American crime scene is very impressive. In fact, it earned him a Best Screenplay (Adapted) award from not only the WGA but also the Academy Awards.
3. Get Out.
screenplay by Jordan Peele.
The first draft of this much-lauded horror/comedy satire was written Peele in two months. He then went on to write a staggering 200 more drafts before finalizing the one that went on to win the Best Original Screenplay Oscar in 2017.
4. The Girl on the Train.
screenplay by Erin Cressida Wilson.
Yet another best screenplay nominee based on a novel. Much like the adaptation of Nick Hornby’s High Fidelity, this screenplay also moves the action from the UK to the US. Wilson also expertly plays with the reader’s perceptions of the protagonist, Rachel, and is one of the best screenplays to read in recent times.
5. Nightcrawler.
screenplay by Dan Gilroy.
Gilroy had the initial idea for Nightcrawler way back in 1988. He spent years developing the screenplay, making Lou a traditional “good guy” protagonist and the story a murder mystery. In order to break with the stereotype, though, he finally hit upon the idea of creating an “anti-hero success story” and the result is this exceptional (slugline free) screenplay.
6. No Country for Old Men.
screenplay by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen.
This Coen brothers’ adaptation from the novel of the same name by Cormac McCarthy is notable for its refusal to rely on dialogue to move the story forward. Reading the script you can see why Josh Brolin was initially nervous. “I mean it was a fear, for sure, because dialogue, that’s what you kind of rest upon as an actor, you know?” Won the best screenplay (adapted) category at the 80th Academy Awards.
7. Prisoners.
screenplay by Aaron Guzikowski.
Guzikowski based the script on his own short story, which in turn was inspired by The Tell-Tale Heart in which a father gets revenge on the man who kills his kid in a hit and run by sticking him down a well. The best screenplay we’ve read from an upcoming thriller writer in a while.
8. Reservoir Dogs.
screenplay by Quentin Tarantino.
Many of the tropes have been copied almost to the point of cliche by a generation of later writers. But this script was groundbreaking for its time and is impossible to ignore if you want to learn how to become a screenwriter.
9. Training Day.
screenplay by David Ayer.
When asked about whether he was surprised about the success of Training Day, Ayer replied “No. That was a shocker. I wrote that script on spec out of frustration. I was trying to make sales writing mediocre movie scripts, I guess, trying to anticipate what the studios would buy, and I wrote that for myself. I was tired of second-guessing the system and I just wanted to say something.” Great advice for any aspiring screenwriter.
10. The Usual Suspects.
screenplay by Christopher McQuarrie.
McQuarrie and director Bryan Singer both worked on the initial concept of five guys meeting in a police line-up. It came from an idea that occurred to Singer from Captain Renault’s line in Casablanca: “Round up the usual suspects.” McQuarrie then worked up this masterfully complex story from one of his own previously unproduced movie scripts.
Best screenplays to read: horror.
1. Alien.
screenplay by Walter Hill, Dan O’Bannon, and David Giler.
Famed for its minimal, vertical writing style, O’Bannan would say of his original draft, “I didn’t steal Alien from anybody. I stole it from everybody.” Classic 1950s sci-fi films such as Forbidden Planet, Thing From Another World and Planet Of The Vampires. They’re all in here and it’s definitely one of the best screenplays of all time.
2. The Babadook.
screenplay by Jennifer Kent.
The Babadook is another script based on a short film—Kent’s 2005 movie, Monster. Perhaps that’s why, in contrast to Jordan Peele’s 200 drafts of Get Out, Kent had nailed the script in just five drafts. A fantastic exploration of the darkness within ourselves, and one of the best horror movie scripts for any aspiring writer to read.
3. Dawn Of The Dead (Remake).
screenplay by James Gunn and Michael Tolkin.
The screenplay only credits Gunn and Tolkin as rewriters of this George A. Romero script. In fact, Scott Frank (Out Of Sight, Minority Report) was also brought in to add some oomph to the action sequences. A worthy remake of the 1978 original and one of Stephen King’s favorite movies.
4. Final Destination.
screenplay by James Wong, Glen Morgan, and Jeffrey Roddick.
The origins of this spec screenplay are just as creepy as the film. As Reddick recounts, he was given the idea by a real-life story of a woman whose life was saved by her mom who warned her not to take a flight that wound up crashing. Reddick then wrote the script as an X-Files spec but was advised by a friend to reshape it into a feature.
5. Hereditary.
screenplay by Ari Aster.
Aster originally conceived of the script as a drama about a family tragedy drama, inspired by the grisly real-life incident from 2005 in which John Hutcherson accidentally decapitated his childhood friend, Frankie Brohm. However, as the script developed, the second half gradually morphed into the full-blown horror we have now—although Aster is still careful not to call it a horror film outright.
6. Insidious.
screenplay by Leigh Whannell.
The same core team behind the Saw movies—writer, Leigh Whannell, and director, James Wan—had a point to prove with this script. Read this first and best of the Insidious franchise for a masterclass in how create a horror through tension over gore.
7. Jennifer’s Body.
screenplay by Diablo Cody.
Fresh off her success with Juno, Cody originally intended to write a straight, slasher horror movie. But she notes, “the humor just kept sneaking in.” If you’re writing a horror movie with heavy doses of comedy involved, this is one of the best scripts to read.
8. The Omen.
screenplay by David Seltzer.
Seltzer was commissioned by the producer, Harvey Bernhard, to write a movie about the Antichrist after Bernhard was given the idea by a friend, Bob Munger. It took Seltzer exactly one year to write the screenplay and it would go on to be one of the most iconic horror movies of all time.
9. Saw.
screenplay by Leigh Whannell and James Wan.
This script was born purely out of budgetary restrictions as writers Whannell and Wan deliberately wanted to write a horror film as cheaply as possible. One that they could finance themselves. Inspired by low-budget movies such as Pi and The Blair Witch Project, they decided on the concept of two actors, one room, and one dead body. Easily one of the best screenplays to read for horror writers.
10. The Sixth Sense.
screenplay by M. Night Shyamalan.
Already a working screenwriter, Shyamalan’s big breakthrough came with this best screenplay nominee that pulls the wool over the reader’s eyes until the very end. This is still one of the finest horror movie scripts ever written.
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BONUS SCREENPLAYS TO READ: You can download five more of the best screenplays to read in each genre in this post. Read as many movie scripts as you can and watch your screenwriting ability soar.
The best screenplay writers put everything right there on the page to make you connect with the story. Now it’s up to you to extract it and put it into your own movie scripts.
Best scripts to read frequently asked questions.
Q1. What should screenwriters read?
A. As many scripts as possible! You should also not confine yourself to just reading screenplays written by professional screenwriters, like those presented here. Read as many spec scripts as you can as well—the good, and especially the bad ones. You’ll learn just as much from these as from shooting scripts by seeing what not to do.
Q2. Are screenplays useful to read?
A. In a word, yes. As we’ve said many times on this site, reading screenplays is an excellent way to learn how to write. (And it’s free.) You’ll learn about structure, how to write scene, dialogue, pacing and so much more.
Q3. Which movie has the best screenplay?
A. It’s purely subjective, of course, but many old-school screenwriting books and pros will say that best screenplays were written for the older classics. Scripts to movies like Casablanca, Some Like It Hot, Chinatown, etc. usually get a mention. While these are undoubtedly great scripts, are they the best scripts to read for the modern writer? Perhaps it’s better to focus on reading modern scripts as these are what are actually getting produced right now.
Which screenplays did we miss?
What are your favorite movie scripts? Which movie scripts do you consider required reading? Are they on our list? If not, please comment below and let us know what screenplays you think we’ve missed out.
Enjoyed this? Here are more of the best screenplays to read…
50 of the Best TV Scripts to Download and Study to Improve Your Writing
20 Best Comedy Scripts to Read and Download For Free
15 Screenplay Examples From Each Genre for You to Download and Study
[© Photo credits: Unsplash, Flickr]
How good can I be is what I ask for the time I’m studying what I’ve missed in business of Films and movies.
This is so extraordinarily helpful. Thank you
Thanks for your comment, AP – glad the post helped!
Thanks so much for sharing! This is a great list. Can’t wait get reading!
Happy reading, Chyrise!
Im working on writing a Crime, Romance and Drama screenplay. My age is 16. I was wondering, will reading these screenplays help me to write mine.
Absolutely!
Thanks a lot for good understanding inspiring writers.
Hope you keep it up.
Kind regards,
Thanks Cyril – best of luck with the writing!
thanks, this is a fairly good list but you have thoroughly forgotten anything published before 1990. you’ve forgotten the golden age Hollywood. did not Wilder and Hawks and Hitchcock have films with astonishing screenplays?
wherever you born or wherever you are love you guys & thank you so much
Thanks a lot, Daniel 🙂
Shawshank redemption
Fabulous collection. thanks so much!
No Braveheart??
No Shampoo?
No Defending your life?
This is incredibly amazing. I like it . I would also like to read the screenplay of the movie by the name “Acrimony” and also “13 hours”.
SINK OR SWIMM, do you have this screenplay?
Congratulations for the amazing content!
Thanks.
Sorry no – thanks for the shoutout, Eduardo!
Would like to see The Wolf of Wall Street, movies that have a lot of V.O. as descriptive analysis.
You guys are awesome and Fab-u-lous–!
You guys should add “Suits” TV drama legal series and “How to get away with murder”, TV drama legal series to the best TV scripts list!
Thanks for reading, Christina 🙂
Great list! Thank you so much. Are these original works of the actual screenwriters? or is it one of your writers writing it based on watching the film?
Thanks GN! – yes, these are the original screenplays by the actual writers.
Could you advise what scripts I should read, in the area of historical fiction, that deals with Soviet spies from the 1930’s; having their activities take place in Europe and America?
Is there a way that the Whiplash link could be updated? It currently does not lead to the script.
Where is your search button
Actor background .feature film. . need. Me for feature film. Episodic. .or work actor related contact me #414-737-6180. Verdugomarceloalejandro2280@Gmail.com
Like to work with you. And or post me some scripts.
FABULOUS LIST!
here’s my contribution:
STAR WARS ’77, PELICAN BRIEF, FIELD OF DREAMS, EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, CITIZEN KANE, SCHINDLER’S LIST, FARGO, OH BROTHER WHERE ART THOU, SAVING PVT. RYAN, UNFORGIVEN, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, INDIANA JONES LAST CRUSADE
Thank you so much for the information,but I was expecting ARROW complete movie script.
Terms of Endearment – a heartwarming story about Cancer that’s funny.
Falling Down, Ebbe Roe Smith
Love these scripts thank you!!!
The Shawshank redemption. The script hit me more than the movie itself.
Thanks for this list and your work.
How about Daddy’s Home? I love the beginning of that script.
“What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” 1999 film starring Tamuera Morrison and sequel to the 1994 film Once Were Warriors please
“What Becomes of the Broken Hearted” 1999 film starring Tamuera Morrison and sequel to the 1994 film Once Were Warriors please
Thank you and all others behind the scene for this great job.
India kerala
Thank you, India!
Thanks so much for sharing these great resources. How about some westerns?
SONS OF KATIE ELDER
SHOOTIST
TRUE GRIT
RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY
MAGNIFICENT SEVEN
I need so work for
If someone has a good screenplay,what do you think is the best way to sell it Or how can he use it?
Hola, está muy bueno el contenido de la página. Necesito el guión de “Whiplash” y está incluido aquí, sin embargo, el enlace envía a una página diferente. Por favor, ¿puedes corregirlo? o enviarme el guión.
Muchas gracias.
Thanks very much for sharing to us such wonderful screen plays
Am also a script writer, what can I do to make sure that my script reaches notable producers?
We have some tactics you can follow in this blog post category: How to Become a Screenwriter.
Silver Linings Playbook
AMERICAN BEAUTY. :/
We already discussed American Beauty in our post 5 Best Movie Scripts to Download in Each Genre 🙂
What about Videordrome? or The Dead Zone?
China town
You guys are the best. Keep up the good work and keep providing us with screenplays of our favorite movies.
I just starting out writing screenplays just for hobby and this website helps me a lot. so thank you for uploading a few references. UR AWESOME.
Thanks so much!
You don’t have screenplays of dance movies. DisappointedDisappointedDisappointedDisappointed because that’s what I am looking for. Although the screen plays you have are excellent.
You are amazing
Thanks, Gerald!
I finally found screenplay scripts to see how it looks like. And scripts for lots of great movies. Beautiful. Thank you very much.
Now I can watch again with script in my hands 🙂
If in the future I write something good and for big screen, everything started from here… lol
Yes, that’s a great exercise – happy watching/reading, Mark!
Read every one and I enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this because I like reading them. My favorite script id love to read is Ted. Keep it up.
Yup, Ted’s great – thanks for the comment, Kambiz!
Nice screen play here keeping me busy I love it
Thanks for the shoutout!
Great List! Thanks so much for sharing it. House Party 1?
Hi how about series like 24 or e l sea l team. My interest is series but still this was really great. You made me enjoy the lockdown
Thanks, Raymond! You can check out the 50 Best TV Scripts to Read here.
Hi everyone at Script Reader Pro. Firstly a huge “Thank You” for all you do! it’s much appreciated. My current screen-writing interest is the romantic comedy genre so I’d love to read the following list
The Notebook
Dear John
10 Things I hate about you
What a girl wants
Love Actually
Bridget Jones’s Diary
Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason
Bridget Jones’s baby
Again, huge thanks for everything you do. I’m really enjoying the reading!
Thanks for the feedback, Sarah!
OMG! I can’t believe such a treasure has been on the net and I have missed it till now! This is incridible. You’ve made my quarantine such a heaven for weeks. Thank you so much.
April 18, 2020 ⚘
Thanks, Afsoon 🙂
very helpful. I have just started reading screenplays. This should occupy me for quite a while during the quarantine and lockdown! i want to read the screenplay of one of my all time favourite movies, Gone With The Wind, unless I have missed it in your list….
Best time to read, alone at home..
Thanks
You guys should look into getting
WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT
SET IT OFF
MALCOLM X
LOVE JONES
Thanks for the available screenplays, but I request you to provide INCEPTION, ARRAIVAL, SKYFALL, REVENANT sfreenplays
I read the screenplay to one of my favourite horror movies and one of my recent favourite mvoies, IT (2017). I really would like to read the full screenplay to IT Chapter Two (2019). any chance you guys could find and upload it for me, please?
THANK YOU immensely, for taking the time to give us these great scripts.
I would more than appreciate reading ONLY “spec scripts” because shooting scripts put a lot of bad ideas into the heads of beginning writers. I had to rewrite most of my early scripts to take out/correct all of the mistakes I made.
Do us a favor and let us know which are “spec” and which are “shooting” screenplays.
how many of are up there to read my script pretty soon ??!!!!!!!!!!!!
How could you not include “American Beauty”?! I read the screenplay years ago, made an outline and analyzed it. Hands down it’s the best screenplay I’ve ever read, and was incredibly educational. There is SO MUCH in that ONE screenplay. It’s got drama, it’s comedic, the characters, the dialogue drips with acerbic wit, then in the last 5 minutes raises an entirely new question/problem and becomes a tragedy…There is seriously so much packed into that one story that it should be required reading for any writer & film student!
Yup, it’s a great script and we’d already included it on this post of scripts to read.
Thank you so much for the experience
You forgot 2 of the most influential writers and film makers of our time:
1. The Godfather (Francic Ford Coppola with Mario Puzo) Godfather 2 and 3 are excellent scripts too.
2. Glengarry Glen Ross (David Mamet)
And do read “True & False,” because it will help any writer or anyone in business
become a better communicator.
Many thanks for this extensive list of great scripts and added information! Obviously there are so many amazing scripts that can’t all be on this list, but if you can add Thelma and Louise, that’d be great 🙂 Thanks again in any case!
Nice list. Too bad it didn’t include a list exclusively for crime drama or science fiction, although I did see a few mentioned in other categories.
thanks a million ton!!! well done SRP. movies you chose i think best in the Genre.
keep posting
I’ll woud like to find OPENING NIGHT’s script….
THANK YOU,
Do you have the script of bad times at el royale?
Wonderful! This will keep me busy for quite a while!
‘Three Tonys’. Whoo-hoo!
Thanks, Dale – happy reading!
I love this place and also love reading scripts/plays. The great suggestions from Both SRP and those who comment made me want to read/see more. And what an education! Please, more genres…cuz it’s fun!
My picks for each category (today:)
Drama: There Will be Blood
Comedy: Wag the Dog
Act./Adv.: (Tough one). The Fugitive
Thriller: The Silence of the Lambs
Horror: The Exorcist (extended one)
Thanks again.
How about making The Illusionist by Neil Burger, available?
I’d love to see some Matthew Vaughn or Edgar Wright! If anyone knows where I could read some, I’d be super interested!
I Like This documented foe nation Thank You
Thanks for this resource. How about “As Good as it Gets?”
I can also ask you if you have any way to help others who are screenwriters but had not get a chance to be famous?
am student in Digital Media Production (University) my favorite lesson is script writing I just want to ask you if there is any help for us?
as student in that department
anyway sorry for my poor language my first foreign’s language is french
I have been writing screenplay for last 17 years, Hollywood is a closed society, they would not let you get in unless you know someone, I have always wondered how Matt Damon and Ben Affleck got their screenplay ” Good Will Hunting” in marker while no one knew of them, I have seen many interviews from both of them, even they, do not share the secret, because now they are inside the circle.
By accident I met Rosemary Mark in Monterey, CA, so far she has been so patient with me, crossing my heart.
J’apprécie vraiment ceux qui nous partagent ce script.
je suis très heureux d’avoir ce site merci pour votre aide ..
HI there – these are all such amazing scripts. I’m sad that the Straight Outta Compton is a dead link/ “File Not Found” – any thoughts? Something is wrong or missing in the link (unless NBC-Uni took that portion of the site down?)
Thanks, Cheers
Thanks for the heads-up, Bran! Fixed.
So many amazing scripts in this post!
I’ve been looking everywhere for Synecdoche: New York but can’t find it. If you can add that next time I’d be very appreciative.
Thanks a mega-ton ! After having see most of these film classics, and most of them multiple times, it’s a pleasure to just go through the written format.
Would be wonderful to see images of the actual script in the hands of the Directors/ADs with all their hand written notes/strike throughs/squiggles/doodles, etc.
Glad you got a lot out of the post, Anil!
I was hoping for a movie musical script. The rules appear to be a bit different.
Great List! Really would like to see some other Tarantino scripts, since I haven’t seen Reservoir Dogs and I don’t want spoilers
This really helped me so much!!!! Thank You
You’re welcome, Mark!
This is an amazing page. Thanks for this opportunity to view great works, Hope to one day my work will be on this list of greats.
Thanks, Fatokun – keep at it 🙂
Can you do C-O-Ckneys vs zombies?
How come James Cameron’s Avatar wasn’t listed with the Action/Adventure? Just curious.
Great post, but where’s a Spike Lee script?
Thanks, TJ!
Fantastic effort providing this shopping list of essential scripts for the aspiring. Having trouble finding the script for City of Women (citta delle donne) anywhere online.
Any assistance is appreciated.
Cheers,
CB
THANK YOU SO MUCH! I was looking for a PDF of the script for The Others and found your page. Reading the titles of the scripts you have culled here made my heart sing with the love of cinema that started my long journey into the film biz. Recently I have been pessimistic and disheartened about the lack of quality films coming out these days. But looking at these titles made me feel totally invigorated and optimistic.
That’s great to hear, George. Glad we were able to help inspire you 🙂
I am really grateful to the holder of this site who has shared this
fantastic paragraph at at this time.
Thank you so much!!!
Girl on the Train link broken?
Thanks for the heads-up, Walter – fixed 🙂
This are great works. Help full. Thank you.
Glad it helped, cheers!
Please upload Mel Gibson’s APOCALYPTO . Thank you .
Great resource, but sadly no musical genre section, *sniff. If anyone has the script for the musical film CHICAGO (not the stage musical), then I would be eternally grateful if you could please forward! Email: privatedenizen@gmail.com
Good work Guys. Thanks for sharing.
Can you guys please share vantage point pdf.
Spider Man 2 (written by Alvin Sargent) is super hard to find. But it is the gem of the superhero movie genre. I’d love to read it… If you can use your magic powers a lot of us would be grateful.
short film on humanities and moral values script
I enjoy reading all the scripts above and I have really known how to write coz at first I had the ideas but I didn’t know how to out them on a paper, but through reading the above scripts, I can now now write my scripts everyday.
Thank you so much.
It’s been most helpful.
Cheers, thanks for the comment!
I’d really like to see Once Upon A Prince screenplay ‘cos’ I want to learn something there
I’m an aspiring screenwriter by the way
Good one guys but I’d like to see Once Upon A Prince screenplay
You guys have done an amazing job
Thanks, Subin! Happy reading.
Is there any full script of movie Spy(2015) here? As a pdf file?
Goodfellas is an example of a near perfect screenplay.
most grateful
You’re welcome, Rey!
Thank you so much for your inexhaustible sources of information to make us all better screenwriters! The screenplay I would love to read is Bird Cage starring Robin Williams! I have a screenplay I am writing with a mix of “There’s Something About Mary and Birdcage! Knowing how to write suspenseful comedy is a blessing and I’d love to learned how to be blessed in this genre!
Thanks for all you do!
Thanks, Ingrid! Best of luck with the script, and you know where we are if you need any guidance with it 🙂
Quite resourceful, for an upstart like me.. Thank you for this database.
You’re welcome!
I am literally blown away by what you are providing here! Many many thanks! Most appreciatively, Tom
Thanks a lot, Tom – really appreciate it!
i was just wondering which ones are spec scripts
if a whole world will gonna believe me, i will rankin this site as a best site on our planet… really amzn
Thanks, Aminu.
You guys just gave me something new to get addicted to. It feels special when I read the script first, visualise the scene and then watch the movie.
That’s great to hear – thanks, Vishnu!
What about “Her” by Spike Jonze?
Pulp fiction?
Any special advice on writing screen plays based on historical figures or events ?
What about some of the classics? i.e. To Have and Have Not!
The classics are great but the style of formatting and writing was definitely different back then. That’s why we’ve stuck to modern ones.
You guys are awesome. The only thing I would like to see for this site would be the Taken series. Keep up the good work!
Thanks a lot, Logan!
Hi I’m Prentiss and I’ve written the best love story script ever! ( Jesus died for our sins & in my scrip “Lacey died to save our world) best love story ever told.
Thank you so much, its a good blog!
Amadeus and Gosford Park are great period pieces to read. For a more recent period (the 80s), the pilot for The Americans is great.
The link for Zombieland doesn’t seem to be working 🙁
THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT
One of Shane Black’s best action scripts with an incredible female protagonist.
YOU ALL NEED PIE IN YOUR LIVES!!!
Thanks alot guys for sharing, it’s really a great help to me
You’re welcome, Amanda!
Thankyou for sharing.My favourite is the Bourne
Thank you! These are invaluable. Love to see “Doc Hollywood”.
Thanks, Patrick!
A few of my favorites,
Shakespeare in Love
The Abyss
Mission to Mars
Jerry Maguire
Pulp Fiction
Shawshank Redemption
Brilliant compilation, thanks a million. Any chance of Red Sparrow script for download? Cheers
I would love to see
Rom-Com WORKING GIRL, still one of my faves
Musical MARY POPPINS RETURNS for the sweet charm of it and for the placement of songs
And for its sheer brilliance on every level, BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE. I really can’t understand how this critically praised thriller didn’t do better at the box office. It would help us to see how the TONS of music was integrated into this very intricate, bizarre and riveting storyline.
Thank you!
Hi, thanks for taking the effort out to make this list. But I would like to know what the basis for selecting these particular scripts is. Have these films been critically analysed to understand whether they’re good, watertight scripts or is it based more on popular and critical consensus? I only ask because I’m really thrown off by The Dark Knight being on this and being described as a superior screenplay to Batman Begins and a good one in general. The film is ridden with plot holes and contrivances.
Thanks for amazing screenplays to read. Its asset for emerging filmmakers to understand the writing.
Salman Sirhindi from Pakistan
Thanks for reaching out, Salman.
Fantastic Post – Thank you
Thanks for reading, Penelope!
Hi, I read a commentary by Robert Towne, who said that the narrative skills in older movies is superior. He said more about how it costs the characters a lot to do the right thing in them, which makes it more believable, enjoyable, and funny. For this reason I think Billy Wilder is essential reading, especially:
SOME LIKE IT HOT and THE APARTMENT
He was able to make the story turn on very simple plot-points without the need to thread endless spaghetti.
Can’t believe I had the good fortune to stumble onto this website. Thanks for doing the Lord’s work.
Welcome aboard, Arcadio!
PULP FICTION
Awesome! Thank you for sharing! Do you have the script for the original film “The Amityville Horror” from 1979? Loved that movie!
thanks for your sharing, so useful.
You’re welcome, thanks, Sue!
Hi Everyone!
For the last few weeks, I’ve been working on my first class for
Skillshare and today it’s officially live!
If you’re not familiar, Skillshare is an online learning community
with thousands of classes on everything from business to graphic
design to fashion – it’s the Netflix of learning.
Where you’ll learn SCREENPLAY IDEA. I’m proud of what I’ve created,
and I’d really appreciate if you’d help me out by watching my class
Not only is this an awesome deal, but your enrollment will help my
class trend on Skillshare, which means that more students will be able
to discover it.
If you know of anyone else that’d be interested to learn Screenplay
SKILLS, I’d appreciate if you’d share it with them too.
Thanks so much!
houshang falahrezaei
Thank you so much.
You’re welcome, Lee!
My choices are pretty high brow and combinations of genres. My favorite genre is crime/thriller. I saw The Usual Suspects, which I downloaded, but my choice is the foreign film, City of God. For comedy, alone, the Woody Allen movie, Blue Jasmine. Horror , with a dash of comedy, another classic, American Werewolf in London. For Drama, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. And finally for action, a Jackie Chan film, The Foreigner. Those are my choices. Love this script service!
Thanks, Vernon! Great list.
I want American beauty csript
You can find it here.
Thank you So much for such great scripts, l could see pictures, movements just from reading…Awesome.
Thanks a lot, Steve!
Thank you for such great scripts, Inspiring…l could see pictures, movements just from reading..Awesome
The Wizard of Oz is a great script, the story is amazing
It’s a classic 🙂
OMG THIS IS SO NICE ITS COOL AND INTERIESING OMG THIS IS NICE MOVE AND SCRIPTS
CHINA TOWN..
..NO IDEA HOW THIS IS MISSING?!
Varsity Blues, The Natural, Remember The Titans
hey ya, this is so awesome and very helpful! Do you guys have any sports dramas, have and idea for a story and Id love to see how the sports action mixed with dialogue and general scenes.
Nice this screenplays are helped me lot to write my script.
Good stuff, Ajit!
MY Favorite movie is NOW YOU SEE ME AND THE TWILIGHT SAGA
thank for the reading mater. some I seen in mover
Network (1976)
gud work work guys
thank you
Thanks, Taera!
The Dark Knight link doesn’t work. It takes you to a website.
Just read “Lost in Translation” simple, beautiful and inspiring, thank you so much for including, really helped me with my script x
That’s great, thanks for the comment, Lara!
“White Hunter, Black Heart.” A 1990 film starring Clint Eastwood. Probably one of his best performances. Great film.
Good call!
Moonlight
Moonlight
Thanks a lot you guys. I think I was leaping, now I believe I run.
Thanks for the comment 🙂
It’s good to learn more about iconic screenplays. My son wants to try and make transcripts for films, so I’m sure he’ll want to read this. Good Will Hunting would be great for him to study, I think!
You have a lot of great movies in here…some Mainstays…but seriously great.
This is awesome —but I was hoping to see some examples of successful Bio-Pics/Period Piece ( 100 years ago) That is what I am working on now —a film adapted from someone’s autobiography ! Any suggestions?
I know there is Ray,Joy, Lust for Life…
Thanks !
Piece of writing writing is also a fun, if you be familiar
with after that you can write or else it
is difficult to write.
Thanks for this service, i have enjoyed and a hope i will develop my script writing career. Nothing more be blessed guys
Thanks a lot for the feedback!
I wish you guys had the screenplay Set It Off. It’s amazing movie.
Thanks, Jack – will check it out.
This is an amazing service you guys have provided. This will give young inspiring screenwriters to have a greater opportunity to make it and give new voices a platform in the industry! Thankx!
Thanks for the feedback, Mohamed!
Thank you for this amazing resource! Would love to read the screenplay for some classic drama, Ordinary People and All The President’s Men come to mind. Thanks!
Thank you very much.
Thanks, Oyebanji.
My favorite movie is Days of Thunder
Impressive list.
Thanks!
excelente post, en serio gracias por compartir pero te cuento NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MAN esta roto el link, podrias actualizarlo
Wow!!! I’m totally in awe of the work you guys are doing!!! I am new to scriptwriting but you’ve simplified a lot of things for me and for that I’m eternally grateful!
That’s so great to hear – thanks, Tiffany!
I love it! Thanks scriptreaderpro.com, you are amazing! Best to luck to all of you who are working valiantly on your scripts!
Thanks, Didi, much appreciated!
OH WOW.
I received the subscription email a few days ago and procrastinated before opening this link. And when I finally did, I was half expecting to get merely a few pages and got directed straight to a paid subscription site for the full script. The fact that you’ve proven me wrong is just amazing.
I feel like a kid in a candy store now.
Thank you guys so much!!
You’re welcome Putri – enjoy!
Thank you! Excellent resource. Would love to read The Exorcist, Inception, Captain America The Winter Soldier, and The Silence of the Lambs.
Include the script by satyajit ray from india.appriciated,thanx.
Hi script read pro!
I hope you are haveng a great time
I wanted to thank you for sharing this with others and solving the problem of writing a script.
If its not too much trouble I would like to ask you some script questions in private.
Thanks
Hanieh
Hi Hanieh, thanks for the comment – yes please sign up to our newsletter where we answer all reader questions.
Dances with wolves ( 1990 ) without a doubt one of the top 50 screenplaye out there
Hi.
Great site thanks, I would love to see the scrip for About Time and also Upside Down, The Majestic, The Adjustment Bureau, Source Code, Oblivion and Edge.of.Tomorrow to name a few.
Thanks very much.
Thanks for the comment!
Thank you so much for it!
You’re welcome, Carol!
My pleasure!
You, guys, rock!
Hey Guys, would be great to have The Descent Part I, Unbreakable, Marathon Man, Split, Interstellar and Red Sparrow screenplays available for download.
Thanks a lot!
Remy
Hello to the team,
Thank YOU! just a little problem… it seems The Bourne Ultimatum download link isn’t working… or is it me?
Thanks for the heads up, Remy, fixed!
josh…thank you
I love them all….Hangover….
Roommates by cris case
Chinatown (1974)… Without a doubt one of the top 50 screenplays out there.
Yup, good call.
Can’t wait to dive deep with these this weekend!
I’m reading one a day! Thanks so much for this list!!!
When I were a lad, you had to get on a train, go to a bookshop, and pay actual money for a screenplay. Kids these days! Never had it so good. 😉
Hi Script Reader Pro
Thanks so much for posting these great scripts, such a wonderful resource. Maybe it’s just me, or I’ve tried to download too long after the original post, but the links to the following don’t seem to be working…
Good Will Hunting, The Truman Show, Jerry Maguire, and Bridesmaids.
Thanks, Ali
Thanks for the heads up, Ali – they’re all fixed now. 🙂
Script reader pro, you guys are awesome. I have been working on a project then suddenly I got lost, not knowing what to do. Stumbling upon this page really made my day.words alone cannot quantify how grateful I am. Thank you
Thanks so much for the feedback!
This site is like finding a treasure chest. Thanks so much!
Thanks Jeff – welcome aboard!
Thank you one million times over – these are awesome!!!
Quality! Thanks guys.
Braveheart. Legends of the Fall
Excellent choices!
La Grande Belleza… I’d love to read it. I’ve herd it’s written as a novel and Paolo Sorretino used to add music to feel the atmosphere while reading. Please add this Beauty in!
Thank you!
I thought Reservoir Dogs was a copy of a Hong Kong flick, one starring Chow Yung Fat.
I just grabbed a bunch of them.
This is soon good. Thanks guys
Cool!
Love love LOVE this, thank you soooo much people. A Few Good men is one of my favourites that I would have loved to see too.
Sorcerer by Walon Green
Double Indemnity by Billy Wilder and Raymond Chandler
Two great choices 🙂
May God bless you.
Great list.
Though I’d suggest You read “Raiders of the lost ark.” It has to be #1 on the action/adventure category.
Agreed. What a classic.
WOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOWOW!!!!!!
THANKS BROTHER FROM ANOTHER MOTHER!!!!
I DON’T USUALLY USE HIGH CASE CHARACTERS
THANKS THANKS THANKS
You’re welcome!
Who really needs film school when you have an amazing library of scripts you’ve presented to us, I will pick one each from different genres and delve into it. Thank you so much!
Exactly 😉 Thanks for the comment, Dunstan.
Hi, I really need Stonewall movie script. Can you help me how to get that? I am having difficult where I can get that. I am gona make analyze about that film as my rules to graduate at mu school. You can email me heruherlambang1980@gmail.com
Wonderful!! Thank you guys !!
Thanks!
Thank you alot guys … This is really gonna help me
You’re welcome 🙂
Thanks a lot, I think this will be helpful
You’re welcome, Sylvester!
I think the 1969 movie Women in Love script is great to have, even if I did not see yet. Hope that happens soon.
Thanks for the heads up, Kevin.
The second I saw Eternal Sunshine, I knew I was in the right place. Thank you for this fantastic list!
Ermm… could you throw in High Fidelity next time? The usage of the fourth wall is brilliant
Thanks – yes High Fidelity’s great.
Hercules(2014)
I’m such a big fan of Sofia Coppola and her genius script lost in translation. Thanks for sharing it with others.
Too many cheesy screenplays. Just a few i like. No 1 Eternal Sunshine certainly ranks high.
Eternal Sunshine’s a fantastic movie, and screenplay.
My favorite is planes, trains and automobiles by John Hughes! JH is the best!
Yes, that’s a classic 🙂
Thanks for the scripts.
Thanks Jay.
Thank you for sharing these.
A big thank you. I’m grateful beyond words can ever tell. I truly believe these scripts are going to make me a good writer. Thanks a lot.
You’re welcome Cynthia!
Hello! thank you very much for the scripts, I’m from Brazil and I really enjoy reading in English to learn the language (mainly reading script’s from my favorite movies) I’ve been looking for script of My Own Private Idaho.. if You guys got it please let me know !! With love Anne !
This was the best version we could find.
Do you have a copy of The Hunger Games?
Thanx,
Ronnie
Here’s an early 2012 draft.
Wonderful. THANK YOU SRP!!!
Love this website! You guys ROCK!
Thanks so much Lukas 🙂
Reading all these is going to take me some time but thank you so much for this. It’s definitly something I wasn’t doing enough of.
Glad we could help.
Get on it!
Firstly it’s Jerry McGuire not Jerry Maguire. Secondly I’ve read most of these anyway.
Pretty sure it’s “Maguire” 🙂
Cool.
Great scripts – thank you!!
You’re welcome, Dan.
You’re welcome Dan.
Τhat is such a great post. Keep it up guys, love this site.
Thanks Jack!
Thanks Jack.
Nice screen play here keeping me busy I love it
What a great resource! Thank you!
The only reason I mention this is because you’ve asked. Do you know where I can get scripts for the 1950 Cyrano de Bergerac and Steve Martin’s Roxanne?
Thanks Don. You can buy the Roxanne script on Amazon, not sure where you can get 1950 version though.
Thanks Don. Sorry couldn’t find these.
American Beauty
You’ll find the script to American Beauty if you follow the bonus link at the end.
Hi. Do you have Paris, Texas available for download at all?
No couldn’t find it.
You guys rock, thank you so much!
Thanks a lot Johnathan!
I’d add Tarantino’s Inglorious Basterds.. That’s a great one!
Sure is!
You really shouldn’t refer to the Wachowskis with their dead names any longer, as they’ve been famously out of the closet as trans for quite some time now.
The Rover
Yes that’s a good one.
Thank you so much! That’s a lot of reading material and hopefully, I’ll become a better writer because of it!
No problem, Jessie!
You’re welcome Jessie.
Hello. fantastic job. I did nnot anticipate this. This is a
impressive list. Thanks!
Thanks Emmett.
Many Thanks guys, saved all on my iBooks, currently working on my second feature, all these references really help.
You’re welcome, Tharun 🙂
Great – good luck with the draft!
Thank you so much! Whats a beautiful work you are doing. Thank you again
Thanks Florencia, really appreciate it.
It would be great if you could include these films:
Apocalypse Now, Barry Lyndon, Blade Runner, and specially The Fight Club.
Thanks!
No Wes Anderson on this list???
Amazing! Next time please include mike Leigh and David fincher films.
I have to say thank you so much
I don’t have time to download all atm, I hope you keep this page up for awhile.
Thanks Rico!
Thank you so much for sharing. I am new to screenwriting and I will now be able to study screenplays. Thank you again
No problem Julie-Anne, hope you find them useful.
Fantastic, great work guys. thanks so much for taking the time to put this together.
You’re welcome, Cal.
Thank you for sharing. I would have liked to see a few Fincher screenplays. Also more science fiction like Predestination, Arrival….
David Fincher doesn’t written a screenplays, so…?
The list is impressive, but I would have liked to see Three Days of the Condor among that group of laudable scripts.
This is a fabulous haul of screenplays – thanks so much! I especially appreciate being able to download them so I can read them even when not connected to the internet. If you can give us some of the iconic Rom-Coms I would really appreciate that. Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, You’ve Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle. And some of the British films would also be appreciated – Pride, The Full Monty, Calendar Girls, Trainspotting, A Fish Called Wanda, Love Actually. Thanks!
Read every one and i enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this cuz i like reading them. My favourite script id love to read is Ted. Keep it up.
Yes that’s a great one 🙂
You guys have done an amazing job by sharing this with us
May God bless you.
You’re welcome, Vivek.
Hi, neat post – looks like I’ve got some reading to do 🙂
Cheers, Izzy!