Everyone loves a good funny movie, and the Writers Guild of America knows that having a definitive list is important. That’s why they awarded the rankings to a hundred screenplays after a panel discussion and clips presentation at the Archlight Cinerama Dome in Hollywood on Wednesday night. The event was hosted by Rob Reiner who joked that it was apropos for the “This is Spinal Tap” script to be named number 11 in the rankings what with the amplifier joke fans of the film will remember well.
The top screenplays on the list won’t surprise many fans of film though their order may. Included in the top ten are “Annie Hall,” “Some Like It Hot,” “Groundhog Day,” “Airplane!“, “Tootsie,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” “Blazing Saddles,” “Monty Python and the Holy Grail,” and “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” Have you watched all of these movies? They were all made, and they are all classic in the eyes of most film enthusiasts for one reason or another. I’m pretty proud of myself as a film goer that I have actually seen more than my fair share of this entire list.
Some of you will be interested to learn that there are a number of fairly recent screenplays on the list though the majority were written more than a decade ago. “Bridesmaids,” “The Hangover,” and “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” were all listed in the Top 30, and “Best in Show,” “Little Miss Sunshine,” and “Election” all made the list.
Woody Allen‘s “Annie Hall” was named to the number one spot as I noted above, and his other scripts “Sleeper,†“Bananas,†“Take the Money and Run,†“Broadway Danny Rose,†Love and Death,†and “Manhattan” all were listed in the Top 100.
Now, in case you are in the market for an epic watch list for the coming winter (a whole new take on Netflix & Chill, y’all), here are all the winners from one to 100.
1. “Annie Hallâ€
Written by Woody Allen and Marshall Brickman
1977, UA
2. “Some Like It Hotâ€
Screenplay by Billy Wilder & I.A. L. Diamond, Based on the German film “Fanfare of Love†by Robert Thoeren and M. Logan
1959, UA
3. “Groundhog Dayâ€
Screenplay by Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis, Story by Danny Rubin
1993, Columbia
4. “Airplane!â€
Written by James Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker
1980, Paramount
5. “Tootsieâ€
Screenplay by Larry Gelbart and Murray Schisgal, Story by Don McGuire and Larry Gelbart
1982, Columbia
6. “Young Frankensteinâ€
Screenplay by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, Screen Story by Gene Wilder and Mel Brooks, Based on Characters in the Novel Frankenstein by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley
1974, 20th Century Fox
7. “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bombâ€
Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick and Peter George and Terry Southern
1964, Columbia
8. “Blazing Saddlesâ€
Screenplay by Mel Brooks, Norman Steinberg, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Alan Uger, Story by Andrew Bergman
1974, Warner Bros.
9. “Monty Python and the Holy Grailâ€
Written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
1975, Cinema 5
10. “National Lampoon’s Animal Houseâ€
Written by Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenney & Chris Miller
1978, Universal
11. “This Is Spinal Tapâ€
Written by Christopher Guest & Michael McKean & Rob Reiner & Harry Shearer
1984, Embassy
12. “The Producersâ€
Written by Mel Brooks
1967, AVCO Embassy
13. “The Big Lebowskiâ€
Written by Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
1998, Gramercy
14. “Ghostbustersâ€
Written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis
1984, Columbia
15. “When Harry Met Sally…â€
Written by Nora Ephron
1989, Columbia
16. “Bridesmaidsâ€
Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig
2011, Universal
17. “Duck Soupâ€
Story by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, Additional Dialogue by Arthur Sheekman and Nat Perrin
1933, Paramount
18. “There’s Something About Maryâ€
Screenplay by John J. Strauss & Ed Decter and Peter Farrelly & Bobby Farrelly, Story by Ed Decter & John J. Strauss
1998, 20th Century Fox
19. “The Jerkâ€
Screenplay by Steve Martin, Carl Gottlieb, Michael Elias, Story by Steve Martin & Carl Gottlieb
1979, Universal
20. “A Fish Called Wandaâ€
Screenplay by John Cleese, Story by John Cleese & Charles Crichton
1988, MGM
21. “His Girl Fridayâ€
Screenplay by Charles Lederer, Based on the Play “The Front Page†by Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur
1940, Columbia
22. “The Princess Brideâ€
Screenplay by William Goldman, Based on Goldman’s Novel of the Same Name
1987, 20th Century Fox
23. “Raising Arizonaâ€
Written by Ethan Coen and Joel Coen
1987, 20th Century Fox
24. “Bringing Up Babyâ€
Screenplay by Hagar Wilde and Dudley Nichols, Story by Hagar Wilde
1938, RKO
25. “Caddyshackâ€
Written by Brian Doyle-Murray & Harold Ramis & Douglas Kenney
1980, Orion
26. “Monty Python’s Life Of Brianâ€
Written by Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin
1979, Orion
27. “The Graduateâ€
Screenplay by Calder Willingham and Buck Henry, Based on the Novel by Charles Webb
1967, Embassy
28. “The Apartmentâ€
Written by Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond
1960, UA
29. “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstanâ€
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
2006, 20th Century Fox
30. “The Hangoverâ€
Written by Jon Lucas & Scott Moore
2009, Warner Bros.
31. “The 40-Year-Old Virginâ€
Written by Judd Apatow & Steve Carell
2005, Universal
32. “The Lady Eveâ€
Screenplay by Preston Sturges, Story by Monckton Hoffe
1941, Paramount
33. *Tie*
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Offâ€
Written by John Hughes
1986, Paramount
and
“Trading Placesâ€
Written by Timothy Harris & Herschel Weingrod
1983, Paramount
35. “Sullivan’s Travelsâ€
Written by Preston Sturges
1941, Paramount
36. “Planes, Trains and Automobilesâ€
Written by John Hughes
1987, Paramount
37. “The Philadelphia Storyâ€
Screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart, Based on the Play by Philip Barry
1940, MGM
38. “A Night at the Operaâ€
Screen Play by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, From a Story by James Kevin McGuinness
1935, MGM
39. “Rushmoreâ€
Written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson
1998, Touchstone/BV
40. “Waiting for Guffmanâ€
Written by Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
1996, Sony Pics Classics
41. “The Odd Coupleâ€
Screenplay by Neil Simon, From the Play by Neil Simon as Produced on the Stage by Saint-Subber
1968, Paramount
42. “The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!â€
Written by Jerry Zucker & Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Pat Proft, Based on the Television Series Police Squad! Created by Jim Abrahams & David Zucker & Jerry Zucker
1988, Paramount
43. “Office Spaceâ€
Written for the Screen by Mike Judge, Based on the “Milton†Animated Shorts by Mike Judge
1999, 20th Century Fox
44. “Bigâ€
Written by Anne Spielberg & Gary Ross
1988, 20th Century Fox
45. “National Lampoon’s Vacationâ€
Screenplay by John Hughes
1983, Warner Bros.
46. “Midnight Runâ€
Written by George Gallo
1988, Universal
47. “It Happened One Nightâ€
Screenplay by Robert Riskin, Based on the Short Story by Samuel Hopkins Adams
1934, Columbia
48. “M*A*S*Hâ€
Screenplay by Ring Lardner, Jr., From the Novel by Richard Hooker
1970, 20th Century Fox
49. “Harold and Maudeâ€
Written by Colin Higgins
1971, Paramount
50. “Shaun of the Deadâ€
Written by Simon Pegg & Edgar Wright
2004, Focus (Universal)
51. “Broadcast Newsâ€
Written by James L. Brooks
1987, 20th Century Fox
52. “Arthurâ€
Written by Steven Gordon
1981, Orion
53. “Four Weddings and a Funeralâ€
Written by Richard Curtis
1994, Gramercy
54. *Tie*
“Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundyâ€
Written by Will Ferrell & Adam McKay
2004, Dreamworks
and
“Dumb and Dumberâ€
Written by Peter Farrelly & Bennett Yellin & Bob Farrelly
1994, New Line
56. “Austin Powers: International Man of Mysteryâ€
Written by Mike Myers
1997, New Line
57. “The Generalâ€
Written by Buster Keaton and Clyde Bruckman, Adapted by Al Boasberg and Charles Smith
1926, United Artists
58. “What’s Up, Doc?â€
Screenplay by Buck Henry and David Newman & Robert Benton, Story by Peter Bogdanovich
1972, Warner Bros.
59. “Wedding Crashersâ€
Written by Steve Faber & Bob Fisher
2005, New Line
60. “Sleeperâ€
Written by Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman
1973, United Artists
61. “Galaxy Questâ€
Screenplay by David Howard and Robert Gordon, Story by David Howard
1999, Dreamworks
62. “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Worldâ€
Screenplay by William and Tania Rose, Story by William and Tania Rose
1963, United Artists
63. “Best in Showâ€
Written by Christopher Guest & Eugene Levy
2000, Warner Bros.
64. “Little Miss Sunshineâ€
Written by Michael D. Arndt
2006, Fox Searchlight
65. “South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncutâ€
Written by Trey Parker & Matt Stone & Pam Brady
1999, Paramount
66. “Being Thereâ€
Screenplay by Jerzy Kosinski, Inspired by the Novel by Jerzy Kosinski
1979, United Artists
67. “Back to the Futureâ€
Written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale
1985, Universal
68. “Superbadâ€
Written by Seth Rogen & Evan Goldberg
2007, Columbia
69. “Bananasâ€
Written by Woody Allen, Mickey Rose
1971, United Artists
70. “Moonstruckâ€
Written by John Patrick Shanley
1987, MGM
71. “Cluelessâ€
Written by Amy Heckerling
1995, Paramount
72. “The Palm Beach Storyâ€
Written by Preston Sturges
1942, Paramount
73. “The Pink Pantherâ€
Written by Maurice Richlin & Blake Edwards
1963, United Artists
74. “The Blues Brothersâ€
Written by Dan Aykroyd and John Landis
1980, Universal
75. “Coming to Americaâ€
Screenplay by David Sheffield & Barry W. Blaustein, Story by Eddie Murphy
1988, Paramount
76. “Take the Money and Runâ€
Screenplay by Woody Allen and Mickey Rose, Story by Jackson Beck
1969, Cinerama
77. “Electionâ€
Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Based on the Novel by Tom Perrotta
1999, Paramount
78. “Love and Deathâ€
Written by Woody Allen
1975, United Artists
79. *Tie*
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrelsâ€
Written by Dale Launer and Stanley Shapiro & Paul Henning
1988, Orion
and
“Lost in Americaâ€
Written by Albert Brooks & Monica Johnson
1985, Warner Bros.
81. “Manhattanâ€
Written by Woody Allen & Marshall Brickman
1979, United Artists
82. “Modern Timesâ€
Written by Charles Chaplin
1936, United Artists
83. “My Cousin Vinnyâ€
Written by Dale Launer
1992, 20th Century Fox
84. “Mean Girlsâ€
Screenplay by Tina Fey, Based on the Book Queen Bees and Wannabes by Rosalind Wiseman
2004, Paramount
85. “Meet the Parentsâ€
Screenplay by Jim Herzfeld and John Hamburg, Story by Greg Glienna & Mary Ruth Clarke
2000, Universal
86. “Fargoâ€
Written by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
1996, Gramercy
87. “My Favorite Yearâ€
Screenplay by Dennis Palumbo and Norman Steinberg, Story by Dennis Palumbo
1982, MGM
88. “Stripesâ€
Written by Len Blum & Dan Goldberg and Harold Ramis
1981, Columbia
89. “Beverly Hills Copâ€
Screenplay by Daniel Petrie, Jr., Story by Danilo Bach and Daniel Petrie, Jr.
1984, Paramount
90. “City Lightsâ€
Written by Charles Chaplin
1931, United Artists
91. “Sidewaysâ€
Screenplay by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor, Based on the Novel by Rex Pickett
2004, Fox Searchlight
92. “Broadway Danny Roseâ€
Written by Woody Allen
1984, Orion
93. “Swingersâ€
Written by Jon Favreau
1996, Miramax
94. “The Gold Rushâ€
Written by Charles Chaplin
1925, United Artists
95. “The Miracle Of Morgan’s Creekâ€
Written by Preston Sturges
1944, Paramount
96. “All About Eveâ€
Screenplay by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Based on the Short Story and Radio Program “The Wisdom of Eve†by Mary Orr
1950, 20th Century Fox
97. “Arsenic and Old Laceâ€
Screenplay by Julius Epstein & Philip G. Epstein, Based on the Play by Joseph Kesselring
1944, Warner Bros.
98. “The Royal Tenenbaumsâ€
Written by Wes Anderson & Owen Wilson
2001, Touchstone/BV
99. “Mrs. Doubtfireâ€
Screenplay by Randi Mayem Singer and Leslie Dixon, Based on Alias Madame Doubtfire by Anne Fine
1993, 20th Century Fox
100. “Flirting with Disasterâ€
Written by David O. Russell
1996, Miramax
101. “Shakespeare in Loveâ€
Written by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard
1998, Miramax
HT Variety
Image Apatow Productions, Relativity Media