Screenwriting Blog
Posted on by Courtney Meznarich

How to Find Screenplays Online

Are you looking for screenplays online? You’ve come to the right place. We’ve got a list of the websites where you can search and download scripts for your reading and learning pleasure.

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We’ve asked a lot of pro screenwriters what advice they would give to up-and-coming creatives, and they almost unanimously say, “read screenplays.” Bryan Young, a screenwriter, podcaster, and author who writes for StarWars.com, SyFy.com, and HowStuffWorks.com, had the same quip. The best way to learn about screenwriting, he said, is to read, read, and read some more. But, he took his screenwriting advice a step further.

Ready for a mini-film school education? Your homework assignment lies ahead!

“[There’s] a website called Drew’s Script-O-Rama, and Drew’s Script-O-Rama is just this archive of film scripts. It’s the original, sort of, shooting drafts and various drafts of movies you’ve all seen,” Young began. “One of my favorites to read, actually, is Alex Proyas’ “Dark City.” If you go to Drew’s Script-O-Rama, you can read four or five different versions of that. When you read four or five different versions, and then you watch the movie, and then you watch the movie again with Roger Ebert’s commentary, it’s like you’ve gone to film school. It’s really amazing.”

Ready to learn? Your screenwriting assignment, if you choose to accept it:

  1. Head to Drew’s Script-O-Rama

  2. Read Alex Proyas’ screenplay for “Dark City,” dated November 29, 1992

  3. Read Alex Proyas’ rewritten screenplay for “Dark City,” dated May 9, 1994

  4. Note the changes

  5. Watch the film (Vudu, Fandango, Google Play, Amazon Prime, and more rent it to stream starting at $2.99)

  6. Read Roger Ebert’s review of “Dark City,” then watch Ebert’s “Dark City” film commentary

Did you complete the assignment? Tell us what you learned below!

If “Dark City” isn’t exactly your speed, fear not. There are several places online where you can find scripts by searching alphabetically, by movie or television show categories, or by genre. If you’re researching screenplays before writing your own, I’d suggest searching by genre to see what makes a rom-com, or a thriller, or a drama really tick. Looking to stretch yourself? Try a new genre on for size.

Where to Find Screenplays Online

A word of advice: Sometimes, the links to these screenplays die, so if you find a screenplay that you know you want to study, download the PDF file so you can refer to it later.

Now you’ve got a lifetime of reading material and the homework assignments to go along with the scripts if you want the challenge!

Time to get to page-turning,

Courtney Meznarich, Director of Community Outreach
Courtney Meznarich Director of Community Outreach
@courtonthecoast

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