The Black List is an industry insider phenomenon. Each year, production companies are sent thousands of scripts to consider for production. Some of these are selected; years later, we see those films on the big screen. But for the majority of these scripts, they won’t be made. With such a competitive market, it’s no wonder that scripts are rejected. However, some of these scripts will stick with those who read them. Hence, The Black List was created.

In 2005, the first edition of the yearly list was created. Each December, a new one is released. These lists are a compilation of script names, summaries, and the number of votes each got. These votes all come from executives working within the industry. The Black List is all the scripts that are most liked but unproduced – and eventually, through the efforts of this list, some of those films have been made.

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Not only made, but some have gone on to become Oscar-winning films.

The Best of The Black List So Far

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If you visit The Black List’s website and scroll through their previous lists, it won’t take long to find a title you recognize. Many films that made the list have been produced, and the list is known to help with this. Of these lists, over a decade of them so far, there have been hundreds of scripts mentioned. Let’s take a look at some of those scripts that went on to find success!

Juno made the very first Black List in 2005 with 24 votes. The film was later distributed by Fox, achieving much success and winning an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. All that after the script was passed on. Another success story, ARGO, was included on the list in 2010 with 28 votes. It was quickly picked up, and in 2013 it took home the Oscars for Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Film Editing.

The King’s Speech is another fantastic film that, at one point in time, made The Black List. It can be hard to believe that these incredible scripts were ever passed on. After receiving seven votes in 2009, The King’s Speech went on to win the 2011 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Actor, and Best Director.

Many other films have been produced after their scripts were on The Black List. Some had title changes and are harder to find, but each year at least one title is easy to pick out as a success story. Don’t Worry Darling made the 2019 list with 19 votes (the second-highest count that year). Promising Young Woman made the 2018 list, as did Meet Cute, Queen & Slim, and The Half Of It. With 30 votes, Promising Young Woman received rave reviews after its 2020 release. Meet Cute recently came out in 2022, we loved Queen & Slim when it was released in 2019, and The Half Of It was so sweet.

Not all of the scripts produced after appearing on The Black List had positive reviews or the highest number of votes. Nor did the highest-voted scripts each year become films. But it’s undeniable that some notable films have come from the scripts that made it onto The Black List.

The Different Versions of The Black List, Explained

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The Black List has two versions – the original, industry-selected version and a screenwriting evaluation. While the industry list is generally respected, the paid service offered to budding writers is also a valuable tool.

Through this evaluation, writers can have their scripts listed on The Black List’s website if they meet certain criteria, which can significantly help a writer’s career.

The Black List is an excellent way for unrepresented writers and scripts to gain notoriety. Every two weeks, the site will select a “Featured Script” as well, boosting its visibility to professionals who monitor the website.

The most significant difference between these two lists is how they come to be. The Black List has no submissions – writers have no way of knowing whether or not they will be considered or voted for. That makes the original list so special; it’s a complete surprise to everyone involved. And if a script gets enough attention, all anonymously, it only goes to show how good it truly is.

With this year’s Black List set to release sometime in December, we’re excited to see which scripts will be mentioned and which ones will reach the big screen in the future.