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Saturn Award for Best Writing

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Saturn Award for Best Writing
Awarded forBest writing of the year for a genre film
CountryUnited States
Presented byAcademy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films
First awarded1973
Currently held byJames Cameron, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver for Avatar: The Way of Water (2022/2023)
Websitewww.saturnawards.org

The Saturn Awards for Best Writing is a Saturn Award presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.

Unlike most awards rewarding writing in films, it recognizes only the writer(s) of the screenplay, and not those of the story.

Winners and nominees

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1970s

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Year Writer(s) Motion Picture
1973
(2nd)
William Peter Blatty The Exorcist
1974/1975
(3rd)
Harlan Ellison (for his career)
Ib Melchior (for his career)
1976
(4th)
Jimmy Sangster (for his career)
1977
(5th)
George Lucas Star Wars
Larry Gelbart Oh, God!
Laird Koenig The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane
Steven Spielberg Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Michael Winner and Jeffrey Konvitz The Sentinel
1978
(6th)
Elaine May and Warren Beatty Heaven Can Wait
Heywood Gould The Boys from Brazil
Cliff Green Picnic at Hanging Rock
Rosemary Ritvo and Alfred Sole Alice, Sweet Alice (Communion)
Anthony Shaffer The Wicker Man
1979
(7th)
Nicholas Meyer Time After Time
Jerry Juhl and Jack Burns The Muppet Movie
Robert Kaufman Love at First Bite
Dan O'Bannon Alien
Jeb Rosebrook and Gerry Day The Black Hole

1980s

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Year Writer(s) Motion Picture
1980
(8th)
William Peter Blatty The Ninth Configuration
Sidney Aaron Altered States
Leigh Brackett (posthumous nomination) and Lawrence Kasdan The Empire Strikes Back
Lewis John Carlino Resurrection
John Sayles Alligator
1981
(9th)
Lawrence Kasdan Raiders of the Lost Ark
David Eyre and Michael Wadleigh Wolfen
Peter Hyams Outland
John Landis An American Werewolf in London
Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam Time Bandits
1982
(10th)
Melissa Mathison E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Jay Presson Allen Deathtrap
Terry Hayes, George Miller and Brian Hannant Mad Max 2
Tom Karnowski, John Stuckmeyer and Albert Pyun The Sword and the Sorcerer
Jack B. Sowards Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
1983
(11th)
Ray Bradbury Something Wicked This Way Comes
Jeffrey Boam The Dead Zone
William Condon and Michael Laughlin Strange Invaders
Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas Return of the Jedi
Lawrence Lasker, Walter F. Parkes WarGames
1984
(12th)
James Cameron and Gale Anne Hurd The Terminator
Chris Columbus Gremlins
Alex Cox Repo Man
Willard Huyck and Gloria Katz Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Earl Mac Rauch The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension
1985
(13th)
Tom Holland Fright Night
Woody Allen The Purple Rose of Cairo
Tom Benedek Cocoon
Chris Columbus Young Sherlock Holmes
Terry Hayes and George Miller Mad Max 3: Beyond Thunderdome
1986
(14th)
James Cameron Aliens
Howard Ashman Little Shop of Horrors
Nick Castle The Boy Who Could Fly
Paul Hogan, Ken Shadie and John Cornell "Crocodile" Dundee
Steve Meerson, Peter Krikes, Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
1987
(15th)
Edward Neumeier, Michael Miner RoboCop
Michael Cristofer The Witches of Eastwick
James Dearden Fatal Attraction
William Goldman The Princess Bride
Bob Hunt The Hidden
Alan Parker Angel Heart
1988
(16th)
Gary Ross and Anne Spielberg Big
David Cronenberg and Norman Snider Dead Ringers
Don Mancini, John Lafia and Tom Holland Child's Play
Michael McDowell and Warren Skaaren Beetlejuice
Alan B. McElroy Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers
Jeffrey Price and Peter S. Seaman Who Framed Roger Rabbit
1989/90
(17th)
William Peter Blatty The Exorcist III
Jerry Belson Always
Jeffrey Boam Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
James Cameron The Abyss
Don Jakoby and Wesley Strick Arachnophobia
Phil Alden Robinson Field of Dreams
Bruce Joel Rubin Ghost
Ronald Shusett, Dan O'Bannon and Gary Goldman Total Recall

1990s

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Year Writer(s) Motion Picture
1991
(18th)
Ted Tally The Silence of the Lambs
Albert Brooks Defending Your Life
James Cameron and William Wisher Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Charles Gale Guilty as Charged
William Goldman Misery
Richard LaGravenese The Fisher King
1992
(19th)
James V. Hart Bram Stoker's Dracula
Martin Donovan and David Koepp Death Becomes Her
Joe Eszterhas Basic Instinct
David Giler, Walter Hill and Larry Ferguson Alien 3
David Lynch and Robert Engels Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me
Nicholas Meyer and Denny Martin Flinn Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country
Bernard Rose Candyman
1993
(20th)
Michael Crichton and David Koepp Jurassic Park
Shane Black and David Arnott Last Action Hero
Brent Maddock, S. S. Wilson, Gregory Hansen and Erik Hansen Heart and Souls
Tim Metcalfe Kalifornia
Danny Rubin and Harold Ramis Groundhog Day
Quentin Tarantino True Romance
Tracy Tormé Fire in the Sky
1994
(21st)
Jim Harrison and Wesley Strick Wolf
Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski Ed Wood
Frank Darabont The Shawshank Redemption
Steph Lady and Frank Darabont Frankenstein
Eric Roth Forrest Gump
Mark Verheiden Timecop
1995
(22nd)
Andrew Kevin Walker Se7en
James Cameron and Jay Cocks Strange Days
George Miller and Chris Noonan Babe
David Peoples and Janet Peoples 12 Monkeys
Quentin Tarantino From Dusk till Dawn
Joss Whedon, Andrew Stanton, Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow Toy Story
1996
(23rd)
Kevin Williamson Scream
Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich Independence Day
Jonathan Gems Mars Attacks!
The Wachowskis Bound
Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson The Frighteners
Brannon Braga and Ronald D. Moore Star Trek: First Contact
1997
(24th)
Mike Werb and Michael Colleary Face/Off
James V. Hart and Michael Goldenberg Contact
Jonathan Lemkin and Tony Gilroy The Devil's Advocate
Edward Neumeier Starship Troopers
Matthew Robbins and Guillermo del Toro Mimic
Ed Solomon Men in Black
1998
(25th)
Andrew Niccol The Truman Show
Brandon Boyce Apt Pupil
Don Mancini Bride of Chucky
Alex Proyas, Lem Dobbs and David S. Goyer Dark City
Gary Ross Pleasantville
Joseph Stefano Psycho
1999
(26th)
Charlie Kaufman Being John Malkovich
Ehren Kruger Arlington Road
M. Night Shyamalan The Sixth Sense
Stephen Sommers The Mummy
The Wachowskis The Matrix
Andrew Kevin Walker Sleepy Hollow

2000s

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Year Writer(s) Motion Picture
2000
(27th)
David Hayter X-Men
Toby Emmerich Frequency
David Franzoni, John Logan and William Nicholson Gladiator
Karey Kirkpatrick Chicken Run
Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson The Gift
Wang Hui-ling, James Schamus, Tsai Kuo Jung Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
2001
(28th)
Steven Spielberg A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Alejandro Amenábar The Others
Stéphane Cabel and Christophe Gans Brotherhood of the Wolf
Ted Elliott, Terry Rossio, Joe Stillman and Roger S. H. Schulman Shrek
Andrew Stanton and Dan Gerson Monsters, Inc.
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
2002
(29th)
Scott Frank and Jon Cohen Minority Report
Brent Hanley Frailty
Hayao Miyazaki
Cindy Davis Hewitt and Donald H. Hewitt
Spirited Away
Mark Romanek One Hour Photo
Hillary Seitz Insomnia
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Stephen Sinclair and Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
2003
(30th)
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Michael Dougherty, Dan Harris and David Hayter X2
Alex Garland 28 Days Later
Heather Hach and Leslie Dixon Freaky Friday
Andrew Stanton, Bob Peterson and David Reynolds Finding Nemo
Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill: Volume 1
2004
(31st)
Alvin Sargent Spider-Man 2
Stuart Beattie Collateral
Charlie Kaufman Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Steve Kloves Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
Brad Bird The Incredibles
Quentin Tarantino Kill Bill: Volume 2
2005
(32nd)
Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer Batman Begins
Steve Kloves Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
David Koepp War of the Worlds
George Lucas Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
Ann Peacock, Andrew Adamson, Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson King Kong
2006
(33rd)
Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris Superman Returns
Andrew Birkin, Bernd Eichinger and Tom Tykwer Perfume: The Story of a Murderer
Guillermo del Toro Pan's Labyrinth
Zach Helm Stranger than Fiction
Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and Paul Haggis Casino Royale
The Wachowskis V for Vendetta
2007
(34th)
Brad Bird Ratatouille
Joel and Ethan Coen No Country for Old Men
Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary Beowulf
Michael Goldenberg Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
John Logan Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Zack Snyder, Kurt Johnstad and Michael B. Gordon 300
2008
(35th)
Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan The Dark Knight
Mark Fergus, Hawk Ostby, Art Marcum and Matt Holloway Iron Man
David Koepp, John Kamps Ghost Town
John Ajvide Lindqvist Let the Right One In
Eric Roth The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
J. Michael Straczynski Changeling
2009
(36th)
James Cameron Avatar
Neill Blomkamp and Terri Tatchell District 9
David Hayter and Alex Tse Watchmen
Spike Jonze and Dave Eggers Where the Wild Things Are
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman Star Trek
Quentin Tarantino Inglourious Basterds

2010s

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Year Writer(s) Motion Picture
2010
(37th)
Christopher Nolan Inception
Michael Arndt Toy Story 3
Alex Garland Never Let Me Go
Mark Heyman, Andres Heinz and John J. McLaughlin Black Swan
Peter Morgan Hereafter
Matt Reeves Let Me In
2011
(38th)
Jeff Nichols Take Shelter
J. J. Abrams Super 8
Woody Allen Midnight in Paris
Mike Cahill, Brit Marling Another Earth
Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver Rise of the Planet of the Apes
John Logan Hugo
2012
(39th)
Quentin Tarantino Django Unchained
Tracy Letts Killer Joe
David Magee Life of Pi
Martin McDonagh Seven Psychopaths
Joss Whedon The Avengers
Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard The Cabin in the Woods
2013
(40th)
Spike Jonze Her
Joel and Ethan Coen Inside Llewyn Davis
Alfonso Cuarón and Jonás Cuarón Gravity
Jennifer Lee Frozen
Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright The World's End
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2014
(41st)
Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan Interstellar
Wes Anderson The Grand Budapest Hotel
Damien Chazelle Whiplash
James Gunn and Nicole Perlman Guardians of the Galaxy
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth and John-Henry Butterworth Edge of Tomorrow
Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
2015
(42nd)
Lawrence Kasdan, J. J. Abrams and Michael Arndt Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Guillermo del Toro and Matthew Robbins Crimson Peak
Alex Garland Ex Machina
Drew Goddard The Martian
Jane Goldman and Matthew Vaughn Kingsman: The Secret Service
Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver, Colin Trevorrow and Derek Connolly Jurassic World
George Miller, Brendan McCarthy and Nico Lathouris Mad Max: Fury Road
2016
(43rd)
Eric Heisserer Arrival
Melissa Mathison (posthumously) The BFG
Rhett Reese & Paul Wernick Deadpool
Jon Spaihts, Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill Doctor Strange
Taylor Sheridan Hell or High Water
Chris Weitz and Tony Gilroy Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
2017
(44th)
Rian Johnson Star Wars: The Last Jedi
Ryan Coogler and Joe Robert Cole Black Panther
Guillermo del Toro and Vanessa Taylor The Shape of Water
Hampton Fancher and Michael Green Blade Runner 2049
Scott Frank, James Mangold and Michael Green Logan
Allan Heinberg Wonder Woman
Jordan Peele Get Out
2018/2019
(45th)
Bryan Woods, Scott Beck and John Krasinski A Quiet Place
Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely Avengers: Endgame
Drew Goddard Bad Times at the El Royale
Oh Jung-mi and Lee Chang-dong Burning
Christopher McQuarrie Mission: Impossible – Fallout
Jordan Peele Us
S. Craig Zahler Dragged Across Concrete
2019/2020
(46th)
Quentin Tarantino Once Upon a Time in Hollywood
J. J. Abrams and Chris Terrio Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker
Mike Flanagan Doctor Sleep
Lauren Hynek, Rick Jaffa, Elizabeth Martin, and Amanda Silver Mulan
Bong Joon-ho and Han Jin-won Parasite
Christopher Nolan Tenet
Todd Phillips and Scott Silver Joker

2020s

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Year Writer(s) Film
2021/2022
(50th)
Guillermo del Toro and Kim Morgan Nightmare Alley
Scott Derrickson and C. Robert Cargill The Black Phone
Daniel Kwan and Daniel Schienert Everything Everywhere All at Once
Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers Spider-Man: No Way Home
Jordan Peele Nope
Matt Reeves and Peter Craig The Batman
James Vanderbilt and Guy Busick Scream
2022/2023
(51st)
James Cameron, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver Avatar: The Way of Water
Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig Barbie
Seth Reiss and Will Tracy The Menu
Erik Jendresen and Christopher McQuarrie Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One
Christopher Nolan Oppenheimer
Mia Goth and Ti West Pearl

Multiple nominations

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7 nominations
  • Guillermo del Toro
  • Peter Jackson
  • Quentin Tarantino
  • Fran Walsh
  • James Cameron
6 nominations
  • Philippa Boyens
  • Christopher Nolan
4 nominations
  • Lawrence Kasdan
  • David Koepp
  • George Miller
  • Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
3 nominations
  • J. J. Abrams
  • William Peter Blatty
  • Alex Garland
  • Drew Goddard
  • David Hayter
  • John Logan
  • George Lucas
  • Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
  • Nicholas Meyer
  • Jordan Peele
  • Andrew Stanton
  • The Wachowskis
  • Christopher McQuarrie
2 nominations
  • Woody Allen
  • Michael Arndt
  • Brad Bird
  • Jeffrey Boam
  • C. Robert Cargill
  • Joel and Ethan Coen
  • Chris Columbus
  • Frank Darabont
  • Scott Derrickson
  • Michael Dougherty
  • Scott Frank
  • Tony Gilroy
  • Michael Goldenberg
  • William Goldman
  • David S. Goyer
  • Michael Green
  • Dan Harris
  • James V. Hart
  • Terry Hayes
  • Tom Holland
  • Spike Jonze
  • Charlie Kaufman
  • Steve Kloves
  • Don Mancini
  • Melissa Mathison
  • Edward Neumeier
  • Jonathan Nolan
  • Dan O'Bannon
  • Matt Reeves
  • Matthew Robbins
  • Gary Ross
  • Eric Roth
  • Steven Spielberg
  • Wesley Strick
  • Andrew Kevin Walker
  • Joss Whedon

Multiple wins

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4 wins
  • James Cameron
  • Christopher Nolan
3 wins
  • William Peter Blatty
2 wins
  • Lawrence Kasdan
  • Jonathan Nolan
  • Quentin Tarantino
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