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DILLON ON FILM
My Ten Favourite Best Original Screenplay Oscar Winners
Despite my many frustrations with the Academy, they sometimes reward the right screenwriters
Warning: Contains spoilers for the various films discussed.
Sinners (2025) by Ryan Coogler is up for Best Original Screenplay at this year’s Oscars. Will it win? I desperately hope so, as I think it is the most intriguing and ambitious of the nominated films. What’s more, even though I have my doubts about a win on the big night, I think it stands a better chance with this award than for Best Picture.
In the past, I’ve written about the Oscars seldom getting it right when it comes to Best Picture. In their nearly 100-year history, I agree with fewer than one-third of the Best Picture winner choices. However, with the Best Original Screenplay award, the Academy has a slightly better track record. I still take great issue with them on occasion. Well, on many occasions. But fewer with Best Original Screenplay winners than with Best Picture.
Yes, there have been some howlers in this category over the years, especially when it comes to ignoring speculative genres like fantasy, science fiction, and horror. How, for instance, did James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, and William Wisher’s…
