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The Black List (survey)

The Black List is an annual survey of the "most-liked" motion picture screenplays not yet produced. It has been published every year since 2005 on the second Friday of December by Franklin Leonard, a development executive who has worked at Universal Pictures and Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment. The website states that these are not necessarily "the best" screenplays, but rather "the most liked", since it is based on a survey of studio and production company executives.

History
(pictured from L–R): Moderator Franklin Leonard, with Matt Lauria, James Lafferty, Jason George, Katherine Willis, Taylor Dearden, Nick Wechsler, Tyrel Jackson Williams, and Riley Scott. The first Black List was compiled in 2005 by Franklin Leonard, at the time working as a development executive for Leonardo DiCaprio's production company, Appian Way Productions. He emailed about 75 fellow development executives and asked them to name the ten best unproduced screenplays they read that year. To thank them for participating, he compiled the list and sent it to the respondents. The name The Black List was a nod to his heritage as an African American man, and also as a reference to the writers who were barred during the McCarthy era as part of the Hollywood blacklist. The screenplays to top The Black List, from 2005 to 2025 respectively, are: Things We Lost in the Fire; The Brigands of Rattleborge; Recount; The Beaver; The Muppet Man; College Republicans; The Imitation Game; Draft Day; Holland, Michigan; Catherine the Great; Bubbles; Blond Ambition; Ruin; Frat Boy Genius; Move On; Headhunter; Cauliflower; Pure; Bad Boy; One Night Only; and Best Seller. On January 27, 2019, at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, it was announced that the LGBT media advocacy group GLAAD had partnered with The Black List to create The GLAAD List, a new curated list of the most promising unmade LGBT-inclusive scripts in Hollywood. Structure The Black List tallies the number of "likes" various screenplays are given by development executives, and then ranks them accordingly. The most-liked screenplay is The Imitation Game, which topped the list in 2011 with 133 likes; it went on to win the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay at the 87th Academy Awards in 2015. ==Films on the Black List==
Films on the Black List
More than 450 screenplays have been put into production after appearing on The Black List. • Carnival Row (2019–2023) – then titled A Killing on Carnival Row; adapted to television • Chapter 27 (2007) • ''Charlie Wilson's War'' (2007) • Charlie Bartlett (2007) • Cougars, Inc. (2011) – then titled ''Mother's Little Helpers'' • Dan in Real Life (2007) • Dangerous Parking (2007) • Dark Around The Stars (2013) – then titled StarsDeath at a Funeral (2010) • Delirium (2018) – then titled HomeDexter (2006–2013) – adapted to television • Disturbia (2007) • The Dirt (2019) • Dream House (2011) • Eight Below (2006) – then titled Antarctica • ''Ender's Game'' (2013) – by D.B. WeissThe Expendables (2010) – then titled BarrowFactory Girl (2006) • Fanboys (2009) • The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006) • The Forger (2014) • Freedomland (2006) • Fur (2006) • The Game Plan (2007) – then titled ''Daddy's Little Girl'' • Get Low (2009) • The Good Lie (2014) – then titled Lost Boys of SudanA Good Old Fashioned Orgy (2011) • Hal Buckley (2001) • Hall Pass (2011) • Hancock (2008) – then titled Tonight, He ComesHarold (2008) • The Hawk Is Dying (2006) • Henry Poole Is Here (2008) – then titled StainThe Highwaymen (2019) • The Hoax (2006) • Honeymoon with Harry (TBA) – by Paul Haggis • Horrible Bosses (2011) • Hot Rod (2007) • The Hunting Party (2007) – then titled Spring Break in BosniaInfamous (2006) – then titled Every Word is TrueIn Secret (2013) – then titled Terese RaquinJuno (2007) • Killer Elite (2011) – by John Jarrell • King of California (2007) • The Kingdom (2007) • The Kite Runner (2007) • Lars and the Real Girl (2007) • The Ledge (2011) • Legendary (2010) – then titled ''Oxley's Road'' • Life After Beth (2014) – then titled Winged LifeThe Life Before Her Eyes (2007) – then titled In BloomLittle Children (2006) • Little Miss Sunshine (2006) • Love in the Time of Cholera (2007) • Lucky Number Slevin (2006) • The Maiden Heist (2009) – then titled Lonely Maiden • ''Mama's Boy'' (2007) • Margaret (2011) • Married Life (2007) – then titled MarriageMeet Bill (2007) – then titled BillMeet Dave (2008) – then titled Starship DaveMessage from the King (2016) • Michael Clayton (2007) • A Million Little Pieces (2019) – by James FreyThe Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) • My All American (2015) – by Jeff Roda • The Mysteries of Pittsburgh (2008) • Nacho Libre (2006) • Nebraska (2013) • ''Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist'' (2008) • Not Another Happy Ending (2013) – then titled Happy EndingsNotes on a Scandal (2006) • The Number 23 (2007) • One Percent More Humid (2017) • The Only Living Boy in New York (2017) • The Other Boleyn Girl (2008) • Pathfinder (2007) • Passengers (2008) • Peacock (2010) • Post Grad (2009) – then titled Ticket to RideThe Prestige (2006) • The Proposal (2009), by Jennifer Kirby • The Promotion (2008) — then titled QuebecThe Pursuit of Happyness (2006) • Pu-239 (2006) • Quid Pro Quo (2008) • The Queen (2006) • Reservation Road (2007) • Righteous Kill (2008) • The Sasquatch Gang (2006) – then titled The Sasquatch Dumpling GangStardust (2007) • The Starling (2021) • Stop-Loss (2008) • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006–2007) – then titled Studio 7Survivor (TBA) • The Ten (2007) • Tenure (2009) • Things We Lost in the Fire (2007) • ''The Time Traveler's Wife'' (2009) – by Jeremy LevenTuristas (2006) • Under the Skin (2013) – by Alexander StuartWanted (2008) • We Are Marshall (2006) • The Whistleblower (2010) • Wild Hogs (2007) • The Words (2012) • World Trade Center (2006) • X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009) • The Year of Getting to Know Us (2008) – then titled Eliot RockettYouth in Revolt (2009) • Zodiac (2007) 2006 Black List (42/87 screenplays produced) • 3:10 to Yuma (2007) – by Stuart Beattie • 500 Days of Summer (2009) • A Mighty Heart (2007) – by Michael Winterbottom & Laurence Coriat • All About Steve (2009) • Assassination of a High School President (2008) • Away We Go (2009) – then titled This Must Be the PlaceThe Brothers Bloom (2008) • The Bucket List (2007) • Changeling (2008) • Crash Pad (2017) – then titled Bim Bam BabyCurve (2015) • Dear Dictator (2018) – then titled ''Coup d'Etat'' • Death at a Funeral (2007) • ''The Devil's Double'' (2011) • The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby (2013) • The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) • Dracula Untold (2014) – then titled Dracula Year ZeroThe Fighter (2010) – by Lewis ColickFrost/Nixon (2008) • Get Smart (2008) • Get On Up (2014) – then titled SuperbadHanna (2011) • Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) • In Bruges (2008) • Life of Pi (2012) – by Jean-Pierre Jeunet & Guillaume Laurent • Lions for Lambs (2007) • The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009) • The Messenger (2009) • My All American (2015) – Jeff Roda • Natural Selection (2011) • The Other Woman (2009) – then titled Love and Other Impossible PursuitsOpen Grave (2013) • Rendition (2007) • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010) – then titled ''Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life'' • Seven Pounds (2008) • Seven Psychopaths (2012) • ''She's Out of My League'' (2010) • State of Play (2009) • Superbad (2007) • There Will Be Blood (2007) • Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007) • Year of the Dog (2007) 2007 Black List (57/128 screenplays produced; 56 completed, 1 in production) • The Answer Man (2009) – then titled The Dream of the RomansAdventureland (2009) • All Good Things (2010) • Bartali – then titled Lion Man of Tuscany, by Nathan Skulnik • Big Eyes (2014) • Blindness (2008) • Blitz (2008) • Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) – then titled Somebody to LoveThe Book of Eli (2010) • The Book of Love (2016) – then titled The Devil and the Deep Blue SeaBurn After Reading (2008) • Burnt (2015) – then titled Untitled Chef ProjectCharlie Countryman (2013) – then titled The Necessary Death of Charlie CountrymanClash of the Titans (2010) • Dear John (2010) • Demolition (2015) • Dirty Girl (2010) • Doubt (2008) • The Duchess (2008) • Duplicity (2009) • Eagle Eye (2008) • Genius (2016) • The Hangover (2009) • Happy. Thank You. More. Please. (2010) • Hitchcock (2012) – then titled Alfred Hitchcock and the Making of PsychoHow to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) • The Ides of March (2011) – then titled Farragut NorthThe Invention of Lying (2009) – then titled This Side of the TruthInvictus (2009) – then titled The Human FactorJack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014) – then titled Dubai • ''Jennifer's Body'' (2009) • Justice League (2017) • Last Chance Harvey (2008), by Stephen Hopkins • Let It Fall: Los Angeles 1982–1992 (2017) • Love & Other Drugs (2010) – then titled Untitled Charles Randolph Pharmaceutical FilmManagement (2009) • Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House (2017) – then titled Deep ThroatNever Let Me Go (2010) • Orphan (2009) • Passengers (2016) • Recount (2008) • The Revenant (2015) • The Road (2009) • Salt (2010) – then titled Edwin A. SaltSelma (2014) • Slumdog Millionaire (2008) • Source Code (2011) • The Town (2010) • Valkyrie (2008) • The Wackness (2008) • The Way, Way Back (2013) – then titled The Way BackWhip It (2009) • The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) • World War Z (2013) • The Wrestler (2008) • Yes Man (2008) • Zombieland (2009) 2008 Black List (39/106 screenplays produced; 38 completed, 1 in production) • 47 Ronin (2013) • 50/50 (2011) – then titled ''I'm With Cancer'' • A.C.O.D. (2013) – then titled ACOD: Adult Children of DivorceAll I Wish (2017) – then titled A Little Something for Your BirthdayBachelorette (2012) • The Back-up Plan (2010) – then titled Plan BBad Teacher (2011) • The Beaver (2011) • Broken City (2013) • Butter (2011) • Child 44 (2015) • Cop Out (2010) – then titled A Couple of DicksDate and Switch (2014) – then titled Gay DudeThe Debt (2010) • The Descendants (2011) • Easy A (2010) • Everything Must Go (2010) • The F Word (2013) – then titled The F-WordFoxcatcher (2014) • The Fourth Kind (2009) • Going the Distance (2010) • Hope Springs (2012) – then titled Untitled Vanessa Taylor ProjectInglourious Basterds (2009) • Killing Season (2013) – then titled ShrapnelLondon Boulevard (2010) • Lovelace (2013) – then titled Inferno: A Linda Lovelace Story, by Matt Wilder • No Strings Attached (2011) – then titled FuckbuddiesNowhere Boy (2009) • The Oranges (2011) • Our Brand Is Crisis (2015) • Out of the Furnace (2013) – then titled The Low DwellerRemember Me (2010) – then titled MemoirsSherlock Holmes (2009) • Sleeping Beauty (2011) • SunflowerUnlocked (2017) • Up in the Air (2009) • ''What's Your Number? (2011) – then titled Twenty Times a Lady'' • Worth (2020) – then titled What Is Life Worth? 2009 Black List (43/97 screenplays produced) • 2 Guns (2013) • 30 Minutes or Less (2011) • Arthur (2011) • The Baytown Outlaws (2012) – then titled Baytown DiscoBooksmart (2019) • Buried (2010) • Cedar Rapids (2011) • Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012) • Cut Bank (2014) • Dark Was the Night (2014) – then titled The TreesDesperados (2020) • Due Date (2010) • The Duel (2016) – then titled By Way of HelenaFeud (2017–2024) – then titled Best Actress; adapted to television as an anthology series • The Guilt Trip (2012) – then titled My Mother’s CurseHanna (2011) • If I Stay (2014) • ''The King's Speech'' (2010) • The Kings of Summer (2013) – then titled ''Toy's House'' • The Last Stand (2013) • Lawless (2012) – then titled The Wettest CountyMixtape (2021) • Motor City (2025) • Pawn Sacrifice (2014) • Prisoners (2013) • Red Riding Hood (2011) – then titled The Girl With the Red Riding HoodRestless (2011) • Seeking Justice (2011) – then titled The Hungry Rabbit JumpsShimmer Lake (2017) • The Sitter (2011) • The Social Network (2010) • The Spectacular Now (2013) • Take This Waltz (2011) • ''That's My Boy (2012) – then titled I Hate You Dad'' • The To Do List (2013) – then titled The Hand JobThe True Memoirs of an International Assassin (2016) • The Umbrella Academy – adapted to television (2019–2024) • The Vatican Tapes (2015) • The Voices (2014) • Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010) – then titled Wall Street 2: Money Never SleepsThe Watch (2012) – then titled Neighborhood WatchWater for Elephants (2011) • Z for Zachariah (2015) 2010 Black List (48/76 screenplays produced; 47 completed, 1 in production) • Abduction (2011) • Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012) • American Hustle (2013) – then titled American BullshitArgo (2012) • ATM (2012) • Better Living Through Chemistry (2014) • The Butler (2013) • Can You Keep a Secret? (2019) – by Megan Martin • Chronicle (2012) • Cinema Verite (2011) • Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) • Danny Collins (2015) – then titled ImagineDie in a Gunfight (2021) • Edge of Tomorrow (2014) – then titled All You Need Is Kill, by Dante Harper • The EscortEverly (2014) • Freaks of Nature (2015) – then titled Kitchen SinkFun Size (2012) • Gangster Squad (2013) • Get a Job (2016) • Gold (2016) • The Gray Man (2022) – then titled Gray Man, by Adam CozadHow It Ends (2018) • The Hunger Games (2012) – then titled Hunger GamesThe Impossible (2012) • Jackie (2016) • The Last Son (2021) – then titled The Last Son of Isaac LeMayThe Last Witch Hunter (2015) • Lola Versus (2012) • Looper (2012) • Margin Call (2011) • Murder of a Cat (2014) • One Day (2011) • Oz the Great and Powerful (2013) – then titled Oz: The Great and PowerfulPaint (2023) • People Like Us (2012) – then titled Welcome to PeopleProm (2011) • Ricky Stanicky (2024) • Safe House (2012) • Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse (2015) – then titled Boy Scouts vs. ZombiesSearch Party (2014) – then titled Road to NardoSerena (2014) • Snow White and the Huntsman (2012) • Stoker (2013) • Succession (2018–2023) – then titled Murdoch; adapted to television • That Awkward Moment (2014) – then titled Are We Officially Dating?Triple 9 (2016) – then titled 999What Happened to Monday (2017) – then titled What Happened to Monday? 2011 Black List (29/73 screenplays produced; 28 completed, 1 in production) • The Accountant (2016) • Arizona (2018) • Bad Words (2013) • Before I Fall (2017) • The Broken Hearts Gallery (2020) – then titled The Museum of Broken RelationshipsThe Current War (2017) • Dirty Grandpa (2016) • Django Unchained (2012) • The DUFF (2015) • Ezekiel MossFather Figures (2017) – then titled BastardsFuture Man (2017–2020) – then titled The Slackfi Project, adapted to television • Good Kids (2016) • Grace of Monaco (2014) • Hidden (2015) • ''The Hitman's Bodyguard'' (2017) • The Imitation Game (2014) • Jane Got a Gun (2015) • Long Shot (2019) – then titled FlarskyMaggie (2015) • The Outsider (2018) • Playing It Cool (2015) – then titled A Many Splintered ThingThe Pretty One (2013) • Saving Mr. Banks (2013) • Self/less (2015) • Sex Tape (2014) • St. Vincent (2014) – then titled St. Vincent de Van NuysTwo Night Stand (2014) • When the Streetlights Go On (2020) – adapted to television 2012 Black List (27/78 screenplays produced) • The Adam Project (2022) – then titled Our Name Is AdamArrival (2016) – then titled Story of Your LifeBlockers (2018) – then titled CherriesCome and Find Me (2016) • ''Don't Make Me Go'' (2022) • Draft Day (2014) • The Equalizer (2014) • Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile (2019) • Fathers and Daughters (2015) • The Fault in Our Stars (2014) • Flower (2017) • Hell or High Water (2016) – then titled ComancheriaJojo Rabbit (2019) • The Judge (2014) • The Keeping Room (2014) • Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) • Murder City (2023) • The Outcasts (2017) – then titled The OutskirtsProject Almanac (2015) – then titled AlmanacRun All Night (2015) – then titled All-NighterSand Castle (2017) • Shut In (2016) • Stockholm, Pennsylvania (2015) • The Survivalist (2015) • Sweet Virginia (2017) • Transcendence (2014) • Whiplash (2014) 2013 Black List (19/72 screenplays produced) • A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019) – then titled ''I'm Proud of You'' • American Sniper (2014) • The Autopsy of Jane Doe (2016) • Cake (2014) • Dude (2018) • The End of the Tour (2015) • Extinction (2018) • Faults (2014) • The Gateway (2021) – then titled Where Angels DieHolland (2025) – then titled Holland, MichiganHot Summer Nights (2017) • The Independent (2022) • A Monster Calls (2016) • Pan (2015) • Patient Zero (2018) – then titled Patient ZReminiscence (2021) • The Sea of Trees (2015) • Shovel Buddies (2016) • Spotlight (2015) 2014 Black List (18/70 screenplays produced) • American Made (2017) – then titled MenaThe Babysitter (2017) • Big Time Adolescence (2019) • Bird Box (2018) • Coffee and Kareem (2020) • The Founder (2016) • Gifted (2017) • How to Make a Killing (2026) – then titled RothchildJosie (2018) – then titled HuntsvilleLBJ (2016) • Manchester by the Sea (2016) • Money Monster (2016) • Morgan (2016) • My Friend Dahmer (2017) • On the Basis of Sex (2018) • The Shallows (2016) – then titled In the DeepThe Wall (2017) • Tau (2018) 2015 Black List (22/81 screenplays produced) • All the Money in the World (2017) • American Woman (2018) – then titled The Burning WomanBed Rest (2022) • City of Lies (2017) – then titled LabyrinthChappaquiddick (2017) • Crater (2023) • Dreamland (2019) • Eli (2019) • Lou (2022) • Lucy in the Sky (2019) – then titled Pale Blue DotMiss Sloane (2016) • Nyad (2023) – by Robert Specland • Operation Finale (2018) – then titled Hunting EichmannRough Night (2017) – then titled Move That BodySenior Year (2022) • Set It Up (2018) • The Standoff at Sparrow Creek (2018) – then titled MilitiaStronger (2017) • Three Months (2022) • The Water Man (2020) • Wish Upon (2017) • White Boy Rick (2018) 2016 Black List (20/73 screenplays produced; 19 completed, 1 in production) • America: The Motion Picture (2021) • Adrift (2018) • Bad Education (2019) • Free Guy (2021) • Hala (2019) • Hotel Artemis (2018) • The Housewife • ''I Think We're Alone Now'' (2018) • I Am Mother (2019) – then titled MotherI, Tonya (2017) • In the Blink of an Eye (2026) • Late Night (2019) – then titled Untitled Late Night ComedyLife Itself (2018) • ''Miller's Girl'' (2024) • Oxygen (2021) – then titled O2Palmer (2021) • The Post (2017) • Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017) – then titled Inner CitySpace Oddity (2022) • Villains (2019) 2017 Black List (19/76 screenplays produced; 18 completed, 1 in production) • All My Life (2020) • Ballerina (2025) • Breaking News in Yuba County (2021) • Call Jane (2022) • Daddio (2024) • Finch (2021) – then titled BiosFUBAR (2023–2025) – then titled Fubar, by Brent Hyman – adapted for television • Greenland (2020) • Heart of the BeastInfinite (2021) • Kate (2021) • The Other Lamb (2019) • Project Power (2020) – then titled PowerThe Lodge (2019) • The Mother (2023) • The Saviors (2026) • The Sleepover (2020) • The Survivor (2021) – then titled The BoxerWoman of the Hour (2024) – then titled Rodney & Sheryl 2018 Black List (11/73 screenplays produced) • Asphalt City (2024) – then titled Black FliesBy Any Means (2026) – then titled CI–34Cobweb (2023) • The High Note (2020) – then titled CoversThe Half of It (2020) • King Richard (2021) • Little Fish (2020) • Meet Cute (2022) • Promising Young Woman (2020) • Queen & Slim (2019) • Young. Wild. Free. (2023) 2019 Black List (12/66 screenplays produced; 10 completed, 2 in production) • 8-Bit Christmas (2021) • Breathe (2024) • ''The Devil's Mouth – then titled Apex'' • ''Don't Worry Darling'' (2022) • Knock at the Cabin (2023) – then titled The Cabin at the End of the WorldThe Menu (2022) • Relay (2025) – then titled The BrokerResurrection (2022) • Shut In (2022) • They Cloned Tyrone (2023) • The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent (2022) • Voicemails for Isabelle 2020 Black List (24/80 screenplays produced; 22 completed, 2 in production) • A Big Bold Beautiful Journey (2025) • ''Anything's Possible (2022) – then titled What If?'' • BellaBorderline (2025) • Bubble & Squeak (2025) • Chang Can Dunk (2023) • Emancipation (2022) • Emergency (2022) • Fight or Flight (2025) • Flight Risk (2025) • Get Lite (2027) • The Gorge (2025) • Hold Your Breath (2024) – then titled DustHorsegirls (2025) – then titled HorsegirlI.S.S. (2024) • If You Were the Last (2023) • Lurker (2025) • Magazine Dreams (2025) • May December (2023) • Mouse (2026) • Nanny (2022) • Sharper (2023) • Suncoast (2024) • The Woman in the Yard (2025) – then titled The Man in the Yard 2021 Black List (7/73 screenplays produced) • Eternity (2025) • Him (2025) – then titled GoatJingle Bell Heist (2025) • Madden (2026) • Subversion 2023 Black List (4/76 screenplays produced; 3 completed, 1 in production) • Forbidden Fruits (2026) • Perfect Girl – then titled UnnieRunner (2026) • Sender (2026) – then titled Return to Sender 2024 Black List (2/83 screenplays produced; 1 completed, 1 in production) • One Night Only (2026) • Tony 2025 Black List (0/74 screenplays produced) • ==See also==
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