My 5 favourite movie and tv Scripts (as of 2026)

In no particular order...

1. The Social Network

   

   
   

The social network is one of my favourite films due to it's ability to make such enthralling sequences from character drama alone. But what makes the screenplay one of my absolute favourites, is the small bits of realism in it. Centering around the story of the creation of Facebook and it's founder Mark Zuckerburg, played by Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg's performance turns Mark into such a realistic character. He's so awkwardly rude in such a realistic manner. The introduction scene with his date with Erika is such a good example of this. It tells us everything we need to know about him before we're even halfway through the movie. This is a good time to mention the choice of lines for the character of Zuckerberg, so many of his lines are either sarcastic or rhetorical. In the date erika says "dating you is like dating a stairmaster." There are short moments where he acts as a narrator. He never comes off as an unreliable one, which I think is such a good choice, as if he's so desperate to come off good or cool in his own movie when he's just kind off an asshole. The last line from Rashida Jones' character cements this, "your not an asshole Mark, you just keep trying so hard to be." Mark is so consistently written and one of the most consistently characters in a film, every decision he makes and word he says are never out of place.

2. Jurassic Park

Jurassic park is my favourite film of all time, but what makes it one of my favourite screenplays wasn't realised until I was much older than when I was when I first watched it. As a child you skip some of the first scenes with Hammond and the visitors so you can get to the good dinosuar stuff. But as an adult certian details hit you that you would have never noticed before. The dinnner scene is a particulary interesting one, as so many of the characters are so interesting here. Ian Malcolm is completley against the idea of Jurassic Park, claiming Hammond is irresponsible with the genetic power he wields. "Genetic power is one of the most awesome force the world's ever seen, but you wield like a kid that's found his dad's gun."

3. Breaking bad

My favourite show of all time, every episode had me wanting to immediatly see the next. Walter White is exceptionally written in his transformation to Heisenberg. But interestingly, what makes the show such a good watch. Is the fact that on a rewatch there seemingly isn't a transformation. More like an emergence of a hidden character beneath, at the start Walter already has selfish tendencies, but as the show progresses he just cares less and less about hiding them. But the progression of the story itself is also marvelous, Walt is just a harbinger of choas, and brigns destruction to everything he comes across. Whether it's Gus Frings empire or his trusted sidekick Jessie Pinkman's personal life.

4. Pirates of the Caribean: Dead Man's Chest

This is my favourite plot of a film especially in this franchise. Dead Man's Chest revolves around Davy Jones' chest containing his heart, there are five parties involved, and all of them need the chest, for that they need the key which he keeps within his tentacle beard. The factor of all parties involved needing the chest is an awesome plot device in of itself, but the emotional connection to the need of the chest for each character is what makes everyone stand out in a film full of different characters. Jack needs the chest as his time with his beloved black pearl is over, he agreed with Davy Jones that he was to rise the Pearl from the depths after beig sank but only on the condision he was captian for 10 years. That 10 years is now over, and Jack loves his ship and needs the key to get levarage over Jones to keep it. William Turner at first is just along for the ride, but after being roped into meeting Jones on the Dutchman and becoming a crew member, he meets his long last father. Now Will needs the key, to save his father from the eternal torture of being tied to the Dutchman. Lord Beckett and the East India Trading company want the heart to gain control over the sea. And James Norrington needs the heart to give to Beckett to regain his life back. And finally, the original owner of the heart inside the chest Davy Jones needs it as his heart is it, and no one else can own it as they will have control over the seas. Personal desires drive the plot of the film, and that's why it hits as well as it does.

5. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King Extended Edition

My Favourite end to a trilogy I've ever had the pleasure of watching. The extended edition specifically ties up everything in a neat bow. With epic battle scenes and amazing character mometns only added to by the phenomenal performances. The pacing and direction of the entire story is brilliant, and only makes me wish at some point I can write something as good as this film is after watching the trilogy in order for the first time.