12 Screenplays That Took Directorial Careers to The Next Level
Comingsoon.net is looking at some well-known directors who wrote some stellar screenplays early on in their careers. Check out the picks in the gallery below!
All directors are storytellers (obviously); some of them started out writing screenplays and others have always worn the simultaneous mantel of writer and director. Regardless, every director has a film that sticks out in everyone’s mind as their first “big” one. For most directors, they wrote that movie.
No underdog story is more appealing than that of the creative, because, in a way, we’re all creatives—driven by a whirlwind of words and emotions daily. The following creatives used said emotions, putting pen to paper (or finger to typewriter) to produce the following screenplays; some of these directors sat behind the camera on their respective screenplays and others went on to director later.
10 Screenplays That Took Directorial Careers to The Next Level
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The Devil's Backbone (2001) written by Guillermo del Toro
Everyone knows Pan's Labyrinth and Hellboy, but check this one out.
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Blood Simple (1984) written by Joel and Ethan Coen
The Coen Brothers' first feature film—all the goods are there.
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Brick (2005) written by Rian Johnson
Regardless of how you feel about his take on Star Wars, Rian Johnson's Brick was the first step on the staircase that eventually led him there.
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Fruitvale Station (2013) written by Ryan Coogler
Before going on to make blockbusters like Creed and Black Panther, Coogler penned his first full length film, Fruitvale Station. Thus the Coogler/Jordan tag team and repeated critical acclaim.
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In Bruges (2008) written by Martin McDonagh
McDonagh (also a playwright) made some waves in 2008 after writing In Bruges; his dark and comical tone setting the standard was his increasingly successful films for years to come.
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Lethal Weapon (1987) written by Shane Black
Shane Black wrote the screenplay for Lethal Weapon while he was still in college, eventually selling it for $250,000. More recently, he has directed films like The Nice Guys and Iron Man 3...The Predator was eh.
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Lost in Translation (2003) written by Sofia Coppola
As the daughter of Francis For Coppola, Sofia already had a recognizable name. Lost in Translation was the film that really put her on the map as a writer/director.
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Memento (2000) written by Christopher Nolan
The mind-bender without the budget that will continue to be studied in film classes forever.
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Monster (2003) written by Patty Jenkins
Bet some people didn't realize the director of Wonder Woman also wrote and director Monster AKA Charlize Theron has a really bad day.
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Rocky (1976) written by Sylvester Stallone
The underdog writing an underdog story. Everyone knows the tale of broke sly and his typewriter.
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Sicario (2015) written by Taylor Sheridan
The actor turned writer turned director has done a lot since writing Sicario in 2015—not the least of which writing Hell or High Water, making his writer/director debut with Wind River.
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Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) written by Adam McKay
With the help of Will Ferrell, SNL writer Adam Mckay made his silver screen debut with the epic Anchorman.
