List of movies about writers, as ranked by film critics and fans. Movies about writers are always interesting and filled with depth because the screenwriters truly understand what goes on in the mind of the scribe. These films follow writer characters through some real life issues like writer’s block, intense jealousy between writers, and being driven mad by genius. Other films take a more fantastical take on the plight of the writer with serial killers, stalkers, and characters that come to life. No matter the genre, these films follow the same overarching themes that real life writer’s actual experience.
Many of the movies on this list think of storytelling as therapy, where the writer is spinning a yarn in order to battle their own struggles. A few of the films follow real life novelists and screenwriters during the experiences that caused them to write their greatest works.
If you’ve been wondering, “What are the best movies about writers?” this list has every film you need, from thrillers where writer’s go crazy, like Secret Window, to horror movies where fans go too far, like Misery,to simple contemplative movies like American Splendor. The movies on this list feature the most memorable fictional writer’s in film history.
1
5931Dead Poets Society
Robin Williams, Ethan HawkeReleased: 1989
Directed by: Peter Weir
Dead Poets Society is a 1989 American drama film written by Tom Schulman, directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams. Set at the conservative and aristocratic Welton Academy in the northeast... more2
4623The Shining
Jack Nicholson, Shelley DuvallReleased: 1980
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
The Shining is a 1980 British-American psychological horror film produced and directed by Stanley Kubrick, co-written with novelist Diane Johnson, and starring Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Danny... more- 34224
Midnight in Paris
Rachel McAdams, Marion CotillardReleased: 2011
Directed by: Woody Allen
Midnight in Paris is an American 2011 romantic comedy fantasy film written and directed by Woody Allen. Set in Paris, the film follows Gil Pender, a screenwriter, who is forced to confront the... more - 43822
Secret Window
Johnny Depp, Maria BelloReleased: 2004
Directed by: David Koepp
Secret Window is a 2004 American psychological thriller film starring Johnny Depp and John Turturro. It was written and directed by David Koepp, based on the novella Secret Window, Secret Garden by... more - 53519
Capote
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris CooperReleased: 2005
Directed by: Bennett Miller
Capote is a 2005 biographical film about Truman Capote, following the events during the writing of Capote's non-fiction book In Cold Blood. Philip Seymour Hoffman won several awards, including the... more - 63419
Almost Famous
Zooey Deschanel, Kate HudsonReleased: 2000
Directed by: Cameron Crowe
Almost Famous is a 2000 comedy-drama film written and directed by Cameron Crowe and starring Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, and Patrick Fugit. It tells the fictional story of a teenage journalist writing... more - 73824
Stranger than Fiction
Will Ferrell, Dustin HoffmanReleased: 2006
Directed by: Marc Forster
Stranger than Fiction is a 2006 American comedy-drama-fantasy film directed by Marc Forster, written by Zach Helm, and starring Will Ferrell, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah, and... more - 83828
Misery
Lauren Bacall, Kathy BatesReleased: 1990
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Misery is a 1990 American psychological thriller film based on Stephen King's 1987 novel of the same name and starring James Caan, Kathy Bates, Lauren Bacall, Richard Farnsworth, and Frances... more - 93019
Wonder Boys
Robert Downey Jr., Katie HolmesReleased: 2000
Directed by: Curtis Hanson
Wonder Boys is a 2000 Romantic comedy film directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Steve Kloves. An international co-production between the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan, it... more - 103123
Finding Forrester
Anna Paquin, Matt DamonReleased: 2000
Directed by: Gus Van Sant
Finding Forrester is a 2000 American drama film written by Mike Rich and directed by Gus Van Sant. An African-American teenager, Jamal Wallace, is invited to attend a prestigious private high school.... more - 112517
Finding Neverland
Johnny Depp, Kate WinsletReleased: 2004
Directed by: Marc Forster
Finding Neverland is a 2004 historical fantasy drama film directed by Marc Forster and written by David Magee, based on the 1998 play The Man Who Was Peter Pan by Allan Knee. The film is about... more - 122822
Adaptation
Nicolas Cage, Meryl StreepReleased: 2002
Directed by: Spike Jonze
Adaptation is a 2002 American comedy-drama metafilm directed by Spike Jonze and written by Charlie Kaufman. The film is based on Susan Orlean's non-fiction book The Orchid Thief, with numerous... more - 132113
Saving Mr. Banks
Tom Hanks, Colin FarrellReleased: 2013
Directed by: John Lee Hancock
Saving Mr. Banks is a 2013 period drama film directed by John Lee Hancock from a screenplay written by Kelly Marcel and Sue Smith. Centered on the development of the 1964 Walt Disney Studios film... more - 142417
Barton Fink
John Goodman, Steve BuscemiReleased: 1991
Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Barton Fink is a 1991 American period film written, produced, directed and edited by the Coen brothers. Set in 1941, it stars John Turturro in the title role as a young New York City playwright who... more - 152114
Kill Your Darlings
Daniel Radcliffe, Elizabeth OlsenReleased: 2013
Directed by: John Krokidas
Kill Your Darlings is a 2013 American biographical drama film written by Austin Bunn and directed by John Krokidas in his feature film directorial debut. The film had its world premiere at the 2013... more - 162117
Atonement
Keira Knightley, Benedict CumberbatchReleased: 2007
Directed by: Joe Wright
Atonement is a 2007 British romantic drama film directed by Joe Wright and based on Ian McEwan's 2001 novel of the same name. The film stars James McAvoy, Keira Knightley, Saoirse Ronan, Romola... more - 172017
The Ghost Writer
Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregorReleased: 2010
Directed by: Roman Polanski
The Ghost Writer is 2010 thriller film written by Robert Harris and Roman Polanski and directed by Roman Polanski.... more - 182016
The Words
Olivia Wilde, Zoe SaldanaReleased: 2012
Directed by: Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal
The Words is a 2012 mystery romantic drama film, written and directed by Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal in their directorial debut. It stars Bradley Cooper, Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde, Jeremy Irons,... more - 191916
Annie Hall
Woody Allen, Diane KeatonReleased: 1977
Directed by: Woody Allen
Annie Hall is a 1977 American romantic comedy film directed by Woody Allen. Neurotic New York comedian Alvy Singer (Allen) falls in love with the ditzy Annie Hall (Diane Keaton).... more - 202222
Shakespeare in Love
Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben AffleckReleased: 1998
Directed by: John Madden
Shakespeare in Love is a 1998 British-American romantic comedy-drama film directed by John Madden, written by Marc Norman and playwright Tom Stoppard. The film depicts an imaginary love affair... more - 212019
Sideways
Sandra Oh, Virginia MadsenReleased: 2004
Directed by: Alexander Payne
Sideways is a 2004 American comedy-drama film written by Jim Taylor and Alexander Payne and directed by Payne. A film adaptation from Rex Pickett's novel of the same name, Sideways follows two men in... more - 223136
As Good as It Gets
Jack Nicholson, Helen HuntReleased: 1997
Directed by: James L. Brooks
As Good as It Gets is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by James L. Brooks and produced by Laura Ziskin. It stars Jack Nicholson as a misanthropic, homophobic, racist,... more - 2374
Colette
Keira Knightley, Dominic WestReleased: 2018
Directed by: Wash Westmoreland
Colette is a 2018 British biographical drama film directed by Wash Westmoreland. Pushed by her husband to write novels under his name, Gabrielle Colette (Keira Knightley) fights to make her talents... more - 241110
Deconstructing Harry
Demi Moore, Jennifer GarnerReleased: 1997
Directed by: Woody Allen
Deconstructing Harry is a comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen and released in 1997. This film tells the story of a successful writer named Harry Block, played by Allen, who draws... more - 2576
Tolkien
Nicholas Hoult, Lily CollinsReleased: 2019
Directed by: Dome Karukoski
Tolkien is a 2019 American biographical drama film directed by Dome Karukoski. An orphaned author (Nicholas Hoult) finds friendship, love and artistic inspiration among a group of fellow outcasts at... more
