writers The Best Movies About Writers  

Ranker Film
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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.

list ordered by

1
19 7
Capote is listed (or ranked) 1 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Capote Philip Seymour Hoffman, Chris Cooper, Catherine Keener 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 ...more

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20 8
Misery is listed (or ranked) 2 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Misery Lauren Bacall, Kathy Bates, James Caan 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

3
21 9
Stranger than Fiction is listed (or ranked) 3 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Stranger than Fiction Will Ferrell, Dustin Hoffman, Queen Latifah 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, ...more

4
21 10
Dead Poets Society is listed (or ranked) 4 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Dead Poets Society Robin Williams, Ethan Hawke, Lara Flynn Boyle 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 ...more

5
16 7
Finding Forrester is listed (or ranked) 5 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Finding Forrester Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Sean Connery 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 ...more

6
16 9
The Shining is listed (or ranked) 6 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Bootsdad added The Shining Jack Nicholson, Shelley Duvall, Scatman Crothers 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, ...more

7
14 8
Midnight in Paris is listed (or ranked) 7 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Midnight in Paris Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Tom Hiddleston 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

8
14 8
Barton Fink is listed (or ranked) 8 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Barton Fink John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Frances McDormand 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 ...more

9
15 9
My Left Foot is listed (or ranked) 9 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
My Left Foot Daniel Day-Lewis, Fiona Shaw, Brenda Fricker My Left Foot: The Story of Christy Brown is a 1989 Irish drama film directed by Jim Sheridan and starring Daniel Day-Lewis. It tells the story of Christy Brown, an Irishman born with cerebral ...more

10
7 2
Romancing the Stone is listed (or ranked) 10 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Romancing the Stone Kathleen Turner, Danny DeVito, Michael Douglas Romancing the Stone is a 1984 American action-adventure romantic comedy. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, it stars Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. The film was followed by a 1985 ...more

11
15 10
Adaptation is listed (or ranked) 11 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Adaptation Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Maggie Gyllenhaal 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

12
14 10
Secret Window is listed (or ranked) 12 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Secret Window Johnny Depp, Maria Bello, John Turturro 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 ...more

13
11 7
Wonder Boys is listed (or ranked) 13 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Wonder Boys Robert Downey Jr., Katie Holmes, Michael Douglas Wonder Boys is an American 2000 comedy film directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Steve Kloves. The film was based on the novel of the same title by Michael Chabon. Michael Douglas stars as ...more

14
7 3
Finding Neverland is listed (or ranked) 14 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Finding Neverland Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Dustin Hoffman Finding Neverland is a 2004 American semi-biographical film about playwright J. M. Barrie and his relationship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan, directed by Marc Forster. The ...more

15
5 1
Shadowlands is listed (or ranked) 15 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Shadowlands Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger, James Frain Shadowlands is a 1993 British biographical film about the love-relationship between Oxford academic C. S. Lewis and American poet Joy Davidman, her death from cancer, and how this challenged ...more

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8 5
As Good as It Gets is listed (or ranked) 16 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added As Good as It Gets Jack Nicholson, Helen Hunt, Julie Benz 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

17
11 9
Sideways is listed (or ranked) 17 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Sideways Sandra Oh, Virginia Madsen, Thomas Haden Church 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 ...more

18
11 9
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is listed (or ranked) 18 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Johnny Depp, Cameron Diaz, Christina Ricci Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American dark comedy film co-written and directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo. It was adapted ...more

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11 9
The Words is listed (or ranked) 19 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
The Words Olivia Wilde, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper 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 ...more

20
8 6
Leaving Las Vegas is listed (or ranked) 20 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Leaving Las Vegas Nicolas Cage, Mariska Hargitay, Elisabeth Shue Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 romantic drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis and based on a semi-autobiographical novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal ...more

21
7 5
Deathtrap is listed (or ranked) 21 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Deathtrap Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve, Dyan Cannon Deathtrap is a 1982 thriller based on Ira Levin's play of the same name, directed by Sidney Lumet from a screenplay by Levin and Jay Presson Allen, starring Michael Caine and Christopher Reeve.

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7 5
Shakespeare in Love is listed (or ranked) 22 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Shakespeare in Love Gwyneth Paltrow, Ben Affleck, Judi Dench 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

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4 3
1408 is listed (or ranked) 23 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
abel-santiago added 1408 Samuel L. Jackson, John Cusack, Kate Walsh 1408 is a 2007 American psychological horror film based on the Stephen King 1999 short story of the same name directed by Swedish director Mikael Håfström, who earlier had directed ...more

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4 3
Saving Mr. Banks is listed (or ranked) 24 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Saving Mr. Banks Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell, Emma Thompson 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 ...more

25
3 2
Impromptu is listed (or ranked) 25 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Impromptu Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant, Bernadette Peters Impromptu is a 1991 British-American period drama film directed by James Lapine, written by Sarah Kernochan, produced by Daniel A. Sherkow and Stuart Oken, and starring Hugh Grant as ...more

26
2 1
Kill Your Darlings is listed (or ranked) 26 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
iriska added Kill Your Darlings Daniel Radcliffe, Elizabeth Olsen, Jennifer Jason Leigh 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 ...more

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9 9
Annie Hall is listed (or ranked) 27 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Annie Hall Woody Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Christopher Walken Annie Hall is a 1977 American romantic comedy directed by Woody Allen from a screenplay he co-wrote with Marshall Brickman. Produced by Allen's manager, Charles H. Joffe, the film stars Allen as ...more

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8 8
The Ghost Writer is listed (or ranked) 28 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
The Ghost Writer Pierce Brosnan, Ewan McGregor, Kim Cattrall The Ghost Writer is 2010 thriller film written by Robert Harris and Roman Polanski and directed by Roman Polanski.

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4 4
The World According to Garp is listed (or ranked) 29 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added The World According to Garp Robin Williams, Glenn Close, John Lithgow The World According to Garp is 1982 American comedy-drama film directed by George Roy Hill and starring Robin Williams in the title role. It is based on the novel of the same title by John ...more

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Atonement is listed (or ranked) 30 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Atonement Keira Knightley, Benedict Cumberbatch, Saoirse Ronan Atonement is a 2007 British romantic drama war 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, ...more

31
3 3
Through a Glass Darkly is listed (or ranked) 31 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Through a Glass Darkly Max von Sydow, Harriet Andersson, Gunnar Björnstrand Through a Glass Darkly is a 1961 Swedish film written and directed by Ingmar Bergman, and produced by Allan Ekelund. The film is a three-act "chamber film," in which four family ...more

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7 8
American Splendor is listed (or ranked) 32 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
American Splendor Paul Giamatti, Josh Hutchersonm, Molly Shannon American Splendor is a 2003 American biographical comedy-drama film about Harvey Pekar, the author of the American Splendor comic book series. The film is also in part an adaptation of the ...more

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7 8
Almost Famous is listed (or ranked) 33 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Almost Famous Zooey Deschanel, Kate Hudson, Anna Paquin 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 ...more

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5 6
Limitless is listed (or ranked) 34 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Limitless Robert De Niro, Bradley Cooper, Bruce Lee Limitless is a 2011 American thriller film directed by Neil Burger and starring Bradley Cooper, Abbie Cornish, and Robert De Niro. It is based on the novel The Dark Fields by Alan Glynn.

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5 6
Insomnia is listed (or ranked) 35 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Insomnia Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank Insomnia is a 2002 American crime thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan, and starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank. It tells the story of two Los Angeles homicide detectives ...more

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4 5
Sleuth is listed (or ranked) 36 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Sleuth Michael Caine, Laurence Olivier, Eve Channing Sleuth is a 1972 mystery thriller film directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz. The screenplay by British playwright Anthony Shaffer was based on his 1970 Tony Award-winning play Sleuth. The film stars ...more

37
2 3
In the Mouth of Madness is listed (or ranked) 37 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
abel-santiago added In the Mouth of Madness Hayden Christensen, Charlton Heston, Sam Neill In the Mouth of Madness is a 1995 American Lovecraftian horror film directed and scored by John Carpenter and written by Michael De Luca. It stars Sam Neill, Julie Carmen, Jürgen Prochnow, ...more

38
6 8
Naked Lunch is listed (or ranked) 38 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Naked Lunch Ian Holm, Roy Scheider, Julian Sands Naked Lunch is a 1991 science fiction drama film written and directed by David Cronenberg and starring Peter Weller, Judy Davis, Ian Holm, and Roy Scheider. It is a film adaptation of William S. ...more

39
5 7
The Player is listed (or ranked) 39 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
The Player Julia Roberts, Bruce Willis, Whoopi Goldberg The Player is a 1992 American satirical film directed by Robert Altman from a screenplay by Michael Tolkin based on his own 1988 novel of the same name. It is the story of Hollywood studio ...more

40
4 6
Zorba the Greek is listed (or ranked) 40 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Zorba the Greek Anthony Quinn, Alan Bates, Irene Papas Zorba the Greek is a 1964 British-Greek drama film directed by Cypriot Michael Cacoyannis and starring Anthony Quinn as the title character. It is based on the novel Zorba the Greek by Nikos ...more

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4 6
Deconstructing Harry is listed (or ranked) 41 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Deconstructing Harry Demi Moore, Jennifer Garner, Robin Williams 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

42
3 5
Starting Out in the Evening is listed (or ranked) 42 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Starting Out in the Evening Frank Langella, Lauren Ambrose, Lili Taylor Starting Out in the Evening is a 2007 American drama film directed by Andrew Wagner. The screenplay by Wagner and Fred Parnes is based on the novel of the same name by Brian Morton.

43
3 5
Being Flynn is listed (or ranked) 43 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
looksharp added Being Flynn Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore, Olivia Thirlby Being Flynn is a 2012 American drama film starring Robert De Niro, Julianne Moore and Paul Dano, released in select theatres in the United States on March 2, 2012. It was based on Another ...more

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3 6
A Pure Formality is listed (or ranked) 44 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
A Pure Formality Roman Polanski, Gérard Depardieu, Sergio Rubini A Pure Formality is a 1994 thriller film directed and written by Giuseppe Tornatore. It stars Gérard Depardieu as a reclusive writer and Roman Polanski as a police detective.

45
2 5
Reprise is listed (or ranked) 45 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Reprise Christian Rubeck, Henrik Elvestad, Henrik Mestad Reprise is a Norwegian film directed by Joachim Trier. Co-written over the course of five years with Eskil Vogt, it is Trier's first feature-length film. In 2006 it was the Norwegian candidate ...more

46
2 5
House by the River is listed (or ranked) 46 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
House by the River Jane Wyatt, Kathleen Freeman, Louis Hayward House by the River is a 1950 Gothic film noir directed by Fritz Lang, and starring Louis Hayward, Jane Wyatt, Lee Bowman, and Dorothy Patrick.

47
2 5
Providence is listed (or ranked) 47 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Providence Ellen Burstyn, John Gielgud, Dirk Bogarde Providence is a 1977 French/Swiss film directed by Alain Resnais from a screenplay by David Mercer. It explores the processes of creativity through a portrayal of an ageing novelist, played by ...more

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3 7
Prick Up Your Ears is listed (or ranked) 48 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Prick Up Your Ears Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina, Vanessa Redgrave Prick Up Your Ears is a 1987 film, directed by Stephen Frears, about the playwright Joe Orton and his lover Kenneth Halliwell. The screenplay was written by Alan Bennett, based on the book by ...more

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3 7
The Squid and the Whale is listed (or ranked) 49 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
The Squid and the Whale Anna Paquin, Alexandra Daddario, Laura Linney The Squid and the Whale is a 2005 American arthouse comedy-drama film written and directed by Noah Baumbach and produced by Wes Anderson. It tells the semi-autobiographical story of two boys in ...more

50
2 6
Mrs. Palfrey at the Clarmemont is listed (or ranked) 50 on the list The Best Movies About Writers
Mrs. Palfrey at the Clarmemont Joan Plowright, Rupert Friend, Anna Massey Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont is a 2005 US-produced comedy-drama film based on the 1971 novel by Elizabeth Taylor. It was directed by Dan Ireland and produced by Lee Caplin, Carl Colpaert and ...more