The Definitive Spec Script Sales List (1991–2012): Before 1991
The Definitive Spec Script Deals List: Before 1991
Pretty much ever since I sold a spec script in 1987, I have been fascinated by them. The very idea that a writer could conceive a story concept, research, craft and write an original screenplay, then sell it to a Hollywood buyer is in and of itself a remarkable thing. When you consider that each year an estimated 25,000–40,000 stories filter through the studio acquisition system and only about 100 spec scripts sell annually, that makes it even more notable.
I didn’t start tracking all spec script sales until 1991, but then I tried my best to note the details whenever I learned about them. Over the years I often thought about those files and wouldn’t it be great to have a comprehensive list of all spec script sales in Hollywood? Here are some reasons why:
- To create an historical record of these special accomplishments by screenwriters in the movie business.
- To compare what spec scripts sold and got produced to those that never got made.
- To track buying trends in Hollywood [e.g., genre, high-concept].
- To create a resource for contemporary writers to brainstorm new story ideas.
And then this: With spec script sales being as high as they have been the last 18 months, can we consider this a new Golden Age of the Spec Script, or does it pale in comparison to the supposed gilded age back in the early to mid-90s? Is that collective memory true or perhaps incorrect?
I mulled over the possibility of collating all the information about spec sales I had amassed. Unfortunately the documentation takes the form of actual clippings from the Hollywood Reporter and Variety, as well as hard drives on a number of old computers stashed away somewhere, and a variety of other sources.
In step two hearty souls, Black List interns Mikal McLendon and Evelyn Yves who agreed to help assimilate all the data into a comprehensive spec script sales list from 1991–2007 [to go along with my lists from 2008 to present]. It took Mikal and Eveyln months to pull this information together and I thank them profusely for their help [I hope you will, too, in comments].
Please note, when I say ‘Definitive’ in the title, that means two things. First I am engaging in a bit of Hollywood hyperbole. I know there are some spec script sales that we will have missed. Every sale is covered nowadays through the trades and various tracking boards. That type of coverage was not the case back in the 90s. Which leads to the second point:
I want your help!
If you are a screenwriter who sold a spec script and you don’t see it on the list or you spot some details that are wrong or incomplete, please email me with updates.
If you are a studio exec, agent, manager, producer or movie fan who happens to know of a spec script sale that’s not listed, please email me.
Let’s see if we can round out this research project as best we can.
With that lengthy introduction, we begin with a very spotty record of spec script sales before 1991.
1932: Through my studies in the history of American screenwriting, I feel safe in saying that the very first spec script sale was The Power and the Glory by Preston Sturgess. Here is one account of that deal from PBS “American Masters”:
After working on an adaptation of H.G. Wells’s “THE INVISIBLE MAN”, Sturges began to write a script of his own. “THE POWER AND THE GLORY”, written without any advance, brought Sturges the handsome sum of $17,500. Along with his payment came a percentage of the profits. Though common practice now, Sturges was one of the first writers to receive such an offer and it came with a great deal of attention and contention.
1939: Sturgess also sold the spec script The Great McGinty. Again from “American Masters”:
Sturges, however, had been consistently dissatisfied with director’s interpretations of his work, and in 1939 convinced his employers, Paramount Pictures, to let him direct his own script. For the opportunity to direct, Sturges sold “THE GREAT MCGINTY”, his newest script, for $1. The film earned him an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay (the first time this award had been handed out).
1942: The spec script Woman of the Year, scripted by Michael Kanin and Ring Lardner, Jr., sold for $100,000. Per this 1990 NY Times article on spec scripts, Mr. Kanin is quoted as saying: “That was the most money anyone had ever gotten for an original script. Katharine Hepburn was our agent. We had her in mind when we wrote the story. She loved it. She took our names off the script and sold it to M-G-M. We were making $300 a week. The studio would never have paid a lot for a script by us, and she knew that M-G-M would not make the kind of picture she wanted unless they paid an enormous amount of money.”
1969: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, written by William Goldman. It sold for $400,000 to 20th Century Fox.
1972: The Yakuza, written by Leonard and Paul Schrader. It sold for $350,000 to Warner Bros.
1984: Lethal Weapon, written by Shane Black. It sold for $250,000 to Warner Bros.
1985: The Highlander, written by Gregory Widen. It sold for $500,000 to Universal.
1987: K-9, written by Steven Siegel & Scott Myers. It sold for $750,000 to Universal.
1989: “Gale Force”, written by David Chappe. It sold for $500,000 to Carolco.
1989: Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot, written by Blake Snyder. It sold for $500,000 to Universal.
1990
Title: Basic Instinct Logline: A police detective is in charge of the investigation of a brutal murder, in which a beautiful and seductive woman could be involved. Writer: Joe Eszterhas Genre: Crime Thriller Agency: CAA Buyer: Carolco Date: June 1990 Note: Purchase price $3M
Title: The Cheese Stands Alone Logline: An off-beat romantic comedy about a superstitious Hungarian hunk who blames his loss of sex drive on a hex put on him by a jilted girlfriend. Writer: Kathy McWorter Genre: Romantic Comedy Agency: Preferred Artists Buyer: Paramount Date: October 1990 Note: Purchase price $1,000,000
Title: City of Darkness Logline: Two young boys bring a comic-book villain and a comic-book hero into the real world. Writers: Patrick Cirillo and Joe Gayton Genre: Action Comedy Agency: N/A Buyer: Columbia Date: 1990 Note: Purchase price $750,000
Title: Cold As Ice Logline: A down-at-the-heels private detective and a young widow team up to solve a diamond robbery. Writer: Mark Allen Smith Genre: Thriller Agency: N/A Buyer: Columbia Note: Purchase price $350,000
Title: Flatliners Logline: Medical students bring themselves near death; their experiment begins to go awry. Writer: Peter Filardi Genre: Drama Sci-Fi Agency: N/A Buyer: Columbia Note: Purchase price $400,000
Title: Hell Bent… And Back! Logline: WWII action comedy Writers: Doug Richardson and Rick Jaffa Genre: Action Comedy: Agency: N/A Buyer: Disney Date: N/A Note: Purchase price $1,000,000
Title: The Last Boy Scout Logline: A down and out cynical detective teams up with a down and out ex-quarterback to try and solve a murder case involving a pro football team and a politician. Writer: Shane Black Genre: Action Agency: N/A Buyer: Geffen Film Company Date: April 1990 Note: Purchase price $1.75M
Title: Prince of Thieves Logline: When Robin Hood and his Moorish companion come to England and the tyranny of the Sheriff of Nottingham, he decides to fight back as an outlaw. Writers: Pen Densham and John Watson Genre: Action Adventure Agency: N/A Buyer: Morgan Creek Date: 1990 Note: Purchase price $1.2M
Title: Radio Flyer Logline: A father recounts a dark period of his childhood when he and his little brother lived in the suburbs. Writer: David Mickey Evans Genre: Drama Agency: N/A Buyer: Columbia Note: Purchase price $1.25M
Title: The Rest of Daniel Logline: A 1939 test pilot asks his best friend to use him as a guinea pig for a cryogenics experiment so he doesn’t have to watch his love lying in a coma. The next thing Daniel knows is that he’s awakened in 1992. Writer: J.J. Abrams Genre: Drama Agency: ICM Buyer: Warner Bros. Note: Purchase price $2M
Title: Stay Tuned Logline: A husband and wife are sucked into a hellish TV and have to survive a gauntlet of twisted versions of TV shows they find themselves in. Writers: Tom S. Parker and Jim Jennewein Genre: Comedy Fantasy Agency: N/A Buyer: Morgan Creek Note: Purchase price $750,000
Title: Texas Lead and Gold Logline: Set in the 1880s, the plot follows a Texas Ranger teamed with a black attorney-turned-thief on the trail of a criminal, who in turn is searching for a lost cache of gold. Writers: Michael Beckner and Jim Gorman Genre: Western Agency: Bauer Benedek Buyer: Largo Date: May 1990 Note: Purchase price $1,000,000
Title: The Ticking Man Logline: Nuclear-armed robot Writers: Brian Helgeland and Manny Coto Genre: Action Thriller Agency: N/A Buyer: Largo Pictures Date: N/A Note: $1,000,000
Title: The Ultimatum Logline: Nuclear terrorist techno-thriller Writers: Laurence Dworet and Robert Roy Pool Genre: Action Thriller Agency: N/A Buyer: Disney Date: N/A Note: Purchase price $1,000,000
For the rest of The Definitive Spec Script Deals List, go here.