web resources: where to find scripts online
Live outside of Los Angeles? Can’t visit the WGF Library in person?
There are lots of scripts available online. If you’re looking for a script, the simplest way to find it is by Googling it: Title + script (or screenplay) + pdf, e.g:
“Little Miss Sunshine screenplay pdf”
For television scripts, it’s mostly pilots that you’ll find online. You would search:
“Stranger Things pilot script pdf”
If browsing is more your style, these are the best sites for finding scripts online:
BBC SCRIPT LIBRARY
A nice selection of scripts you can download from the BBC. Great resource for Doctor Who scripts.
THE DAILY SCRIPT
A large selection of both film and TV scripts in HTML, PDF and text form.
DEADLINE – READ THE SCREENPLAY
During film awards season (December to March), studios will often post scripts online via Deadline. Be sure to download the scripts as soon as you see them. Sometimes they get taken down once awards season ends.
DREW’S SCRIPT-O-RAMA
A slightly dated, but fun, site with mostly feature scripts (and some transcripts) in HTML and PDF format.
SCRIPT READER PRO – 50 BEST SCREENPLAYS TO READ IN EVERY GENRE
Downloadable screenplays for current films across multiple genres.
GO INTO THE STORY
Blogger for The Black List, Scott Myers, occasionally posts full scripts on his blog.
SCREENPLAYS FOR YOU
Scripts and transcripts in HTML and PDF form.
THE SCRIPT LAB: SCREENPLAY LIBRARY
You have to sign-up for a free account with The Script Lab to download scripts, but they have a large selection of feature scripts and more TV than some other sites. Worth it.
THE SCRIPT SAVANT
Large selection of scripts and transcripts in mostly PDF format.
SCRIPT SLUG
Great site for mostly film scripts (but some TV) in PDF format.
SHORE SCRIPTS – GENRE SCREENPLAY COLLECTION
Scripts in PDF format across multiple genres.
SIMPLY SCRIPTS
Scripts in PDF and HTML format. This site is particularly useful around awards season as they tend to aggregate scripts the studios release for awards consideration.
TV WRITING
The best site on the Internet for finding a wide range of current TV pilots as well as classic shows and pitches and show bibles in PDF format.
ARCHIVE.ORG
Occasionally, you can find certain scripts on the Internet Archive.
OLD TIME RADIO RESEARCHERS GROUP
Tons and tons of digitized old radio scripts in PDF format.
Other places to find scripts:
University Libraries, especially those with film or screenwriting programs, tend to have script collections. Check out our list of other libraries and institutions that collect scripts.
While our library does not post scripts online due to copyright and donor agreements, we do have several helpful blog series that go in-depth with script formatting and use screenshots from scripts as examples. Also, check out our resource center.
If you’ve exhausted all other options, some hard-to-find scripts are available for purchase at these sites: