Yes, it’s the second week of WGA’s 101 Greatest Screenplays of the 21st Century (*So Far).
Having scoured The Annual Black Lists, IMDB, and Amazon, I’m presenting 101 loglines and blurbs, and I’m dividing the task up over four weeks.
You know one thing that I’ve noticed about this list of loglines (and all of the others)? “Must” is rarely used. I saw recently on LinkedIn a literary manager decry that one of her pet peeves is the word “must” in a logline; she said something to the effect of “oh, he must [do x, y, z], must he?”
And if you think about it, “must” can be pretty contrived. (Why “must” any character do anything? Is it them wanting something organically? Or, is it the writer imposing his/her will on the character?). Anyway, it’s worth noting that “must” isn’t used in every single logline; it’s nevertheless interesting to see what is used instead.
Super important note: In most cases, we don’t know for sure if what’s below are the actual loglines submitted by the writers or if they are blurbs generated by the films’ marketing and advertising teams. However, I’ll venture to say that it’s more likely that a Black List logline was written by the writer and an Amazon one was written by someone else; if you’re looking for logline inspiration, the Amazon ones probably should be avoided (it’s so obvious that I even crossed them out – you’ll see why).
Still, the below descriptions are great to study and learn from.
Here they are…
26. The Dark Knight (2008)
- IMDB: When the menace known as the Joker wreaks havoc and chaos on the people of Gotham, Batman must accept one of the greatest psychological and physical tests of his ability to fight injustice.
- Amazon:
The Dark Knight reunites Christian Bale with director Christopher Nolan and takes Batman across the world in his quest to fight a growing criminal threat known as The Joker.
27. Arrival (2006)
- The Black List: Based on the short story by Ted Chiang. When alien crafts land around the world, a linguistics expert is recruited by the military to determine whether they come in peace or are a threat. As she learns to communicate with the aliens, she begins experiencing vivid flashbacks that become the key to unlocking the greater mystery about the true purpose of their visit.
- IMDB: A linguist works with the military to communicate with alien lifeforms after twelve mysterious spacecraft appear around the world.
- Amazon: When mysterious spacecraft touch down across the globe, an elite team – led by expert translator Louise Banks – races against time to decipher their intent.
28. Jojo Rabbit (2019)
- The Black List: After being severely hurt by a grenade at Hitler youth camp, a prideful and nationalistic ten-year old boy discovers that his mother is hiding a fifteen year old Jewish girl in their house.
- IMDB: A young German boy in the Hitler Youth whose hero and imaginary friend is the country’s dictator is shocked to discover that his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home.
Amazon: In Taika Waititi’s inventive satire, a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis) discovers his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic.
29. Inside Out (2015)
- IMDB: After young Riley is uprooted from her Midwest life and moved to San Francisco, her emotions – Joy, Fear, Anger, Disgust and Sadness – conflict on how best to navigate a new city, house, and school.
- Amazon: When her family moves across the country, tween Riley Anderson’s animated emotions get carried away – quite literally – on a fantastical journey through her mind.
Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature.
30. The Departed (2006)
- IMDB: An undercover cop and a mole in the police attempt to identify each other while infiltrating an Irish gang in South Boston.
- Amazon: A long-simmering hostility between the police and an Irish-American gang is primed to explode. The fuse is lit when a gangster infiltrates the police, and a cop goes undercover in the gang.
31. Spotlight (2015)
- The Black List: The true-life account of the Boston Globe’s breaking of the Catholic Priest scandal in 2003.
- IMDB: The true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered the massive scandal of child molestation and cover-up within the local Catholic Archdiocese, shaking the entire Catholic Church to its core.
- Amazon: This critically acclaimed film chronicles the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered a decades-long cover-up of child abuse within the local Catholic Archdiocese.
32. Whiplash (2014)
- The Black List: Under the director of a prestigious but borderline abusive instructor, a young college student begins to lose his humanity in his quest to become the core drummer of the top jazz orchestra in the country.
- IMDB: A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.
Amazon: Winner of 3 Academy Awards®, WHIPLASH tells the story of an ambitious student drummer (Miles Teller) and his ruthless teacher (J.K. Simmons) who will stop at nothing to achieve perfection.
33. Up (2009)
- The Black List: Under the director of a prestigious but borderline abusive instructor, a young college student begins to lose his humanity in his quest to become the core drummer of the top jazz orchestra in the country.
- IMDB: A promising young drummer enrolls at a cut-throat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.
- Amazon: Retired balloon salesman Carl Fredrickson, part rascal and part dreamer, takes to the sky by tying thousands of balloons to his house. Unbeknownst to Carl, a young Wildnerness Explorer named Russell becomes an unexpected stowaway for the journey.
34. Mean Girls (2004)
- IMDB: Cady Heron is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school, until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron Samuels, the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George.
- Amazon: Teenager Cady Heron must assimilate into Girl World to survive high school life after joining “The Plastics.” After she makes the mistake of falling for the Queen Bee Regina George’s ex-boyfriend Aaron, Cady must reckon with the true nature of high school.
35. Wall-E (2008)
- IMDB: In the distant future, a small waste-collecting robot inadvertently embarks on a space journey that will ultimately decide the fate of mankind.
- Amazon: After hundreds of lonely years of doing what he was built for, the curious and lovable WALL-E discovers a new purpose in life when he meets a sleek robot named EVE. Join them and a hilarious cast of characters on a journey across the universe.
36. Pan’s Labyrinth (2006)
- IMDB: In the Falangist Spain of 1944, the bookish young stepdaughter of a sadistic army officer escapes into an eerie but captivating fantasy world.
- Amazon: In authoritarian Spain of 1944, the young stepdaughter of an army officer escapes into an eerie fantasy world of her own making.
Winner of 3 Academy awards for Cinematography, Art Direction, and Makeup. Subtitled.
37. Inception (2010)
- IMDB: A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O., but his tragic past may doom the project and his team to disaster.
- Amazon: A thief who steals corporate secrets through the use of dream-sharing technology is given the inverse task of planting an idea into the mind of a C.E.O.
38. Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
- The Black List: An illiterate kid looks to become a contestant on the Hindi version of Who Wants to be A Millionaire in order to re-establish contact with the girl he loves, who is an ardent fan of the show.
- IMDB: A teenager from the slums of Mumbai becomes a contestant on the show ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati?’ When interrogated under suspicion of cheating, he revisits his past, revealing how he had all the answers.
- Amazon: N/A
39. Before Sunset (2004)
- IMDB: Nine years after Jesse and Celine first met, they encounter each other again on the French leg of Jesse’s book tour.
- Amazon: Nine years after Jesse and Celine first met, they encounter each other again on the French leg of Jesse’s book tour.
40. In Bruges (2008)
- The Black List: This script was on The Black List, but the logline is not available.
- IMDB: After a job gone wrong, hitman Ray and his partner await orders from their ruthless boss in Bruges, Belgium, the last place in the world Ray wants to be.
- Amazon:
Colin Farrell and Academy Award nominee Ralph Fiennes star in the edgy, outrageous, action-packed comedy that critics are calling “wildly entertaining!”
41. Mulholland Dr. (2001)
- IMDB: After a car wreck on Mulholland Drive renders a woman amnesiac, she and a Hollywood-hopeful search for clues and answers across Los Angeles in a twisting venture beyond dreams and reality.
- Amazon: An aspiring actress seeking fame in the City of Angels comes upon a strange woman battling amnesia after a car crash. Together they set out to uncover the mysterious strangers’ identity in a reality-defying journey
from avant-garde director David Lynch.
42. A Serious Man (2009)
- IMDB: Larry Gopnik, a Midwestern physics teacher, watches his life unravel over multiple sudden incidents. Though seeking meaning and answers amidst his turmoils, he seems to keep sinking
Amazon:The Coen Brothers film about a hapless college professor who endures a run of hardships of biblical proportions.
43. Amélie (2001)
- IMDB: Despite being caught in her imaginative world, Amelie, a young waitress, decides to help people find happiness. Her quest to spread joy leads her on a journey where she finds true love.
- Amazon: Quiet and reserved, Amelie Poulin spends her days as a waitress at a Paris cafe and entertains herself by playing kindhearted practical jokes on her father and her neighbors, finding love in the meantime.
44. Toy Story 3 (2010)
- IMDB: The toys are mistakenly delivered to a day-care center instead of the attic right before Andy leaves for college, and it’s up to Woody to convince the other toys that they weren’t abandoned and to return home.
- Amazon:
Disney•Pixar invites you back to the toy box for a heartwarming and hilarious movie. As Andy goes to college, Woody, Buzz and the toys wonder what will become of them. But, when they land in Daycare, they discover a new adventure is just beginning!
45. The Favourite (2018)
- IMDB: In early 18th-century England, the status quo at the court is upset when a new servant arrives and endears herself to a frail Queen Anne.
- Amazon:
Two cousins vie to curry the favour of an ailing Queen Anne in this Oscar(R)-nominated period film.
46. Zodiac (2007)
- The Black List: This script was on The Black List, but the logline is not available.
- IMDB: Between 1968 and 1983, a San Francisco cartoonist becomes an amateur detective obsessed with tracking down the Zodiac Killer, an unidentified individual who terrorizes Northern California with a killing spree.
- Amazon: Based on the Robert Graysmith books about the real life notorious Zodiac, a serial killer who terrorized San Francisco with a string of seemingly random murders during the 1960’s and 1970’s.
47. Gladiator (2000)
- IMDB: A former Roman General sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor who murdered his family and sent him into slavery.
- Amazon: A once great Roman commander is captured by the malevolent heir to the Emperor’s throne. Forced into exile, he trains as a gladiator in the hopes to one day enact his revenge.
48. The Incredibles (2004)
- IMDB: While trying to lead a quiet suburban life, a family of undercover superheroes are forced into action to save the world.
- Amazon: From the creative minds behind the Toy Story films comes this hilarious, action-packed animated adventure about a seemingly ordinary family with an incredible secret.
49. Knives Out (2019)
- IMDB: A detective investigates the death of the patriarch of an eccentric, combative family.
- Amazon: When renowned crime novelist Harlan Thrombey is found dead at his estate, the inquisitive Detective Benoit Blanc is mysteriously enlisted to investigate.
50. Ex Machina (2015)
- IMDB: A young programmer is selected to participate in a ground-breaking experiment in synthetic intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a highly advanced humanoid A.I.
- Amazon: In the mountain retreat of a gifted internet billionaire, a young man takes part in a strange experiment: testing an artificial intelligence, housed in the body of a beautiful robot girl.