Legendary Horror Franchise Scripts

It’s difficult to make a horror film that can make a big enough impression with audiences to spark an entire franchise. Many directors have attempted to capture an audience with stunning monsters, open-ended story lines and intense special effects. However, audiences are difficult to please and it’s not uncommon for these movies to fall directly into obscurity.

But there are times when a horror movie is good enough to really get the attention of horror film addicts and the general movie-goers as well. These films, for some reason or another, just have the chemistry of a horror film concocted in a perfect manner to attract an audience and keep them wanting more.

For the aspiring horror film writer, these films are crucial for understanding what balance of story and characters is necessary to create a perfect franchise and the best way to start is at the beginning. Contained in the list below is the premiere films of several different successful franchises spanning from the 1970’s to today.  Upon close observation, an aspiring screenwriter may be able to recognize a pattern and therefore figure out a “formula” for creating the perfect scary movie. For those who choose to set upon this journey, I wish you good luck in finding the Holy Grail of the horror industry.

  1. (1968) Night of the Living Dead Script [Transcript]
  2. (1978) Halloween Script
  3. (1979) Phantasm Script [Transcript]
  4. (1980) Friday the 13th Script
  5. (1984) Nightmare on Elm Street Script
  6. (1984) Children of the Corn Script
  7. (1987) Hellraiser Script
  8. (1988) Child’s Play Script
  9. (2004) Saw Script
  10. (2007) Paranormal Activity Script

Amy Adams Scripts

Miltary brat and Mormon, Amy Adams has proven herself as quite the actress over the last 12 years. Here are all of the movies she appeared in.

  1. The Muppets (2011)
  2. On the Road (2011)
  3. The Fighter Script $ (2010)
  4. Leap Year Script $ (2010)
  5. Julie and Julia Script $ (2009)
  6. Moonlight Serenade (2009)
  7. Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian Script $ (2009)
  8. Sunshine Cleaning Script (2009)
  9. Doubt Script (2008)
  10. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
  11. Charlie Wilson’s War Script (2007)
  12. Enchanted Script $ (2007)
  13. Underdog(2007)
  14. The Ex (2007)
  15. Standing Still (2006)
  16. Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Script $ (2006)
  17. Tenacious D in: The Pick of Destiny(2006)
  18. Junebug Script (2005)
  19. The Wedding Date Script (2005)
  20. The Slaughter Rule (2003)
  21. Catch Me If You Can Script (2002)
  22. Pumpkin Script $ (2002)
  23. Serving Sara Script $ (2002)
  24. Cruel Intentions 2 (2000)
  25. Psycho Beach Party Script $ (2000)
  26. The Peter Principle (2000)
  27. Drop Dead Gorgeous Script (1999)

William Friedkin Scripts

From The French Connection to The Exorcist to Rules of Engagement, William Friedkin had made some of the most iconic movies in Hollywood. Here are all of the films he has directed to date:

  1. Killer Joe (2011)
  2. Bug (2006)
  3. The Hunted Script  (2003)
  4. Rules of Engagement Script $ (2000)
  5. 12 Angry Men  (1997)
  6. Jade Script (1995)
  7. Blue Chips Script $ (1994)
  8. The Guardian Script $ (1990)
  9. C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988)
  10. Rampage Script (1987)
  11. C.A.T. Squad (1986)
  12. To Live and Die in L.A. Script (1985)
  13. Deal of the Century Script  (1983)
  14. Cruising Script  (1980)
  15. The Brink’s Job Script (1978)
  16. Sorcerer Script  (1977)
  17. The Exorcist Script (1973)
  18. The French Connection Script (1971)
  19. The Boys in the Band (1970)
  20. The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968)
  21. The Birthday Party (1968)
  22. Good Times (1967)

DC Comics Movie Scripts

DC Comics has created some of the greatest super heroes in history and has produced some of the greatest movies to help those heroes leap out of the pages.

  1. Superman and the Mole Men (1951)
  2. Stamp Day for Superman (1954)
  3. Batman Script $ (1966)
  4. Superman Script (1978)
  5. Superman II Script (1980)
  6. Swamp Thing Script $ (1982)
  7. Superman III Script  (1983)
  8. Supergirl Script (1984)
  9. Superman IV : The Quest for Peace Script  (1987)
  10. The Return of Swamp Thing (1989)
  11. Batman Script (1989)
  12. Batman Return Script (1992)
  13. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Script $ (1993) (Animated)
  14. Batman Forever Script (1995)
  15. Batman & Robin Script (1997)
  16. Steel (1997)
  17. Justice League of America (1997)
  18. Gen¹³ (1998) (Animated)
  19. Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero (1998) (Animated)
  20. Batman Beyond: Return of the Joker Script (2000) (Animated)
  21. Road to Perdition Script $ (2002)
  22. The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Script $ (2003)
  23. Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman (2003) (Animated)
  24. Catwoman Script (2004)
  25. A History of Violence (2005)
  26. Batman Begins Script (2005)
  27. Constantine Script (2005)
  28. V for Vendetta Script (2005)
  29. The Batman vs. Dracula (2005)
  30. Superman Return Script $ (2006)
  31. Superman: Brainiac Attacks (2006)
  32. Stardust Script $ (2007)
  33. Teen Titans: Trouble in Tokyo (2007)
  34. Superman: Doomsday (2007)
  35. The Dark Knight Script (2008)
  36. The Spirit (2008)
  37. Justice League: The New Frontier (Animated) (2008)
  38. Batman: Gotham Knight (Animated) (2008)
  39. Watchmen Script (2009)
  40. Wonder Woman (Animated) (2009)
  41. Tales of the Black Freighter (Animated) (2009)
  42. Green Lantern: First Flight (Animated) (2009)
  43. Superman/Batman: Public (Animated) (2009)
  44. Jonah Hex Script $ (2010)
  45. The Losers Script (2010)
  46. Red Summit (2010)
  47. Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths (Animated) (2010)
  48. Batman: Under the Red Hood (Animated) (2010)
  49. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (Animated) (2010)
  50. DC Showcase Original Shorts Collection (Animated) (2010)
  51. Green Lantern Script $ (2011)
  52. All-Star Superman (Animated) (2011)
  53. Green Lantern: Emerald Knights Collection (Animated) (2011)
  54. Batman: Year One Script (Animated) (2011)

Lars Von Trier Scripts

Lars Von Trier is one of the few honest directors left in the business. The 50-something year old Danish director has created films that continuously defied conventional norms of morality, directorial style and pretty much anything else that could risk defiance. What this rebellion results in are poignant films that make an audience experience the world through the eyes of Trier. Despite his talent,  Trier is not a mainstream director nor does he desire to fall under that category. Trier once stated,

“You have to fight the urge to do a big action movie. You avoid ‘Batman.’ The bigger it is, the worse it is.” (IMDB.com, 2011).

Trier believes in expression and notices how American films are usually devoid of the individual perspective of a director- with film companies vying more for financial gain than a truly enchanting film. Trier, on the other hand, believes in film making not only as a source of income, but as a therapeutic and personal experience.

That being said, Trier suffers from many phobias including the fear of underground structures, flying and illness. His belief is that these phobias stemmed from his terrible childhood. According to Trier, his mother allowed him complete freedom over everything in his life except “feelings, religion and enjoyment” (Beltzer, 2011) which led to his paranoid complexity of phobias and anxiety attacks. These emotions and experiences reflect in Trier’s films and gives the viewer a firsthand look at the painful experiences that Trier has lived through.

 

Filmography

References

Beltzer, T. (2011) “Lars Von Trier” Retrieved from http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2002/great-directors/vontrier/IMDB.com (2011) “Lars Von Trier” Retrieved from http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001885/

Summer Glau Scripts

This beautiful Texan is best known for her science-fiction, mentally disturbed roles. Here are all of the movies the 31-year-old has appeared in.

  1. Knights of Badassdom (2011)
  2. The Legend of Hell’s Gate: An American Conspiracy (2011)
  3. Superman/Batman: Apocalypse (2010) (Animated)
  4. Deadly Honeymoon (2010)
  5. The Initiation of Sarah (2006)
  6. Mammoth Script $ (2006)
  7. Serenity Script (2005)