The 40 Year Old Virgin script – Scripts on Screen

Judd Apatow Scripts

Judd Apatow has been credited with producing and writing some of the funniest films of this generation. However, it was only recently that he was able to accomplish this. He started his career in the film industry in the mid-90’s, producing and writing comedies such as Heavyweights (2005) and The Cable Guy (1996). Neither of these films were mainstream successes, despite The Cable Guy’s all star cast. Apatow was stunned that The Cable Guy wasn’t a monumental success. He believed that it would be just the thing to jump start his career.

The problem with The Cable Guy was really more of a timing issue than anything else. In the 1990’s, people were not ready for the type of dark comedy that Apatow presented. Comedies were distinguished from other genres by their lack of a poignant storyline. The Cable Guy was crossing genre boundaries, which may have led to its monumental disaster.

Apatow continued working and attempting to write films that would be successes. His big chance came when he wrote The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005). His timing was perfect. Film studios had been getting lazy. Instead of trying to create new ideas, comedic writers were settling for regurgitating the same old jokes under different packaging (i.e. Epic Movie).

The film was an outstanding success, making millions of dollars worldwide. Apatow’s writing style, once believed to be too quirky, proved to be a template to a new type of comedy. Seth Rogan’s Superbad (2007) followed the Apatow template and made over $100 million dollars. The template, which uses moralistic messages mixed with humorous antidotes and raunchy sight gags, have projected the comedy genre into a whole different field. In this field, comedic
films are not restricted by their genre. They can incorporate seriously dramatic elements, horror and romance in a way that touches peoples’ hearts as well as their funny bones.

Some screenwriters are beyond their time and will not be appreciated until later in life. This should not stop them from writing though. Screenwriters will do themselves a favor by learning from Apatow and refusing to give up on their ideas or toss them aside as “unmarketable.” A few years from now, who knows what the public will be attracted to?

Filmography

(2012) This is 40
(2009) Funny People Script
(2008) Pineapple Express Script
(2008) You Don’t Mess with the Zohan Script
(2007) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Script
(2007) Knocked Up Script
(2005) Fun with Dick and Jane [Transcript]
(2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin Script
(1995) Heavyweights Script ($)

Jonah Hill Scripts

No one gets famous simply by being talented. The music, film and art industries are all fueled by socialization. If a person is well connected, then he or she has a greater chance of succeeding with less talent than someone who has a lot of talent minus connections. In the case of Jonah Hill, connections to the industry have been one of the major tools that helped skyrocket his career to the record high that it is at now.

This is not to say Jonah Hill is not talented. The 28 year old producer/director/actor/writer has wowed audiences with his unique comedic style and adorable personality. From his first major role in Superbad (2007), Hill captured America’s heart in his realistic depiction of a desperately hopeless teenage boy trying to buy alcohol on a Friday night.

However, if it wasn’t for his connections, Hill may not have known, let alone had the chance to audition for the now-famous role. The real start of his career occurred when he met the children of Dustin Hoffman, who were present at one of his small time gigs. The kids loved his acting and introduced him to their father who helped jump start his career with a role in I Heart Huckabees (2004).

Since then, Hill has ridden the waves to fame and fortune in comedic films such as Get Him to the Greek (2010) and the upcoming film, 21 Jump Street (2012). Needless to say, Hill has a great future ahead of him as long as he continues to wow audiences with his remarkable acting roles.

Hopeful actors may take a note from Hill by remembering the importance of establishing connections in the industry. Script writers and directors would also do well to seek out talent and inspiration in small clubs and performing arts districts. There are plenty of talented people and stories in the world that never make it to Hollywood simply because of a lack of connections. A person who can sift through and find the gems will be justly rewarded for their efforts.

Filmography

(2012) 21 Jump Street
(2011) The Sitter
(2011) Moneyball Script
(2010) Megamind Script
(2010) Get Him to the Greek Script
(2010) How to Train Your Dragon Script
(2010) Cyrus
(2009) The Invention of Lying Script
(2009) Funny People Script
(2009) Night at the Museum: Escape From the Smithsonian Script
(2008) Just Add Water
(2008) Forgetting Sarah Marshall Script
(2008) Horton Hears a Who
(2008) Strange Wilderness [Transcript]
(2007) Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story [Transcript]
(2007) Superbad Script
(2007) Evan Almighty [Transcript]
(2007) Knocked Up Script
(2007) Rocket Science [Transcript]
(2006) 10 Items or Less
(2006) Accepted
(2006) Click
(2006) Grandma’s Boy
(2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin Script
(2004) I Heart Huckabees [Transcript]

Seth Rogan Scripts

Seth Rogan is one of the few comedians who have skyrocketed to success following the success of the film, 40 Year Old Virgin (2005). The film, which starred many now-famous actors such as Steve Carrell and Jonah Hill, was an original masterpiece that changed the path of comedic films.

Judd Apatow, the writer of the 40 Year Old Virgin, reaped enormous fame and success following this film, and continued to work with Rogan in other features such as Pineapple Express (2008) and Knocked Up (2007). The repeated film successes gave Rogan the fame and reputation that he needed to start his own career as a writer.

Following the success of Knocked Up, Rogan wrote a film that became a national sensation, spurring on the careers of even more film actors including Jonah Hill and Michael Cera. That film was called Superbad (2007). Since this film, Rogan has become a household name. On IMDB.com, he is on the top 500 list of celebrities and he is only climbing upwards from there.

Screenwriters may have noticed the types of comedic trends that have been brewing in Hollywood lately, spurred on since the release of the nearly-moral yet raunchy 40 Year Old Virgin. Despite the dirty humor that occurs, popular comedic films have also added on a sentimentalism that is downright endearing. Behind the crude humor are deeper issues that many people deal with in their lives.

By employing moralistic elements and endearing characters, comedic films have been able to bridge the gap that has forever divided them from classic dramas and romances. Long gone are the tasteless, ill-prepared lobotomies that once cursed the comedy genre. Now there is realism and sentimentality that could just make comedy a respectable genre… perhaps even an Oscar winner!

Filmography

(2013) The Apocalypse
(2012) The Guilt Trip
(2012) For a Good Time, Call…
(2011) 50/50 Script
(2011) Take This Waltz
(2011) Kung Fu Panda 2
(2011) Paul
(2011) The Green Hornet Script
(2009) Funny People Script
(2009) Monsters vs Aliens
(2009) Observe and Report
(2009) Fanboys
(2008) Zack and Miri Make a Porno
(2008) Pineapple Express Script
(2008) Step Brothers [Transcript]
(2008) Kung Fu Panda [Transcript]
(2008) Horton Hears a Who!
(2008) The Spiderwick Chronicles [Transcript]
(2007) Superbad Script
(2007) Shrek the Third Script
(2007) Knocked Up Script
(2006) You, Me and Dupree
(2005) The 40 Year Old Virgin Script
(2004) Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
(2001) Donnie Darko Script

The 40 Year Old Virgin

Year:2005

Director:Judd Apatow

Written by:Judd Apatow (Screenplay), Steve Carell (Screenplay)

Script Synopsis:Andy Stitzer has a pleasant life with a nice apartment and a job stamping invoices at an electronics store. But at age 40, there's one thing Andy hasn't done, and it's really bothering his sex-obsessed male co-workers: Andy is still a virgin. Determined to help Andy get laid, the guys make it their mission to de-virginize him. But it all seems hopeless until Andy meets small business owner Trish, a single mom.

The 40 Year Old Virgin Script Resources:

The 40 Year Old Virgin Script PDF at The Daily Script
The 40 Year Old Virgin Script PDF at Script Slug
The 40 Year Old Virgin Script PDF - 9/30/04 1ST DRAFT at Script City ($)
The 40 Year Old Virgin Script PDF - Early 9-30-04 at Script Fly ($)
The 40 Year Old Virgin Transcript at Script-O-Rama

Note: Multiple links are listed since (a) different versions exist and (b) many scripts posted become unavailable over time. Please notify me if you encounter a stale link.