Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Name	Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay
Current awards	95th Academy Awards
Awarded for	Best achievement in screenplay writing based on material from another medium
Presenter	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Country	United States
Year	1929
Website	oscars.org

Contents

History and background
Eligibility and nomination process
Winners and nominees
Multiple wins and nominations
Notable adaptations and controversies
See also

Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. This award honors the finest achievement in screenwriting for a film that derives its narrative foundation from previously published or produced material. Presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, it recognizes the creative translation of source material—such as novels, plays, short stories, television series, or even other films—into a cinematic screenplay. It is one of the two writing awards presented at the Academy Awards, alongside the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

History and background

The award was introduced at the 1st Academy Awards in 1929, though under the name Academy Award for Best Writing, Adaptation. Early ceremonies often honored the source material's author alongside the screenwriter, as seen with the first winner, Benjamin Glazer, for *7th Heaven*, based on the play by Austin Strong. The category name and rules have evolved significantly, with notable changes including a split into separate awards for story and screenplay in the late 1950s. The modern title, Best Adapted Screenplay, was formally adopted for the 74th Academy Awards, following the 2002 Academy Awards. Throughout its history, the award has chronicled the central role of adaptation in Hollywood, from the studio era's reliance on Broadway hits and bestseller lists to contemporary adaptations of graphic novels and non-fiction works.

Eligibility and nomination process

Eligibility requires that the screenplay be "based on material from another medium," with the Writers Guild of America's source material credit often serving as a guide. The nomination process begins with submissions from studios or distributors, after which the Academy's Writers Branch members vote to determine the nominees. Final voting to select the winner is conducted by the entire active Academy membership. Controversies occasionally arise over classification, debating whether a screenplay is truly "adapted" or should compete in the original category, a determination made by the Academy's Board of Governors.

Winners and nominees

Winners represent a diverse array of source material and cinematic excellence. Landmark winners include Joseph L. Mankiewicz for All About Eve, Francis Ford Coppola and Mario Puzo for The Godfather, William Goldman for *All the President's Men*, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala for *A Room with a View*. Recent recipients include Sian Heder for *CODA* and Sarah Polley for *Women Talking*. The list of nominees frequently includes films that are also contenders for Best Picture, underscoring the critical role of writing in a film's overall success.

Multiple wins and nominations

Several writers have achieved multiple victories, with Francis Ford Coppola, Mario Puzo, and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala each winning twice. Billy Wilder and George Seaton also have multiple wins, alongside numerous nominations. Contemporary figures with several nominations include Eric Roth, nominated for works like Forrest Gump and *Dune*, and Steven Zaillian, recognized for Schindler's List and The Irishman. The record for most nominations in the category is held by Richard Brooks and Stanley Kubrick, with five each.

Notable adaptations and controversies

The category has seen celebrated adaptations that have defined eras, such as *Gone with the Wind*, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, and *No Country for Old Men*. Controversies often involve eligibility disputes; for example, *Moonlight* was controversially placed in the adapted category due to its basis on an unproduced play, while The Social Network's win affirmed the adaptation of non-fiction like Ben Mezrich's The Accidental Billionaires. Debates also surface over perceived liberties taken with source material, as with adaptations of works by Stephen King or J.R.R. Tolkien.