Been studying a number of scripts. I've always gone by the rule of thumb that feature length scripts are to be between 110 to 120 pages. But I've been seeing a number of scripts that are less than that. For example "Drag Me to Hell" was 86 pages. "Get Out" was 100 pages. "Annabelle" was 88 pages. "A Quiet Place" was 85 pages. Has what is considered a feature length screenplay changed? In other words if my screenplay is less than 110 pages am I dead in the water when I submit it. Thanks for any advice or thoughts.
Screenwriting : What is considered to the be length of a feature screenplay today? by Martin Reese
CEO at Birth of a Notion, LLC ♦ Producer, Screenwriter, Director
7 years ago
What is considered to the be length of a feature screenplay today?
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I think anywhere from 90-120 is acceptable.
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I think the answer lies in genre. The scripts you mentioned were all horror/thriller scripts which tend to clock in at around 90 pages. As do comedies. Dramas usually run longer at 90-110.
Based on feedback from an executive I had received, they’d like to see no more than 90 pages unless you’re writing an expansive biopic. I had submitted a comedy at 110 pages as I understood to be the norm.
If the movie lasts 90 minutes, the script should be read accordingly out loud, so the math goes like this; you calculate a little bit less than a minute per page, and you have to think about some last changes that may happen that will add additional pages.
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I suggest to students to aim for 100 pages; but anything in the 90 - 110 page range is fine - I've seen some a little more/a little less depending on the action/dialog ratio. There is no set answer.
Most festivals stipulate feature screenplays shouldn't be more than 120, but most spec feature length screenplays shouldn't be more than 100-110 pages. Of course, you've still got to account for whether the script is dialogue or action driven. That still shouldn't put you beyond 110 pages for a quality, juicy screenplay.
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Martin, as long as I can get a screenplay to be between 100-120 pages, I'm fine with it...although the other day, I downloaded ScreenCraft's "Script Reader's Guide" from 4-4-2014...and it said that 110-125 pages would do the trick.
Glad you're here on Stage 32, Martin! All the VERY BEST to you!
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Personally, I aim for between 90-100 pages. Keep it concise, flowing, and lean.
As long as it has to be.
Then during rewrites it will end up at around 90-100, unless it needs to be longer or shorter.
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if it's heavy in dialogue it generally runs at a higher page count.
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Here's my theory: page count doesn't matter if you got a track record.
If no track record/no representation? 110 max & simple formatting.
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The producers who have been giving me assignments lately have been asking for between 90 and 110 pages for dramas and thrillers, up to 120 for action. Family and comedy tend to range 85-100 pages. But really, there is no rule. You do what fits the story and drama, remembering a properly formatted screenplay works out to roughly a page per minute of screen time.