Writers Guild of America Awards Reviews for 2024

The Writers Guild of America Awards stands as a prestigious celebration of exceptional writing in the entertainment industry. 

At its core, this celebration embodies the essence of storytelling—an art form that captivates, challenges, and inspires. From the silver screen to the small screen, from the realms of fiction to the corridors of reality, the Writers Guild of America Awards recognises the diverse tapestry of narratives that enrich our lives.

As we applaud the winners who grace the stage, we also celebrate the countless writers whose words illuminate our screens and stir our souls. For behind every award, there's a story—a story of dedication, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to the craft.

So, let us raise our pens in tribute to the brilliance that shines forth from the 2024 Writers Guild of America Awards—a celebration of storytelling in its purest form, an ode to the power of words to transcend, transform, and unite us all.

What Sets the Writers Guild of America Awards Apart from Other Awards?

Unlike other accolades in the industry, the Writers Guild of America Awards places a singular focus on the craft of writing. It honours the brilliance of storytelling, character development, and dialogue, recognising the crucial role of writers in shaping cinematic narratives.

How Do the Writers Guild of America Awards Influence the Film Industry?

The impact of these awards reverberates throughout the film industry, influencing trends and practices in storytelling. Winning a Writers Guild of America Award serves as a stamp of approval, validating the creativity and craftsmanship of writers and often propelling their careers to new heights.

The Big Winners Of The Writers Guild of America Awards 2024

Quick Recap of the Nominees and Winners by Major Category

Step into the limelight with the illustrious nominees and winners of the 2024 Writers Guild of America Awards. These luminaries, with their unmatched talent and boundless imagination, have redefined storytelling in both film and television, right now.

Here are the winners, and the contending nominees – as you’ll see, competition was tough this year.

Film

Best Original Screenplay

• Winner: The Holdovers by David Hemingson
• Air by Alex Convery
• Barbie by Greta Gerwig & Noah Baumbach
• May December by Samy Burch; story by Samy Burch & Alex Mechanik
• Past Lives by Celine Song

Best Adapted Screenplay

• Winner: American Fiction by Cord Jefferson; based on the novel Erasure by Percival Everett
• Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. by Kelly Fremon Craig; based on the book by Judy Blume
• Killers of the Flower Moon by Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese; based on the book by David Grann
• Nyad by Julia Cox; based on the book Find a Way by Diana Nyad
• Oppenheimer by Christopher Nolan; based on the book American Prometheus by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin

Best Documentary Screenplay

• Winner: The Pigeon Tunnel by Errol Morris
• Bella! by Jeff L. Lieberman
• It Ain't Over by Sean Mullin
• Stamped from the Beginning by David Teague; based on the book Stamped from the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
• What the Hell Happened to Blood, Sweat & Tears? by John Scheinfeld

Television

Drama Series

• Winner: Succession (HBO/Max) – Writers: Will Arbery, Jesse Armstrong, Miriam Battye, Jon Brown, Jamie Carragher, Ted Cohen, Nate Elston, Francesca Gardiner, Callie Hersheway, Lucy Prebble, Georgia Pritchett, Tony Roche, Susan Soon He Stanton, Will Tracy
• The Crown (Netflix) – Writers: Daniel Marc Janes, Peter Morgan, Meriel Sheibani-Clare, Jonathan Wilson
• The Curse (Showtime) – Writers: Carmen Christopher, Nathan Fielder, Alex Huggins, Carrie Kemper, Benny Safdie
• The Diplomat (Netflix) – Writers: Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, Mia Chung, Anna Hagen, Amanda Johnson-Zetterstrom, Peter Noah
• The Last of Us (HBO/Max) – Writers: Neil Druckmann, Craig Mazin

Comedy Series

• Winner: The Bear (FX) – Writers: Karen Joseph Adcock, Joanna Calo, Kelly Galuska, Rene Gube, Sofya Levitsky-Weitz, Stacy Osei-Kuffour, Alex Russell, Catherine Schetina, Christopher Storer
• Abbott Elementary (ABC) – Writers: Quinta Brunson, Ava Coleman, Riley Dufurrena, Justin Halpern, Joya McCrory, Morgan Murphy, Brittani Nichols, Kate Peterman, Brian Rubenstein, Patrick Schumacker, Justin Tan, Jordan Temple, Garrett Werner
• Barry (HBO/Max) – Writers: Emma Barrie, Alec Berg, Duffy Boudreau, Bill Hader, Emily Heller, Nicky Hirschhorn, Jason Kim, Liz Sarnoff
• Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee) – Writers: Tanner Bean, Lee Eisenberg, Marcos Gonzalez, Cody Heller, Mekki Leeper, Katrina Mathewson, Kerry O’Neill, Ese Shaw, Gene Stupnitsky, Andrew Weinberg, Evan Williams
• Only Murders in the Building (Hulu) – Writers: Matteo Borghese, Madeleine George, Sas E. Goldberg, Joshua Allen Griffith, John Hoffman, Elaine Ko, Noah Levine, Tess Morris, J.J. Philbin, Ben Philippe, Jake Schnesel, Ben Smith, Siena Streiber, Pete Swanson, Rob Turbovsky 

New Series

• Winner: The Last of Us (HBO/Max) – Writers: Neil Druckmann, Halley Gross, Craig Mazin, Bo Shim
• The Diplomat (Netflix) – Writers: Eli Attie, Debora Cahn, Mia Chung, Anna Hagen, Amanda Johnson-Zetterstrom, Peter Noah
• Jury Duty (Amazon Freevee) – Writers: Tanner Bean, Lee Eisenberg, Marcos Gonzalez, Cody Heller, Mekki Leeper, Katrina Mathewson, Kerry O’Neill, Ese Shaw, Gene Stupnitsky, Andrew Weinberg, Evan Williams
• Poker Face (Peacock) – Writers: Christine Boylan, Wyatt Cain, Chris Downey, CS Fischer, Rian Johnson, Alice Ju, Joe Lawson, Natasha Lyonne, Charlie Peppers, Lilla Zuckerman, Nora Zuckerman
• Shrinking (Apple TV+) – Writers: Wally Baram, Rachna Fruchbom, Brian Gallivan, Neil Goldman, Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, Annie Mebane, Bill Posley, Jason Segel, Sofia Selig

Snubs and Controversies

Amidst the jubilation of triumphs at the Writers Guild of America Awards, there lingered whispers of snubs and controversies, reminding us that even in the realm of celebrated creativity, not all tales end in glory.

• The Barbie Letdown: In a surprising twist, the enchanting world of "Barbie" failed to sway the judges in the Best Original Screenplay category, losing out to the formidable contender, "The Holdovers." Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach's collaboration took 2023 by storm with its narrative rich in imagination and nostalgia. And even after being a major contender at most of the big awards, it fell short of claiming the coveted prize at this one, leaving audiences and enthusiasts alike pondering over the intricacies of the selection process.
• The Adaptation Conundrum: The race for Best Adapted Screenplay witnessed its own share of upheaval, with a couple of heavyweight contenders conceding defeat to the unexpected triumph of "American Fiction." Despite the formidable source material, and a Best Picture win at the Oscars, “Oppenheimer,” Christopher Nolan's ambitious project about the advent of the atomic bomb, missed the nod. Eric Roth and Martin Scorsese fell short in the eyes of the guild, too. With the powerful “Killers of the Flower Moon” getting a resounding ‘no.’  

These are the snubs that perhaps sparked the most debates over the elusive alchemy that determines a winning screenplay. But as the dust settles and the curtains draw to a close, they also remain to serve as poignant reminders of the subjective nature of artistic evaluation, casting a spotlight on the complexities inherent in recognising excellence in storytelling.

Reflecting on the Legacy of the Writers Guild of America Awards

From the golden age of Hollywood to the digital era of streaming platforms, the craft of writing has endured, adapting and thriving in the face of technological advancements and shifting audience preferences.

With each passing year, the Writers Guild of America Awards captures the zeitgeist of our times, honouring narratives that resonate with contemporary audiences while also paying homage to timeless classics that continue to captivate hearts decades after their inception. It's a testament to the versatility and resilience of storytelling as an art form.

In the boundless expanse of imagination, there are countless stories waiting to be told, and it is the writers of tomorrow who will continue to shape the narratives that define our collective journey through the realms of fantasy, drama, and everything in between, on our screens.

We can’t wait to see what’s coming next, and we know you can’t wait either, so watch this space.