Highest-Paid.net

For feature length films, Hollywood screenwriters initially earn an average minimum of $40,000 for a screenplay. Some writers, however, can earn substantially more. Joe Eszterhas, for instance, became the highest paid screenwriter in 1992 when he was paid $3 million for the script to Basic Instinct. Fifteen years later, though, that title has changed hands. Who is currently Hollywood’s highest paid screenwriter?

The screenplay for Déjà Vu (2006), the science fiction crime thriller starring Denzel Washington, brought in $5 million between the $2 million guarantee and the $3 million production bonus, making it the most expensive screenplay ever. However, the movie had two screenwriters, Terry Rossio and Bill Marsilii. The screenplay for Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006) earned $4 million, but this was also split between two writers, Will Ferrell and Adam McKay. Panic Room (2002) earned its single writer, David Koepp, $4 million but this includes his services as producer of the film.

The title of highest paid screenwriter belongs to Shane Black. Black wrote the screenplay for The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996), a thriller starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson. The screenplay earned $4 million and Black shares the writing credits for this movie with no other writers.

Hollywood’s highest paid screenwriter has most recently written Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and A.W.O.L. (2006).