How many amateur scripts have been made into critically/commercially successful feature films over, let's say the last ten, years?

Just curious.

Hard to say. I do know how many films have been made from my scripts - it's none. Barstards.

I do know Denzel is rather fond of spec scripts. The remake of Beh Hur is supoosed to be a spec. Highlander was, as was Lethal Weapon. But those two were ages ago. That Snow White and the Huntsman springs to mind.

I'd say there are dozens every year. A search on it seems to confirm as much. So the answer is quite a few.

R

Those are specs though...usually written by professional writers, just not at the company behest.

I'm trying to look for films that became successful that were specs from people completely outside the industry.

Quoted from rendevous I do know Denzel is rather fond of spec scripts. R

The Book of Eli comes to mind. The writer had a game (just one game made) before they picked his script. I think it's pretty lucky and the movie made it to big screen with an A-list actor. And it's a good movie too.

Is that you're asking, Rick?
We could make a list here - it would be interesting to see what kind of screenplays from first-time authors (or relatively fresh authors - whatever) they pick out.  

Didn't Saving Mr. Banks come from an industry outsider?  Picked up by Disney, no less?

I do know that it was a Blacklist script that I read several years prior to the film.

The King's Speech? The Imitation Game? And yes, Saving Mr. Banks.

It all depends on your definitions really, Mr Banks was written by an outsider to the industry but hardly amateur as she'd created and penned the TV show Terra Nova before Mr Banks...

If you look at the success stories from Page, Austin etc then there's a few in there who've done well, but often that's getting an agent and then getting hired to work on other stuff, their amateur scrip has in essence opened doors for them!

Of course when I sell on of my features I'll come back to this thread an update

Anthony

Armored comes to mind. Haven no idea how successful it was as far as box office goes, but the writer was just a regular guy and forum member at DD. I believe he sold it for 600K. He got an agent and moved from Canada to L.A. Never sold anything again. So far, at least and ended up moving back to Canada.

Good Will Hunting and Rocky

Quoted from Grandma Bear Armored comes to mind. Haven no idea how successful it was as far as box office goes, but the writer was just a regular guy and forum member at DD. I believe he sold it for 600K. He got an agent and moved from Canada to L.A. Never sold anything again. So far, at least and ended up moving back to Canada.

That movie didn't do very well at the box office nor with critics. But... damn... 600k, that's awesome.

King of California I think was made of a spec script and the guy did nothing after it.

The Boondock Saints