2020 Spec Script Deals Analysis: Genres

By my count, Hollywood studios, production companies, and financiers acquired 25 spec scripts in 2020. During this week, I’ll be breaking down those numbers.

Today, we look at deals by genre. Some scripts are categorized as cross genres or sub-genres, so those are noted where relevant under their primary genre category.

Note: Genre designations are not scientific, so you have to understand these numbers are general.

2020 SPEC SCRIPT DEALS BY GENRE

Thriller — 8
Horror-1
Mystery-1
Social-1

Comedy — 5

Horror — 4

Science Fiction — 4
Drama-1
Thriller-1

Action — 2

Drama — 1
Fantasy-1

Heist — 1

Romance — 1

Western — 1
Supernatural-1

First, let’s compare to 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019.

2008 (88 deals)

COMEDY 41
ACTION 13
DRAMA 12
THRILLER 10
FANTASY 3
SCIENCE FICTION 3
ADVENTURE 2
DISASTER 2
FAMILY 1
HORROR 1

2009 (68 deals)

COMEDY 26
THRILLER 12
ACTION 11
DRAMA 7
SCIENCE FICTION 4
ROMANTIC COMEDY 3
FAMILY 1
FANTASY 1
HEIST 1
HORROR 1
MURDER MYSTERY 1

2010 (55 deals)

COMEDY 16
ACTION 14
THRILLER 10
SCIENCE FICTION 7
DRAMA 4
FAMILY 2
FANTASY 1
MYSTERY 1

2011 (110 deals)

ACTION 29
THRILLER 20
COMEDY 19
DRAMA 14
SCIENCE FICTION 13
HORROR 8
FAMILY 2
FAIRY TALE 1
HEIST 1
SUPERNATURAL 1
WESTERN 1

2012 (99 deals)

ACTION 27
THRILLER 20
COMEDY 20
SCIENCE FICTION 12
DRAMA 10
HORROR 9
SUPERNATURAL 1

2013 (100 deals)

THRILLER 25
ACTION 20
COMEDY 18
DRAMA 17
SCIENCE FICTION 13
HORROR 3
WESTERN 2
DISASTER 1
FAMILY 1

2014 (62 deals)

ACTION 17
COMEDY 12
DRAMA 10
SCIENCE FICTION 9
THRILLER 8
HORROR 5
FANTASY 2

2015 (55 deals)

DRAMA 17
ACTION 13
THRILLER 10
COMEDY 7
SCIENCE FICTION 7
FAMILY 1

2016 (75 deals)

DRAMA 24
COMEDY 18
THRILLER 13
ACTION 10
SCIENCE FICTION 8
WESTERN 2

2017 (61 deals)

DRAMA 16
SCIENCE FICTION 12
THRILLER 11
ACTION 10
COMEDY 7
HORROR 5

2018 (40 deals)

SCIENCE FICTION 10
COMEDY 9
DRAMA 9
HORROR 4
THRILLER 4
ACTION 3
FAMILY 1

2019 (32 deals)

COMEDY 10
THRILLER 9
HORROR 5
SCIENCE FICTION 4
ACTION 3
DRAMA 3
FAMILY 2
FANTASY 1
WESTERN 1

What to make of these numbers?

• With just 25 spec script deals in 2020, this continues a downward trend since 2016. One contributing factor: The final chapter of the WGA vs. ATA dispute playing out with the big four agencies — CAA, ICM, UTA, WME. Note: That battle is officially over and the writers have won!
• As discussed previously, the major studios continue to rely on developing projects based on preexisting content, hence, the presence of sequels, prequels, shequels, remakes, and reboots. This has proved to be a safer bet than original content and as long as audiences yearn for content awash in nostalgia, it is unlikely to see that dynamic change and yet…
• The first four spec script deals in 2021 are all based on original ideas:

1.Title: The Hound Logline: After being bitten by a mysterious stray dog, a timid dog-groomer is forced to wrestle with dark, new desires as her body goes through unexpected changes. Writer: Lisa Duva Genre: Horror Comedy Agency: CAA Buyer: Searchlight Pictures Date: 1/13/2021. Notes: Zoey Deutch will produce. Deutch is also attached to star. The script was on the 2019 Purple List (NYU).

2.Title: Untitled David Guggenheim Project Logline: A big action concept with franchise potential, a supernatural element, and a big lead role for an actress. Writer: David Guggenheim Genre: Action Agency: Verve Management: Lit Entertainment Group Buyer: Sony Pictures Entertainment Date: 1/14/2021. Notes: High-six figure deal.

3.Title: Delilah Logline: Described as “in the vein of Gone Girl” with a “strong female lead.” Writers: Harrison Query, Tommy Wallach Genre: Thriller Agency: Verve Management: Ground Control Buyer: Screen Gems Date: 1/15/2021. Notes: Preemptive sale.

4.Title: Void Logline: A group of space crew members who begin to turn up dead while attempting to escape from a distant moon where their memories are erased by a magnetic burst every eight hours. Writer: Chris Borrelli Genre: Science Fiction Thriller Agency: Verve Management: All Day Everyday Buyer: Netflix Date: 2/5/2021. Notes: This is Borrelli’s 8th spec script deal.

Plus, there’s this: The first spec script deal to be announced in 2020 did not happen until March 4th. There have already been 4 confirmed spec script deals in 2021, all major buyers. Does this suggest a rebound in the spec script market? We can only hope!

• Finally, it is interesting to note that eight of the spec script deals in 2020 were Thrillers… nine if you add a Horror Thriller. That represents 36% of all spec script deals for the year. I wonder whether the pandemic had anything to do with that?

We have no idea how things will shake out post-pandemic. Hopefully, we will all be back in movie theaters by the summer or fall. That said, day-and-date is here to stay with major studios intent on simultaneously releasing movies theatrically and via their streaming services of SVOD. The fact is buyers continue to acquire movie projects. That is a good sign.

My prediction: We see an uptick in the spec script deal market this year. Maybe on the order of 50 deals.

2020 Spec Script Deal List