I have written a few short stories that turn out to be 5 or 10 minutes. Now I am currently in the middle of writing a full-length screenplay and was wondering, what is a good amount for a full length? I heard that there is an amount that, if it is under, studios will not except it. Is that true, and if so, what is that amount?
–Ross
Most of the time, you’ll hear 120 pages, which is a good rule of thumb. Honestly, a script could be anywhere from 100 to 145 pages and still be a reasonable-length movie, but the majority of scripts that go into production fall between 110 and 120 pages. That’s generally what I aim for.
I thought it was Hollywood urban legend, but Warner Bros. actually has in their screenwriter contract that a feature-length screenplay can’t come in at more than 120 pages. I suspect they made an exception for the recent Harry Potter movie, which based its running time, probably weighed in at more than 140 pages.