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.