Writers Guild Awards 2024: ‘Sinners’ & ‘One Battle After Another’ Win Top Screenplay Prizes

Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” and Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” emerged as the major victors at the 78th annual Writers Guild Awards, held Sunday in New York City. The wins for both films – “Sinners” taking the Original Screenplay award and “One Battle After Another” claiming Adapted Screenplay – solidify their positions as frontrunners heading into the Academy Awards on March 15th.

The ceremony, hosted for the third time by comedian Roy Wood Jr., unfolded against a backdrop of labor tensions within the Writers Guild itself. As Deadline reported, the WGA West canceled its planned Los Angeles ceremony due to an ongoing strike by its staff union, protesting what they allege was surveillance and unfair labor practices. This unusual circumstance meant the New York event was the sole celebration this year.

A Dual Triumph on the Awards Circuit

“Sinners,” a horror film written and directed by Coogler, has been steadily gaining momentum throughout awards season. Miles Caton, a star of the film, accepted the WGA award on Coogler’s behalf, reading a note from the director. The film is now up for the Original Screenplay Oscar, competing against “Marty Supreme,” “Blue Moon,” “Sentimental Value,” and “It Was Just an Accident.” Notably, the scripts for “The Secret Agent” and “Sirāt,” both International Feature Oscar nominees, were ineligible for the WGA award due to the guild’s strict eligibility rules.

Anderson’s “One Battle After Another,” adapted from Thomas Pynchon’s novel “Vineland,” also secured a key win. Shayna McHayle, who plays Junglepussy in the film, accepted the award on Anderson’s behalf, delivering a prepared statement. The film will contend for the Adapted Screenplay Oscar alongside “Bugonia,” “Frankenstein,” “Hamnet,” and “Train Dreams.”

Beyond the Screenplays: Television Honors and Lifetime Achievements

The awards weren’t limited to film. In the television categories, “The Pitt” dominated, winning awards for Drama Series, New Series, and Episodic Drama. “The Studio” was recognized as the best Comedy Series, while “Dying for Sex” took home the award for Limited Series.

The WGA also honored several individuals for their contributions to the craft. Stephen Colbert received the Walter Bernstein Award for critiquing the power elite through his operate on “The Late Show,” which is set to conclude its run in May. Terry George was presented with the Ian McLellan Hunter Award for Career Achievement by Don Cheadle, and Diana Son earned the Richard B. Jablow Award for Devoted Service to the Guild from last year’s recipient, Kathy McGee.

The Shadow of the WGA Staff Strike

The cancellation of the Los Angeles ceremony casts a shadow over the awards season, highlighting ongoing internal struggles within the WGA. The staff union’s claims of surveillance and unfair treatment have raised concerns about the guild’s management practices. As The Hollywood Reporter detailed, the WGA West board characterized the postponement as a way to ensure an “uncomplicated celebration of their achievements,” but the staff union views it as an attempt to divide members ahead of crucial contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).

These negotiations, scheduled to begin on March 16th, are particularly significant given the WGA’s recent history. The guild endured a 148-day strike in 2023 – the longest in its history – before reaching a tentative agreement with the AMPTP. The issues at stake in the upcoming negotiations include health plan funding, the regulation of artificial intelligence in writing, and overall compensation.

Roy Wood Jr.’s Sharp Commentary

Despite the underlying tensions, the New York ceremony offered moments of levity. Host Roy Wood Jr. Delivered a politically charged opening monologue, as reported by Gold Derby, even incorporating lines from Marjorie Taylor Greene to inspire a call for unity. He also offered a humorous, if cynical, prediction for the upcoming contract negotiations, quipping, “First, I predict somebody’s gonna lose their s—… Cooler heads are gonna prevail, and then somebody else is gonna lose their s—.”

Full List of Winners

Here’s a complete rundown of the 2026 Writers Guild Award winners:

Original screenplay: “Sinners,” written by Ryan Coogler
Adapted screenplay: “One Battle After Another,” screenplay by Paul Thomas Anderson
Documentary screenplay: “2,000 Meters to Andriivka,” written by Mstyslav Chernov
Drama series: “The Pitt,” written by Cynthia Adarkwa, Simran Baidwan, Valerie Chu, R. Scott Gemmill, Elyssa Gershman, Joe Sachs, Noah Wyle
Comedy series: “The Studio,” written by Evan Goldberg, Alex Gregory, Peter Huyck, Frida Perez, Seth Rogen
New series: “The Pitt,” written by Cynthia Adarkwa, Simran Baidwan, Valerie Chu, R. Scott Gemmill, Elyssa Gershman, Joe Sachs, Noah Wyle
Limited series: “Dying for Sex,” written by Sheila Callaghan, Harris Danow, Madeleine George, Elizabeth Meriwether, Amelia Roper, Kim Rosenstock, Sasha Stewart, Sabrina Wu, Keisha Zollar
TV & streaming motion pictures: “Deep Cover,” written by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow
Animation: “Shira Can’t Cook” (“Long Story Short”), written by Mehar Sethi
Episodic drama: “7:00 A.M.” (“The Pitt”), written by R. Scott Gemmill
Episodic comedy: “Prelude” (“The Righteous Gemstones”), written by John Carcieri, Jeff Fradley, Danny R. McBride
Comedy/variety series – talk or sketch: “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver”
Comedy/variety specials: “Marc Maron: Panicked,” written by Marc Maron
Quiz and audience participation: “Celebrity Jeopardy!”, head writer: Bobby Patton
Daytime drama: “The Young and the Restless”
Children’s episodic, long form and specials: “When We Lose Someone” (“Tab Time”), written by Sean Presant
Short form streaming: “The Rabbit Hole with Jimmy Kimmel,” writers: Jimmy Kimmel and Jesse Joyce
Documentary script — current events: “Trump’s Power & the Rule of Law” (“Frontline”), written by Michael Kirk and Mike Wiser
Documentary script — other than current events: “Forgotten Hero: Walter White and the NAACP” (“American Experience”), written by Rob Rapley
News script — regularly scheduled, bulletin or breaking report: “Devastating Flooding in Texas” (“World News Tonight with David Muir”)
News script — analysis, feature or commentary: “Remembering Palestinian Journalists Killed by Israeli Forces” (“Ayman”), written by Lisa Salinas
Digital news: “An Isolated Boarding School Promised to Help Troubled Girls. Former Students Say They Were Abused.,” written by Sebastian Murdock and Taiyler Mitchell
Radio/audio documentary: “Jerry Lewis’ Lost Holocaust Clown Movie” (“Decoder Ring”), written by Max Freedman
Radio/audio news script — regularly scheduled, bulletin or breaking report: “ABC News Radio Top of the Hour News”, written by Robert Hawley
Radio/audio news script — analysis, feature or commentary: “The Life and Legacy of Jimmy Carter,” written by Gail Lee
On air promotion: “CBS Comedy,” written by Dan Greenberger

With the WGA Awards now concluded, the focus shifts to the Academy Awards. Both “Sinners” and “One Battle After Another” remain strong contenders, and the outcome will undoubtedly be closely watched by industry professionals and film enthusiasts alike. The upcoming AMPTP negotiations will also be a critical event, potentially shaping the future of writing in Hollywood.