6 Best Oscar Best Adapted Screenplay Winning Movies

By Vlad Zakh · June 11, 2026

The Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay has crowned some of cinema’s finest translations of novels, plays, and true stories to the screen. In The Godfather (1972): The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his empire to his reluctant son. Equally memorable is One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975): A rebellious patient’s defiance disrupts the oppressive order of a mental institution.

The Social Network (2010)

TMDB ★ 7.4

The founding of Facebook is shadowed by lawsuits and betrayed friendships among its creators.

Directed by David Fincher · 2h 01m · Rated PG-13

Where to watch

Stream: Apple TV, fuboTV, MGM+ Amazon Channel, Philo, YouTube TV, Criterion Channel · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Spectrum On Demand · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

TMDB ★ 8.0

A young man from the Mumbai slums approaches the answer to every question on a game show, chased by a tragic love story.

Directed by Danny Boyle · 2h 01m · Rated R

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Apple TV Store

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 95% Metacritic 86

A young FBI trainee seeks the help of an imprisoned cannibalistic killer to catch another serial murderer.

Directed by Jonathan Demme · 1h 59m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars71 wins & 50 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Peacock Premium, MGM Plus, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Peacock Premium Plus · Rent: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home, Plex · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

IMDb ★ 8.6 RT 92% Metacritic 84

A rebellious patient's defiance disrupts the oppressive order of a mental institution.

Directed by Miloš Forman · 2h 15m · Rated R

Won 5 Oscars38 wins & 15 nominations

Where to watch

Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

The Godfather (1972)

IMDb ★ 9.2 RT 97% Metacritic 100

The aging patriarch of an organized crime dynasty transfers control of his empire to his reluctant son.

Directed by Francis Ford Coppola · 2h 55m · Rated R

Won 3 Oscars31 wins & 31 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: Amazon Prime Video, Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential, Paramount+ Amazon Channel, MGM Plus Roku Premium Channel, MGM Plus · Rent: JustWatch TV, Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home · Buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

IMDb ★ 8.2 RT 93% Metacritic 88

A principled Southern lawyer defends a Black man falsely accused of rape, seen through the eyes of his young daughter.

Directed by Robert Mulligan · 2h 09m · Rated NR

Won 3 Oscars14 wins & 16 nominations

Where to watch

Stream: YouTube TV · Rent or buy: Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home

▶ Trailer Letterboxd

Streaming availability data from JustWatch, via TMDB. Availability changes often, so check the service before you plan a movie night.

Vlad Zakh

Founder, Movieix

Founder of Movieix, built to fix a specific annoyance: most recommendation sites are just algorithm-driven noise. Our lists are researched and organized by who's in a film, where it's from, and the mood you're actually in tonight.

6 Best Oscar Best Adapted Screenplay Winning Movies

The Social Network (2010)

Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

The Godfather (1972)

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

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