The 2024 blacklist includes scripts for a biopic about Audrey Hepburn, Anthony Bourdain and a slasher film about George W. Bush

Each year, the Black List offers a treasure trove of great and interesting screenplays that spark Hollywood excitement but remain unproduced.

Curated by Franklin Leonard, this annual ranking of the most popular unmade screenplays, as voted by 500 industry professionals, showcases an eclectic mix of bold storytelling, creative premises and untapped cinematic potential.

The 2024 Blacklist does not disappoint, offering everything from slasher horror to historical intrigue.

At the top of the charts this year is Travis Braun’S Just one nighta provocative comedy-drama about two strangers who face a dystopian rule that allows premarital sex for only one night a year.

Cited 60 times by voters, he was also at the top of the list last year Bad boy, about a rescue dog who suspects his owner of murder.

Marie Østerbye’S Game date took second place, with its chilling psychological thriller story of a woman who unwittingly confronts her childhood bully during a playdate with their daughters.

In third place, Nathan Dotan’S Alignment tackles timely issues with the story of an AI board member caught between corporate greed and a looming global catastrophe.

Some screenplays on this year’s list stand out for their creativity and audacity:

• A young George W. Bush hunted by a masked killer at Camp David?

• Aaron Karo’S Tickle me-Elmo dives into the crazy story of how the iconic toy saved Sesame Street, shook Wall Street, and captivated America.

• Then there is Alyson Weaver Nicholas’ Little black dresswhich reimagines Audrey Hepburn as a CIA recruit chasing Nazis during filming breaks Breakfast at Tiffany’s.

• Dan Woodward’S The wrong side of the rainbow dives into the chaotic production of The Wizard of Oz, follows an ambitious actress who struggles to maintain her role while witnessing Judy Garland’s exploitation.

• In Matt Bailey’S King of the freshmen, The rise and fall of Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries is laid bare, highlighting the dark side of perfection at any cost, a topic made even more compelling by the recent legal scandals involving Jeffries.

• Another extraordinary one, Lou Howe AND Todd Bartels’ TonyWhich offers an origin story for the end times Antonio Bourdinchronicling his early days as a dishwasher in Provincetown and the experiences that shaped his culinary and cultural travels.

This year’s Black List cover pays homage to storytelling as a human art, with a touching quote from the late Alan Rickmann:

“And it’s a human need for stories to be told. The more we are ruled by idiots and have no control over our destinies, the more we need to tell ourselves stories about who we are, why we are, where we come from, and what might be possible.

The Black List continues to celebrate storytelling in its purest form: raw, ambitious and full of potential. For cinephiles and industry insiders alike, this is a look at the unproduced gems that could become the iconic films of tomorrow.

If you want to consult the entire list, click here.