Box Office Star Records > Worldwide > Lifetime Specific Technical Role > Top Worldwide Screenwriters
Top Grossing Screenwriter at the Worldwide Box OfficeBETA
See also: Top Domestic Screenwriters - Top International Screenwriters - Top Worldwide Art Directors - Top Worldwide Assistant Directors - Top Worldwide Assistant Editors - Top Worldwide Associate Producers - Top Worldwide Casting Directors - Top Worldwide Cinematographers - Top Worldwide Co-Executive Producers - Top Worldwide Co-Producers - Top Worldwide Composers - Top Worldwide Costume Designers - Top Worldwide Costume Supervisors - Top Worldwide Dialogue Editors - Top Worldwide Directors - Top Worldwide Editors - Top Worldwide Executive Producers - Top Worldwide Line Producers - Top Worldwide Make-up and Hair Designers - Top Worldwide Music Editors - Top Worldwide Music Supervisors - Top Worldwide Producers - Top Worldwide Production Designers - Top Worldwide Re-recording Mixers - Top Worldwide Second Unit Directors - Top Worldwide Set Decorators - Top Worldwide Set Designers - Top Worldwide Sound Designers - Top Worldwide Sound Editors - Top Worldwide Sound Effects Editors - Top Worldwide Sound Mixers - Top Worldwide Story Creators - Top Worldwide Stunt Coordinators - Top Worldwide Supervising Sound Editors - Top Worldwide Unit Production Managers - Top Worldwide Visual Effects Supervisors
This list shows the highest grossing Screenwriters based on the worldwide box office of the movies they worked on.
Since we are still actively researching technical roles, we consider this chart to be in beta mode. The table includes data for movies in The Numbers database. While we make every effort to collect all available data, there are inevitably omissions and errors. Please help us by sending corrections to corrections@the-numbers.com.
1
James Cameron
| Best known as a Screenwriter based on credits in that role in 14 films. |
| Top films contributed to this record: Avatar ($2,923,706,026 in 2009), Avatar: The Way of Water ($2,320,250,281 in 2022), Titanic ($2,223,048,786 in 1997), Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($515,344,899 in 1991), Alita: Battle Angel ($401,900,040 in 2019), True Lies ($365,300,000 in 1994), Rambo: First Blood Part II ($300,400,000 in 1985), Aliens ($183,291,256 in 1986), The Terminator ($78,019,031 in 1984), The Abyss ($54,793,997 in 1989) |
2
Christopher Markus
| Best known as a Screenwriter based on credits in that role in 12 films. |
| Top films contributed to this record: Avengers: Endgame ($2,717,503,922 in 2019), Avengers: Infinity War ($2,048,359,754 in 2018), Captain America: Civil War ($1,151,899,586 in 2016), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ($720,539,572 in 2005), Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714,401,889 in 2014), Thor: The Dark World ($644,602,516 in 2013), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ($418,186,950 in 2010), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($417,341,288 in 2008), Captain America: The First Avenger ($370,569,776 in 2011), Pain & Gain ($81,275,291 in 2013) |
3
Stephen McFeely
| Best known as a Screenwriter based on credits in that role in 12 films. |
| Top films contributed to this record: Avengers: Endgame ($2,717,503,922 in 2019), Avengers: Infinity War ($2,048,359,754 in 2018), Captain America: Civil War ($1,151,899,586 in 2016), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe ($720,539,572 in 2005), Captain America: The Winter Soldier ($714,401,889 in 2014), Thor: The Dark World ($644,602,516 in 2013), The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader ($418,186,950 in 2010), The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian ($417,341,288 in 2008), Captain America: The First Avenger ($370,569,776 in 2011), Pain & Gain ($81,275,291 in 2013) |
Complete List
| Rank | Name | Worldwide Box Office |
Movies | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | James Cameron | $9,373,972,878 | 14 | $669,569,491 |
| 2 | Christopher Markus | $9,287,220,371 | 12 | $773,935,031 |
| 3 | Stephen McFeely | $9,287,220,371 | 12 | $773,935,031 |
| 4 | Steve Kloves | $7,921,984,746 | 13 | $609,383,442 |
| 5 | David Koepp | $6,975,966,787 | 34 | $205,175,494 |
| 6 | Chris Morgan | $6,784,001,805 | 14 | $484,571,558 |
| 7 | Peter Jackson | $6,613,736,039 | 11 | $601,248,731 |
| 8 | Fran Walsh | $6,613,736,039 | 12 | $551,144,670 |
| 9 | Terry Rossio | $6,132,907,500 | 19 | $322,784,605 |
| 10 | Philippa Boyens | $6,034,837,119 | 10 | $603,483,712 |
| 11 | Christopher Nolan | $5,932,751,502 | 11 | $539,341,046 |
| 12 | Ehren Kruger | $5,918,424,990 | 17 | $348,142,646 |
| 13 | Chris McKenna | $5,860,299,209 | 8 | $732,537,401 |
| 14 | Erik Sommers | $5,829,285,860 | 7 | $832,755,123 |
| 15 | Amanda Silver | $5,673,108,805 | 8 | $709,138,601 |
| 16 | Andrew Stanton | $5,647,772,399 | 9 | $627,530,267 |
| 17 | Ted Elliott | $5,364,054,404 | 12 | $447,004,534 |
| 18 | Ken Daurio | $5,300,147,972 | 9 | $588,905,330 |
| 19 | Christopher McQuarrie | $5,182,949,289 | 12 | $431,912,441 |
| 20 | Robert Wade | $5,049,424,258 | 9 | $561,047,140 |
| 21 | Rick Jaffa | $4,962,464,239 | 7 | $708,923,463 |
| 22 | Neal Purvis | $4,890,054,980 | 8 | $611,256,873 |
| 23 | Jeff Nathanson | $4,669,856,303 | 12 | $389,154,692 |
| 24 | Lawrence Kasdan | $4,494,436,770 | 14 | $321,031,198 |
| 25 | J.J. Abrams | $4,380,169,464 | 7 | $625,738,495 |
| 26 | Cinco Paul | $4,328,690,479 | 8 | $541,086,310 |
| 27 | Akiva Goldsman | $4,300,366,534 | 21 | $204,779,359 |
| 28 | John Logan | $4,291,345,679 | 19 | $225,860,299 |
| 29 | Jonathan Aibel | $4,246,919,981 | 12 | $353,909,998 |
| 30 | Glenn Berger | $4,246,919,981 | 12 | $353,909,998 |
| 31 | Guillermo del Toro | $4,181,197,599 | 19 | $220,063,032 |
| 32 | Linda Woolverton | $4,019,017,207 | 8 | $502,377,151 |
| 33 | George Lucas | $4,004,422,180 | 6 | $667,403,697 |
| 34 | Michael Arndt | $4,002,363,757 | 6 | $667,060,626 |
| 35 | Roberto Orci | $4,001,224,025 | 10 | $400,122,403 |
| 36 | Alex Kurtzman | $4,001,224,025 | 10 | $400,122,403 |
| 37 | Colin Trevorrow | $3,982,255,535 | 4 | $995,563,884 |
| 38 | Rhett Reese | $3,614,642,814 | 15 | $240,976,188 |
| 39 | Paul Wernick | $3,611,387,388 | 14 | $257,956,242 |
| 40 | Joss Whedon | $3,602,711,061 | 9 | $400,301,229 |
| 41 | Jennifer Lee | $3,589,423,751 | 6 | $598,237,292 |
| 42 | M. Night Shyamalan | $3,545,048,232 | 16 | $221,565,515 |
| 43 | Jeff Pinkner | $3,544,657,199 | 7 | $506,379,600 |
| 44 | Derek Connolly | $3,477,721,405 | 7 | $496,817,344 |
| 45 | Melissa Rosenberg | $3,421,205,146 | 7 | $488,743,592 |
| 46 | Roland Emmerich | $3,415,772,709 | 8 | $426,971,589 |
| 47 | Simon Kinberg | $3,395,380,938 | 12 | $282,948,412 |
| 48 | Sylvester Stallone | $3,305,772,052 | 23 | $143,729,220 |
| 49 | Scott Rosenberg | $3,234,925,472 | 11 | $294,084,134 |
| 50 | Tony Gilroy | $3,206,000,585 | 16 | $200,375,037 |
| 51 | James Gunn | $3,167,876,685 | 13 | $243,682,822 |
| 52 | Ryan Coogler | $3,026,942,520 | 6 | $504,490,420 |
| 53 | David S. Goyer | $3,007,414,150 | 14 | $214,815,296 |
| 54 | Jared Bush | $3,000,116,272 | 5 | $600,023,254 |
| 55 | Luc Besson | $2,946,294,130 | 37 | $79,629,571 |
| 56 | Meg LeFauve | $2,882,911,854 | 4 | $720,727,964 |
| 57 | Peter Craig | $2,840,297,933 | 9 | $315,588,659 |
| 58 | Jonathan Nolan | $2,838,478,306 | 4 | $709,619,577 |
| 59 | Chris Terrio | $2,833,945,465 | 5 | $566,789,093 |
| 60 | Todd Phillips | $2,807,934,799 | 10 | $280,793,480 |
| 61 | Brad Bird | $2,772,079,065 | 7 | $396,011,295 |
| 62 | Eric Roth | $2,728,236,283 | 19 | $143,591,383 |
| 63 | Brian Lynch | $2,678,228,749 | 5 | $535,645,750 |
| 64 | Chris Weitz | $2,590,138,786 | 10 | $259,013,879 |
| 65 | Mark Bomback | $2,536,720,262 | 11 | $230,610,933 |
| 66 | Kelly Marcel | $2,517,878,386 | 6 | $419,646,398 |
| 67 | David Leslie Johnson | $2,513,792,616 | 8 | $314,224,077 |
| 68 | Alvin Sargent | $2,500,200,771 | 8 | $312,525,096 |
| 69 | Dean DeBlois | $2,397,418,264 | 5 | $479,483,653 |
| 70 | Gary Dauberman | $2,388,998,026 | 10 | $238,899,803 |
| 71 | Matthew Fogel | $2,379,185,572 | 3 | $793,061,857 |
| 72 | John August | $2,361,426,577 | 11 | $214,675,143 |
| 73 | J. David Stem | $2,348,430,663 | 9 | $260,936,740 |
| 74 | Noah Baumbach | $2,320,127,041 | 15 | $154,675,136 |
| 75 | Lana Wachowski | $2,207,783,700 | 8 | $275,972,963 |
| 76 | Joe Robert Cole | $2,193,365,918 | 5 | $438,673,184 |
| 77 | Andy Wachowski | $2,170,823,348 | 7 | $310,117,621 |
| 78 | David N. Weiss | $2,166,992,046 | 8 | $270,874,006 |
| 79 | Irene Mecchi | $2,132,937,601 | 5 | $426,587,520 |
| 80 | Michael McCullers | $2,108,313,419 | 7 | $301,187,631 |
| 81 | Andrew Adamson | $2,106,807,008 | 5 | $421,361,402 |
| 82 | Phil Johnston | $2,087,869,955 | 6 | $347,978,326 |
| 83 | Eric Pearson | $2,082,350,003 | 4 | $520,587,501 |
| 84 | Art Marcum | $2,082,150,827 | 8 | $260,268,853 |
| 85 | Matt Holloway | $2,082,150,827 | 8 | $260,268,853 |
| 86 | Bob Peterson | $2,051,099,598 | 4 | $512,774,900 |
| 87 | Scott Frank | $2,050,313,507 | 12 | $170,859,459 |
| 88 | Robert Mark Kamen | $2,044,831,840 | 16 | $127,801,990 |
| 89 | Jez Butterworth | $2,043,999,226 | 10 | $204,399,923 |
| 90 | Jon Hoeber | $2,037,772,159 | 11 | $185,252,014 |
| 91 | Erich Hoeber | $2,037,772,159 | 11 | $185,252,014 |
| 92 | Darren Lemke | $2,025,357,544 | 10 | $202,535,754 |
| 93 | Michael Green | $2,015,068,747 | 9 | $223,896,527 |
| 94 | Quentin Tarantino | $2,009,368,336 | 15 | $133,957,889 |
| 95 | Evan Spiliotopoulos | $2,002,293,460 | 10 | $200,229,346 |
| 96 | Dean Devlin | $1,997,536,131 | 5 | $399,507,226 |
| 97 | Zi Jiao (饺子) | $1,994,924,639 | 1 | $1,994,924,639 |
| 98 | Drew Pearce | $1,988,680,509 | 3 | $662,893,503 |
| 99 | Steven Zaillian | $1,977,325,407 | 16 | $123,582,838 |
| 100 | Mike White | $1,975,752,206 | 11 | $179,613,837 |
This table is updated daily to reflect the latest studio reports.
Note: This chart is not adjusted for inflation.
Image attributions
James Cameron: Angela George [CC-BY-SA-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
