Screenplay Page Count for Feature Films: Why It Matters (and Why It Doesn’t)
What is the ideal screenplay page count for a feature film?
If you ask most people in the industry, they’ll tell you that the ideal screenplay length for a feature falls somewhere between 90–120 pages. Back when I was in college, we were taught that 120 was the perfect length. But after living and working in Los Angeles for over a decade, I’ve noticed that people lean more toward 110 pages or less these days.
So, how many pages should a screenplay be? The truth is… there isn’t one right answer.
So, then does screenplay length matter? The answer is: yes and no.
Let’s break down both sides.
Industry Standard Page Lengths
There are screenplay length guidelines for a reason. A script between 90 and 120 pages shows producers and executives that you understand the format, structure, and pacing of a feature film.
If your script is much shorter, it often means the story is underdeveloped. Your characters may not feel fully realized and their emotional moments may not feel earned. It can also mean you are writing something that is actually closer to a short film or a television pilot than a feature. If your script is much longer, it usually means there is too much rambling action, bloated dialogue, or an overcrowded cast of characters. In that case, you may be working in the wrong medium entirely and what you have might work better as a novel.
How Length Can Turn Readers Off
Producers and executives hesitate to pick up long scripts. A 130-page screenplay takes more time to read, and if you’re an unknown writer, they may not be willing to invest that time. On the flip side, if your script is unusually short, they might assume it’s underdeveloped. Too long, and it can come across as bloated. Either way, your screenplay page count sends a first impression before anyone even reads the opening scene. It doesn’t mean it’s wrong, but it’s something you need to be aware of, especially if no one is recommending your script to industry pros.
Screenplay Page Count by Genre
Page count often varies depending on genre, and producers will often notice this when they pick up a script. Romantic comedies generally run around 90 pages. There are exceptions, such as Nancy Meyers films, which often stretch longer because she weaves in multiple characters and subplots. However, if your rom-com is focused on just two people in 1-2 locations, and there are no crazy twists and turns, it probably shouldn’t exceed 90 pages. Horror follows a similar principle. These scripts thrive on tight pacing and suspense, so extra pages can dilute tension and slow the momentum.
In contrast, epic adventures, fantasy, and historical dramas often require more space. A 90-page script in these genres usually indicates underdeveloped world building, thin character arcs, and/or an incomplete story.
None of these are actual rules, but just understand producers will usually have an expectation of page count for specific genres just like audiences have the same expectations when they are scrolling on Netflix and they see the runtime.
The Price of Screenplay Page Count
Above all else, page count matters because it can directly impact cost. Producers and financiers evaluate a script with an eye on the bottom line, and the length of a screenplay is one of the ways to estimate budget. There’s the old “one page = one minute” rule. While not exact, it provides a reliable benchmark. More pages typically mean more shooting days, which translates into higher expenses and greater financial risk.
Even producers who insist a script should be as long as the story requires, will still appreciate a leaner draft. Every page that can be trimmed without sacrificing the story is often seen as a cost-saving victory. We recently brought on a line producer to review the budget for one of our action comedies, and he pointed out that trimming just 10–15 pages could save us around a million dollars. That really drove home how much those cuts matter.
When Screenplays Need Extra Pages
Certain stories simply demand longer scripts. An epic ensemble drama with multiple intersecting storylines may need extra space to introduce characters, build relationships, and weave together threads that collide in the final act. By contrast, a lean horror thriller or a contained survival story might wrap up neatly at 90 pages, with tight pacing that keeps audiences on edge.
Producers and readers care far less about rigid page counts and far more about whether the story works. A script that drags at 90 pages will feel too long, and one that races by at 120 will feel brisk. It’s not about the math, it’s about pacing, flow, and storytelling. The ideal length is simply the length it takes to tell your story well, and if every page is carrying its weight, no one is going to count.
Produced Scripts Are All Over the Place
If you spend any time reading produced screenplays, you’ll notice something right away: they don’t all look the same. Some are lean, quick reads that barely crack a hundred pages. Others sprawl far past what screenwriting books would call the “safe zone.”
Take Aaron Sorkin’s script for The Social Network. On paper, it came in at 162 pages. By conventional wisdom, that should have translated into a film running nearly three hours long. But Sorkin’s dialogue is famously sharp and fast, and the movie ultimately runs right around two hours.
The fascinating part is that even Aaron Sorkin couldn’t just hand over his script and say, “Trust me.” He had to sit down with the studio and prove that the story would play shorter than the page count suggested. He had to show that the pacing and rhythm of the dialogue made the math work. In other words, even one of the most respected screenwriters alive had to demonstrate that page count alone doesn’t define a movie.
Here’s a video of Sorkin explaining this himself, and it’s worth watching. Not just because he’s Sorkin, but because it drives home a simple truth: page count is a guideline, not a law. What matters most is how your story lives on the screen.
Page Count Isn’t a Dealbreaker for the Right Readers
When you talk to producers and development executives, you quickly realize that opinions on page count vary widely. Some may reference “rules” or guidelines, but the ones who truly matter aren’t hung up on whether a script is 108 pages or 118.
What really matters to them is the story itself. Is it tight, compelling, and engaging from start to finish? Can they see it working on screen and believe it’s worth investing in? If the answer is yes, page count becomes irrelevant. The right people focus on whether your screenplay has weight, momentum, and the potential to connect with an audience.
If it’s AMAZING, They’ll Keep Reading
Here’s the thing: if your screenplay is phenomenal, no one will care if it’s 80 pages or 130. What matters is whether it feels like a full, compelling story that keeps readers hooked. A script that pulls someone in and refuses to let go will always beat a perfectly formatted, textbook-length screenplay that’s flat on the page.
The truth is, producers rarely reject a script simply because of formatting quirks or page length. They reject it because the story isn’t strong enough. Page count just becomes an easy excuse. It’s a polite way for a producer or executive to say “no” without digging into the harder truth: the script didn’t move them. But when they do fall in love with a script, when it’s well written, when they can see its potential on screen, and when they believe it can make money, suddenly the “rules” aren’t so rigid anymore. They’re going to find a way to buy it, and they’re going to fight to get it made.
Page Count Isn’t the Final Word
So, does screenplay length matter? The answer is still yes and no.
It matters when it signals something about your writing, whether a story is underdeveloped, overwritten, or perfectly paced. Page count doesn’t make or break your script. Story does. If your screenplay is alive on the page, if it makes readers lean in and imagine it on the screen, the industry will forgive the number at the top corner.
I read a lot of scripts, and I can usually tell within a few pages whether a writer could cut 5–10 pages without losing anything. Sometimes more.
If you can trim pages without losing the heart of your story, do it.
If your story isn’t fully fleshed out and needs more weight to develop your characters, add.
Just be ready for the moment when a producer who loves your script suggests cutting ten pages because it could save a million dollars.
At the end of the day, screenplay length only matters as much as your story does. If it’s boring, no perfect page count can save it. If it’s a page-turner, no one will stop reading at page 110 just because you dared to write 125.
Write the story the way it needs to be written, and make sure every page earns its place.
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