Movie Script Format
“Movie script format” and “film script format” are everyday names for the same professional standard: feature screenplay format. If you're writing a film, this is the format you use. This page covers the feature-specific rules and where film differs from television.
“Movie Script” vs “Screenplay”
They're the same document. “Screenplay” is the industry term; “movie script” is what most people search. Both follow the identical formatting spec — 12-point Courier, 1.5″ left margin, the same set of elements. If you've read our complete screenplay format guide, you already know movie script format. This page just zooms in on the feature-film specifics.
Feature Film Format
A feature movie script runs roughly 90–120 pages — about one page per minute of screen time. The mechanical rules:
- Font: 12-point Courier / Courier Prime.
- Margins: 1.5″ left, 1″ right, 1″ top and bottom.
- Open with FADE IN: and close with FADE OUT.
- Scene headings in caps: INT./EXT. LOCATION — TIME.
- No camera directions in a spec script (CLOSE ON, PAN, ZOOM). Direction is the director's job — imply shots through your action lines instead.
- Use transitions sparingly. Modern features often use only the opening FADE IN and closing FADE OUT.
Film Format vs TV Format
The elements are identical; the structure around them differs:
- Act breaks: TV scripts mark ACT ONE, END OF ACT ONE, etc. Feature films don't.
- Length: a half-hour comedy runs ~22–35 pages, an hour drama ~45–65; a feature ~90–120.
- Multi-cam sitcoms use their own variant — often double-spaced dialogue and all-caps scene description. Single-cam TV and film share the format on this page.
- Teasers / cold opens appear in TV, rarely in feature scripts.
If you're writing for film, ignore the TV-specific structure entirely and use straight feature format.
A Movie Script Example
A short stretch of correctly-formatted feature script:
Common Questions
What font is a movie script in? 12-point Courier. Always.
How long should a movie script be? 90–120 pages for a feature. Comedies trend shorter, epics longer, but anything over ~120 raises eyebrows for a first-time writer.
Can I write a movie script in Word or Google Docs? You can, but you'll fight the margins and tab stops the whole way. A dedicated tool enforces the format automatically — see the best free screenwriting software.
Free Movie Script Software
You don't need to pay for a tool to write a properly-formatted movie script. Free movie script writing software now handles the entire feature format automatically — scene headings, action, dialogue, and transitions placed for you — and exports an industry-standard PDF. The strongest free options are browser-based, so there's nothing to install:
- Ensemble — free, runs in the browser, auto-formats your movie script as you type, exports PDF and Fountain, with real-time collaboration and no account required to start.
- WriterDuet — collaborative web editor; free tier capped at three projects.
- Trelby — free, open-source desktop app for Windows and Linux.
For full reviews and a comparison table, see the best free screenwriting software roundup, or, if you want a tool you can open anywhere with no download, free online screenwriting software.
Write One Free
Ensemble formats your movie script automatically as you type — scene headings, action, dialogue, and transitions all detected and placed correctly — then exports a PDF in proper feature format. Free, in the browser, no download.
Start Writing →