10 Best Films About Writer's Block

1. Adaptation

Johnny Depp just can't bring himself to write in Secret Window
Columbia Pictures

Another film about writer's block, Charlie Kaufman (Nicolas Cage) plays the actual writer of Being John Malkovich as he prepares to write a screenplay similar to that of Fink's grand ideas – something that transcends typical Hollywood tropes like Boy Meets Girl, grand character arcs and car chases.

The studio hands him his next assignment: adapting Susan Orlean's quaint, expanded New Yorker piece The Orchid Thief. His task – turning a book seemingly about how disappointing life can be and how rarely things work out the way you hope – into a full-fledged blockbuster.

His frustration is only worsened by his twin brother Donald's (also Cage) newfound success as a screenwriter whose thriller (which appears to have the same plot as 2003's Identity) is being fast-tracked. Ultimately, Kaufman is forced to sell-out and the film ends in a series of delightfully silly cliches.

Contributor
Contributor

Kenny Hedges is carbon-based. So I suppose a simple top 5 in no order will do: Halloween, Crimes and Misdemeanors, L.A. Confidential, Billy Liar, Blow Out He has his own website - thefilmreal.com - and is always looking for new writers with differing views to broaden the discussion.