2016 Oscars — Writing (Original Screenplay)

Spotlight won Writing (Original Screenplay) at the 2016 Oscars. All 5 nominees are listed below, winner first. The other nominees were Bridge of Spies, Ex Machina, Inside Out and Straight Outta Compton. Each film links to its complete award history. The links below go to the 2015 and 2017 Writing (Original Screenplay) races.

Last updated August 12, 2026

Spotlight(2015)
Written by Josh Singer & Tom McCarthy
Winner
Bridge of Spies(2015)
Written by Matt Charman and Ethan Coen & Joel Coen
Ex Machina(2015)
Written by Alex Garland
Inside Out(2015)
Screenplay by Pete Docter, Meg LeFauve, Josh Cooley; Original story by Pete Docter, Ronnie del Carmen
Straight Outta Compton(2015)
Screenplay by Jonathan Herman and Andrea Berloff; Story by S. Leigh Savidge & Alan Wenkus and Andrea Berloff