Is 130 Pages Too Long for a Screenplay?

For a spec screenplay from a new writer, 130 pages is usually too long. Most readers expect 90 to 115 pages, and a long script can be judged before it is read. Established writers and big-budget epics sometimes run longer, but trimming to under 120 pages almost always improves a first script.

• Aim for 90 to 115 pages on a spec.
• Long scripts signal a need for editing.
• Cut scenes, not formatting, to reduce length.

Why does length matter?

Page count roughly equals screen time, so 130 pages suggests a film over two hours, which is expensive and hard to program. Readers with many scripts to get through often prefer shorter ones.

How to cut a long script

Remove scenes that repeat information, start scenes later, shorten action lines to three or four lines, and trim dialogue that restates what the audience already knows.

What not to do

Do not cheat margins, fonts or spacing to reduce the page count. Experienced readers notice, and it breaks the page-per-minute rule.

Questions

What is the ideal screenplay length?

For most genres, 95 to 110 pages. Comedy and horror often run closer to 90.

Can a first draft be long?

Yes. Many first drafts run long. Cut in the rewrite, before you send it out.

Related course: Screenwriting 101