Ink to screen: a key feature analysis of linguistic themes in award-nominated screenplays

Abstract Telecinematic texts (e.g. movie and TV screenplays) are increasingly studied as unique registers. While screenplay format remains relatively constant, critical reception varies greatly: some movies earn critical acclaim, while others face significant criticism. This study investigates whether specific linguistic features characterize screenplays receiving positive (Oscar-nominated) versus negative (Razzie-nominated) critical reception. Using corpus-based Key Feature analysis, an approach that directly analyzes normalized frequencies of individual lexico-grammatical features rather than more holistic analyses like Multi-Dimensional Analysis (MDA), this study compares contemporary drama screenplays from the POPCORNS corpus. The analysis identified 30 differentiating lexico-grammatical features, which were qualitatively grouped into seven functional categories. Oscar-nominated screenplays tended toward people-oriented language and concise, detailed stage directions, while Razzie-nominated scripts emphasized language about objects and events. These findings suggest notable linguistic differences between acclaimed and critically panned screenplays. By highlighting these differences, the study provides exploratory insights into how screenplay writing might influence critical acclaim.