Hollywood meltdowns and guerilla style
filmmaking come together in these motion
pictures come find me when you wait
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
movies that started shooting without a
completed script for this list we’re
focusing on feature films that entered
principal photography without a final
written version or screenplay in place
you’re gonna need a bigger motion
documentary and mockumentary style films
like this’s spinal tap are excluded for
obvious reasons so black it’s like how
much more black could this be and the
answer is none number 10 Transformers
Revenge of the Fallen Wow when the
screenwriters of the original
Transformers film initially declined to
work on the sequel Michael Bay somehow
convinced them to return that was his
first obstacle unfortunately Roberto
Orci and Alex Kurtzman had little time
to complete an outline as the 2007
Writers Guild of America strike began in
early November finished at four-man
building off the duo’s basic framework
which was basically a treatment written
in two weeks they managed to write his
own script meant from that before the
writers returned later on
must take you with me actor Shia LaBeouf
has gone on record to state his
frustration with the lack of material to
work from I work for you now
number nine edge of tomorrow six months
before doug liman began shooting this
sci-fi thriller he scrapped the majority
of the original script and hired new
writers to work on revisions and I
watched him die 300 times and I remember
every detail I remember everything so I
don’t need to talk about it Brad Pitt
had already declined believing role and
Tom Cruise signed on to star as a man
destined to experience death on the
daily thing we’d better start over don’t
you
as a result Lyman was introduced to
fellow director Christopher McQuarrie
who took on the script and injected a
little humor based on the majors on
circumstances really good confidence
boost for tomorrow thanks gage with no
heart ending in place on day one of
filming the script was finalized on the
fly and what an ending it was what do
you want
number 8 topaz just the word topaz
Alfred Hitchcock was nearing the end of
his career in 1969 and one of his final
films was based on a Cold War novel by
Leon URIs I understand that you’re here
for a parish newspaper yes for the
opening of the United Nations the
American novelist was originally
selected to adapt his own work for the
big screen but he abandoned the project
after numerous disagreements with the
famous English director what the hell do
you think you’re here for incidentally
Hitchcock scrambled for a new writer and
settled on the co-writer of his classic
1958 film vertigo
faced with a looming shooting schedule
topaz entered production without a final
script and three separate endings were
filmed it’s law’s impossible it’s true
number seven alien 3 yet in the facts
for almost two decades
David Fincher had been directing
first-rate films and while his 1995
thriller 7 wasn’t technically his debut
he probably would like to consider it as
such
after becoming the final scapegoat for
the ill-fated third installment of the
Alien franchise
to me you piece of shit you screw with
me one more time I’ll cut you in half
Fincher has since distanced himself from
alien 3 a film that began without a
script
after years of pre-production chaos it’s
a long sad story
cyberpunk author William Gibson once
worked on the script Renny Harlin gave
it a shot as well and acclaimed director
Walter Hill was even hired for that
special something I want to get me some
clothes I just feel like this
unfortunately for Fincher he was forced
to write his own revisions for a most
turbulent directorial debut with an
animated stuff number 6
men in black 3 a class 1 senior agent
such as myself would have been made
aware of it wouldn’t he have several
writers were hired to work on round
three of barry sonnenfeld trilogy but
after one year after pre-production
commenced the film began shooting
without a second or third act I am NOT
jumping off for this building why well
to take advantage of New York City tax
breaks of course there’s some city miles
on you some actors and actresses would
completely melt down under such a
scenario but lakes of will Samantha
Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin helped
son and fell triple to 215 million
dollar budget you know what I need a
raise no script no problem great day for
America isn’t it number 5
jaws we’re not only gonna have to close
the beach we’re gonna have to hire
somebody to kill the shark originally
hired to play a local newspaper editor
in this 1970s classic Carl Gottlieb was
later asked by director Steven Spielberg
to rewrite the Phil
not only did he add some comedy to the
story he even reduced his own acting
role within the film and he did this all
while principal photography was already
in progress we’re gonna need a bigger
potion night after night Gottlieb worked
away and collaborated with Spielberg and
the actors to find the right dialogue
and the infamous John Milius was brought
in to tighten up the script Gottlieb
later wrote a book about his rather
unique experience on jaws which still
manages to make us laugh on dry land and
freak out in the water
number four gladiator take my hand I
only offered once after a couple of
screenwriters entered and subsequently
left this historical picture Russell
Crowe and his fellow cast were faced
with an evolving script at the time of
shooting so market for the glory of Rome
some versions were simply too blunt
while others lacked depth and so William
Nicholson was hired to create a
spiritual element for Maximus Decimus
Meridius my name is Maximus Decimus
Meridius you might say that Russell
Crowe was a tiny bit irritated with the
lack of material and actually wrote some
of his own dialogue that made the final
version and I will have my vengeance
in this life or the next who would have
imagined that such a grand film was such
a complete disaster behind the scenes
well it all worked out and gladiator won
five Academy Awards I was the best
because the crowd loved me number three
Iron Man I am Iron Man back in 1990
Universal Studios acquired the rights to
adapt Tony Stark for the big screen and
later hired Nick kesab 80s to direct the
film but when everything went sour
Marvel jumped in and tapped Jon Favreau
to guide the action after compiling
various scripts the director changed
gears and took on a more realistic
approach to the character shooting
ultimately began without a final script
and the actors were intentionally
instructed to improvise for a more
natural effect
Iron Man that’s kind of catchy it’s kind
of measuring to that I mean it’s not
technically accurate the suits a gold
titanium alloy Fabro pulled it off and
landed yet another gig for the sequel
all those breakthroughs military funding
honey
number two Sunset Boulevard don’t you
know the finest things in the world have
been written on an empty stomach now
here’s a classic case of Hollywood
deception based on a classic film about
Hollywood deception I didn’t know you
were planning a comeback by 1950
austrian-american director bill wilder
was already somewhat of a Hollywood
legend and he systematically fooled the
movie studios by delaying the completion
of his script as a matter of fact I’ve
given up writing altogether with a plot
revolving around the film industry and
an aging disillusioned actress wilder
covered up the true nature of his film
and cautiously submitted script material
piece by piece to Big Brother to begin
with I think you should throw out all
that psychological mess exploring a
killer sick mind in the end Sunset
Boulevard was immediately applauded as a
timeless classic and remains one of the
best films of all time I can’t go on
with the scene I’m too happy before we
unveil our top pick here are a few
honorable mentions yeah
yeah I know it’s it’s constant the
moments it’s just it’s like it’s always
right now you know jag spa
I was dataset owner
David was right here dancing it with
somebody else
number one Lawrence of Arabia what is it
major Lawrence to detract you personally
to the desert it’s clean less than ten
years after being blacklisted from
Hollywood for being a communist Michael
Wilson was hired to write a film based
on the life of TE Lawrence ages to win
avala
blasphemy despite his undeniable talent
director David Lean was less interested
in the historical aspect and more
concerned with taking a poignant look at
the subjects character well that’s a
step in the right direction after hiring
an interim writer who contributed little
to the project lean hired Robert bolt to
add more depth to the dialogue the truth
is I’m an ordinary man
by this time Lawrence of Arabia was
already in production however and the
foundation was in place for one of
cinema’s most admired pieces of work do
you agree with our list I don’t qualify
for the job do you know of any movies
that started shooting without a
completed script all right you don’t
want to listen to me to listen for more
fully realized to top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
filmmaking come together in these motion
pictures come find me when you wait
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
counting down our picks for the top 10
movies that started shooting without a
completed script for this list we’re
focusing on feature films that entered
principal photography without a final
written version or screenplay in place
you’re gonna need a bigger motion
documentary and mockumentary style films
like this’s spinal tap are excluded for
obvious reasons so black it’s like how
much more black could this be and the
answer is none number 10 Transformers
Revenge of the Fallen Wow when the
screenwriters of the original
Transformers film initially declined to
work on the sequel Michael Bay somehow
convinced them to return that was his
first obstacle unfortunately Roberto
Orci and Alex Kurtzman had little time
to complete an outline as the 2007
Writers Guild of America strike began in
early November finished at four-man
building off the duo’s basic framework
which was basically a treatment written
in two weeks they managed to write his
own script meant from that before the
writers returned later on
must take you with me actor Shia LaBeouf
has gone on record to state his
frustration with the lack of material to
work from I work for you now
number nine edge of tomorrow six months
before doug liman began shooting this
sci-fi thriller he scrapped the majority
of the original script and hired new
writers to work on revisions and I
watched him die 300 times and I remember
every detail I remember everything so I
don’t need to talk about it Brad Pitt
had already declined believing role and
Tom Cruise signed on to star as a man
destined to experience death on the
daily thing we’d better start over don’t
you
as a result Lyman was introduced to
fellow director Christopher McQuarrie
who took on the script and injected a
little humor based on the majors on
circumstances really good confidence
boost for tomorrow thanks gage with no
heart ending in place on day one of
filming the script was finalized on the
fly and what an ending it was what do
you want
number 8 topaz just the word topaz
Alfred Hitchcock was nearing the end of
his career in 1969 and one of his final
films was based on a Cold War novel by
Leon URIs I understand that you’re here
for a parish newspaper yes for the
opening of the United Nations the
American novelist was originally
selected to adapt his own work for the
big screen but he abandoned the project
after numerous disagreements with the
famous English director what the hell do
you think you’re here for incidentally
Hitchcock scrambled for a new writer and
settled on the co-writer of his classic
1958 film vertigo
faced with a looming shooting schedule
topaz entered production without a final
script and three separate endings were
filmed it’s law’s impossible it’s true
number seven alien 3 yet in the facts
for almost two decades
David Fincher had been directing
first-rate films and while his 1995
thriller 7 wasn’t technically his debut
he probably would like to consider it as
such
after becoming the final scapegoat for
the ill-fated third installment of the
Alien franchise
to me you piece of shit you screw with
me one more time I’ll cut you in half
Fincher has since distanced himself from
alien 3 a film that began without a
script
after years of pre-production chaos it’s
a long sad story
cyberpunk author William Gibson once
worked on the script Renny Harlin gave
it a shot as well and acclaimed director
Walter Hill was even hired for that
special something I want to get me some
clothes I just feel like this
unfortunately for Fincher he was forced
to write his own revisions for a most
turbulent directorial debut with an
animated stuff number 6
men in black 3 a class 1 senior agent
such as myself would have been made
aware of it wouldn’t he have several
writers were hired to work on round
three of barry sonnenfeld trilogy but
after one year after pre-production
commenced the film began shooting
without a second or third act I am NOT
jumping off for this building why well
to take advantage of New York City tax
breaks of course there’s some city miles
on you some actors and actresses would
completely melt down under such a
scenario but lakes of will Samantha
Tommy Lee Jones and Josh Brolin helped
son and fell triple to 215 million
dollar budget you know what I need a
raise no script no problem great day for
America isn’t it number 5
jaws we’re not only gonna have to close
the beach we’re gonna have to hire
somebody to kill the shark originally
hired to play a local newspaper editor
in this 1970s classic Carl Gottlieb was
later asked by director Steven Spielberg
to rewrite the Phil
not only did he add some comedy to the
story he even reduced his own acting
role within the film and he did this all
while principal photography was already
in progress we’re gonna need a bigger
potion night after night Gottlieb worked
away and collaborated with Spielberg and
the actors to find the right dialogue
and the infamous John Milius was brought
in to tighten up the script Gottlieb
later wrote a book about his rather
unique experience on jaws which still
manages to make us laugh on dry land and
freak out in the water
number four gladiator take my hand I
only offered once after a couple of
screenwriters entered and subsequently
left this historical picture Russell
Crowe and his fellow cast were faced
with an evolving script at the time of
shooting so market for the glory of Rome
some versions were simply too blunt
while others lacked depth and so William
Nicholson was hired to create a
spiritual element for Maximus Decimus
Meridius my name is Maximus Decimus
Meridius you might say that Russell
Crowe was a tiny bit irritated with the
lack of material and actually wrote some
of his own dialogue that made the final
version and I will have my vengeance
in this life or the next who would have
imagined that such a grand film was such
a complete disaster behind the scenes
well it all worked out and gladiator won
five Academy Awards I was the best
because the crowd loved me number three
Iron Man I am Iron Man back in 1990
Universal Studios acquired the rights to
adapt Tony Stark for the big screen and
later hired Nick kesab 80s to direct the
film but when everything went sour
Marvel jumped in and tapped Jon Favreau
to guide the action after compiling
various scripts the director changed
gears and took on a more realistic
approach to the character shooting
ultimately began without a final script
and the actors were intentionally
instructed to improvise for a more
natural effect
Iron Man that’s kind of catchy it’s kind
of measuring to that I mean it’s not
technically accurate the suits a gold
titanium alloy Fabro pulled it off and
landed yet another gig for the sequel
all those breakthroughs military funding
honey
number two Sunset Boulevard don’t you
know the finest things in the world have
been written on an empty stomach now
here’s a classic case of Hollywood
deception based on a classic film about
Hollywood deception I didn’t know you
were planning a comeback by 1950
austrian-american director bill wilder
was already somewhat of a Hollywood
legend and he systematically fooled the
movie studios by delaying the completion
of his script as a matter of fact I’ve
given up writing altogether with a plot
revolving around the film industry and
an aging disillusioned actress wilder
covered up the true nature of his film
and cautiously submitted script material
piece by piece to Big Brother to begin
with I think you should throw out all
that psychological mess exploring a
killer sick mind in the end Sunset
Boulevard was immediately applauded as a
timeless classic and remains one of the
best films of all time I can’t go on
with the scene I’m too happy before we
unveil our top pick here are a few
honorable mentions yeah
yeah I know it’s it’s constant the
moments it’s just it’s like it’s always
right now you know jag spa
I was dataset owner
David was right here dancing it with
somebody else
number one Lawrence of Arabia what is it
major Lawrence to detract you personally
to the desert it’s clean less than ten
years after being blacklisted from
Hollywood for being a communist Michael
Wilson was hired to write a film based
on the life of TE Lawrence ages to win
avala
blasphemy despite his undeniable talent
director David Lean was less interested
in the historical aspect and more
concerned with taking a poignant look at
the subjects character well that’s a
step in the right direction after hiring
an interim writer who contributed little
to the project lean hired Robert bolt to
add more depth to the dialogue the truth
is I’m an ordinary man
by this time Lawrence of Arabia was
already in production however and the
foundation was in place for one of
cinema’s most admired pieces of work do
you agree with our list I don’t qualify
for the job do you know of any movies
that started shooting without a
completed script all right you don’t
want to listen to me to listen for more
fully realized to top 10s published
every day be sure to subscribe to
watchmojo.com
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