2. Louis C.K. — Pootie Tang
Pootie Tang writing credits: Louis C.K.
Back in 2001, Louis C.K. was a writer for The Chris Rock Show, where he created the character Pootie Tang — which was made into the critically panned but cult favorite movie by the same name.
3. Shonda Rhimes — Crossroads
Crossroads writing credits: Shonda Rhimes
Before Shonda Rhimes created Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, and Scandal, she was a young screenwriter penning the Britney Spears vehicle Crossroads and The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement.
4. Judd Apatow — Heavy Weights
Heavy Weights writing credits: Judd Apatow, Steven Brill
Before he wrote and directed The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, and Funny People; produced Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Superbad, and Pineapple Express; and created Freaks and Geeks, Judd Apatow co-wrote one of the more memorable kids movies of the '90s.
5. Justin Theroux — Tropic Thunder
Tropic Thunder writing credits: Justin Theroux, Ben Stiller, Etan Cohen
In addition to his diverse and prolific acting career, the star of HBO's The Leftovers is also an accomplished screenwriter. Theroux has helped write Tropic Thunder, Iron Man 2, and Rock of Ages.
6. Quentin Tarantino — It's Pat
It's Pat writing credits: Jim Emerson, Stephen Hibbert, Julia Sweeney
Tarantino is known for bloody action films like Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, and Inglourious Basterds, so it's more than a little surprising that he was an uncredited writer on a Saturday Night Live film, but he confirmed his involvement during a 1994 Playboy interview.
7. Rashida Jones — Toy Story 4
Toy Story 4 writing credits: Rashida Jones, Will McCormack
The former star of Parks and Recreation is co-writing the screenplay of the newest chapter in the Toy Story franchise.
8. Nat Faxon and Jim Rash — The Descendants
The Descendants writing credits: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon, Jim Rash
Yep, Nat Faxon (that guy from Beerfest) and Jim Rash (the dean from Community) helped co-write the Oscar-winning screenplay for The Descendants with director Alexander Payne.
9. Tom McCarthy — Up
Up writing credits: Pete Doctor (story by/screenplay), Bob Peterson (story by/screenplay), Tom McCarthy (story by)
The writer and directer of this year's Academy Award–nominated film Spotlight also received a "story by" credit for Up, making him partially responsible for the saddest five minutes in movie history.
10. Tom Hanks — That Thing You Do!
That Thing You Do! writing credits: Tom Hanks
America's favorite actor has picked up the pen a couple times in his career, writing That Thing You Do! and co-writing Larry Crowne.
11. Carrie Fisher — The Wedding Singer
The Wedding Singer writing credits: Tim Herlihy
Carrie Fisher may be best known as Princess Leia in Star Wars, but what a lot of people don't know is she was also an in-demand script doctor, helping to polish scripts and punch up jokes for Hook, Sister Act, Lethal Weapon 3, and The Wedding Singer among others while remaining uncredited.
12. Alexander Payne — I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry
I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry writing credits: Barry Fanaro, Alexander Payne, Jim Taylor
Yep, the same Alexander Payne who gave us Election, Sideways, The Descendants, and Nebraska was also partially responsible for a draft of a screenplay that eventually became Chuck and Larry.
13. Joss Whedon — Toy Story
Toy Story writing credits: John Lasseter (original story by), Pete Docter (original story by), Joe Ranft (original story by), Andrew Stanton (original story by/screenplay), Joss Whedon (screenplay), Joel Cohen (screenplay), Alec Sokolow (screenplay)
The Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator and Avengers director was also among the many writers credited with the Pixar classic Toy Story.
14. George Miller — Babe
Babe writing credits: George Miller, Chris Noonan
The madman behind Mad Max: Fury Road also happens to be the mind behind the Academy Award–winning Happy Feet and Best Picture nominee Babe.
15. James Gunn — Scooby Doo
Scooby-Doo writing credits: James Gunn (story/screenplay), Craig Titley (story)
The writer and director of Guardians of the Galaxy also wrote the live-action adventure of Scooby, Shaggy, and the rest of the gang.
16. Thomas Lennon — Night at the Museum
Night at the Museum writing credits: Robert Ben Garant, Thomas Lennon
The former Reno 911 star and character actor who's in seemingly every comedy has also written the screenplays for Taxi, Herbie Fully Loaded, and all the Night at the Museum films.
17. Owen Wilson — Rushmore
Rushmore writing credits: Wes Anderson, Owen Wilson
The Wedding Crashers star also helped frequent collaborator Wes Anderson write Rushmore and The Royal Tenenbaums.
18. Noah Baumbach — Madagascar 3
Madagascar 3 writing credits: Eric Darnell, Noah Baumbach
The critically acclaimed writer and director of Francis Ha, The Squid and the Whale, and Greenberg and frequent Wes Anderson collaborator also wrote the screenplay for the kid-friendly Madagascar 3.
19. Danny Strong — The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 writing credits: Peter Craig, Danny Strong
The Mad Men, Gilmore Girls, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer actor has written The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 1, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay — Part 2, and Lee Daniel's The Butler and is a co-creator of Empire.
20. Dan Futterman — Capote
Capote writing credits: Dan Futterman
Yep, Robin Williams' character's son in the classic film The Birdcage is also an Academy Award–nominated screenwriter for Capote and Foxcatcher.
21. Clark Gregg — What Lies Beneath
What Lies Beneath writing credits: Clark Gregg (story/screenplay), Sarah Kernochan (story)
The recognizable Avengers and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D actor was also the writer of the creepy Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer flick What Lies Beneath.
22. Roald Dahl — You Only Live Twice
You Only Live Twice writing credits: Roald Dahl (screenplay), Harold Jack Bloom (additional story material)
The famous British children's writer of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, and Fantastic Mr. Fox also wrote the screenplay for a James Bond thriller.
23. M. Night Shyamalan — Stuart Little
Stuart Little writing credits: M. Night Shyamalan, Greg Brooker
The Sixth Sense and Signs directer took a break from his twist endings to write a kids movie about an orphaned little mouse voiced by Michel J. Fox.
24. Busy Philipps — Blades of Glory
Blades of Glory writing credits: Jeff Cox (story/screenplay) Craig Cox (story/screenplay), John Altschuler (screenplay), Dave Krinsky (screenplay), Busy Philipps (story)
The Freaks and Geeks, Dawson's Creek, and Cougar Town star also has a "story by" credit for the Will Ferrell comedy Blades of Glory.