Oscar za najbolji originalni scenarij (eng. Academy Award for Writing Original Screenplay) je Oscar za najbolji scenarij koji nije temeljen na prethodno objavljenom materijali. Prije 1940. postojao je Oscar za najbolju originalnu priču. Od iste godine te su dvije nagrade razdvojene u dvije kategorije. Počevši s dodjelom Oscara 1957., dvije su kategorije kombinirane kako bi se odala počast samo scenariju.
1940-e GodinaFilmDobitnikNominirani 1940. Veliki McGinty – Preston Sturges Anđeli iznad Broadwaya – Ben HechtČarobni metak dr. Ehrlicha – Norman Burnside, Heinz Herald, John HustonStrani dopisnik – Charles BennettVeliki diktator – Charlie Chaplin 1941. Građanin Kane – Herman Mankiewicz, Orson Welles Narednik York – Harry Chandlee, Abem Finkel, John Huston, Howard KochTall, Dark and Handsome – Karl Tunberg, Darrell WareTom, Dick i Harry – Paul JarricoVrag i gospođica Jones – Norman Krasna 1942. Žena godine – Michael Kanin, Ring Lardner Jr. Cesta za Maroko – Frank Butler, Don HartmanOne of Our Aircraft is Missing – Micheal Powell, Emeric PressburgerRat protiv gospođe Hadley – George OppenheimerWake Island – W. R. Burnett, Frank Butler 1943. Princeza O'Rourke – Norman Krasna Air Force – Dudley NicholsBorimo se na moru – Noel CowardSo Proudly We Hail! – Allan ScottZvijezda sjevernjača – Lillian Hellman 1944. Wilson – Lamar Trotti Dvije djevojke i mornar – Richard Connell, Glays LehmanThe Miracle of Morgan's Creek – Preston SturgesPozdrav junaku – Preston Sturges Wing and a Prayer – Jerome Cady 1945. Marie-Louise – Richard Schweizer Dillinger – Philip YordanGlazba za milijune – Myles Connolly Salty O'Rourke – Milton Holmes What Next, Corporal Hargrove? – Harry Kurnitz 1946. Sedmi veo – Robert Sherwood Djeca raja – Jacques PrévertOzloglašena – Ben HechtPlava dalija – Raymond ChandlerPut u utopiju – Norman Panama, Melvin Frank 1947. Neženja i Bobby Soxer – Sidney Sheldon Dvostruki život – Ruth Gordon, Garson KaninGospodin Verdoux – Charlie ChaplinShoeshine – Sergio Amidei, Adolfo Franci, C. G. Viola, Cesare ZavattiniTijelo i duša – Abraham Polonsky 1948. nagrada nije dodijeljena 1949. Bojište – Robert Pirosh Jolson ponovno pjeva – Sidney BuchmanMirni dječak – Helen Levitt, Janice Loeb, Sidney MeyersPaisà – Alfred Hayes, Federico Fellini, Sergio Amidei, Marcello Pagliero, Roberto RosselliniPutovnica za Pimlico – T.E.B. Clarke
1950-e GodinaFilmDobitnikNominirani 1950. Bulevar sumraka – Charles Brackett, D.M. Marshman, Jr., Billy Wilder Adamovo rebro – Ruth Gordon, Garson KaninBez izlaza – Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Lesser SamuelsCaged – Virginia Kellogg, Bernard C. SchoenfeldLjudi – Carl Foreman 1951. Amerikanac u Parizu – Alan Jay Lerner Ace in the Hole – Billy Wilder, Lesser Samuels, Walter NewmanDavid i Bathsheba – Philip DunneGo for Broke! – Robert PiroshVrelo – Clarence Greene, Russell Rouse 1952. Banda s Lavender Hilla – T.E.B. Clarke The Atomic City – Sydney BoehmPat i Mike – Ruth Gordon, Garson KaninViva Zapata! – John SteinbeckZvučna barijera – Terence Rattigan 1953. Titanic – Charles Brackett, Richard Breen, Walter Reisch The Band Wagon – Betty Comden, Adolph GreenThe Naked Spur – Sam Rolfe, Harold Jack BloomPustinjski štakori – Richard Murphy Take the High Ground! – Millard Kaufman 1954. Na dokovima New Yorka – Budd Schulberg Bosonoga kontesa – Joseph L. MankiewiczGenevieve – William RoseKnock on Wood – Norman Panama, Melvin FrankPriča o Glennu Milleru – Valentine Davies, Oscar Brodney 1955. Prekinuta melodija – Sonya Levien, William Ludwig It's Always Fair Weather – Betty Comden, Adolph GreenPraznik gospodina Hulota – Jacques Tati, Henri Marquet The Seven Little Foys – Melville Shavelson, Jack RoseSuđenje Billyju Mitchellu – Milton Sperling, Emmet Lavery 1956. Crveni balon – Albert Lamorisse The Bold and the Brave – Robert LewinJulie – Andrew L. StoneThe Ladykillers – William RoseUlica – Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli 1957. Designing Woman – George Wells Čovjek s tisuću lica – Ralph Wheelwright, R. Wright Campbell, Ivan Goff, Ben RobertsI Vitelloni – Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio PinelliSmiješno lice – Leonard GersheThe Tin Star – Barney Slater, Joel Kane, Dudley Nichols 1958. Bijeg u lancima – Nathan E. Douglas, Harold Jacob Smith Božica – Paddy ChayefskyHouseboat – Melville Shavelson, Jack RoseOvčar – James Edward Grant, William BowersUčiteljev ljubimac – Fay Kanin, Michael Kanin 1959. Šaputanja na jastuku – Clarence Greene, Maurice Richlin, Russell Rouse, Stanley Shapiro The 400 Blows – François Truffaut, Marcel MoussyDivlje jagode – Ingmar BergmanOperacija podsuknja – Paul King, Joseph Stone, Stanley Shapiro, Maurice RichlinSjever-sjeverozapad – Ernest Lehman
1960-e GodinaFilmDobitnikNominirani 1960. Apartman – I.A.L. Diamond, Billy Wilder The Angry Silence – Scenarij: Bryan Forbes; Priča: Richard Gregson, Michael CraigHiroshima, mon amour – Marguerite DurasNikad nedjeljom – Jules DassinŽivotne činjenice – Norman Panama, Melvin Frank 1961. Sjaj u travi – William Inge Balada o vojniku – Valentin Yoshov, Grigori ChukhraiGeneral Della Rovere – Sergio Amidei, Diego Fabbi, Indro MontanelliLover Come Back – Stanley Shapiro, Paul HenningSlatki život – Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli, Ennio Flaiano, Brunello Rondi 1962. Razvod na talijanski način – Ennio de Concini, Pietro Germi, Alfredo Giannetti Freud – Priča: Charles Kaufman; Scenarij: Charles Kaufman, Wolfgang ReinhardtKroz tamno ogledalo – Ingmar BergmanLast Year at Marienbad – Alain Robbe-GrilletThat Touch of Mink – Stanley Shapiro, Nate Monaster 1963. Kako je osvojen Zapad – James Webb 8½ – Federico Fellini, Ennio Flaiano, Tullio Pinelli, Brunello RondiAmerika, Amerika – Elia Kazan Četiri dana u Napulju – Priča: Pasquale Festa Campanile, Massimo Franciosa, Nanni Loy, Vasco Pratolini; Scenarij: Carlo Bernari, Massimo Franciosa, Pasquale Festa Campanile, Nanni Loy Love with the Proper Stranger – Arnold Schulman 1964. Father Goose – Peter Stone, Frank Tarloff A Hard Day's Night – Alun OwenOrganizator – Age Monicelli, Scarpelli Monicelli, Mario MonicelliJedan krumpir, dva krumpira – Scenarij: Raphael Hayes; Priča: Orville H. Hampton Taj čovjek iz Rija – Jean-Paul Rappeneau, Ariane Mnouchkine, Daniel Boulanger, Philippe de Broca 1965. Darling – Frederic Raphael Casanova '70 – Age Monicelli, Scarpelli Monicelli, Mario Monicelli, Tonino Guerra, Giorgio Salvioni, Suso Cecchi D'AmicoThose Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines – Jack Davies, Ken AnnakinThe Umbrellas of Cherbourg – Jacques DemyVlak – Franklin Coen, Frank Davis 1966. Jedan muškarac i jedna žena – Priča: Claude Lelouch; Scenarij: Claude Lelouch, Pierre Uytterhoeven Khartoum – Robert ArdreyKolačić sreće – Billy Wilder, I.A.L. DiamondThe Naked Prey – Clinkt Johnston, Don PetersUvećanje – Priča: Michelangelo Antonioni; Scenarij: Michelangelo Antonioni, Tonino Guerra, Edward Bond 1967. Pogodi tko dolazi na večeru – William Rose Bonnie i Clyde – David Newman, Robert BentonLa Guerre Est Finie – Jorge SemprúnRazvod na američki način – Priča: Robert Kaufman; Scenarij: Norman Lear Two for the Road – Frederic Raphael 1968. Producenti – Mel Brooks 2001: Odiseja u svemiru – Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. ClarkeBitka za Alžir – Franco Solinas, Gillo PontecorvoLica – John CassavetesVrući milijuni – Iro Wallach, Peter Ustinov 1969. Butch Cassidy i Sundance Kid – William Goldman Bob i Carol i Ted i Alice – John Hale, Bridget Boland, Richard SokoloveDivlja horda – Priča: Walon Green, Roy N. Sickner; Scenarij: Walon Green, Sam PeckinpahGoli u sedlu – Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Terry SouthernProkleti – Priča: Nicola Badalucco; Scenarij: Nicola Badalucco, Enrico Medioli, Luchino Visconti
1970-e GodinaFilmDobitnikNominirani 1970. Patton – Francis Ford Coppola, Edmund North Joe – Norman WexlerLjubavna priča – Erich SegalMy Night at Maud's – Éric RohmerPet lakih komada – Scenarij: Adrien Joyce; Priča: Adrien Joyce, Bob Rafelson 1971. Bolnica – Paddy Chayefsky Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion – Elio Petri, Ugo PirroKlute – Andy Lewis, Dave LewisLjeto '42. – Herman RaucherNedjelja, krvava nedjelja – Penelope Gilliatt 1972. Kandidat – Jeremy Larner Dama pjeva blues – Terrence McCloy, Chris Clark, Suzanne de PasseDiskretni šarm buržoazije – Luis Buñuel, Jean-Claude CarrièreMladi Winston – Carl ForemanMurmur of the Heart – Louis Malle 1973. Žalac – David S. Ward Američki grafiti – George Lucas, Gloria Katz, Willard HuyckKrici i šaputanja – Ingmar BergmanA Touch of Class – Melvin Frank, Jack RoseSpasite tigra – Steve Shagan 1974. Kineska četvrt – Robert Towne Alice više ne stanuje ovdje – Robert GetchellAmerička noć – François Truffaut, Jean-Louis Richard, Suzanne SchiffmanHarry i Tonto – Paul Mazursky, Josh GreenfeldPrisluškivanje – Francis Ford Coppola 1975. Pasje poslijepodne – Frank Pierson Amarcord – Federico Fellini, Tonino GuerraAnd Now My Love – Claude LeLouch, Pierre UytterhoevenHolivudski frizer – Robert Towne, Warren BeattyLies My Father Told Me – Ted Allan 1976. TV mreža – Paddy Chayefsky The Front – Walter BernsteinRocky – Sylvester StalloneRođak, rođakinja – Priča i scenarij: Jean-Charles Tacchella; Adaptacija: Daniele ThompsonSedam ljepotica – Lina Wertmüller 1977. Annie Hall – Woody Allen, Marshall Brickman Djevojka za zbogom – Neil Simon The Late Show – Robert Benton Zvjezdani ratovi, Epizoda 4: Nova nada – George Lucas Životna prekretnica – Arthur Laurents 1978. Povratak veterana – Scenarij: Robert C. Jones, Waldo Salt; Priča: Nancy Dowd An Unmarried Woman – Paul MazurskyInterijeri – Woody AllenJesenja sonata – Ingmar BergmanLovac na jelene – Scenarij: Deric Washburn; Priča: Michael Cimino, Deric Washburn, Louis Garfinkle, Quinn K. Redeker 1979. Četiri mangupa – Steve Tesich ...I pravda za sve – Valerie Curtin, Barry Levinson Kineski sindrom – Mike Gray, T.S. Cook, James Bridges Manhattan – Woody Allen, Marshall BrickmanSav taj jazz – Robert Alan Aurthur, Bob Fosse
1980-e