As Emmy nomination voting closes, this year’s Best Limited/Movie Writing category will have just five finalists, from 55 total submissions. This marks the third time since the expansion to the popular vote that this category will result in five nominees and the second consecutive year; the first being in 2020. We will find out who will make the cut when nominations are announced July 8.
The top contenders are a mix of those that have a single writer and thus must enter the entire series for consideration, and those that have the opportunity to submit individual installments. For the former, we have Half Man (Richard Gadd), DTF St. Louis (Steven Conrad), Death by Lightning (Mike Makowsky), and Lord of the Flies (Jack Thorne), all of which have high possibilities of making the lineup of five, due to their critical acclaim, previous noms at the Writers Guild of America Awards, or a likely spot in the top Best Limited Series race.
Meanwhile, the programs eligible to submit multiple episodes mostly went with one entry. Beef selected the premiere of the second season of the anthology series, “All the Things We’re Never Going to Have” — doubling the rivalry with the introduction of two couples — copying the playbook from three years ago, when Lee Sung-Jin won this category for the series-launching pilot.
The same goes for The Beast in Me with its episode “Sick Puppy” by creators Gabe Rotter and Daniel Pearle, introducing the two lead characters and a mysterious disappearance.
Then there are shows that put forward their finales, like the crime mystery thrillers Black Rabbit, with “Isle of Joy” by Zach Baylin and Kate Susman, and All Her Fault, with “Episode 8” by Megan Gallagher. Both suspenseful hours feature races against time, ending with shocking reveals and twists.
Another one to look out for is Bait on Prime starring and created by Riz Ahmed, satirizing the audition process of James Bond. The British series deviated from the common premiere/finale strategy and submitted its third installment, “House or Home” by Azam Mahmood, where Ahmed’s character Shah goes on a lengthy rant in front of his family.
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette is taking a risk by submitting three episodes: the pilot by Connor Hines, and two back-to-back hours, “Battery Park” by Kim Rosenstock and “The Wedding” by Juli Weiner, detailing the engagement and wedding of the titular couple. The series would need to have enough overall support to get into this tight lineup and overcome vote-splitting with three submissions.
As it stands, it does not look like the television movies this year are making enough of an impact for this category. If something were to make it in, it would probably be Remarkably Bright Creatures starring Sally Field and written by Olivia Newman and John Whittington. Also watch out for WGA winner Deep Cover by Derek Connolly and Colin Trevorrow, or Miss You, Love You by Oscar winner Jim Rash.
Here is how we see the 2026 Best Limited/Movie Writing category breaking down:
Front-runners
- Beef (Lee Sung Jin, “All The Things We’re Never Going To Have”)
- Death by Lightning (Mike Makowsky)
- Half Man (Richard Gadd)
- The Beast in Me (Gabe Rotter and Daniel Pearle, “Sick Puppy”)
- DTF St. Louis (Steven Conrad)
Potential Spoilers
- Bait (Azam Mahmood, “House or Home”)
- Lord of the Flies (Jack Thorne)
- Black Rabbit (Zach Baylin & Kate Susman, “Isle of Joy”)
- All Her Fault (Megan Gallagher, “Episode 8”)
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (Juli Weiner, “The Wedding”)
Longshots
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (Kim Rosenstock, “Battery Park”)
- Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette (Connor Hines, “Pilot”)
- Remarkably Bright Creatures (Olivia Newman & John Whittington)
- Deep Cover (Derek Connolly & Colin Trevorrow)
- Miss You, Love You (Jim Rash)
