Citizen Kane (1941) — Screenplay
A reporter's quest to decode a dying magnate's final word reveals the hollow triumph of a life built on power and lost love.
- Written by
- Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz
- Genre
- Drama, Mystery
- Studio
- RKO Radio Pictures
- Length
- 164 pages
This script is a masterclass in non-linear storytelling, with its nested flashbacks and a central mystery that propels the narrative. Study it for its razor-sharp dialogue and how it builds a complex character portrait through the conflicting perspectives of others, creating a profound meditation on ambition and regret.
Read the full Citizen Kane (1941) screenplay in PDF, page by page, right here on Laper — or download the original script to study Orson Welles, Herman J. Mankiewicz’s scene work, dialogue and structure at your own pace. A free resource for screenwriters and film students learning Hollywood script format.