The nominees for the 2009 Best Adapted Screenplay Oscars were announced on January 22, 2009 at 5:30 a.m. at the Samuel Goldwhy Theatre in Los Angeles California. Simon Beaufoy was awarded the "Best Adapted Screenplay" Oscar for Slumdog Millionaire" at the 81st annual Academy Awards on February 22, 2009.

• Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire - Winner
• David Hare, The Reader
• Peter Morgan, Frost Nixon
• Eric Roth, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
• John Patrick Shanley, Doubt

• Joel and Ethan Coen for No Country for Old Men - Winner
• Christopher Hampton for Atonement
• Sarah Polley for Away From Her
• Ronald Harwood for The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
• Paul Thomas Anderson for There Will Be Blood

• OSCAR.com: 80th Annual Academy Awards - Nominee List
• Google News: Best Adapted Screenplay Nominees
• Variety: Eye on the Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay (February 1, 2008)
• The National Post: Prediction time: Oscars twists and turns (January 22, 2008)
  • "Toronto's Sarah Polley made the most of Away From Her. Her screenplay nod is a surprise."
• Telegraph: Oscars 2008: Atonement leads the British charge, but the Coens are likely victors (January 22, 2008)
  • "We should also count Ronald Harwood, nominated for his adapted screenplay of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly, as a local triumph. He is South African-born but has lived in Britain for more than 50 years."