Composers

1. Hans Zimmer

German-born composer Hans Zimmer is recognized as one of Hollywood's most innovative musical talents. He featured in the music video for The Buggles' single "Video Killed the Radio Star", which became a worldwide hit and helped usher in a new era of global entertainment as the first music video to ...

Dark Knight Trilogy, The Last Samurai, Interstellar, Gladiator, The DaVinci Code series, King Arthur, Man of Steel, Blade Runner 2049, Blue Planet II, Planet Earth II, Seven Worlds One Planet, Thin Red Line

2. John Williams

Composer | Jurassic Park

As one of the best known, awarded, and financially successful composers in US history, John Williams is as easy to recall as John Philip Sousa, Aaron Copland or Leonard Bernstein, illustrating why he is "America's composer" time and again. With a massive list of awards that includes over 52 Oscar ...

Star Wars series, Indiana Jones series, ET, Superman, Jaws, Schindler's List, Harry Potter (1-3), Jurassic Park

3. Ennio Morricone

Composer | The Hateful Eight

A classmate of director Sergio Leone with whom he would form one of the great director/composer partnerships (right up there with Eisenstein & Prokofiev, Hitchcock & Herrmann, Fellini & Rota), Ennio Morricone studied at Rome's Santa Cecilia Conservatory, where he specialized in trumpet. His first ...

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, Once Upon a Time in America, Cinema Paradiso, The Mission, Malena

4. Max Richter

Soundtrack | Arrival

Max Richter was born on March 22, 1966 in Hamelin, Lower Saxony, West Germany. He is a composer and actor, known for Arrival (2016), The Leftovers (2014) and Ad Astra (2019).

The Leftovers, Perfect Sense, Miss Sloane, Disconnect, Waltz with Bashir, Ad Astra, Sarah's Key, Escobar Paradise Lost

5. James Newton Howard

Composer | King Kong

James Newton Howard attended the University of Southern California's music school, but dropped out to tour with Elton John, and eventually compose music for film and television. He started with Head Office (1985) in 1985. He has been nominated for eight Academy Awards. He currently is a songwriter, ...

The Dark Knight Trilogy, Hunger Games Series, Fantastic Beast series, I am Legend, Lady in the Water, The Village, King Kong, Snow White and the Huntsman, Pawn Sacrifice

6. James Horner

Music_department | Titanic

James Horner began studying piano at the age of five, and trained at the Royal College of Music in London, England, before moving to California in the 1970s. After receiving a bachelor's degree in music at USC, he would go on to earn his master's degree at UCLA and teach music theory there. He ...

Braveheart, Glory, Titanic, Legends of the Fall, Avatar, Apocalyto, Troy, A Beautiful Mind, Enemy at the Gates, Field of Dreams, An American Tail, Aliens, Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock, Apollo 13

7. Jerry Goldsmith

Composer | L.A. Confidential

Born on February 10, 1929, Jerry Goldsmith studied piano with Jakob Gimpel and composition, theory, and counterpoint with Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco. He also attended classes in film composition given by Miklós Rózsa at the Univeristy of Southern California. In 1950, he was employed as a clerk ...

Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Chinatown, Alien, First Blood, Total Recall, Rudy, Planet of the Apes

8. Alan Silvestri

Composer | The Polar Express

In his ongoing, decades-long career as a composer, Alan Silvestri has blazed an innovative trail with his exciting and melodic scores, winning the applause of Hollywood and movie audiences the world over. With a credit list of over 100 films Silvestri has composed some of the most recognizable and ...

Forest Gump, Contact, Back to the Future series, The Avengers movies, Allied

9. Joe Hisaishi

Composer | Sen to Chihiro no kamikakushi

Joe Hisaishi was born on December 6, 1950 in Nakano, Japan. He is a composer and director, known for Spirited Away (2001), The Boy and the Heron (2023) and Fireworks (1997). He is married to Ayame Fujisawa . They have one child.

Princess Mononoke, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Spirited Away, Kiki's Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro

10. Ramin Djawadi

Composer | Game of Thrones

Ramin Djawadi is an Iranian-German film score composer known for composing the hit HBO series Game of Thrones and the Marvel films Blade: Trinity, Iron Man and Eternals. He also composed Clash of the Titans, A Wrinkle in Time, Pacific Rim, Westworld, Gears of War 4 and 5, Medal of Honor, Open ...

Game of Thrones, Westworld, Iron Man

11. Lorne Balfe

Composer | The Lego Batman Movie

Lorne Balfe was born on February 23, 1976 in Inverness, Scotland, UK. He is a composer, known for The Lego Batman Movie (2017), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011) and Black Widow (2021).

Assassins Creed III, The Bible, Manny, Terminator Genisys, Mission Impossible: Fallout, Ghost in the Shell

12. Yôko Kanno

Composer | Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex

Yôko Kanno was born on March 18, 1964 in Sendai, Japan. She is a composer and writer, known for Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex (2002), Wolf's Rain (2003) and Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001).

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Macross Plus, Cowboy Beepop, Escaflowne, Jin Roh

13. Daft Punk

Composer | Tron: Legacy

Daft Punk is known for Tron: Legacy (2010), The Saint (1997) and Kiss of the Dragon (2001).

Tron: Legacy

14. Trevor Morris

Composer | Hunter Killer

Trevor Morris is writer, producer and composer for Film & Television. Canadian born and dual citizen of Great Britain, Trevor splits his time between his home and studios in Los Angeles and Toronto Canada. Trevor has contributed to 30 Feature Films and over 700 hours of 1-Hour dramatic Television. ...

Vikings, Castlevania

15. Tom Holkenborg

Soundtrack | Mad Max: Fury Road

Tom Holkenborg, aka Junkie XL, is a Grammy-nominated multi-platinum producer, musician, composer and educator whose versatility puts him on the cutting edge of contemporary music, and whose thirst for innovation is helping to reimagine the world of composition.

A full-contact composer, Holkenborg is...

Alita: Battle Angel, Mad Max: Fury Road

16. Craig Armstrong

Soundtrack | Moulin Rouge!

Craig Armstrong, born in Glasgow, 1959. Studied composition and piano at the Royal Academy of Music, London from 1977 to 1981.

From his base in Glasgow he has written for film, classical commissions and solo recordings. He has composed for Baz Lurhmann's Romeo and Juliet and Moulin Rouge!, The Quiet...

Romeo + Juliet, Love Actually, Moulin Rouge, Cruel Intentions

17. M83

Soundtrack | Oblivion

M83 is known for Oblivion (2013), Divergent (2014) and Chronicle (2012).

Oblivion

18. Vangelis

Composer | Blade Runner

Vangelis was a composer and performer who worked almost exclusively with electronic instruments. With Jean-Michel Jarre and Mike Oldfield in the 1970s, Vangelis was a pioneer in the instrumental music and a main influence in the creation of the musical genre "new age," a style related to spiritual,...

Blade Runner, Chariots of Fire, 1492: Conquest of Paradise

19. Ludovico Einaudi

Soundtrack | Nomadland

Ludovico Einaudi was born on November 23, 1955 in Turin, Italy. He is a composer and actor, known for Nomadland (2020), The Father (2020) and This Is England (2006).

20. John Barry

Soundtrack | Out of Africa

John Barry was born in York, England in 1933, and was the youngest of three children. His father, Jack, owned several local cinemas and by the age of fourteen, Barry was capable of running the projection box on his own - in particular, The Rialto in York. As he was brought up in a cinematic ...

Dances with Wolves, Dr No, Her Majesty's Secret Service

21. Clinton Shorter

Composer | District 9

Clinton Shorter was born on March 18, 1971 in North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He is a composer, known for District 9 (2009), 2 Guns (2013) and Contraband (2012).

The Expanse

22. Clint Mansell

Composer | Black Swan

Clinton Darryl Mansell is an English singer, musician and film composer known for his collaborations with Darren Aronofsky. He composed Pi, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain, Black Swan, The Wrestler, Noah, Ghost in the Shell, Peacemaker, Doom Patrol, Loving Vincent, Mass Effect 3, Titans, World ...

Requiem for a Dream, Ghost in the Shell, Moon, The Fountain

23. Michael Nyman

Composer | The Piano

Michael Nyman studied piano, harpsichord and music history with Alan Bush at the Royal Academy of Music, and musicology with Thurston Dart at King's College, London. Between 1968 and 1978 he worked as a music critic and in 1977 he founded the Campiello Band, later renamed the Michael Nyman Band. ...

Gataca, The Piano

24. Brian Tyler

Music_department | Avengers: Age of Ultron

Brian Theodore Tyler is an American composer, conductor, arranger and producer known for his film, television and video game scores. In his 24-year career, he has scored Transformers: Prime, Eagle Eye, The Expendables trilogy, Iron Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron with Danny Elfman, Now You See Me, ...

Children of Dune, Thor: The Dark World, Avengers: Age of Ultron

25. Danny Elfman

Music_department | The Nightmare Before Christmas

As Danny Elfman was growing up in the Los Angeles area, he was largely unaware of his talent for composing. It wasn't until the early 1970s that Danny and his older brother Richard Elfman started a musical troupe while in Paris; the group "Mystic Knights of Oingo-Boingo" was created for Richard's ...

Batman, Hulk, Justice League

26. Éric Serra

Music_department | GoldenEye

Eric Serra was born on September 9th, 1959 near Paris in France. His mother died when he was only 7 years old. His father, Claude Serra was a well-know songwriter in France in late 50s and 60s. Serra began to learn play the guitar at 11 years old and became a professional musician for Mory Kante;, ...

Fifth Element

27. Michael A. McCann

Music_department | After Earth

Michael A. McCann was born on March 5, 1976 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a composer, known for After Earth (2013), Deus Ex: Human Revolution (2011) and It's All Gone Pete Tong (2004).

Deus Ex: Human Revolution

28. Abel Korzeniowski

Music_department | A Single Man

Born on the 18th of July, 1972, in Cracow, Poland. In 1996 graduated the instrumental studies (specialization: cello), and then in 2000 graduated with merit from the composition class of Krzysztof Penderecki at the Music Academy in Cracow. At the same Academy, in the years 1999-2000, he was an ...

Romeo and Juliet, W.E., Nocturnal Animals

29. Elmer Bernstein

Composer | Far from Heaven

Elmer Bernstein was educated at the Walden School and New York University. He served in the US Army Air Corps in World War II, writing scores for the service radio unit. He also wrote and arranged musical numbers for Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band. A prolific and respected film music composer, ...

The Ten Commandments, The Magnificent Seven

30. Rupert Gregson-Williams

Composer | Wonder Woman

Rupert Gregson-Williams was born on February 21, 1967 in Tonbridge, Kent, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Wonder Woman (2017), Hacksaw Ridge (2016) and The Crown (2016). He has been married to Emma Jacobs since 1996. They have one child.

31. Harry Gregson-Williams

Composer | Shrek

Harry Gregson-Williams is one of Hollywood's most sought-after and prolific composers whose long list of film and television credits underscore the diverse range of his talents. He most recently wrote the music for "The Last Duel" and "House of Gucci" both directed by Ridley Scott. In addition, he ...

32. Thomas Bergersen

Music_department | Cloud Atlas

Born in Norway. Masters degree in Composition and Orchestration. Music composer and orchestrator in the entertainment industry. Has composed music for movies, TV shows, commercials, radio shows, and movie advertisements. Thomas is the co-founder and co-owner of "Two Steps From Hell" LLC. - A ...

33. Steve Jablonsky

Composer | Transformers

Steve Jablonsky is an American film composer who is known for his collaborations with film directors Michael Bay and Peter Berg. He composed five Transformers films, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Lone ...

Transformers: The Last Knight, The Island

34. Alberto Iglesias

Composer | La piel que habito

Alberto Iglesias was born in 1955 in Donostia-San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa, País Vasco, Spain. He is a composer and actor, known for The Skin I Live In (2011), Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) and The Constant Gardener (2005).

35. Rachel Portman

Composer | Never Let Me Go

Rachel Portman, Composer

British composer Rachel Portman became the first female composer to win an Academy Award, which she received for the score of Emma. She was also the first female composer to win a Primetime Emmy Award, which she received for the film, Bessie. She has received two further ...

Never Let Me Go

36. Steven Price

Composer | Gravity

Steven Price is an Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning composer. In 2014 his groundbreaking score for Alfonso Cuaron's Gravity won him not only the Academy Award but also the BAFTA, the Critics' Choice Award, the Satellite Award, and ASCAP's first-ever Film Composer of The Year Award. He has since...

Gravity

37. Alan Menken

Soundtrack | Beauty and the Beast

Alan Menken is an American composer, songwriter, music conductor, director and record producer.

Menken is best known for his scores and songs for films produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios. His scores and songs for The Little Mermaid (1989), Beauty and the Beast (1991), Aladdin (1992), and ...

Disney

38. Howard Shore

Music_department | The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Howard Shore is a Canadian composer, born in Toronto. He was born in a Jewish family. He started studying music when 8-years-old, and played as a member of bands by the time he was 13-years-old. He was interested in a professional career in music as a teenager. He studied music at the Berklee ...

Lord of the Rings

39. John Murphy

Composer | The Suicide Squad

John Murphy is a British film composer from Liverpool. He began composing music scores for films in the early 1990s, working on several successful British movies, enjoying particular success with the soundtracks to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Snatch (2000).

Since 2000, Murphy has ...

Sunshine

40. Dun Tan

Composer | Wo hu cang long

Dun Tan was born on August 18, 1957 in Si Mao, Hunan Province, China. He is a composer and producer, known for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Hero (2002) and Fallen (1998).

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

41. Alexandre Desplat

Composer | The King's Speech

Composer and conductor Alexandre Desplat, Oscar winner and seven-time Academy Award nominated, for his prolific filmography and his collaborations with Stephen Frears, Terrence Malick, Ang Lee, Kathryn Bigelow, Jacques Audiard, Wes Anderson, Roman Polanski, George Clooney or Matteo Garrone is one ...

Harry Potter

42. Bernard Herrmann

Composer | North by Northwest

The man behind the low woodwinds that open Citizen Kane (1941), the shrieking violins of Psycho (1960), and the plaintive saxophone of Taxi Driver (1976) was one of the most original and distinctive composers ever to work in film. He started early, winning a composition prize at the age of 13 and ...

Psycho

43. Trevor Rabin

Composer | Deep Blue Sea

Trevor Rabin was born in South Africa in 1954. He began playing guitar at the age of 12 after having had piano lessons since he was a toddler. In 1972 he formed the band Rabbit becoming the most successful rock act ever to emerge from South Africa. Rabin left Rabbit to pursue a solo career in ...

44. Atticus Ross

Soundtrack | The Social Network

Atticus Ross was born on January 16, 1968 in England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Social Network (2010), The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) and Mank (2020). He has been married to Claudia Sarne since 2001. They have three children.

45. Jeff Russo

Composer | Fargo

Jeff Russo was born on August 31, 1969. He is a composer and actor, known for Fargo (2014), Ripley (2024) and Lucy in the Sky (2019).

46. Thomas Newman

Music_department | Skyfall

Thomas Newman is an American film score composer. He was born in Los Angeles. His father was notable film score composer Alfred Newman (1900-1970). The Newman family is of Russian-Jewish descent, and includes several other well-known musicians. Thomas' mother Martha Louis Montgomery (1920-2005) ...

47. Kenji Kawai

Composer | Ip Man

Kenji Kawai was born on April 23, 1957 in Shinagawa, Tokyo, Japan. He is a composer, known for Ip Man (2008), Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004) and Ip Man 4: The Finale (2019).

48. Philip Glass

Soundtrack | The Truman Show

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Glass worked in his father's radio store and discovered music listening to the offbeat Western classical records customers didn't seem to want. He studied the violin and flute, and obtained early admission to the University of Chicago. After graduating in mathematics ...

49. Philippe Rombi

Composer | Dans la maison

Philippe Rombi was born on April 3, 1968 in Pau, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France. He is a composer, known for In the House (2012), Joyeux Noel (2005) and Welcome to the Sticks (2008).

50. Stephen Barton

Composer | Star Trek: Picard

Stephen Barton was born on September 17, 1982 in Preston, England, UK. He is a composer, known for Star Trek: Picard (2020), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019) and Apex Legends (2019).

12 Monkeys

51. Cliff Martinez

Composer | Only God Forgives

Cliff Martinez was born on February 5, 1954 in The Bronx, New York, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Only God Forgives (2013), The Neon Demon (2016) and Drive (2011).

52. Mychael Danna

Composer | Life of Pi

Mychael Danna is an Oscar and and Emmy Award-winning film composer recognized for his evocative blending of non-western traditions with orchestral and electronic music. His highly awarded works include the Oscar-winning score for Ang Lee's Life of Pi (2012), and his many Genie Award-winning scores ...

53. Jeff Danna

Composer | Onward

Jeff Danna is an award-winning Canadian film composer. Born in Burlington, Ontario, to a musical family active in local theatre and church choir, Danna was a reluctant young piano student but found solace in an electric guitar left behind at his home by a friend. Unknowingly following in the path ...

54. Alfred Newman

Music_department | The King and I

Alfred Newman is an American composer, arranger, and conductor of film music.

From his start as a music prodigy, he came to be regarded as a respected figure in the history of film music. He won nine Academy Awards and was nominated 45 times, contributing to the Newmans being the most nominated ...

55. David Newman

Music_department | West Side Story

In his 25 year career, David Newman has scored over 100 films, ranging from War of the Roses, Matilda, Bowfinger and Heathers, to the more recent The Spirit, Serenity, and Alvin and the Chipmonks: The Squeakuel. Newman's music has brought to life the critically acclaimed dramas Brokedown Palace and...

56. Randy Newman

Soundtrack | The Princess and the Frog

Randy Newman is an American film composer and singer who is well-known for composing The Princess and the Frog, Meet the Parents and various Pixar films including the Toy Story, Monsters, Inc and Cars franchises as well as A Bug's Life. He wrote iconic songs such as "Short People", "You've Got A ...

57. Yutaka Yamada

Composer | Imawa no Kuni no Arisu

Yutaka Yamada, born in 1989, is a Los Angeles-based music composer celebrated for his distinctive and emotive work. He rigorously studied musical composition at the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music and launched his career in 2009 by winning the first prize at the Vienna Instruments Strings ...

58. Michael Giacchino

Composer | Star Trek

Michael Giacchino is an American composer of music for films, television and video games.

Giacchino composed the scores to the television series Lost, Alias and Fringe, the video game series Medal of Honor and Call of Duty and many films such as The Incredibles (2004), Star Trek (2009), Up (2009), ...

59. Ólafur Arnalds

Soundtrack | The Hunger Games

Ólafur Arnalds was born on November 3, 1986 in Mosfellsbær, Iceland. He is a music artist and composer, known for The Hunger Games (2012), Broadchurch (2013) and Taken 3 (2014).

60. Jóhann Jóhannsson

Composer | Last and First Men

Jóhann Jóhannsson was born on September 19, 1969 in Reykjavík, Iceland. He was a composer and writer, known for Last and First Men (2020), The Theory of Everything (2014) and Sicario (2015). He died on February 9, 2018 in Berlin, Germany.

Theory of Everything, Mary Magdalene