Best of Rachel Portman
Born in the U.K. in 1960. Won Oscar for Emma (1996). Portman's scores are often sweet, emotional journeys, heavily dependent on string instruments. My favorite (everybody's favorite): The theme for…
Best of Terence Blanchard
Born in the U.S. in 1962. Known for his jazzy scores and frequent collaborations with Spike Lee. My favorite: Mo Better Blues.
Best of Thomas Newman
Born in the U.S. in 1955. An eclectic composer, but you'll always recognize him for his atmospheric percussion instruments. My favorite: Road to Perdition.
Best of Michael Giacchino
Born in the U.S. in 1967. Won Oscar for Up. A reliable choice to score your animated film, but his lively orchestrations are easily adaptable to other thrilling endeavors. My…
Best of Maurice Jarre
1924-2009, born in France. Won three Oscars for Lawrence of Arabia, Doctor Zhivago and A Passage to India. A magnificent composer for epics, Jarre also took an interest in electronic…
Best of Vangelis
1943-2022, born in Greece. Won Oscar for Chariots of Fire. Groundbreaking composer of electronic music for the cinema. My favorite: Blade Runner.
Best of John Carpenter
Born in the U.S. in 1948. Primarily one of the most successful horror directors in history, Carpenter also composed eerie electronic scores for his movies. My favorite: Halloween.
Best of Alexandre Desplat
Born in France in 1961. Won two Oscars for The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Shape of Water. He often lends his scores a quirky touch. My favorite: The Imitation…
Best of James Newton Howard
Born in the U.S. in 1951. At his best working with M. Night Shyamalan, for whom he wrote masterful scores, but he's also shown great diversity over the years. My…
Best of Howard Shore
Born in Canada in 1946. Won three Oscars for the Lord of the Rings films, including Original Song. Long-time collaborator of David Cronenberg's. My favorite: The Silence of the Lambs.