My Top 50 Film/TV/Game Composers
by Alexander_Joshua_Davis | created - 17 Dec 2016 | updated - 17 Dec 2016 | PublicSome of my all time favourite composers of film, game, and TV series scores and their works I most rate.
1. 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 ...
Iconic scores and themes to the Star Wars saga, Jurassic Park, Minority Report, and many others.
2. 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 ...
Amazing score for the Back to the Future trilogy, Predator, and a bunch of action movies from the mid-80s to current day.
3. 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 ...
Classic scoring style, Chinatown, Total Recall, Alien, LA Confidential, The Boys from Brazil, Capricorn One, and many others.
4. 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 ...
Bi-centennial Man, Braveheart, Commando, Clear and Present Danger, Aliens, Cacoon, and many others.
5. Vince DiCola
Soundtrack | Rocky IV
Grammy & Golden Globe & nominated composer and songwriter Vince DiCola is an Italian American platinum selling artist. He co-composed eight songs for the John Travolta starring and Sylvester Stallone directed film, STAYING ALIVE in 1983. DiCola and co-composer Frank Stallone received a Grammy ...
Amazing synth prog rock/jazz-fusion inspired scores for Rocky IV, and The Transformers: The Movie (1986).
6. 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 ...
7. 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 ...
8. Jeremy Soule
Composer | The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion
A native of Keokuk, Iowa, Jeremy Soule began life as a passionate composer of symphonic music at a very early age. Since the age of five, Soule took an intense interest in the symphony orchestra. "The Orchestra is the ultimate instrument. I find that it has the ability to define nearly every human ...
9. Lyle Mays
Soundtrack | Training Day
Lyle Mays was born on November 27, 1953 in Wausaukee, Wisconsin, USA. He was a composer, known for Training Day (2001), Wild (2014) and The Falcon and the Snowman (1985). He died on February 10, 2020 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
10. Pat Metheny
Soundtrack | Training Day
Pat Metheny was born on August 12, 1954 in Lee's Summit, Missouri, USA. He is a composer and producer, known for Training Day (2001), Toys (1992) and Wild (2014). He is married to Latifa. They have three children.
11. Nobuo Uematsu
Composer | Fainaru fantajî sebun adobento chirudoren
He's been called the John Williams of the video game world, and the description is apt. Born in Kouchi City, Japan on March 21, 1959, Nobuo started playing the piano at the age of 12 and has never been formerly taught. By his own admission, he said he wanted to learn to play the piano because he ...
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).
13. Dave Grusin
Music_department | The Fabulous Baker Boys
Dave Grusin was born on June 26, 1934 in Littleton, Colorado, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989), The Firm (1993) and The Graduate (1967). He was previously married to Edith Ruth Price, Sara Jane Tallman and Barbara Jo Davidson.
14. Michael Kamen
Soundtrack | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Michael Kamen was born on April 15, 1948 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Don Juan DeMarco (1994) and X-Men (2000). He was married to Sandra Keenan. He died on November 18, 2003 in London, England, UK.
15. 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 ...
16. 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 ...
17. Brad Fiedel
Music_department | True Lies
Extremely talented, prolific and versatile composer Brad Fiedel was born on March 10, 1951 in New York City. His mother was a dancer and his father was a composer and musician. Brad started out as a keyboardist for Hall & Oates. Fiedel first began composing music for movies in the mid-70s for such ...
18. Akihiro Honda
Sound_department | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Akihiro Honda is known for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) and Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (2002).
19. Toshiyuki Kakuta
Music_department | Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes
Toshiyuki Kakuta is known for Metal Gear Solid: The Twin Snakes (2004), Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (2002) and Zone of the Enders (2001).
20. James Newton Howard
Music_department | 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, ...
21. Maki Kirioka
Sound_department | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Maki Kirioka is known for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (2002) and Zone of the Enders (2001).
22. Norihiko Hibino
Composer | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Norihiko Hibino was born on September 3, 1973 in Osaka, Japan. He is a composer, known for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). He was previously married to Rio Hibino.
23. Hiroki Kikuta
Composer | Koudelka
Hiroki Kikuta was born in 1962 in Aichi, Japan. He is a composer, known for Koudelka (1999), Tekkaman Blade II (1994) and Indivisible (2019).
24. Takanari Ishiyama
Sound_department | Metal Gear Solid
Takanari Ishiyama is known for Metal Gear Solid (1998), Metal Gear Solid: VR Missions (1999) and Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo (2023).
25. Gigi Meroni
Music_department | Vratar galaktiki
Gigi Meroni is known for Cosmoball (2020), What's New, Scooby-Doo? (2002) and Metal Gear Solid (1998).
26. 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.
27. Kazuki Muraoka
Sound_department | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty
Kazuki Muraoka was born on March 9, 1959 in Saga, Japan. He is a composer and producer, known for Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001), Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance (2002) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008).
28. Jeon Myung Lee
Composer | Metal Gear Solid
Jeon Myung Lee is known for Metal Gear Solid (1998) and SiIvaGunner (2016).
29. Hiroyuki Togo
Composer | Metal Gear Solid
Hiroyuki Togo is known for Metal Gear Solid (1998), Hard Corps: Uprising (2011) and Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (2018).
30. David Arnold
Soundtrack | Casino Royale
David Arnold was born on January 23, 1962 in Luton, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Casino Royale (2006), Independence Day (1996) and Godzilla (1998). He has been married to Ellie Pole since June 8, 1996. They have three children.
31. Martin O'Donnell
Sound_department | Little Shop of Horrors
Martin O'Donnell is known for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Destiny (2014) and Halo (2022). He is married to Marcie O'Donnell. They have two children.
32. 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,...
33. 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;, ...
34. Mikis Theodorakis
Composer | Z
Mikis Theodorakis was born in the Greek island of Chios, in 1925. It was the same year that the other great composer of Greece was born in Xanthi, Manos Hatzidakis. He fought during the 2nd World War, and was captured at the city of Tripoli. He was tortured, but when he was set free, he joined the ...
35. Isaac Hayes
Actor | Escape from New York
Isaac Hayes, the second-born child of Eula and Isaac Hayes Sr., was raised by his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Willie Wade Sr. The child of a poor family, he grew up picking cotton in Covington, Tennessee. He dropped out of high school, but later his former high-school teachers to get his diploma, ...
36. Mitsuto Suzuki
Composer | Final Fantasy VII Remake
Mitsuto Suzuki is known for Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020), Final Fantasy XIII (2009) and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (2024).
37. Masashi Hiramatsu
Masashi Hiramatsu is known for Star Ocean: The Last Hope (2009), Final Fantasy XIII (2009) and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (2007).
38. Naoshi Mizuta
Composer | Parasite Eve II
Naoshi Mizuta was born on January 24, 1972 in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. He is a composer, known for Parasite Eve II (1999), Final Fantasy XV: Episode Prompto (2017) and Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2011).
39. Asuka Kaneko
Music_department | Raitoningu ritânzu: Fainaru fantajî XIII
Asuka Kaneko is known for Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII (2013) and Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land (1992).
40. Masayoshi Soken
Composer | Final Fantasy XVI
Masayoshi Soken is known for Final Fantasy XVI (2023), Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers (2019) and The Primals: Close in the Distance (2022).
41. Jan Hammer
Soundtrack | Charlie's Angels
Jan Hammer's musical career is as firmly rooted in the fundamentals of classical, jazz and rock as it is committed to the future of electronics, synthesized sound, the possibilities of interactive media, television, film and animation. His walls are lined with Grammy awards and gold and platinum ...
42. Jerry Martin
Sound_department | Phantoms
Jerry Martin is known for Phantoms (1998) and Suckers (1999).
43. Motoaki Furukawa
Composer | Snatcher CD-ROMantic
Motoaki Furukawa is known for Snatcher CD-ROMantic (1992), Snatcher (1988) and Metal Gear (1987).
44. Koichi Namiki
Composer | Galaxy Force II
Koichi Namiki is known for Galaxy Force II (1988), Dark Edge (1993) and Laser Ghost (1989).
45. Basil Poledouris
Composer | RoboCop
Basil Poledouris was born on August 21, 1945 in Kansas City. He started taking piano lessons when he was 7 years old. Eventually, he went on to become a student at USC, where he studied the arts of directing, cinematography, editing, sound and, of course, music. It was also at USC he met John Milius...
46. Disasterpeace
Composer | It Follows
Disasterpeace is known for It Follows (2014), Under the Silver Lake (2018) and Triple Frontier (2019).
47. Stanley Clarke
Composer | Boyz n the Hood
Four-time Grammy Award Winner Stanley Clarke has attained "living legend" status during his over 40-year career as a bass virtuoso. He is the first bassist in history who doubles on acoustic and electric bass with equal ferocity and the first jazz-fusion bassist ever to headline tours, selling out ...
48. Hans Zimmer
Composer | Gladiator
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 ...
49. Bill Conti
Soundtrack | Rocky
Bill Conti was born on April 13, 1942 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Rocky (1976), For Your Eyes Only (1981) and The Karate Kid Part II (1986). He is married to Shelby Cox. They have two children.
50. 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).
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