Best Movie Music Composer

[Multicore]

There is only one correct answer:

Howard Shore.

 

[Arindal]

There is only one correct answer:

There are too many outstanding composers to be ever compiled in a list. What about

Henry Mancini
Dmitry Tyomkin
Max Steiner
Bernard Herrmann

to name just a few classics whom I particularly admire.

 

[Waxx]

John Towner Williams is the most famous for this, and highly rated with a reason, but I would also mention Ennio Morricone ( For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Once Upon a Time in the West, Once Upon a Time in America and about 500 more soundtracks) and Philip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi, Truman Show, Kundun, ...) as honorable candidates.

 

[Chr1]

Lalo Schifrin:

Dirty Harry
Bullitt

Class!

 

[redclayhalo]

Randy Newman

 

[Haskil]

Dmitri Tiomkin, Bernard Herrmann, Erich Korngold, André Previn

 

[whereisbrian]

Joe Hisaishi (Kitano and Miyazaki movies), Cliff Martinez (Solaris), Ryuichi Sakamoto (The Last Emperor, Furyo, The Revenant, ...).

 

[DHzHolden]

No mention of Thomas Newman yet! I love his tracks for American Beauty and The Horse Whisperer. Will second Ryuichi Sakamoto, Randy Newman and Jonny Greenwood. Will add James Newton Howard (Unbreakable) Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman for Last of the Mohicans.

And of course, Curley Williams.

 

[Power Pop 23]

Max Steiner and his score for King Kong (1933).

The score greatly enhances the storytelling of this RKO movie produced by David O. Selznick (Gone With The Wind). Many believe it incentivized other movie studios to invest more money in composing and orchestration talent, and in-house musicians.

The score was reconstructed from the original soundtrack and recorded by the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra.

Max Steiner, William Stromberg, Moscow Symphony Orchestra - King Kong: The Complete 1933 Film Score - Amazon.com Music

Max Steiner, William Stromberg, Moscow Symphony Orchestra - King Kong: The Complete 1933 Film Score - Amazon.com Music

www.amazon.com

I can access this release via Tidal Music and it sounds superb.

 

[Barrelhouse Solly]

The best movie music I've ever heard is Prokofiev's score for "Alexander Nevsky." Admittedly he didn't write many movie scores.

 

[Chromatischism]

Alan Silvestri:

His filmography is long.

Also not mentioned yet:

M83 did a great job on Oblivion.

 

[Power Pop 23]

When I listen to Mr. Elfman's soundtrack to Batman, I hear echoes of the music for The Battle On Ice segment of Alexander Nevsky.

 

[whereisbrian]

RZA (Wu-Tang Clan) for Ghost Dog, The Way Of The SamuraÏ (Jim Jarmusch)

 

[Chr1]

Awesome film. Like your recommendation of Cliff Martinez too.
For modern OSTs.
His soundtrack for "The Knick" is excellent. Roland TB303 minimalism.

 

[Chromatischism]

Another one of my favorites.

Steve Jablonsky:

 

[Haflermichi]

Barry. John Barry.
That should be hint enough.

 

[Ifrit]

Mahler.

 

[Arindal]

The best movie music I've ever heard is Prokofiev's score for "Alexander Nevsky."

Agreed! One more Soviet composer, who is primarily known for his ´serious´ modern classical works, but actually was an acclaimed movie composer bringing lots of irony and humor to the scores, is

Alfred Schnittke

 

[jsilvela]

I think nobody has yet mentioned Maurice Jarre? Come on, Lawrence of Arabia, Witness, Doctor Zhivago ...

One composer I think is routinely underrated is Bill Conti. E.g., The Right Stuff.
But I especially appreciate just how well this Bill Conti score matches the scene, in Victory, aka Escape to Victory.