Directors and Their Composers

While some composers stick with one composer through their career, it isn't always possible, but they have certain go-to composers when the chance arrives.  Through these lists, it's easy to spot composers that come back for sequels and prequels or similar style movies.
The following is a few directors, who have used reoccurring composers, just to get an idea of some of their choices:

ALFRED HITCHCOCK (since 1940)
Family Plot (1976) – John Williams
Frenzy (1972) – Ron Goodwin
Topaz (1969) – Maurice Jarre
Torn Curtain (1966) – John Addison
Marnie (1964) – Bernard Herrmann
The Birds (1963)
Psycho (1960) – Bernard Herrmann
North by Northwest (1959) – Bernard Herrmann
Vertigo (1958) – Bernard Herrmann
The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) – Bernard Herrmann
The Wrong Man (1956) – Bernard Herrmann
To Catch a Thief (1955) – Lyn Murray
The Trouble With Harry (1955) – Bernard Herrmann
Dial M For Murder (1954) – Dimitri Tiomkin
Rear Window (1954) – Franz Waxman
I Confess (1953) – Dimitri Tiomkin
Strangers on a Train (1951) – Dimitri Tiomkin
Stage Fright (1950) – Leighton Lucas
Under Capricorn (1949) – Richard Addinsell
Rope (1948) - David Buttolph (uncredited)
The Paradine Case (1947) – Franz Waxman
Notorious (1946) – Roy Webb
Spellbound (1945) – Miklós Rózsa
Lifeboat (1944) – Hugo Friedhofer
Shadow of a Doubt (1943) – Dimitri Tiomkin
Saboteur (1942) – Frank Skinner
Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941) - Edward Ward
Suspicion (1941) – Franz Waxman
Foreign Correspondent (1940) - Alfred Newman
Rebecca (1940) - Franz Waxman

RON HOWARD
Rush (2013) - Hans Zimmer
The Dilemma (2011) – Hans Zimmer
Angels and Demons (2009) – Hans Zimmer
Frost/Nixon (2008) – Hans Zimmer
The Da Vinci Code (2006) – Hans Zimmer
Cinderella Man (2005) – Thomas Newman
 
The Missing (2003) – James Horner
 
A Beautiful Mind (2001) – James Horner
How The Grinch Stole Christmas (2000) – James Horner
Edtv (1999) – Randy Edelman
Ransom (1996) – James Horner
Apollo 13 (1995) – James Horner
The Paper (1994) – Randy Newman
Far and Away (1992) – John Williams
Backdraft (1991) – Hans Zimmer
Parenthood (1989) – Randy Newman
 
Willow (1988) – James Horner
Gung Ho (1986) – Thomas Newman
Cocoon (1985) – James Horner
Splash (1984) – Lee Holdridge

JOE JOHNSTON

Captain America (2012) – Alan Silvestri
The Wolfman (2010) – Danny Elfman
Hidalgo (2004) – James Newton Howard
Jurassic Park III (2001) – Don Davis
October Sky (1999) – Mark Isham
Jumanji (1995) – James Horner
The Rocketeer (1991) - James Horner
Honey I Shrunk the Kids (1989) – James Horner


RICHARD DONNER
16 Blocks (2006) - Klaus Badelt
Timeline (2003) - Brian Tyler

Lethal Weapon 4 (1998) - Michael Kamen
Conspiracy Theory (1997) - Carter Burwell
Assassins (1995) - Mark Mancina
Maverick (1994) - Randy Newman
Lethal Weapon 3 (1992)  - Michael Kamen
Radio Flyer (1992) - Hans Zimmer
Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) - Michael Kamen
Scrooged (1988) - Danny Elfman
Lethal Weapon (1987) - Michael Kamen
Ladyhawke (1985) - Andrew Powell
The Goonies (1985) - Dave Grusin
The Toy (1982) - Patrick Williams
Inside Moves (1980) - John Barry
Superman (1978) - John Williams
The Omen (1976) - Jerry Goldsmith

RIDLEY SCOTT
The Counselor (2013) - Daniel Pemberton

Prometheus (2012) - Marc Streitenfeld/Harry Gregson-Williams
Robin Hood (2010) – Marc Streitenfeld
Body of Lies (2008) – Marc Streitenfeld
American Gangster (2007) – Marc Streitenfeld
A Good Year (2006) – Marc Streitenfeld
Kingdom of Heaven (2005) – Harry Gregson-Williams
Matchstick Men (2003) – Hans Zimmer
Black Hawk Down (2001) – Hans Zimmer
Hannibal (2001) – Hans Zimmer
Gladiator (2000) – Hans Zimmer/Lisa Gerrard
G.I. Jane (1997) – Trevor Jones
White Squall (1996) – Jeff Rona
1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992)  - Vangelis
Thelma & Louise (1991) – Hans Zimmer
Black Rain (1989) – Hans Zimmer
Someone to Watch Over Me (1987)  - Michael Kamen
Legend (1986) – Jerry Goldsmith
Blade Runner (1982) - Vangelis
Alien (1979) – Jerry Goldsmith

DAVID FINCHER
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
The Social Network (2010) – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008) – Alexandre Desplat
Zodiac (2007) – David Shire
Panic Room (2002) – Howard Shore
Fight Club (1999) – The Dust Brothers
The Game (1997) – Howard Shore
Seven (1995) – Howard Shore
Alien 3 (1992) – Elliot Goldenthal

MARTIN SCORSESE (only original scores)
Hugo (2011) - Howard Shore
The Departed (2006) - Howard Shore
The Aviator (2004) - Howard Shore
Gangs of New York (2002) - Howard Shore
Bringing Out the Dead (1999) - Elmer Bernstein
Kundun (1997) - Philip Glass
The Age of Innocence (1993) - Elmer Bernstein
Cape Fear (1991) - Elmer Bernstein
The Last Temptation of Christ (1988) - Peter Gabriel
The Color of Money (1986) - Robbie Robertson
After Hours (1985) - Howard Shore
Taxi Driver – Bernard Herrmann


Yes, This list could go on forever.  So if you really want more, look for directors like Barry Levinson, Ivan Reitman, Sam Raimi, James Cameron, Joe Dante, Billy Wilder, Frank Capra, Roland Emmerich, Gore Verbinski, John Favreau.  That should keep you busy.

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1 Comments

  1. Let's play the Hans Zimmer game! Ready...go! "Pirates........Pirates??...no, that one's DEFINITELY Pirates.."

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