Top Original Film Scores of 2016

Posted: January 9, 2017 by filmmusicreporter in Film Music News

Film Music Reporter’s Top 10 Original Scores of 2016 (in alphabetical order):

arrivalFollowing their acclaimed work on Prisoners and SicarioJohann Johannsson and director Denis Villeneuve collaborated for a third time on the sci-fi drama Arrival, resulting in arguably the most original score for a major studio release this year. Using processed electronics in combination with manipulated vocals and orchestra, the composer created an otherworldly sound that gives the movie a unique feel. Johansson’s score is available on Deutsche Grammophon. (Standout tracks on soundtrack album: Heptapod B, KangaruArrival). 

the-bfgAnother director/composer relationship that produced yet another memorable work is Steven Spielberg’s and John Williams‘ 28th collaboration on The BFG. The composer wrote a purely orchestral score with some of his most playful writing in years for the underrated movie and proved once again that he is still at the top of his game when it comes to orchestration and thematic writing. Williams’ music is available on Walt Disney Records. (Standout tracks: FinaleSophie and the BFG). Read the rest of this entry »

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velazquezFernando Velazquez has been tapped to score the upcoming psychological thriller Marrowbone. The film marks the directorial debut of writer Sergio G. Sanchez (The Orphanage, The Impossible, Palm Trees in the Snow) and stars Anya Taylor-Joy, Mia Goth, George Mackay and Charlie Heaton. The movie revolves around four children who hide from the world after their mother’s death on a farm that holds a terrible secret. Sanchez also wrote the screenplay. J.A. Bayona is producing the project with Alvaro Augustin (Pan’s Labyrinth, Agora), Belen Atienza and Ghislain Barros. Read the rest of this entry »

golden-globesJustin Hurwitz has received the Golden Globe Awards in the Original Score category for Damien Chazelle’s La La Land. He also won a second award for the song City of Stars from the movie musical and shared the honor with lyricists Justin Paul & Benj Pasek. Check out the acceptance speeches after the jump. The other composers nominated in the Best Original Score category were Johann Johannson (Arrival), Dustin O’Halloran & Hauschka (Lion), Nicholas Britell (Moonlight) and Hans Zimmer, Pharrell Williams & Benjamin Wallfisch (Hidden Figures). Read the rest of this entry »

taboo(Premiering on Tuesday, January 10, is the FX mini-series Taboo created by Steven Knight and starring Tom Hardy, Oona Chaplin, David Hayman, Michael Kelly, Franka Potente and Jonathan Pryce. Max Richter (The LeftoversWaltz with BashirMiss SloaneDisconnectTestament of Youth) has composed the original music for the 8-parter. Check out our previous news article and the official show website to learn more about the series, which  follows an adventurer who returns to Britain from Africa along with 14 stolen diamonds to seek vengeance after the death of his father and will air Tuesday nights on FX.

mad-familiesPremiering on Thursday, January 12, is the Crackle original movie Mad Families directed by Fred Wolf and starring Charlie Sheen, Leah Remini, Finesse Mitchell, Juan Gabriel Pareja, Charlotte McKinney, Naya Rivera, Chris Mulkey, Lil Rel Howery, Tiffany Haddish, Clint Howard, Chanel Iman, Barry Shabaka Henley, Efren Ramirez and Danny Mora. The film’s original music is composed by J. Peter Robinson (CocktailWayne’s WorldThe World’s Fastest IndianThe Bank Job). Check out our scoring assignment announcement to learn more about the comedy. Read the rest of this entry »

dan-romerDan Romer has composed the music for the upcoming comedy drama Krystal. The film is directed by William H. Macy who also stars in the film alongside Grant Gustin, Nick Robinson, Felicity Huffman, T.I., Kathy Bates, Rosario Dawson and John Leguizamo. The movie follows a young man living a sheltered life develops a crush on a stripper and joins her Alcoholics Anonymous group just so he can be in the same room with her. Will Aldis (Avenging Angelo) wrote the screenplay. Rachel Winter (Dallas Buyers Club) and Dan Keston (Stealing Cars, Norman) are producing the project. Read the rest of this entry »

underworldApart from the nationwide expansions of Hidden Figures and A Monster Calls, the only one new movie is opening nationwide this weekend is the action horror sequel Underworld: Blood Wars directed by Anna Foerster and starring Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Trent Garrett, Tobias Menzies, Lara Pulver, Clementine Nicholson, Bradley James and Charles Dance. The film’s original music is composed by Michael Wandmacher (My Bloody ValentineDrive Angry, Piranha 3DThe Goldbergs). Lakeshore Records has released a soundtrack album featuring the composer’s score, as well as an original song by Melissa. Click here for the full album details and visit Film Music Magazine for a recent interview with Wandmacher about his work on the project.

arsenalOpening in select theaters and on VOD is the thriller Arsenal directed by Steven C. Miller and starring Adrian Grenier, John Cusack, Johnathon Schaech and Nicolas Cage. The film’s original music is composed by Ryan Franks and Scott Nickoley (Hell & BackTripTank). No word on a soundtrack release. Check out our previous news article to learn more about the film, which follows a Philadelphia businessman whose deadbeat brother is kidnapped for a large ransom. The thriller is being released by Lionsgate Premiere. Read the rest of this entry »

voltDependent will release a soundtrack album for the German sci-fi thriller Volt. The album features the film’s original music composed by Atari Teenage Riot member Alec Empire. The soundtrack will be released in various formats on February 3, 2017 and is now available for pre-order on AmazonVolt is written and directed by Tarek Ehlail and stars Benno Fürmann, Sascha Alexander Gersak, Ayo Ogunmakin, Anna Bederke and Surho Sugaipov. The movie is set in not-too-distant future and follows a German cop who accidentally kills a French refugee and starts up a relationship with the sister of the man he killed and winds up between the fronts. Read the rest of this entry »

dickon-hinchliffeDickon Hinchliffe has recently recorded his score for the upcoming thriller Above Suspicion. The film is directed by Phillip Noyce (Salt, Patriot Games, Clear and Present Danger) and stars Emilia Clarke, Jack Huston, Thora Birch, Johnny Knoxville, Luke Spencer Roberts, Sophie Lowe, Kevin Dunn, Chris Mulkey, Karl Glusman, Austin Hebert, Omar Benson Miller, Brian Lee Franklin and Brittany O’Grady. The movie is based on the book of the same title by New York Times columnist Joe Sharkey and tells the story of a newly married FBI poster boy who is assigned to an Appalachian mountain town in Kentucky, where he is drawn into an illicit affair with an impoverished local woman who becomes his star informant. Read the rest of this entry »

one-day-at-a-timeMadison Gate Records will release the theme song for the new Netflix remake of the classic 70s comedy One Day at a Time. The new version of the theme is performed by Gloria Estefan and produced by her husband, Emilio Estefan. The song will be released as a digital single on January 13, 2017 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon. Listen to the song and watch the main titles sequence of the series after the jump. One Day at a Time stars Justina Machado, Todd Grinnell, Isabella Gomez, Marcel Ruiz, Stephen Tobolowsky and Rita Moreno. The comedy follows a newly single Latina mother who raises her teen daughter and tween son with the “help” of her old-school mom. Read the rest of this entry »

clinicalLittle Twig Records will release a soundtrack album for the Netflix original movie Clinical. The album features the film’s original music composed by Ian Hultquist (Animals, The First Monday in May, The Diabolical, My Blind Brother). The soundtrack will be released digitally on January 13, 2017 and is now available for pre-order on Amazon, where you can also listen to audio samples. Clinical is co-written and directed by Alistair Legrand and stars Vinessa Shaw, Kevin Rahm and William Atherton. The movie follows a psychiatrist who is plagued by flashbacks to a terrifying attack as she treats a new patient who was horribly disfigured in an accident. Read the rest of this entry »