Film Score Daily: The 2019 Top Forty Composer Countdown (Abbreviated Version)

WHAT’S NEXT: Buffaloed, The King’s Man

39. MICHAEL ANDREWS

2018 RANKING: Not Ranked
TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Bridesmaids--169

2. The Heat--159

3. Daddy’s Home--150

4. Neighbors--150

5. Daddy’s Home Two--104

6. Bad Teacher--100

7. Tammy--84

8. Instant Family--67

9. Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising--55

10. Funny People--51

Still specializing in comedies, especially family-friendly ones, and his next film reteams him with the star and the director of The Big Sick.

WHAT’S NEXT: The Lovebirds

38. PATRICK DOYLE

2018 RANKING: 29

2 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Sense and Sensibility, Gosford Park

1. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire--289

2. Brave--237

3. Cinderella--201

4. Thor--181

5. Rise of the Planet of the Apes--176

6. Murder on the Orient Express--102

7. The Emoji Movie--86

8. Eragon--74

9. Bridget Jones's Diary--71

10. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit--50

His regular collaborator Kenneth Branagh keeps him steadily employed in big movies including two upcoming films, a delayed kids fantasy film and a remake/sequel.

WHAT'S NEXT: Artemis Fowl, Death on the Nile

37. RAMIN DJAWADI

2018 RANKING: 28

2 EMMYS, 7 NOMINATIONS

3 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Iron Man--318

2. Clash of the Titans--163

3. Safe House--126

4. Pacific Rim--101

5. A Wrinkle in Time--100

6. Open Season--84

7. Dracula Untold--55

8. Blade: Trinity--52

9. Warcraft--47

10. The Great Wall--45

No big feature hits since A Wrinkle in Time, but he continues to be A-list in television (Game of Thrones, Jack Ryan, Westworld).

WHAT'S NEXT: Eternals, The Queen's Corgi

36. CHRISTOPHER LENNERTZ

2018 RANKING: 34

1 EMMY NOMINATION

1. Alvin and the Chipmunks--217

2. Identity Thief--134

3. Ride Along--134

4. Horrible Bosses--117

5. Bad Moms--113

6. Hop--108

7. Pitch Perfect 3--104

8. Sausage Party--97

9. Think Like a Man--91

10. Ride Along 2--90

Still prolific in features, largely in comedy, but 2019's Jexi, Shaft and Uglydolls all flopped. Currently having more success in TV, with The Boys and Lost in Space.

WHAT'S NEXT: Rumble, The War with Grandpa

35. MAX RICHTER

2018 RANKING: 37

1 EMMY NOMINATION

1 GRAMMY NOMINATION

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Ad Astra--50

2. Hostiles--29

3. White Boy Rick--24

4. Mary Queen of Scots--16

5. Sarah’s Key--7

6. The Lunchbox--4

7. Morgan--3

8. Miss Sloane--3

9. Waltz with Bashir--2

10. Testament of Youth--1

Ad Astra was his highest grossing and most high-profile film, but while an ambitious sci-fi drama it was a huge (if unsurprising) box-office disappointment, and his score had to share screen time and credit with Lorne Balfe and Nils Frahm cues. Still, there aren't many film composers who get their scores released by Deutsche Grammophon.

34. ROB SIMONSEN

2018 RANKING: 33

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. The Upside--108

2. Going in Style--45

3. The Age of Adaline--42

4. Love, Simon--40

5. Nerve--38

6. (500) Days of Summer--32

7. Gifted--24

8. The Way Way Back--21

9. Father Figures--17

10. Burnt--13

The delayed U.S. remake of The Intouchables is his first hundred-million-dollar grosser, and next year's films include a Ben Affleck sports drama from the director of Miracle and Warrior.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Friend, Stargirl, The Way Back

33. MARCELO ZARVOS

2018 RANKING: 39

2 EMMY NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: Fences

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Wonder--132

2. The Good Shepherd--59

3. Fences--57

4. Breakthrough--40

5. Beastly--27

6. Brooklyn’s Finest--27

7. Remember Me--19

8. The Choice--18

9. American Ultra--14

10. Hollywoodland--14

He had six films in theaters in 2018 but only the Christian drama Breakthrough made his B.O. top ten, while Dark Waters does not seem to be getting the Oscar buzz its makers were probably hoping for. Next is the U.S. remake of Italy's 2014 submission for the Foreign Language Oscar.

WHAT'S NEXT: Human Capital

32. MYCHAEL DANNA

2018 RANKING: Not ranked

1 OSCAR, 2 NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY, 6 NOMINATIONS

2 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Capote, Little Miss Sunshine, Moneyball, Life of Pi

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Life of Pi--124

2. The Good Dinosaur--123

3. The Addams Family--97

4. Moneyball--75

5. Storks--72

6. The Time Traveler's Wife--63

7. Little Miss Sunshine--59

8. Surf's Up--58

9. A Dog’s Way Home--42

10. Lakeview Terrace--39

Working a lot in family-oiriented and animated films, sometimes teamed with his brother, including an imminent Pixar film.

WHAT'S NEXT: Guest of Honor, Onward

31. JOHN DEBNEY

2018 RANKING: 35

1 OSCAR NOMINATION

3 EMMYS, 7 NOMINATIONS

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. The Passion of the Christ--370

2. The Jungle Book--363

3. Iron Man 2--312

4. Bruce Almighty--242

5. Liar, Liar--181

6. The Greatest Showman--174

7. Elf--173

8. The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water--162

9. Chicken Little--135

10. The Pacifier--113

An impressive variety of projects this year, from the Dora the Explorer movie to the latest Harmony Korine, but no big hits.

WHAT'S NEXT: Come Away

30. DARIO MARIANELLI

2018 RANKING: 31

1 OSCAR, 3 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Atonement, Darkest Hour

1. Bumblebee--127

2. Eat Pray Love--80

3. V for Vendetta--70

4. Darkest Hour--56

5. Atonement--50

6. The Boxtrolls--50

7. Kubo and the Two Strings--48

8. Everest--43

9. Paddington 2--40

10. Pride & Prejudice--38

Upcoming are new versions of two fantasy classics.

WHAT'S NEXT: Pinocchio, The Secret Garden

29. BEAR McCREARY

2018 RANKING: Not ranked

1 EMMY, 4 NOMINATIONS

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Godzilla: King of the Monsters--110

2. 10 Cloverfield Lane--72

3. Happy Death Day--55

4. Step Up 3-D--42

5. The Boy--35

6. Child’s Play--29

7. Happy Death Day 2U--28

8. The Forest--26

9. Hell Fest--11

10. Colossal--3

More feature projects than ever, though the latest Godzilla turned out to be a box-office disappointment.

WHAT'S NEXT: Fantasy Island

28. JOHN POWELL

2018 RANKING: 25

1 OSCAR NOMINATION

3 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Shrek--263

2. X-Men: The Last Stand--234

3. Hancock--227

4. The Bourne Ultimatum--227

5. How to Train Your Dragon--217

6. Kung Fu Panda--215

7. The Lorax--214

8. Solo: A Star Wars Story--213

9. Happy Feet--197

10. Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs--196

Less prolific these days than his fans would like, but he returns to live action (more or less) with a remake of the Jack London classic, starring Harrison Ford and a CGI dog.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Call of the Wild

27. HOWARD SHORE

2018 RANKING: 26

3 OSCARS, 4 NOMINATIONS

4 GRAMMYS, 8 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: The Silence of the Lambs, The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, Gangs of New York, The Return of the King, The Aviator, The Departed, Hugo, Spotlight

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King--377

2. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers--339

3. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring--313

4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey--303

5. Eclipse--300

6. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug--258

7. The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies--255

8. Mrs. Doubtfire--219

9. The Departed--132

10. The Silence of the Lambs--130

Probably nearly as tired as Tolkien adaptations as the rest of us are, he focuses on small-scale drama these days, including the just-released The Song of Names.

WHAT'S NEXT: La prince oublie

26. HARRY GREGSON-WILLIAMS

2018 RANKING: 23

1 GRAMMY NOMINATION

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: The Martian
TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Shrek 2--436

2. Shrek the Third--320

3. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe--291

4. Shrek--263

5. Shrek Forever After--238

6. The Martian--228

7. X-Men Origins: Wolverine--179

8. The Meg--145

9. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian--141

10. Spy Kids--112

His last big hit was The Meg in 2018, but he follows in Goldsmith's footsteps with the upcoming live-action Mulan.

WHAT'S NEXT: Infinite, Mulan

25. RANDY NEWMAN

2018 RANKING: 32

2 OSCARS, 20 NOMINATIONS

3 EMMYS

7 GRAMMYS, 23 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Awakenings, Seabiscuit, Toy Story 3

TOP GROSSING FILMS

1. Toy Story 4--434

2. Toy Story 3--414

3. Monsters Inc.--289

4. Meet the Fockers--278

5. Monsters University--268

6. Toy Story 2--245

7. Cars--244

8. Toy Story--191

9. Meet the Parents--166

10. A Bug's Life--162

The latest Toy Story is his highest grosser yet, while Marriage Story is a likely Oscar contender in multiple categories, including Original Score. (He's been Oscar shortlisted this year for Marriage's score and Toy's song)

24. THEODORE SHAPIRO

2018 RANKING: 24

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. We’re the Millers--150

2. Marley & Me--143

3. Ghostbusters--128

4. Central Intelligence--127

5. The Devil Wears Prada--124

6. Blades of Glory--118

7. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story--114

8. Spy--110

9. Tropic Thunder--110

10. Fun with Dick and Jane--110

No big hits lately, but an interesting balance of projects (including Destroyer and Bombshell, Oscar-shortlisted for the latter), not just the usual comedies.

WHAT'S NEXT: The Good House, Trolls World Tour

23. BRIAN TYLER

2018 RANKING: 15

3 EMMY NOMINATIONS

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron--459

2. Iron Man 3--408

3. Furious 7--353

4. The Fate of the Furious--225

5. Fast Five--209

6. Thor: The Dark World--206

7. Crazy Rich Asians--174

8. Fast & Furious--155

9. Now You See Me--117

10. The Expendables--102

Six films in 2019 but no blockbusters. Surprisingly, Escape Room was his highest grosser, while even Five Feet Apart earned nearly three times as much as Charlie's Angels.

WHAT'S NEXT: Clouds, Those Who Wish Me Dead

22. CHRISTOPHE BECK

2018 RANKING: 20

1 EMMY, 2 NOMINATIONS

1 GRAMMY NOMINATION

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Frozen--400

2. Frozen II--387 (as of 12.22.19)

3. The Hangover--277

4. The Hangover Part II--254

5. Ant-Man and the Wasp-- 216

6. Ant-Man--180

7. Trolls--153

8. Cheaper by the Dozen--137

9. The Peanuts Movie--130

10. The Hangover Part III--112

The second Frozen should become his highest grosser any day now if it hasn't already, and he's been Oscar shortlisted for his score. Otherwise still largely employed in comedies except for the Ant-Man movies (which themselves are not exactly serious drama)

WHAT’S NEXT: Free Guy, Like a Boss

21. TOM HOLKENBORG

2018 RANKING: 22
1 GRAMMY NOMINATION

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Mad Max: Fury Road

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Deadpool--363

2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice--330

3. Mad Max: Fury Road--153

4. Divergent--150

5. 300: Rise of an Empire--106

6. Alita: Battle Angel--85

7. Black Mass--62

8. Terminator: Dark Fate--62

9. Tomb Raider--58

10. The Dark Tower--50

A startling run of lavish box-office disappointments (Dark Tower, Tomb Raider, Mortal Engines, Alita, Terminator). Can Sonic break the streak?

WHAT’S NEXT: Sonic the Hedgehog

20. HILDUR GUONADOTTIR

2018 RAKING: Not ranked

1 EMMY

1 GRAMMY NOMINATION

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Joker--333 (12.22.19)

2. Sicario: Day of the Soldado--50

A heckuva year for the cellist and former Johann Johannsson collaborator -- an Emmy for the most acclaimed TV program of the year (Chernobyl), and a fall big screen blockbuster, for which she has been Oscar shortlisted.

19. RUPERT GREGSON-WILLIAMS

2018 RANKING: 19

2 EMMY NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: Hacksaw Ridge

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Wonder Woman--412

2. Aquaman--335

3. Grown Ups--162

4. Over the Hedge--155

5. Click--137

6. Grown Ups 2--133

7. Bee Movie--126

8. The Legend of Tarzan--126

9. I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry--119

10. Bedtime Stories--109

Abominable did modest business, but Aquaman was huge and he can probably coast on that first Wonder Woman for a while (Zimmer is doing the sequel)

WHAT’S NEXT: The Eight Hundred

18. DANIEL PEMBERTON

2018 RANKING: 21

1 EMMY NOMINATION

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse--190

2. Ocean’s 8--140

3. Yesterday--73

4. The Man from U.N.C.L.E.--45

5. King Arthur: Legend of the Sword--39

6 Molly’s Game--28

7. All the Money in the World--25

8. Steve Jobs--17

9. The Counselor--16

10. Motherless Brooklyn--9

A big hit with Spider-Verse, which also won the Animated Feature Oscar. Shortlisted for Motherless Brooklyn, and a new DC Comics movie imminent. Not to mention the acclaimed recent Dark Crystal prequel series.

WHAT’S NEXT: Birds of Prey, Enola Holmes

17. TYLER BATES

2018 RANKING: 18

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2--389

2. Guardians of the Galaxy--333

3. Deadpool 2-- 324

4. 300--210

5. Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw--173

6. John Wick: Chapter 3--Parabellum--171

7. Watchmen--107

8. John Wick: Chapter Two--92

9. The Day the Earth Stood Still--79

10. Dawn of the Dead--58

Two big action hits this year. Presumably his future includes a third Guardians and a fourth Wick.

16. LORNE BALFE

2018 RANKING: 17

2 EMMY NOMINATIONS

1 GRAMMY

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Mission: Impossible--Fallout--220

2. Home--177

3. The Lego Batman Movie--175

4. Megamind--148

5. Terminator: Genisys--89

6. Penguins of Madagascar--83

7. Pacific Rim: Uprising--59

8. Son of God--59

9. 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi--52

10. The Dilemma--48

Even with no big hits in 2019, Balfe seemed like the most inescapable composer of the last couple years. His latest projects are Michael Bay's Netflix film (which received a brief theatrical run) and the imminent, Bay-less Bad Boys sequel.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bad Boys for Life

15. BENJAMIN WALLFISCH

2018 RANKING: 16

1 EMMY NOMINATION

2 GRAMMY NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Hidden Figures

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. It--327

2. It: Chapter Two--211

3. Hidden Figures--169

4. Shazam!--140

5. Annabelle: Creation--102

6. Blade Runner 2049--92

7. Lights Out--67

8. Hellboy--21

9. The Darkest Minds--12

10. Serenity--8

Two hits this year, the inevitable It sequel and a kid-friendly DC Comics movie.

14. THOMAS NEWMAN

2018 RANKING: 8

14 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY, 3 NOMINATIONS

6 GRAMMYS, 13 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Scent of a Woman, The Shawshank Redemption, American Beauty, The Green Mile, Erin Brockovich, The Help, Bridge of Spies

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Finding Dory--486

2. Finding Nemo--380

3. Skyfall--304

4. WALL-E--223

5. Spectre--200

6. The Help--169

7. The Green Mile--136

8. American Beauty--130

9. Erin Brockovich--125

10. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events--118

The Highwaymen was a Netflix film that only received a brief theatrical release whlle Tolkien was largely ignored, but he has a top Oscar contender this season with Sam Mendes' dazzling 1917.

13. ALAN SILVESTRI

2018 RANKING: 14

2 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

2 EMMYS

2 GRAMMYS, 9 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: Forrest Gump

1. Avengers: Endgame--858

2. Avengers: Infinity War--678

3. Marvel’s The Avengers--623

4. Forrest Gump--329

5. Night at the Museum--250

6. Cast Away--233

7. Back to the Future--208

8. The Mummy Returns--202

9. The Croods--187

10. The Polar Express--183

He's been Oscar shortlisted for his latest Avengers score, his all-time highest grosser, and upcoming are an animated Scooby-Doo and a Zemeckis remake of a Roald Dahl classic.

WHAT’S NEXT: Scoob!, The Witches

12. NICHOLAS BRITELL

2018 RANKING: 12

2 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: The Big Short, Moonlight, Vice

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. The Big Short--70

2. Vice- 47

3. Moonlight --27

4. Free State of Jones--20

5. If Beale Street Could Talk--14

6. Battle of the Sexes--12

A second nomination last year, for Beale Street, and a big TV hit (and an Emmy) with Succession.

WHAT'S NEXT: Carmen

11. MARK MOTHERSBAUGH

2018 RANKING: 10

5 EMMY NOMINATIONS

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Thor: Ragnarok--315

2. The LEGO Movie--257

3. 22 Jump Street--191

4. Pitch Perfect 2--184

5. Hotel Transylvania 2--169

6. Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation--167

7. Hotel Transylvania--148

8. 21 Jump Street--138

9. Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked--132

10. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs--124

The second Lego Movie was a box-office disappointment and Will-Ferrell-as-Sherlock-Holmes was a disappointment in every way, but he is likely to score the next Taika Waititi Thor movie.

10. MARCO BELTRAMI

2018 RANKING: 13

2 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

2 EMMY NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: The Hurt Locker

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Logan-- 226

2. World War Z--202

3. A Quiet Place--188

4. Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines--150

5. I, Robot--144

6. Live Free or Die Hard--134

7. The Wolverine--132

8. Scream--103

9. Ford v Ferrari--102 (12.22.19)

10. Scream 2--101

He had a modest horror hit with Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and a major Oscar contender (including its shortlisted score) with Ford v Ferrari.

WHAT’S NEXT: Fear Street, Underwater

9. CARTER BURWELL

2018 RANKING: 11

2 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY, 2 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Fargo, No Country for Old Men, The Blind Side, A Serious Man, The Kids Are All Right, True Grit, Three Billboards outside Ebbing, Missouri

1. Breaking Dawn, Part 2--292

2. Breaking Dawn, Part 1--281

3. The Blind Side--255

4. Twilight--191

5. True Grit--171

6. The General's Daughter--102

7. Where the Wild Things Are--77

8. Conspiracy Theory--76

9. The Rookie--75

10. No Country for Old Men--74

A nice balance of genres lately, including Westerns (The Ballad of Buster Scruggs), fantasy (Missing Link) and mystery (The Good Liar.)

8. JAMES NEWTON HOWARD

2018 RANKING: 5

8 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY, 5 NOMINATIONS

1 GRAMMY, 5 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: The Prince of Tides, The Fugitive, The Sixth Sense, Michael Clayton

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. The Dark Knight--533

2. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire--424

3. The Hunger Games--407

4. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay--Part 1--337

5. The Sixth Sense--293

6. The Hunger Games: Mockingjay--Part 2--281

7. I Am Legend--256

8. Maleficent--241

9. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them--234

10. Signs--227

He contributed lovely music to Terrence Malick's endless A Hidden Life, notable among all the usual tracked-in cues, while next year's films include the latest Disneyland-ride-turned-movie.

WHAT’S NEXT: Jungle Cruise, News of the World

7. HENRY JACKMAN

2018 RANKING: 6

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: Captain Phillips

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Captain America: Civil War--408

2. Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle--404

3. Captain America: The Winter Soldier--259

4. Big Hero 6--222

5. Ralph Breaks the Internet--201

6. Monsters vs. Aliens--198

7. Wreck-It Ralph--189

8. Kong: Skull Island--167

9. Puss in Boots--149

10. X-Men: First Class--146

The latest Jumanji is the number two film at the U.S. boxoffice right now, while the surprisingly good 21 Bridges gives his score (composed with Alex Belcher) unusual and welcome prominence.

WHAT’S NEXT: American Skin, Cherry, Dhaka, Mosul

6. JOHN WILLIAMS

2018 RANKING: 7

5 OSCARS, 51 NOMINATIONS

3 EMMYS, 6 NOMINATIONS

24 GRAMMYS, 71 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Fiddler on the Roof, The Towering Inferno, Jaws, Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Born on the Fourth of July, JFK, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan, Munich, War Horse, Lincoln, The Post

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Star Wars: The Force Awakens--936

2. Star Wars: The Last Jedi--620

3. The Phantom Menace--474

4. Star Wars--460

5. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial--434

6. Jurassic Park--402

7. Revenge of the Sith--380

8. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull--317

9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone--316

10. Attack of the Clones--310

Rise of Skywalker is reportedly his final Star Wars and no Spielberg projects expected right away, as David Newman is handling music duties on West Side Story. All one can say at this point is thank you, John Towner Williams.

5. DANNY ELFMAN

2019 RANKING: 4

4 OSCAR NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY, 3 NOMINATIONS

1 GRAMMY, 13 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Good Will Hunting, Chicago, Milk, Silver Linings Playbook, American Hustle

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Avengers: Age of Ultron--459

2. Spider-Man--403

3. Spider-Man 2--373

4. Alice in Wonderland--334

5. Dr. Suess’ The Grinch--270

6. Batman--251

7. Men in Black--250

8. Oz: The Great and Powerful--234

9. Justice League--229

10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory--206

Dumbo and the latest Men in Black both underperformed, but upcoming projects include a reboot of a children's classic as well as a troubled adaptation of a bestselling mystery.

WHAT’S NEXT: Aliens Clowns & Geeks, Dolittle, The Woman in the Window

4. LUDWIG GORANSSON

2019 RANKING: 9

1 OSCAR

3 GRAMMYS, 7 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: Black Panther

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Black Panther--700

2. Venom-- 213

3. We’re the Millers--150

4. Central Intelligence--127

5. Creed II--115

6. Creed--109

7. 30 Minutes or Less--37

8. Everything, Everything--34

9. Death Wish--34

10. Top Five--25

It will be hard to top Black Panther for this newly-minted Oscar winner, but The Mandalorian is currently streaming and next year sees a new Christopher Nolan thriller.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bad Trip, Tenet

3. MICHAEL GIACCHINO

2018 RANKING: 3

1 OSCAR, 2 NOMINATIONS

1 EMMY, 5 NOMINATIONS

3 GRAMMYS, 8 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEE: Up

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Jurassic World--652

2. Incredibles 2--608

3. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story--532

4. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom--417

5. Spider-Man: Far from Home--390

6. Inside Out--356

7. Zootopia--341

8. Spider-Man: Homecoming--334

9. Up--292

10. The Incredibles--261

The latest Spider-Man was a smash, he's Oscar shortlisted for Jojo Rabbit, and upcoming is yet another incarnation of Batman. (Can't wait for yet another staging of the death of young Bruce's parents!)

WHAT’S NEXT: The Batman, Extinct, Let Him Go

2. HANS ZIMMER

2018 RANKING: 2

1 OSCAR, 11 NOMINATIONS

2 EMMY NOMINATIONS

4 GRAMMYS, 18 NOMINATIONS

1 TONY NOMINATION

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: Rain Man, Driving Miss Daisy, As Good As It Gets, The Thin Red Line, Gladiator, Frost/Nixon, Inception, 12 Years a Slave, Hidden Figures, Dunkirk

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. The Lion King [2019]--543

2. The Dark Knight--533

3. The Dark Knight Rises--448

4. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest--423

5. The Lion King [1994]--422

6. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice--330

7. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End--309

8. Inception--292

9. Man of Steel--291

10. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides--241

The CGI Lion King is his biggest hit yet in a career full of monster hits, and he has a full slate of projects upcoming, with Villeneuve's Dune remake the most intriguing (yes, even more than Space Jam 2).

WHAT’S NEXT: Dune, Space Jam 2, Top Gun: Maverick, Wonder Woman 1984

1. ALEXANDER DESPLAT

2018 RANKING: 1

2 OSCARS, 10 NOMINATIONS

2 GRAMMYS, 10 NOMINATIONS

BEST PICTURE NOMINEES: The Queen, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The King's Speech, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, The Tree of Life, Argo, Zero Dark Thirty, Philomena, The Grand Budapest Hotel, The Imitation Game, The Shape of Water

TOP GROSSING FILMS:

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2--380

2. The Secret Life of Pets--368

3. New Moon--296

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1--294

5. Godzilla--200

6. The Secret Life of Pets 2--158

7. The King's Speech--138

8. Argo--136

9. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button--127

10. Unbroken--115

The second Secret Life of Pets was a boxoffice disappointment, but he's been shortlisted (and will probably be nominated) for the latest Little Women, which is currently #3 at the box-office.

WHAT’S NEXT: Adults in the Room, The French Dispatch, An Officer and a Spy [aka J'Accuse]