Awards & Winners

Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score

Golden Globe Awards

The Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score is one of several categories presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, an organization of journalists who cover the United States film industry, but are affiliated with publications outside North America, since its institution in 1947. Since the 5th Golden Globe Awards, the award is presented annually, except from 1953 to 1958. The nominations from 1947 and 1948 are not available. The first Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score went to Max Steiner for his compositional work on Life with Father. John Williams is the artist with the most nominations; those resulted in 4 wins. Dimitri Tiomkin had the same number of wins, but out of only 5 nominations. Other notable achievers include Maurice Jarre and Alan Menken. Artists like Jerry Goldsmith and Michel Legrand were nominated several times, but never received the award. Additionally, Dimitri Tiomkin received Special Achievement Awards for his services to film music in 1955 and 1957, as did Hugo Friedhofer in 1958. The most recent recipient of this award was Alex Ebert for the film All Is Lost, his first Golden Globe.
Date Established : 1947

Check all the winners of Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score presented under Golden Globe Awards since 1948 .


Mychael Danna

Honored for : Life of Pi

Nominations 2013 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Steven Price Gravity
John Williams The Book Thief
Hans Zimmer 12 Years a Slave
Alex Ebert All Is Lost
Alex Heffes Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Ludovic Bource

Honored for : The Artist

Nominations 2012 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ludovic Bource The Artist
Abel Korzeniowski W.E.
Trent Reznor The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Atticus Ross The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Howard Shore Hugo
John Williams War Horse

Atticus Ross, Trent Reznor

Honored for : The Social Network

Nominations 2011 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Danny Elfman Alice in Wonderland
Alexandre Desplat The King's Speech
Hans Zimmer Inception
A. R. Rahman 127 Hours
Trent Reznor The Social Network
Atticus Ross The Social Network

Michael Giacchino

Honored for : Up

Nominations 2010 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Abel Korzeniowski A Single Man
James Horner Avatar
Carter Burwell Where the Wild Things Are
Karen O Where the Wild Things Are
Michael Giacchino Up
Marvin Hamlisch The Informant!

A. R. Rahman

Honored for : Slumdog Millionaire

Nominations 2009 »

Nominee Nominated Work
A. R. Rahman Slumdog Millionaire
Clint Eastwood Changeling
Alexandre Desplat The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
James Newton Howard Defiance
Hans Zimmer Frost/Nixon

Dario Marianelli

Honored for : Atonement

Nominations 2008 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dario Marianelli Atonement
Howard Shore Eastern Promises
Clint Eastwood Grace Is Gone
Michael Brook Into the Wild
Eddie Vedder Into the Wild
Alberto Iglesias The Kite Runner

Alexandre Desplat

Honored for : The Painted Veil

Nominations 2007 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alexandre Desplat The Painted Veil
Gustavo Santaolalla Babel
Carlo Siliotto Nomad
Hans Zimmer The Da Vinci Code
Clint Mansell The Fountain

John Williams

Honored for : Memoirs of a Geisha

Nominations 2006 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Williams Memoirs of a Geisha
Gustavo Santaolalla Brokeback Mountain
James Newton Howard King Kong
Alexandre Desplat Syriana
Harry Gregson-Williams The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Howard Shore

Honored for : The Aviator

Nominations 2005 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Howard Shore The Aviator
Jan A. P. Kaczmarek Finding Neverland
Clint Eastwood Million Dollar Baby
Rolfe Kent Sideways
Hans Zimmer Spanglish

Howard Shore

Honored for : The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Nominations 2004 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Danny Elfman Big Fish
Gabriel Yared Cold Mountain
Alexandre Desplat Girl with a Pearl Earring
Hans Zimmer The Last Samurai

Elliot Goldenthal

Honored for : Frida

Nominations 2003 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elliot Goldenthal Frida
Terence Blanchard 25th Hour
Elmer Bernstein Far from Heaven
Peter Gabriel Rabbit-Proof Fence
Philip Glass The Hours

Craig Armstrong

Honored for : Moulin Rouge!

Nominations 2002 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Craig Armstrong Moulin Rouge!
James Horner A Beautiful Mind
John Williams A.I. Artificial Intelligence
Lisa Gerrard Ali
Pieter Bourke Ali
Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Angelo Badalamenti Mulholland Drive
Hans Zimmer Pearl Harbor
Christopher Young The Shipping News

Lisa Gerrard, Hans Zimmer

Honored for : Gladiator

Nominations 2001 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Lisa Gerrard Gladiator
Hans Zimmer Gladiator
Larry Paxton All the Pretty Horses
Marty Stuart All the Pretty Horses
Kristin Wilkinson All the Pretty Horses
Rachel Portman Chocolat
Tan Dun Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Ennio Morricone Malèna
Maurice Jarre Sunshine

Ennio Morricone

Honored for : The Legend of 1900

Nominations 2000 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ennio Morricone The Legend of 1900
Thomas Newman American Beauty
John Williams Angela's Ashes
George Fenton Anna and the King
Michael Nyman The End of the Affair
Jocelyn Pook Eyes Wide Shut
Lisa Gerrard The Insider
Pieter Bourke The Insider
Angelo Badalamenti The Straight Story
Gabriel Yared The Talented Mr. Ripley

Burkhard Dallwitz, Philip Glass

Honored for : The Truman Show

Nominations 1999 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Burkhard Dallwitz The Truman Show
Philip Glass The Truman Show
Randy Newman A Bug's Life
Jerry Goldsmith Mulan
John Williams Saving Private Ryan
Stephen Schwartz The Prince of Egypt
Hans Zimmer The Prince of Egypt

James Horner

Honored for : Titanic

Nominations 1998 »

Nominee Nominated Work
James Horner Titanic
Michael Nyman Gattaca
Philip Glass Kundun
Jerry Goldsmith L.A. Confidential
John Williams Seven Years in Tibet

Gabriel Yared

Honored for : The English Patient

Nominations 1997 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Gabriel Yared The English Patient
Elliot Goldenthal Michael Collins
David Hirschfelder Shine
Alan Menken The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Marvin Hamlisch The Mirror Has Two Faces

Maurice Jarre

Honored for : A Walk in the Clouds

Nominations 1996 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maurice Jarre A Walk in the Clouds
James Horner Braveheart
Michael Kamen Don Juan DeMarco
Alan Menken Pocahontas
Patrick Doyle Sense and Sensibility

Hans Zimmer

Honored for : The Lion King

Nominations 1995 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Hans Zimmer The Lion King
Alan Silvestri Forrest Gump
Elliot Goldenthal Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles
James Horner Legends of the Fall
Mark Isham Nell

Kitaro

Honored for : Heaven & Earth

Nominations 1994 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kitaro Heaven & Earth
Zbigniew Preisner Three Colors: Blue
Michael Nyman The Piano
John Williams Schindler's List
Danny Elfman The Nightmare Before Christmas

Alan Menken

Honored for : Aladdin

Nominations 1993 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Menken Aladdin
Vangelis 1492 Conquest of Paradise
Jerry Goldsmith Basic Instinct
John Barry Chaplin
Randy Edelman The Last of the Mohicans
Trevor Jones The Last of the Mohicans

Alan Menken

Honored for : Beauty and the Beast

Nominations 1992 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Menken Beauty and the Beast
Zbigniew Preisner At Play in the Fields of the Lord
Ennio Morricone Bugsy
Patrick Doyle Dead Again
Dave Grusin For the Boys
Michael Kamen Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Richard Horowitz

Honored for : The Sheltering Sky

Nominations 1991 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Richard Horowitz The Sheltering Sky
Randy Newman Avalon
John Barry Dances with Wolves
Carmine Coppola The Godfather Part III
Dave Grusin Havana

Alan Menken

Honored for : The Little Mermaid

Nominations 1990 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Menken The Little Mermaid
John Williams Born on the Fourth of July
Ennio Morricone Casualties of War
Dave Grusin The Fabulous Baker Boys
James Horner Glory

Maurice Jarre

Honored for : Gorillas in the Mist

Nominations 1989 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maurice Jarre Gorillas in the Mist
John Williams The Accidental Tourist
Peter Gabriel The Last Temptation of Christ
Gerald Gouriet Madame Sousatzka
Dave Grusin The Milagro Beanfield War

David Byrne

Honored for : The Last Emperor

Nominations 1988 »

Nominee Nominated Work
David Byrne The Last Emperor
George Fenton Cry Freedom
John Williams Empire of the Sun
Henry Mancini The Glass Menagerie
Ennio Morricone The Untouchables

Ennio Morricone

Honored for : The Mission

Nominations 1987 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ennio Morricone The Mission
Herbie Hancock Round Midnight
Miles Goodman Little Shop of Horrors
Maurice Jarre The Mosquito Coast
Harold Faltermeyer Top Gun

John Barry

Honored for : Out of Africa

Nominations 1986 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Barry Out of Africa
Quincy Jones The Color Purple
Michel Colombier White Nights
Maurice Jarre Witness
David Mansfield Year of the Dragon

Maurice Jarre

Honored for : A Passage to India

Nominations 1985 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maurice Jarre A Passage to India
Jack Nitzsche Starman
Mike Oldfield The Killing Fields
Ennio Morricone Once Upon a Time in America
John Williams The River

Giorgio Moroder

Honored for : Flashdance

Nominations 1984 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Giorgio Moroder Flashdance
Stewart Copeland Rumble Fish
Giorgio Moroder Scarface
Jerry Goldsmith Under Fire
Alan Bergman Yentl

John Williams

Honored for : E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

Nominations 1983 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Vangelis Blade Runner
John Williams E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Giorgio Moroder Cat People
Dudley Moore Six Weeks
Henry Mancini Victor Victoria

Dominic Frontiere

Honored for : The Stunt Man

Nominations 1981 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dominic Frontiere The Stunt Man
Giorgio Moroder American Gigolo
Lalo Schifrin The Competition
Michael Gore Fame
John Barry Somewhere in Time
John Williams Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Carmine Coppola, Francis Ford Coppola

Honored for : Apocalypse Now

Nominations 1980 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Carmine Coppola Apocalypse Now
Francis Ford Coppola Apocalypse Now
Henry Mancini 10
Jerry Goldsmith Alien
Lalo Schifrin The Amityville Horror
Carmine Coppola The Black Stallion
Georges Delerue A Little Romance
Jerry Goldsmith Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Giorgio Moroder

Honored for : Midnight Express

Nominations 1979 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Giorgio Moroder Midnight Express
Chuck Mangione The Children Of Sanchez
Leonard Rosenman The Lord of the Rings
John Williams Superman
Bill Conti An Unmarried Woman

John Williams

Honored for : Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

Nominations 1978 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Williams Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
John Williams Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Joel Hirschhorn Pete's Dragon
Barry Gibb Saturday Night Fever
Marvin Hamlisch The Spy Who Loved Me

Kenneth Ascher

Honored for : A Star Is Born

Nominations 1977 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Kenneth Ascher A Star Is Born
Paul Williams Bugsy Malone
Bill Conti Rocky
Richard M. Sherman The Slipper and the Rose
Lalo Schifrin Voyage of the Damned

John Williams

Honored for : Jaws

Nominations 1976 »

Nominee Nominated Work
John Williams Jaws
Fred Ebb Funny Lady
Maurice Jarre The Man Who Would Be King
Charles Fox The Other Side of the Mountain
Henry Mancini The Return of the Pink Panther

Alan Jay Lerner

Honored for : The Little Prince

Nominations 1975 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alan Jay Lerner The Little Prince
Jerry Goldsmith Chinatown
John Williams Earthquake
Carmine Coppola The Godfather Part II
Paul Williams Phantom of the Paradise

Neil Diamond

Honored for : Jonathan Livingston Seagull

Nominations 1974 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Neil Diamond Jonathan Livingston Seagull
Michel Legrand Breezy
John Williams Cinderella Liberty
Georges Delerue The Day of the Dolphin
Alan Price O Lucky Man!
Richard M. Sherman Tom Sawyer

Nino Rota

Honored for : The Godfather

Nominations 1973 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Nino Rota The Godfather
Ron Goodwin Frenzy
Quincy Jones III The Getaway
Michel Legrand Lady Sings the Blues
John Williams The Poseidon Adventure

Isaac Hayes

Honored for : Shaft

Nominations 1972 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Isaac Hayes Shaft
Gil Mellé The Andromeda Strain
Michel Legrand Le Mans
John Barry Mary, Queen of Scots
Michel Legrand Summer of '42

Francis Lai

Honored for : Love Story

Nominations 1971 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Francis Lai Love Story
Alfred Newman Airport
Frank Cordell Cromwell
Leslie Bricusse Scrooge
Michel Legrand Wuthering Heights

Burt Bacharach

Honored for : Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Nominations 1970 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Burt Bacharach Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Georges Delerue Anne of the Thousand Days
Leslie Bricusse Goodbye, Mr. Chips
Michel Legrand The Happy Ending
Ernest Gold The Secret of Santa Vittoria

Alex North

Honored for : The Shoes of the Fisherman

Nominations 1969 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Alex North The Shoes of the Fisherman
Richard M. Sherman Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
Robert B. Sherman Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
John Barry The Lion in Winter
Lionel Bart Oliver!
Nino Rota Romeo and Juliet
Krzysztof Komeda Rosemary's Baby
Michel Legrand The Thomas Crown Affair

Frederic Loewe

Honored for : Camelot

Nominations 1968 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Frederic Loewe Camelot
Leslie Bricusse Doctor Dolittle
Francis Lai Live for Life
Elmer Bernstein Thoroughly Modern Millie
Henry Mancini Two for the Road

Elmer Bernstein

Honored for : Hawaii

Nominations 1967 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elmer Bernstein Hawaii
Toshiro Mayuzumi The Bible: In the Beginning
Maurice Jarre Is Paris Burning?
Francis Lai A Man and a Woman
Jerry Goldsmith The Sand Pebbles

Maurice Jarre

Honored for : Doctor Zhivago

Nominations 1966 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Maurice Jarre Doctor Zhivago
Benjamin Frankel Battle of the Bulge
Henry Mancini The Great Race
Johnny Mandel The Sandpiper
Riz Ortolani The Yellow Rolls-Royce

Dimitri Tiomkin

Honored for : The Fall of the Roman Empire

Nominations 1965 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dimitri Tiomkin The Fall of the Roman Empire
Laurence Rosenthal Becket
Richard M. Sherman Mary Poppins
Jerry Goldsmith Seven Days in May
Míkis Theodorakis Zorba the Greek

Elmer Bernstein

Honored for : To Kill a Mockingbird

Nominations 1963 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Elmer Bernstein To Kill a Mockingbird
Maurice Jarre Lawrence of Arabia
Meredith Willson The Music Man
Bronis?aw Kaper Mutiny on the Bounty
Franz Waxman Taras Bulba

Dimitri Tiomkin

Honored for : The Guns of Navarone

Nominations 1962 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dimitri Tiomkin The Guns of Navarone
Miklós Rózsa El Cid
Harold Jacob Rome Fanny
Miklós Rózsa King of Kings
Elmer Bernstein Summer and Smoke

Dimitri Tiomkin

Honored for : The Alamo

Nominations 1961 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dimitri Tiomkin The Alamo
Ernest Gold Exodus
Johnny Green Pepe
Alex North Spartacus
George Duning The World of Suzie Wong

Ernest Gold

Honored for : On the Beach

Nominations 1960 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Ernest Gold On the Beach

Dimitri Tiomkin

Honored for : High Noon

Nominations 1953 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Dimitri Tiomkin High Noon
Miklós Rózsa Ivanhoe
Victor Young The Quiet Man

Victor Young

Honored for : September Affair

Nominations 1952 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Victor Young September Affair
Bernard Herrmann The Day the Earth Stood Still
Dimitri Tiomkin The Well

Franz Waxman

Honored for : Sunset Boulevard

Nominations 1951 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Franz Waxman Sunset Boulevard
Leith Stevens Destination Moon
Bronis?aw Kaper A Life of Her Own

Johnny Green

Honored for : The Inspector General

Nominations 1950 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Johnny Green The Inspector General
George Duning All the King's Men

Brian Easdale

Honored for : The Red Shoes

Nominations 1949 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Brian Easdale The Red Shoes

Max Steiner

Honored for : Life with Father

Nominations 1948 »

Nominee Nominated Work
Max Steiner Life with Father