Academy Award for Best Original Score

Academy Award for Best Original Score
Country	United States
Presented by	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
First awarded	February 27, 1935 (1935-02-27)
Currently held by	Justin Hurwitz La La Land (2016)
Website	oscars.org

The Academy Award for Best Original Score is presented to the best substantial body of music in the form of dramatic underscoring written specifically for the film by the submitting composer.

History

The Academy began awarding movies for their scores in 1935. The category was originally called 'Best Scoring'. At the time, winners and nominees were a mix of original scores and adaptations of pre-existing material. Following the controversial win of Charles Previn for One Hundred Men and a Girl in 1938, a film without a credited composer that featured pre-existing classical music, the Academy added a 'Best Original Score' category in 1939. In 1942, the distinction between the two Scoring categories changed slightly as they were renamed to 'Best Music Score of a Dramatic Picture' and 'Best Scoring of a Musical Picture'. This marked the first time the category was split into separate genres, a distinction that technically still lasts today, although there haven't been enough submissions for the musical category to be awarded since 1985. From 1942 to 1985, musical scores had their own category, with the exception of 1958, 1981 and 1982, where there were not enough submissions. During that time, both categories had many name changes:

1. Non-musical scores

• Best Music Score of a Dramatic Picture (1942)
• Best Music Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture (1943-1962)
• Best Music Score--substantially original (1963-1966)
• Best Original Music Score (1967-1968)
• Best Original Score--for a motion picture [not a musical] (1969-1970)
• Best Original Score (1971)
• Best Original Dramatic Score (1972-1975)
• Best Original Score (1976-1995)
• Best Original Dramatic Score (1996-1999)
• Best Original Score (2000-today)

2. Musical scores

• Best Scoring of a Musical Picture (1942-1962)
• Best Scoring of Music--adaptation or treatment (1963-1968)
• Best Score of a Musical Picture--original or adaptation (1969-1970)
• Best Original Song Score (1971)
• Best Scoring: Adaptation and Original Song Score (1972-1973)
• Best Scoring: Original Song Score and Adaptation -or- Scoring: Adaptation (1974-1976)
• Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation or Adaptation Score (1977-1978)
• Best Adaptation Score (1979)
• Best Original Song Score and Its Adaptation -or- Adaptation Score (1980, 1983)
• Best Original Song Score or Adaptation Score (1984)
• Best Original Song Score (1985)
• Best Original Musical or Comedy Score (1996-1999)

Following the wins of 4 Walt Disney Feature Animation films in 6 years from 1990 to 1995 (The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King) during a period that was called the Disney Renaissance, it was decided to once again split the 'Best Original Score' category by genres, this time by combining comedies and musicals together. As Alan Bergman, the chairman of the academy's music branch said, "People were voting for the songs, not the underscores. We felt that academy members outside the music branch didn't distinguish between the two. So when a score like 'The Lion King' is competing against a drama like 'Forrest Gump,' it's apples and oranges -- not in the quality of the score, but in the way it functions in the movie. There's a big difference." The category was therefore split into 'Best Original Dramatic Score' and 'Best Original Musical or Comedy Score' in 1996. This change proved unpopular in the other branches of the Academy as Charles Bernstein, chairman of the academy's rules committee noted, "no other Oscar category depended on a film's genre", and "the job of composing an underscore for a romantic comedy is not substantially different from working on a heavy drama". This split was reverted in 2000.

The Best Original Musical category still exists today, although there haven't been enough submissions to warrant its activation since it was re-established in 2000.

Superlatives

These are only for nominations in the Scoring categories. Nominations in other categories, such as the Original Song category, are not included.

Category	Name	Superlative	Notes
Most Awards	Alfred Newman	9 awards	Awards resulted from 41 nominations
Most Nominations	John Williams	50 nominations	Nominations resulted in 5 awards
Most Nominations without an Award	Alex North	14 nominations	Received an Academy Honorary Award

Only one composer has won two Scoring Oscars the same year: in 1973, Marvin Hamlisch won Original Dramatic Score for The Way We Were and Best Adaptation Score, for The Sting. Hamlisch also won Best Song that year for The Way We Were (song), making him the only composer to win three music Oscars in the same year.

Only one composer has won Oscars three years in a row: Roger Edens won for Easter Parade (1948), On the Town (1949) and Annie Get Your Gun (1950).

Eight composers have won Oscars two years in a row:

1. Ray Heindorf won for Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) and This is the Army (1943).
2. Franz Waxman won for Sunset Boulevard (1950) and A Place in the Sun (1951).
3. Alfred Newman won for With a Song in My Heart (1952) and Call Me Madam (1953). He won again for Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (1955) and The King and I (1956).
4. Adolph Deutsch won for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) and Oklahoma! (1955).
5. André Previn won for Gigi (1958) and 1959's Porgy and Bess (1959). He won again for Irma La Douce (1963) and My Fair Lady (1964).
6. Leonard Rosenman won for Barry Lyndon (1975) and Bound for Glory (1976).
7. Alan Menken won for Beauty and The Beast (1991) and Aladdin (1992).
8. Gustavo Santaolalla won for Brokeback Mountain (2005) and Babel (2006).

Female nominees

Three women have won in the scoring categories. Two are composers: Rachel Portman, who won for Emma (1996), and Anne Dudley, who won for The Full Monty (1997); the third, is lyricist Marilyn Bergman, who won for Yentl (1983) in the Original Song Score category, sharing the award with co-lyricist Alan Bergman (her husband) and composer Michel Legrand.

The only female composers nominated for multiple Scoring Oscars are Rachel Portman, who was nominated for Emma (1996) (for which she won for Best Original Score), The Cider House Rules (1999) and Chocolat (2000); and Angela Morley, who was nominated twice in the Original Song or Adaptation Score category for The Little Prince (1974) and The Slipper and the Rose (1976).

In total, only five women have been nominated in Music Score categories: Rachel Portman, Anne Dudley, Marilyn Bergman, Angela Morley and Mica Levi.

Notable nominees

Dmitri Shostakovich and Duke Ellington were both nominated the same year but lost to arrangers of West Side Story.

The scores of Midnight Express by Giorgio Moroder in 1979, Slumdog Millionaire by A. R. Rahman in 2009, The Social Network in 2011 by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross and Her by William Butler and Owen Pallett in 2014 are the only scores with electronic based music ever to be nominated, with the first three winning the award.

Noted nominated composers known for their music mostly outside the film world include: Aaron Copland, Kurt Weill, Gian-Carlo Menotti, Philip Glass, John Corigliano, Peter Maxwell Davies, Randy Newman, Richard Rodney Bennett, Stephen Schwartz, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Artie Shaw, Trent Reznor, Quincy Jones and Herbie Hancock.

Rock musicians and pop stars are most often nominated in the songwriting category. A handful that were nominated in the Scoring categories includes: John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Prince, Pete Townshend, Rod McKuen, Isaac Hayes, Kris Kristofferson, Quincy Jones, Randy Newman, Anthony Newley, Paul Williams, Tom Waits, David Byrne, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Trent Reznor and Matthew Wilder.

Record producers George Martin (the Beatles) and Jerry Wexler (Atlantic Records) also received nominations in the Scoring categories.

At the age of 87, Ennio Morricone became the oldest winner in Oscar history for a competitive award.

Multiple nominations

The following is a list of composers nominated more than once and winning at least one Academy Award (in this category). This list is sorted by number of awards, with the number of total nominations listed in parentheses. These do not include nominations (or awards) in the Best Original Song category.

• 9: Alfred Newman (43)
• 5: John Williams (45)
• 4: Johnny Green (12)
• 4: André Previn (11)
• 4: John Barry (6)
• 4: Alan Menken (5)
• 3: Max Steiner (24)
• 3: Ray Heindorf (17)
• 3: Morris Stoloff (17)
• 3: Miklós Rózsa (16)
• 3: Dimitri Tiomkin (14)
• 3: Maurice Jarre (8)
• 3: Ken Darby (6)
• 3: Roger Edens (6)
• 3: Saul Chaplin (5)
• 3: Adolph Deutsch (5)
• 2: Franz Waxman (11)
• 2: Henry Mancini (7)
• 2: Lennie Hayton (6)

• 2: Michel Legrand (6)
• 2: Irwin Kostal (5)
• 2: Marvin Hamlisch (4)
• 2: Leonard Rosenman (4)
• 2: Ralph Burns (3)
• 2: Howard Shore (3)
• 2: Gustavo Santaolalla (2)
• 1: Jerry Goldsmith (17)
• 1: Victor Young (17)
• 1: Herbert Stothart (11)
• 1: Elmer Bernstein (10)
• 1: Hans Zimmer (10)
• 1: Hugo Friedhofer (9)
• 1: Lionel Newman (9)
• 1: Georgie Stoll (9)
• 1: James Horner (8)
• 1: Alexandre Desplat (8)
• 1: Leigh Harline (7)
• 1: Charles Previn (7)

• 1: Paul Smith (7)
• 1: Dave Grusin (6)
• 1: Ennio Morricone (6) Also received an Academy Honorary Award.
• 1: Leslie Bricusse (5)
• 1: Georges Delerue (5)
• 1: Richard Hageman (5)
• 1: Bernard Herrmann (5)
• 1: Nelson Riddle (5)
• 1: Oliver Wallace (5)
• 1: Aaron Copland (4)
• 1: Ernest Gold (4)
• 1: Leo F. Forbstein (4)
• 1: Richard M. Sherman (4)
• 1: Robert B. Sherman (4)
• 1: Louis Silvers (4)
• 1: Frank Churchill (3)
• 1: Elliot Goldenthal (3)
• 1: Erich Wolfgang Korngold (3)

• 1: Bronislau Kaper (3)
• 1: Dario Marianelli (3)
• 1: Rachel Portman (3)
• 1: Stephen Schwartz (3)
• 1: Harry Sukman (3)
• 1: Gabriel Yared (3)
• 1: John Addison (2)
• 1: Luis Enríquez Bacalov (2)
• 1: Robert Russell Bennett (2)
• 1: Jay Blackton (2)
• 1: John Corigliano (2)
• 1: Michael Giacchino (2)
• 1: Michael Gore (2)
• 1: W. Franke Harling (2)
• 1: A. R. Rahman (2)
• 1: Heinz Roemheld (2)
• 1: Nino Rota (2)
• 1: Leo Shuken (2)

The following composers have been nominated for a Best Original Score Oscar more than once but have yet to garner one. The number of nominations is listed in parentheses. These do not include nominations (or awards) in the Best Original Song category.

Deceased:

• Alex North (14) Received an Academy Honorary Award.
• Roy Webb (7)
• Werner Janssen (6)
• Edward Ward (5)
• Frank Skinner (4)
• Frank De Vol (4)
• Richard Rodney Bennett (3)
• Louis Gruenberg (3)
• Marvin Hatley (3)
• Ernst Toch (3)
• Jack Nitzsche (2) Has won 1 Oscar Award for Original Song.
• Richard Robbins (2)
• Victor Schertzinger (2)
• Meredith Willson (2)

Living:

• Thomas Newman (13)
• Randy Newman (8) Has won 2 Oscars Awards for Original Song.
• James Newton Howard (6)
• Lalo Schifrin (5)
• Danny Elfman (4)
• George Fenton (4)
• Philip Glass (3)
• Alberto Iglesias (3)
• Quincy Jones (3) Has won the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, a special Academy Award.
• Marc Shaiman (3)
• Marco Beltrami (2)
• Patrick Doyle (2)
• David Hirschfelder (2)
• Jóhann Jóhannsson (2)

Winners and nominees

The following is the list of nominated composers organized by year, and listing both films and composers. The years shown in the following list of winners are the production years, thus a reference to 1967 means the Oscars presented in 1968 for films released in 1967.

Note: From 1934–1937, the head of the music department (rather than the actual composer or composers, in most cases) received the nominations or award.

Note: From 1937–1945, any studio was guaranteed a nomination just by submitting a qualified entry.

1930s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
1934	One Night of Love  – Columbia Studio Music Department, Louis Silvers, head of department (Thematic Music by Victor Schertzinger and Gus Kahn)	The Gay Divorcee RKO Radio Studio Music Department, Max Steiner, head of department (Score by Kenneth Webb and Samuel Hoffenstein) The Lost Patrol – RKO Radio Studio Music Department, Steiner, head of department (Score by Steiner)
1935	The Informer  – RKO Radio Studio Music Department, Max Steiner, head of department (Score by Steiner)	(Write-in candidate) Captain Blood – Warner Bros.-First National Studio Music Department, Leo F. Forbstein, head of department (Score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold) Mutiny on the Bounty – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Music Department, Nat W. Finston, head of department (Score by Herbert Stothart) Peter Ibbetson – Paramount Studio Music Department, Irvin Talbot, head of department (Score by Ernst Toch)
1936	Anthony Adverse  – Warner Bros. Studio Music Department, Leo F. Forbstein, head of department (Score by Erich Wolfgang Korngold)	The Charge of the Light Brigade – Warner Bros. Studio Music Department, Forbstein, head of department (Score by Max Steiner) The Garden of Allah – Selznick International Pictures Music Department, Steiner, head of department (Score by Steiner) The General Died at Dawn – Paramount Studio Music Department, Boris Morros, head of department (Score by Werner Janssen) Winterset – RKO Radio Studio Music Department, Nathaniel Shilkret, head of department (Score by Shilkret)
1937	One Hundred Men and a Girl – Universal Studio Music Department, Charles Previn, head of department (no composer credit)	The Hurricane – Samuel Goldwyn Studio Music Department, Alfred Newman, head of department (Score by Newman) In Old Chicago – 20th Century-Fox Studio Music Department, Louis Silvers, head of department (no composer credit) The Life of Emile Zola – Warner Bros. Studio Music Department, Leo F. Forbstein, head of department (Score by Max Steiner) Lost Horizon – Columbia Studio Music Department, Morris Stoloff, head of department (Score by Dimitri Tiomkin) Make a Wish – Principal Productions, Hugo Riesenfeld, musical director (Score by Riesenfeld) Maytime – Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio Music Department, Nat W. Finston, head of department (Score by Herbert Stothart) Portia on Trial – Republic Studio Music Department, Alberto Colombo, head of department (Score by Colombo) The Prisoner of Zenda – Selznick International Pictures Music Department, Newman, musical director (Score by Newman) Quality Street – RKO Radio Studio Music Department, Roy Webb, musical director (Score by Webb) Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs – Walt Disney Studio Music Department, Leigh Harline, head of department (Score by Frank Churchill, Leigh Harline and Paul Smith) Something to Sing About – Grand National Studio Music Department, Constantin Bakaleinikoff, musical director (Score by Victor Schertzinger) Souls at Sea – Paramount Studio Music Department, Boris Morros, head of department (Score by W. Franke Harling and Milan Roder) Way Out West – Hal Roach Studio Music Department, Marvin Hatley, head of department (Score by Hatley)
1938	Original Score: The Adventures of Robin Hood – Erich Wolfgang Korngold	Army Girl – Victor Young Block-Heads – Marvin Hatley Blockade – Werner Janssen Breaking the Ice – Young The Cowboy and the Lady – Alfred Newman If I Were King – Richard Hageman Marie Antoinette – Herbert Stothart Pacific Liner – Robert Russell Bennett Suez – Louis Silvers The Young in Heart – Franz Waxman
	Musical Score: Alexander's Ragtime Band – Newman	Carefree – Victor Baravalle Girls' School – Morris Stoloff and Gregory Stone The Goldwyn Follies – Newman Jezebel – Max Steiner Mad About Music – Charles Previn and Frank Skinner Storm Over Bengal – Cy Feuer Sweethearts – Stothart There Goes My Heart – Hatley Tropic Holiday – Boris Morros The Young in Heart – Waxman
1939	Original Score: The Wizard of Oz – Herbert Stothart	Dark Victory – Max Steiner Eternally Yours – Werner Janssen Golden Boy – Victor Young Gone with the Wind – Steiner Gulliver's Travels – Young The Man in the Iron Mask – Lud Gluskin, Lucien Moraweck Man of Conquest – Young Nurse Edith Cavell – Anthony Collins Of Mice and Men' – Aaron Copland The Rains Came' – Alfred Newman Wuthering Heights ' – Newman
	Musical Score: Stagecoach – Richard Hageman, W. Franke Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken	The Great Victor Herbert – Phil Boutelje and Arthur Lange Of Mice and Men – Aaron Copland Babes in Arms – Roger Edens and George E. Stoll She Married a Cop – Cy Feuer Intermezzo – Lou Forbes The Hunchback of Notre Dame' – Alfred Newman The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex – Erich Wolfgang Korngold They Shall Have Music – Newman First Love – Charles Previn Swanee River – Louis Silvers Mr. Smith Goes to Washington – Dimitri Tiomkin Way Down South – Victor Young

1940s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
1940	Original Score: Pinocchio – Leigh Harline and Paul J. Smith, composers; Ned Washington, lyricist	Arizona – Victor Young The Dark Command – Young The Fight for Life – Louis Gruenberg The Great Dictator – Meredith Willson The House of the Seven Gables – Frank Skinner The Howards of Virginia – Richard Hageman The Letter – Max Steiner The Long Voyage Home – Hageman The Mark of Zorro – Alfred Newman My Favorite Wife – Roy Webb North West Mounted Police – Young One Million B.C. – Werner Heymann Our Town – Aaron Copland Rebecca – Franz Waxman The Thief of Bagdad – Miklós Rózsa Waterloo Bridge – Herbert Stothart
	Musical Score: Tin Pan Alley – Newman	Arise, My Love – Young Hit Parade of 1941 – Cy Feuer Irene – Anthony Collins Our Town – Copland The Sea Hawk – Erich Wolfgang Korngold Second Chorus – Artie Shaw Spring Parade – Charles Previn Strike Up the Band – Roger Edens, Georgie Stoll
1941	Original Score: All That Money Can Buy – Bernard Herrmann	Back Street – Frank Skinner Ball of Fire – Alfred Newman Cheers for Miss Bishop – Edward Ward Citizen Kane – Herrmann Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Franz Waxman Hold Back the Dawn – Victor Young How Green Was My Valley – Newman King of the Zombies – Edward J. Kay Ladies in Retirement – Morris Stoloff, Ernst Toch The Little Foxes – Meredith Willson Lydia – Miklós Rózsa Mercy Island – Cy Feuer, Walter Scharf Sergeant York – Max Steiner So Ends Our Night – Louis Gruenberg Sundown – Rózsa Suspicion – Waxman Tanks a Million – Ward That Uncertain Feeling – Werner Heymann This Woman Is Mine – Richard Hageman
	Musical Score: Dumbo – Frank Churchill, Oliver Wallace	All-American Co-Ed – Edward Ward Birth of the Blues – Robert Emmett Dolan Buck Privates – Charles Previn The Chocolate Soldier – Herbert Stothart, Bronislau Kaper Ice-Capades – Cy Feuer The Strawberry Blonde – Heinz Roemheld Sun Valley Serenade – Emil Newman Sunny – Anthony Collins You'll Never Get Rich – Morris Stoloff
1942	Original Score: Now, Voyager – Max Steiner	Arabian Nights – Frank Skinner Bambi – Frank Churchill (p.n.), Edward H. Plumb The Black Swan – Alfred Newman The Corsican Brothers – Dimitri Tiomkin Flying Tigers – Victor Young The Gold Rush – Max Terr I Married a Witch – Roy Webb Joan of Paris – Webb Jungle Book – Miklós Rózsa Klondike Fury – Edward J. Kay The Pride of the Yankees – Leigh Harline Random Harvest – Herbert Stothart The Shanghai Gesture – Richard Hageman Silver Queen – Young Take a Letter, Darling – Young The Talk of the Town – Friedrich Hollaender, Morris Stoloff To Be or Not to Be – Werner Heymann
	Musical Score: Yankee Doodle Dandy – Ray Heindorf, Heinz Roemheld	Flying with Music – Edward Ward For Me and My Gal – Roger Edens, Georgie Stoll Holiday Inn – Robert Emmett Dolan It Started with Eve – Hans Salter, Charles Previn Johnny Doughboy – Walter Scharf My Gal Sal – Alfred Newman You Were Never Lovelier – Leigh Harline
1943	Original Score: The Song of Bernadette – Alfred Newman	The Amazing Mrs. Holliday – Frank Skinner, Hans J. Salter Casablanca – Max Steiner Commandos Strike at Dawn – Morris Stoloff, Louis Gruenberg The Fallen Sparrow – Roy Webb, Constantin Bakaleinikoff For Whom the Bell Tolls – Victor Young Hangmen Also Die – Hanns Eisler Hi Diddle Diddle – Phil Boutelje In Old Oklahoma – Walter Scharf Johnny Come Lately – Leigh Harline The Kansan – Gerard Carbonara Lady of Burlesque – Arthur Lange Madame Curie – Herbert Stothart The Moon and Sixpence – Dimitri Tiomkin The North Star – Aaron Copland Victory Through Air Power – Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith, Oliver Wallace
	Musical Score: This Is the Army – Ray Heindorf	Coney Island – Alfred Newman Hit Parade of 1943 – Walter Scharf Phantom of the Opera – Edward Ward Saludos Amigos – Charles Wolcott, Edward H. Plumb, Paul Smith The Sky's the Limit – Leigh Harline Something to Shout About – Morris Stoloff Stage Door Canteen – Fred Rich Star Spangled Rhythm – Robert Emmett Dolan Thousands Cheer – Herbert Stothart
1944	Original Score: Since You Went Away – Max Steiner	Address Unknown – Morris Stoloff, Ernst Toch The Adventures of Mark Twain – Steiner The Bridge of San Luis Rey – Dimitri Tiomkin Casanova Brown – Arthur Lange Christmas Holiday – Hans J. Salter Double Indemnity – Miklós Rózsa The Fighting Seabees – Walter Scharf, Roy Webb The Hairy Ape – Edward Paul, Michel Michelet It Happened Tomorrow – Robert Stolz Jack London – Fred Rich Kismet – Herbert Stothart None but the Lonely Heart – Hanns Eisler, Constantin Bakaleinikoff The Princess and the Pirate – David Rose Summer Storm – Karl Hajos Three Russian Girls – Franke Harling Up in Mabel's Room – Edward Paul Voice in the Wind – Michel Michelet Wilson – Alfred Newman The Woman of the Town – Rózsa
	Musical Score: Cover Girl – Morris Stoloff, Carmen Dragon	Brazil – Walter Scharf Higher and Higher – Constantin Bakaleinikoff Hollywood Canteen – Ray Heindorf Irish Eyes Are Smiling – Alfred Newman Knickerbocker Holiday – Werner R. Heymann, Kurt Weill Lady in the Dark – Robert Emmett Dolan Lady, Let's Dance – Edward J. Kay Meet Me in St. Louis – Georgie Stoll The Merry Monahans – Hans J. Salter Minstrel Man – Ferde Grofe, Leo Erdody Sensations of 1945 – Mahlon Merrick Song of the Open Road – Charles Previn Up in Arms – Heindorf, Louis Forbes
1945	Original Score: Spellbound – Miklós Rózsa	The Bells of St. Mary's – Robert Emmett Dolan Brewster's Millions – Lou Forbes Captain Kidd – Werner Janssen The Enchanted Cottage – Roy Webb Flame of Barbary Coast – Morton Scott, R. Dale Butts G. I. Honeymoon – Edward J. Kay The Story of G.I. Joe – Louis Applebaum, Ann Ronell Guest in the House – Janssen Guest Wife – Daniele Amfitheatrof The Keys of the Kingdom – Alfred Newman The Lost Weekend – Rózsa Love Letters – Victor Young The Man Who Walked Alone – Karl Hajos Objective, Burma! – Franz Waxman Paris Underground – Alexandre Tansman A Song to Remember – Miklós Rózsa, Morris Stoloff The Southerner – Janssen This Love of Ours – Hans J. Salter The Valley of Decision – Herbert Stothart The Woman in the Window – Arthur Lange, Hugo Friedhofer
	Musical Score: Anchors Aweigh – Georgie Stoll	Belle of the Yukon – Arthur Lange Can't Help Singing – Jerome Kern (p.n.), Hans J. Salter Hitchhike to Happiness – Morton Scott Incendiary Blonde – Robert Emmett Dolan Rhapsody in Blue – Ray Heindorf, Max Steiner State Fair – Alfred Newman, Charles E. Henderson Sunbonnet Sue – Edward J. Kay The Three Caballeros – Charles Wolcott, Edward H. Plumb, Paul J. Smith Tonight and Every Night – Marlin Skiles, Morris Stoloff Why Girls Leave Home – Walter Greene Wonder Man – Heindorf, Lou Forbes
1946	Original Score: The Best Years of Our Lives – Hugo Friedhofer	Anna and the King of Siam – Bernard Herrmann Henry V – William Walton Humoresque – Franz Waxman The Killers – Miklós Rózsa
	Musical Score: The Jolson Story – Morris Stoloff	Blue Skies – Robert Emmett Dolan Centennial Summer – Alfred Newman The Harvey Girls – Lennie Hayton Night and Day – Ray Heindorf, Max Steiner
1947	Original Score: A Double Life – Miklós Rózsa	The Bishop's Wife – Hugo Friedhofer Captain from Castile – Alfred Newman Forever Amber – David Raksin Life with Father – Max Steiner
	Musical Score: Mother Wore Tights – Alfred Newman	Fiesta – Johnny Green My Wild Irish Rose – Ray Heindorf, Max Steiner Road to Rio – Robert Emmett Dolan Song of the South – Daniele Amfitheatrof, Paul J. Smith, Charles Wolcott
1948	Original Score: The Red Shoes – Brian Easdale	Hamlet – William Walton Joan of Arc – Hugo Friedhofer Johnny Belinda – Max Steiner The Snake Pit – Alfred Newman
	Musical Score: Easter Parade – Johnny Green, Roger Edens	The Emperor Waltz – Victor Young The Pirate – Lennie Hayton Romance on the High Seas – Ray Heindorf When My Baby Smiles at Me – Alfred Newman
1949	Original Score: The Heiress – Aaron Copland	Beyond the Forest – Max Steiner Champion – Dimitri Tiomkin
	Score of a Musical Picture: On the Town – Roger Edens, Lennie Hayton	Jolson Sings Again – Morris Stoloff, George Duning Look for the Silver Lining – Ray Heindorf

1950s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
1950	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Sunset Boulevard – Franz Waxman	All About Eve – Alfred Newman The Flame and the Arrow – Max Steiner No Sad Songs for Me – George Duning Samson and Delilah – Victor Young
	Score of a Musical Picture: Annie Get Your Gun – Adolph Deutsch, Roger Edens	Cinderella – Oliver Wallace, Paul Smith I'll Get By – Lionel Newman Three Little Words – André Previn The West Point Story – Ray Heindorf
1951	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: A Place in the Sun – Franz Waxman	David and Bathsheba – Alfred Newman Death of a Salesman – Alex North Quo Vadis – Miklós Rózsa A Streetcar Named Desire – Alex North
	Score of a Musical Picture: An American in Paris – Johnny Green, Saul Chaplin	Alice in Wonderland – Oliver Wallace The Great Caruso – Peter Herman Adler, Johnny Green On the Riviera – Alfred Newman Show Boat – Adolph Deutsch, Conrad Salinger
1952	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: High Noon – Dimitri Tiomkin	Ivanhoe – Miklós Rózsa The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima – Max Steiner The Thief – Herschel Burke Gilbert Viva Zapata! – Alex North
	Score of a Musical Picture: With a Song in My Heart – Alfred Newman	Hans Christian Andersen – Walter Scharf The Jazz Singer – Ray Heindorf, Max Steiner The Medium – Gian-Carlo Menotti Singin' in the Rain – Lennie Hayton
1953	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Lili – Bronislau Kaper	Above and Beyond – Hugo Friedhofer From Here to Eternity – Morris Stoloff, George Duning Julius Caesar – Miklós Rózsa This is Cinerama – Louis Forbes
	Score of a Musical Picture: Call Me Madam – Alfred Newman	The Band Wagon – Adolph Deutsch Calamity Jane – Ray Heindorf The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T – Friedrich Hollaender, Morris Stoloff Kiss Me Kate – André Previn, Saul Chaplin
1954	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: The High and the Mighty – Dimitri Tiomkin	The Caine Mutiny – Max Steiner Genevieve – Larry Adler (Front: Muir Mathieson) On the Waterfront – Leonard Bernstein The Silver Chalice – Franz Waxman
	Score of a Musical Picture: Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – Adolph Deutsch, Saul Chaplin	Carmen Jones – Herschel Burke Gilbert The Glenn Miller Story – Joseph Gershenson, Henry Mancini A Star Is Born – Ray Heindorf There's No Business Like Show Business – Alfred Newman, Lionel Newman
1955	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing – Alfred Newman	Battle Cry – Max Steiner The Man with the Golden Arm – Elmer Bernstein Picnic – George Duning The Rose Tattoo – Alex North
	Score of a Musical Picture: Oklahoma! – Robert Russell Bennett, Jay Blackton, Adolph Deutsch	Daddy Long Legs – Alfred Newman Guys and Dolls – Jay Blackton, Cyril J. Mockridge It's Always Fair Weather – André Previn Love Me or Leave Me – Percy Faith, George Stoll
1956	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Around the World in 80 Days – Victor Young (p.a.)	Anastasia – Alfred Newman Between Heaven and Hell – Hugo Friedhofer Giant – Dimitri Tiomkin The Rainmaker – Alex North
	Score of a Musical Picture: The King and I – Alfred Newman, Ken Darby	The Best Things in Life Are Free – Lionel Newman The Eddy Duchin Story – Morris Stoloff, George Duning High Society – Johnny Green, Saul Chaplin Meet Me in Las Vegas – George Stoll, Johnny Green
1957	Original Score: The Bridge on the River Kwai – Malcolm Arnold	An Affair to Remember – Hugo Friedhofer Boy on a Dolphin – Hugo Friedhofer Perri – Paul Smith Raintree County – Johnny Green
1958	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: The Old Man and the Sea – Dimitri Tiomkin	The Big Country – Jerome Moross Separate Tables – David Raksin White Wilderness – Oliver Wallace The Young Lions – Hugo Friedhofer
	Score of a Musical Picture: Gigi – André Previn	The Bolshoi Ballet – Yuri Faier, Gennady Rozhdestvensky Damn Yankees – Ray Heindorf Mardi Gras – Lionel Newman South Pacific – Alfred Newman, Ken Darby
1959	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Ben-Hur – Miklós Rózsa	The Diary of Anne Frank – Alfred Newman The Nun's Story – Franz Waxman On the Beach – Ernest Gold Pillow Talk – De Vol
	Score of a Musical Picture: Porgy and Bess – André Previn, Ken Darby	The Five Pennies – Leith Stevens Li'l Abner – Nelson Riddle, Joseph J. Lilley Say One for Me – Lionel Newman Sleeping Beauty – George Bruns

1960s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees|-
1960	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Exodus – Ernest Gold	The Alamo – Dimitri Tiomkin Elmer Gantry – André Previn The Magnificent Seven – Elmer Bernstein Spartacus – Alex North
	Score of a Musical Picture: Song without End (The Story of Franz Liszt) – Morris Stoloff & Harry Sukman	Bells Are Ringing – André Previn Can-Can – Nelson Riddle Let's Make Love – Lionel Newman & Earle H. Hagen Pepe – Johnny Green
1961	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Breakfast at Tiffany's – Henry Mancini	El Cid – Miklós Rózsa Fanny – Morris Stoloff & Harry Sukman The Guns of Navarone – Dimitri Tiomkin Summer and Smoke – Elmer Bernstein
	Score of a Musical Picture: West Side Story – Saul Chaplin, Johnny Green, Sid Ramin & Irwin Kostal	Babes in Toyland – George Bruns Flower Drum Song – Alfred Newman & Ken Darby Khovanshchina – Dimitri Shostakovich Paris Blues – Duke Ellington
1962	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Lawrence of Arabia – Maurice Jarre	Freud – Jerry Goldsmith Mutiny on the Bounty – Bronislau Kaper Taras Bulba – Franz Waxman To Kill a Mockingbird – Elmer Bernstein
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): The Music Man – Ray Heindorf	Billy Rose's Jumbo – George Stoll Gigot – Michel Magne Gypsy – Frank Perkins The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm – Leigh Harline
1963	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Tom Jones – John Addison	Cleopatra – Alex North 55 Days at Peking – Dimitri Tiomkin How the West Was Won – Alfred Newman & Ken Darby It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World – Ernest Gold
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): Irma la Douce – André Previn	Bye Bye Birdie – Johnny Green A New Kind of Love – Leith Stevens Sundays and Cybele – Maurice Jarre The Sword in the Stone – George Bruns
1964	Score of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture: Mary Poppins – Sherman Brothers	Becket – Laurence Rosenthal The Fall of the Roman Empire – Dimitri Tiomkin Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte – De Vol The Pink Panther – Henry Mancini
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): My Fair Lady – André Previn	A Hard Day's Night – George Martin Mary Poppins – Irwin Kostal Robin and the 7 Hoods – Nelson Riddle The Unsinkable Molly Brown – Robert Armbruster, Leo Arnaud, Jack Elliott, Jack Hayes, Calvin Jackson, & Leo Shuken
1965	Original Score: Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarre	The Agony and the Ecstasy – Alex North The Greatest Story Ever Told – Alfred Newman A Patch of Blue – Jerry Goldsmith The Umbrellas of Cherbourg – Michel Legrand & Jacques Demy
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): The Sound of Music – Irwin Kostal	Cat Ballou – Frank DeVol The Pleasure Seekers – Lionel Newman & Alexander Courage A Thousand Clowns – Don Walker The Umbrellas of Cherbourg – Michel Legrand
1966	Original Score: Born Free – John Barry	The Bible: In the Beginning – Toshiro Mayuzumi Hawaii – Elmer Bernstein The Sand Pebbles – Jerry Goldsmith Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? – Alex North
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum – Ken Thorne	The Gospel According to St. Matthew – Luis Enrique Bacalov Return of the Seven – Elmer Bernstein The Singing Nun – Harry Sukman Stop the World – I Want to Get Off – Al Ham
1967	Original Score: Thoroughly Modern Millie – Elmer Bernstein	Cool Hand Luke – Lalo Schifrin Doctor Dolittle – Leslie Bricusse Far from the Madding Crowd – Richard Rodney Bennett In Cold Blood – Quincy Jones
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): Camelot – Alfred Newman & Ken Darby	Doctor Dolittle – Lionel Newman & Alexander Courage Guess Who's Coming to Dinner – De Vol Thoroughly Modern Millie – André Previn & Joseph Gershenson Valley of the Dolls – John Williams
1968	Original Score: The Lion in Winter – John Barry	The Fox – Lalo Schifrin Planet of the Apes – Jerry Goldsmith The Shoes of the Fisherman – Alex North The Thomas Crown Affair – Michel Legrand
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): Oliver! – Adaptation score by Johnny Green	Finian's Rainbow – Adaptation score by Ray Heindorf Funny Girl – Adaptation score by Walter Scharf Star! – Adaptation score by Lennie Hayton The Young Girls of Rochefort – Music & Adaptation score by Michel Legrand; Lyrics by Jacques Demy
1969	Original Score: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid – Burt Bacharach	Anne of the Thousand Days – Georges Delerue The Reivers – John Williams The Secret of Santa Vittoria – Ernest Gold The Wild Bunch – Jerry Fielding
	Score of a Musical Picture (adaptation or treatment): Hello, Dolly! – Adaptation score by Lennie Hayton & Lionel Newman	Goodbye, Mr. Chips – Music & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse; adaptation score by John Williams Paint Your Wagon – Adaptation score by Nelson Riddle Sweet Charity – Adaptation score by Cy Coleman They Shoot Horses, Don't They? – Adaptation score by John Green & Albert Woodbury

1970s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees|-
1970	Original Dramatic Score: Love Story – Francis Lai	Airport – Alfred Newman (p.n.) Cromwell – Frank Cordell Patton – Jerry Goldsmith I Girasoli – Henry Mancini
	Original Song Score: Let It Be – Music & Lyrics by The Beatles	The Baby Maker – Music by Fred Karlin; Lyrics by Tylwyth Kymry A Boy Named Charlie Brown – Music by Rod McKuen, Uncle John; Lyrics by Rod McKuen, Bill Meléndez; Al Shean; Adaptation score by Vince Guaraldi Darling Lili – Music by Henry Mancini; Lyrics by Johnny Mercer Scrooge – Music & Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse; Adaptation score by Ian Fraser & Herbert W. Spencer
1971	Original Dramatic Score: Summer of '42 – Michel Legrand	Mary, Queen of Scots – John Barry Nicholas and Alexandra – Richard Rodney Bennett Shaft – Isaac Hayes Straw Dogs – Jerry Fielding
	Original Song Score and Adaptation: Fiddler on the Roof – Adaptation Score by John Williams	Bedknobs and Broomsticks – Song Score by Sherman Brothers; Adaptation Score by Irwin Kostal The Boy Friend – Adaptation Score by Peter Maxwell Davies & Peter Greenwell Tchaikovsky – Adaptation Score by Dimitri Tiomkin Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory – Song Score by Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley; Adaptation Score by Walter Scharf
1972	Original Dramatic Score: Limelight – Charlie Chaplin, Raymond Rasch (p.a.), & Larry Russell (p.a.) (Note: This film was originally screened in 1952, but it was not shown in Los Angeles until 1972, at which point it became eligible for this nomination)	Images – John Williams Napoleon and Samantha – Buddy Baker The Poseidon Adventure – John Williams Sleuth – John Addison
	Original Song Score and Adaptation: Cabaret – Adaptation Score by Ralph Burns	Lady Sings the Blues – Adaptation Score by Gil Askey Man of La Mancha – Adaptation Score by Laurence Rosenthal
1973	Original Dramatic Score: The Way We Were – Marvin Hamlisch	Cinderella Liberty – John Williams The Day of the Dolphin – Georges Delerue Papillon – Jerry Goldsmith A Touch of Class – John Cameron
	Original Song Score and Adaptation: The Sting – Adaptation Score by Marvin Hamlisch	Jesus Christ Superstar – Adaptation Score by André Previn, Herbert W. Spencer & Andrew Lloyd Webber Tom Sawyer – Song Score by Sherman Brothers; Adaptation Score by John Williams
1974	Original Dramatic Score: The Godfather Part II – Nino Rota & Carmine Coppola	Chinatown – Jerry Goldsmith Murder on the Orient Express – Richard Rodney Bennett Shanks – Alex North The Towering Inferno – John Williams
	Original Song Score and Adaptation: The Great Gatsby – Adaptation Score by Nelson Riddle	The Little Prince – Song Score by Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe; Adaptation Score by Angela Morley & Douglas Gamley Phantom of the Paradise – Song Score by Paul Williams; Adaptation Score by Paul Williams & George Aliceson Tipton
1975	Original Dramatic Score: Jaws – John Williams	Birds Do It, Bees Do It – Gerald Fried Bite the Bullet – Alex North One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest – Jack Nitzsche The Wind and the Lion – Jerry Goldsmith
	Original Song Score and Adaptation: Barry Lyndon – Adaptation Score by Leonard Rosenman	Funny Lady – Adaptation Score by Peter Matz Tommy – Adaptation Score by Peter Townshend
1976	Original Score: The Omen – Jerry Goldsmith	Obsession – Bernard Herrmann (p.n.) The Outlaw Josey Wales – Jerry Fielding Taxi Driver – Bernard Herrmann (p.n.) Voyage of the Damned – Lalo Schifrin
	Original Song or Adaptation Score: Bound for Glory – Adaptation Score by Leonard Rosenman	Bugsy Malone – Song Score and Adaptation Score by Paul Williams A Star Is Born – Adaptation Score by Roger Kellaway
1977	Original Score: Star Wars – John Williams	Close Encounters of the Third Kind – John Williams Julia – Georges Delerue Mohammad, Messenger of God – Maurice Jarre The Spy Who Loved Me – Marvin Hamlisch
	Original Song or Adaptation Score: A Little Night Music – Adaptation Score by Jonathan Tunick	Pete's Dragon – Song Score by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn; Adaptation Score by Irwin Kostal The Slipper and the Rose—The Story of Cinderella – Song Score by Sherman Brothers; Adaptation Score by Angela Morley
1978	Original Score: Midnight Express – Giorgio Moroder	The Boys from Brazil – Jerry Goldsmith Days of Heaven – Ennio Morricone Heaven Can Wait – Dave Grusin Superman – John Williams
	Original Adaptation Score: The Buddy Holly Story – Joe Renzetti	Pretty Baby – Jerry Wexler The Wiz – Quincy Jones
1979	Original Score: A Little Romance – Georges Delerue	The Amityville Horror – Lalo Schifrin The Champ – Dave Grusin Star Trek: The Motion Picture – Jerry Goldsmith 10 – Henry Mancini
	Original Song or Adaptation Score: All That Jazz – Adaptation Score by Ralph Burns	Breaking Away – Adaptation Score by Patrick Williams The Muppet Movie – Song Score by Paul Williams & Kenny Ascher; Adaptation Score by Paul Williams

1980s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
1980	Fame – Michael Gore	Altered States – John Corigliano The Elephant Man – John Morris The Empire Strikes Back – John Williams Tess – Philippe Sarde
1981	Chariots of Fire – Vangelis	Dragonslayer – Alex North On Golden Pond – Dave Grusin Ragtime – Randy Newman Raiders of the Lost Ark – John Williams
1982	Original Score: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial – John Williams	Gandhi – Ravi Shankar; George Fenton An Officer and a Gentleman – Jack Nitzsche Poltergeist – Jerry Goldsmith Sophie's Choice – Marvin Hamlisch
	Original Song or Adaptation Score: Victor Victoria – Song Score by Henry Mancini, Leslie Bricusse Adaptation Score by Mancini	Annie – Adaptation Score by Ralph Burns One from the Heart – Song Score by Tom Waits
1983	Original Score: The Right Stuff – Bill Conti	Cross Creek – Leonard Rosenman Return of the Jedi – John Williams Terms of Endearment – Michael Gore Under Fire – Jerry Goldsmith
	Original Song or Adaptation Score: Yentl – Song Score by Michel Legrand, Alan & Marilyn Bergman	The Sting II – Adaptation Score by Lalo Schifrin Trading Places – Adaptation Score by Elmer Bernstein
1984	Original Score: A Passage to India – Maurice Jarre	Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom – John Williams The Natural – Randy Newman The River – John Williams Under the Volcano – Alex North
	Original Song Score: Purple Rain – Prince	The Muppets Take Manhattan – Jeff Moss Songwriter – Kris Kristofferson
1985	Out of Africa – John Barry	Agnes of God – Georges Delerue The Color Purple – Quincy Jones; Jeremy Lubbock; Rod Temperton; Caiphus Semenya; Andraé Crouch; Chris Boardman; Jorge Calandrelli; Joel Rosenbaum; Fred Steiner; Jack Hayes; Jerry Hey; Randy Kerber Silverado – Bruce Broughton Witness – Maurice Jarre
1986	Round Midnight – Herbie Hancock	Aliens – James Horner Hoosiers – Jerry Goldsmith The Mission – Ennio Morricone Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home – Leonard Rosenman
1987	The Last Emperor – Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne, Cong Su	Cry Freedom – George Fenton; Jonas Gwangwa Empire of the Sun – John Williams The Untouchables – Ennio Morricone The Witches of Eastwick – John Williams
1988	The Milagro Beanfield War – Dave Grusin	The Accidental Tourist – John Williams Dangerous Liaisons – George Fenton Gorillas in the Mist – Maurice Jarre Rain Man – Hans Zimmer
1989	The Little Mermaid – Alan Menken	Born on the Fourth of July – John Williams The Fabulous Baker Boys – Dave Grusin Field of Dreams – James Horner Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade – John Williams

1990s

Note: From 1995 to 1998, songwriters and lyricists along with orchestral underscore composers were also eligible for nominations in the "Musical or Comedy Score" category.

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
1990	Dances with Wolves – John Barry	Avalon – Randy Newman Ghost – Maurice Jarre Havana – Dave Grusin Home Alone – John Williams
1991	Beauty and the Beast – Alan Menken	Bugsy – Ennio Morricone The Fisher King – George Fenton JFK – John Williams The Prince of Tides – James Newton Howard
1992	Aladdin – Alan Menken	Basic Instinct – Jerry Goldsmith Chaplin – John Barry Howards End – Richard Robbins A River Runs Through It – Mark Isham
1993	Schindler's List – John Williams	The Age of Innocence – Elmer Bernstein The Firm – Dave Grusin The Fugitive – James Newton Howard The Remains of the Day – Richard Robbins
1994	The Lion King – Hans Zimmer	Forrest Gump – Alan Silvestri Interview with the Vampire – Elliot Goldenthal Little Women – Thomas Newman The Shawshank Redemption – Thomas Newman
1995	Dramatic Score: The Postman (Il Postino) – Luis Bacalov	Apollo 13 – James Horner Braveheart – James Horner Nixon – John Williams Sense and Sensibility – Patrick Doyle
	Musical or Comedy Score: Pocahontas – Alan Menken	The American President – Marc Shaiman Sabrina – John Williams Toy Story – Randy Newman Unstrung Heroes – Thomas Newman
1996	Dramatic Score: The English Patient – Gabriel Yared	Hamlet – Patrick Doyle Michael Collins – Elliot Goldenthal Shine – David Hirschfelder Sleepers – John Williams
	Musical or Comedy Score: Emma – Rachel Portman	The First Wives Club – Marc Shaiman The Hunchback of Notre Dame – Alan Menken James and the Giant Peach – Randy Newman The Preacher's Wife – Hans Zimmer
1997	Dramatic Score: Titanic – James Horner	Amistad – John Williams Good Will Hunting – Danny Elfman Kundun – Philip Glass L.A. Confidential – Jerry Goldsmith
	Musical or Comedy Score: The Full Monty – Anne Dudley	Anastasia – David Newman As Good as It Gets – Hans Zimmer Men in Black – Danny Elfman My Best Friend's Wedding – James Newton Howard
1998	Dramatic Score: Life Is Beautiful – Nicola Piovani	Elizabeth – David Hirschfelder Pleasantville – Randy Newman Saving Private Ryan – John Williams The Thin Red Line – Hans Zimmer
	Musical or Comedy Score: Shakespeare in Love – Stephen Warbeck	A Bug's Life – Randy Newman Mulan – Jerry Goldsmith Patch Adams – Marc Shaiman The Prince of Egypt – Hans Zimmer
1999	The Red Violin – John Corigliano	American Beauty – Thomas Newman Angela's Ashes – John Williams The Cider House Rules – Rachel Portman The Talented Mr. Ripley – Gabriel Yared

2000s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
2000	Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon – Tan Dun	Chocolat – Rachel Portman Gladiator – Hans Zimmer Malèna – Ennio Morricone The Patriot – John Williams
2001	The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring – Howard Shore	A.I. Artificial Intelligence – John Williams A Beautiful Mind – James Horner Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone – John Williams Monsters, Inc. – Randy Newman
2002	Frida – Elliot Goldenthal	Catch Me If You Can – John Williams Far from Heaven – Elmer Bernstein The Hours – Philip Glass Road to Perdition – Thomas Newman
2003	The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King – Howard Shore	Big Fish – Danny Elfman Cold Mountain – Gabriel Yared Finding Nemo – Thomas Newman House of Sand and Fog – James Horner
2004	Finding Neverland – Jan A. P. Kaczmarek	Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – John Williams Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events – Thomas Newman The Passion of the Christ – John Debney The Village – James Newton Howard
2005	Brokeback Mountain – Gustavo Santaolalla	The Constant Gardener – Alberto Iglesias Memoirs of a Geisha – John Williams Munich – John Williams Pride & Prejudice – Dario Marianelli
2006	Babel – Gustavo Santaolalla	The Good German – Thomas Newman Notes on a Scandal – Philip Glass Pan's Labyrinth – Javier Navarrete The Queen – Alexandre Desplat
2007	Atonement – Dario Marianelli	3:10 to Yuma – Marco Beltrami The Kite Runner – Alberto Iglesias Michael Clayton – James Newton Howard Ratatouille – Michael Giacchino
2008	Slumdog Millionaire – A. R. Rahman	The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Alexandre Desplat Defiance – James Newton Howard Milk – Danny Elfman WALL-E – Thomas Newman
2009	Up – Michael Giacchino	Avatar – James Horner Fantastic Mr. Fox – Alexandre Desplat The Hurt Locker – Marco Beltrami & Buck Sanders Sherlock Holmes – Hans Zimmer

2010s

Year	Winner Composer	Nominees
2010	The Social Network – Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross	127 Hours – A. R. Rahman How to Train Your Dragon – John Powell Inception – Hans Zimmer The King's Speech – Alexandre Desplat
2011	The Artist – Ludovic Bource	The Adventures of Tintin – John Williams Hugo – Howard Shore Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy – Alberto Iglesias War Horse – John Williams
2012	Life of Pi – Mychael Danna	Anna Karenina – Dario Marianelli Argo – Alexandre Desplat Lincoln – John Williams Skyfall – Thomas Newman
2013	Gravity – Steven Price	The Book Thief – John Williams Her – Will Butler & Owen Pallett Philomena – Alexandre Desplat Saving Mr. Banks – Thomas Newman
2014	The Grand Budapest Hotel – Alexandre Desplat	The Imitation Game – Alexandre Desplat Interstellar – Hans Zimmer Mr. Turner – Gary Yershon The Theory of Everything – Jóhann Jóhannsson
2015	The Hateful Eight – Ennio Morricone	Bridge of Spies – Thomas Newman Carol – Carter Burwell Sicario – Jóhann Jóhannsson Star Wars: The Force Awakens – John Williams
2016	La La Land – Justin Hurwitz	Jackie – Mica Levi Lion – Dustin O'Halloran & Hauschka Moonlight – Nicholas Britell Passengers – Thomas Newman

Withdrawn nominations

Nino Rota was nominated for The Godfather, but the nomination was withdrawn when it was discovered that Rota had used music from an earlier score of his, Fortunella (1958), and was replaced by Sleuth.

See also

• BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
• Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score
• Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
• Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition
• Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance
• Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
• Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
• Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella

External links

• Oscars.org (official Academy site)
• The Academy Awards Database (official site)
• Oscar.com (official ceremony promotional site)