Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

James Newton Howard

Highest Rated: 96% The Fugitive (1993)

Lowest Rated: 0% Head Office (1986)

Birthday: Jun 9, 1951

Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA

An incredibly prolific and versatile composer, James Newton Howard scored a dizzying array of popular and critically acclaimed films, beginning with "Pretty Woman" (1990), "The Prince of Tides" (1991), "The Fugitive" (1993) and "Wyatt Earp" (1994), through "The Sixth Sense" (1999) "Batman Begins" (2005), "King Kong" (2005) and "I am Legend" (2007). Howard - who first sat down at a piano at age two - went on to earn a degree in music and orchestration from the University of Southern California's School of Music, and could have, theoretically, dove right into movie scoring - except for a midstream diversion as a remarkable pop musician in the 1970s, playing keyboards for Elton John, Cher and Toto, among others. Inspiring the loyalty of many prominent filmmakers, Howard enjoyed ongoing working relationships with Lawrence Kasdan, M. Night Shyamalan and sometime director, Kevin Costner. With sweeping scores drawing upon his early exposure to Beethoven and Bach, and melodies informed by his brief but potent career in pop rock, Howard's scores literally resonated with millions of moviegoers, even if household name recognition continued to elude him. But with his stated growing interested in more ambitious themes and unusual arrangements - coupled with his Oscar-nominated score for the George Clooney legal thriller "Michael Clayton" (2007) - many in the industry believed his best work was still yet to come.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

96% 89% The Fugitive
Watchlist
95% 88% Glengarry Glen Ross
Watchlist
95% 86% Nightcrawler Watchlist
95% 72% Dave
Watchlist
94% 94% The Dark Knight Watchlist 93% 97% Raya and the Last Dragon Watchlist
91% 85% The Man in the Moon
Watchlist
90% 69% Michael Clayton
Watchlist
90% 89% The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Watchlist 88% 89% News of the World Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
23% 64% Pain Hustlers Original Music - 2023
46% 83% Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore Original Music $95.8M 2022
62% 92% Jungle Cruise Original Music $117.0M 2021
93% 97% Raya and the Last Dragon Original Music $54.7M 2021
88% 89% News of the World Original Music $12.7M 2020
82% 72% A Hidden Life Original Music $1.7M 2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet A Hidden Life Original Music - 2019
36% 53% Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald Original Music $159.4M 2018
32% 35% The Nutcracker and the Four Realms Original Music $54.8M 2018
45% 51% Red Sparrow Original Music $46.7M 2018
55% 57% Roman J. Israel, Esq. Original Music $11.7M 2017
82% 79% Detroit Original Music $16.8M 2017
74% 79% Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Original Music $234.0M 2016
20% 45% The Huntsman: Winter's War Original Music $48.0M 2016
58% 74% Concussion Original Music $33.8M 2015
70% 66% The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 2 Original Music $281.7M 2015
72% 66% Pawn Sacrifice Original Music $2.4M 2014
38% 29% Cut Bank Original Music - 2014
95% 86% Nightcrawler Original Music $32.4M 2014
54% 70% Maleficent Original Music $241.4M 2014
70% 71% The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 Original Music - 2014
90% 89% The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Original Music - 2013
51% 48% Parkland Original Music $652.4K 2013
12% 36% After Earth Original Music $60.5M 2013
56% 58% The Bourne Legacy Original Music $113.2M 2012
48% 52% Snow White and the Huntsman Original Music $155.1M 2012
21% 29% Darling Companion Original Music $793.4K 2012
84% 81% The Hunger Games Original Music $408.0M 2012
36% 41% Larry Crowne Original Music $35.6M 2011
25% 45% Green Lantern Original Music $116.6M 2011
60% 70% Water for Elephants Original Music $58.7M 2011
55% 54% Gnomeo & Juliet Original Music - 2011
45% 43% The Green Hornet Original Music $98.8M 2011
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gnomeo & Juliet Original Music - 2011
20% 42% The Tourist Original Music $67.6M 2010
49% 53% Love & Other Drugs Original Music $32.4M 2010
75% 55% Nanny McPhee Returns Original Music $29.0M 2010
62% 59% Salt Original Music - 2010
5% 30% The Last Airbender Original Music $131.6M 2010
65% 37% Duplicity Original Music $40.6M 2009
26% 49% Confessions of a Shopaholic Original Music $44.3M 2009
83% 74% Youssou N'Dour: I Bring What I Love Original Music $167.4K 2008
58% 72% Defiance Original Music $28.6M 2008
94% 94% The Dark Knight Original Music $2.0M 2008
17% 24% The Happening Original Music $64.5M 2008
22% 48% Mad Money Original Music $20.7M 2008
74% 62% The Water Horse: Legend of the Deep Original Music $40.4M 2007
80% 86% The Great Debaters Original Music $30.2M 2007
82% 73% Charlie Wilson's War Original Music $66.6M 2007
68% 68% I Am Legend Original Music $256.4M 2007
90% 69% Michael Clayton Original Music $49.0M 2007
87% 74% The Lookout Original Music $4.6M 2007
64% 90% Blood Diamond Original Music $57.4M 2006
25% 49% Lady in the Water Original Music $42.3M 2006
23% 45% RV Original Music $71.4M 2006
23% 25% Freedomland Original Music $12.5M 2006
85% 94% Batman Begins Original Music $206.9M 2005
57% 54% The Interpreter Original Music $72.5M 2005
43% 57% The Village Original Music $114.2M 2004
46% 65% Secret Window Original Music $47.8M 2004
46% 64% Hidalgo Original Music $67.3M 2004
77% 74% Peter Pan Original Music $48.4M 2003
28% 36% Dreamcatcher Original Music $33.7M 2003
14% 68% Unconditional Love Original Music - 2002
69% 72% Treasure Planet Original Music - 2002
50% 67% The Emperor's Club Original Music $14.1M 2002
75% 67% Signs Original Music $228.0M 2002
48% 54% Big Trouble Original Music $7.3M 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Treasure Planet Original Music - 2002
33% 40% America's Sweethearts Original Music $93.6M 2001
48% 55% Atlantis: The Lost Empire Original Music - 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Atlantis: The Lost Empire Original Music - 2001
49% 41% Vertical Limit Original Music $68.5M 2000
70% 77% Unbreakable Original Music $95.0M 2000
65% 48% Dinosaur Original Music $137.7M 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dinosaur Original Music - 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dinosaur Original Music - 2000
39% 67% Snow Falling on Cedars Original Music $14.4M 1999
58% 65% Mumford Original Music $4.6M 1999
68% 70% Stir of Echoes Original Music $21.1M 1999
86% 90% The Sixth Sense Original Music $293.5M 1999
46% 52% Runaway Bride Original Music $152.1M 1999
10% 26% Wing Commander Original Music $11.6M 1999
14% 51% The Postman Original Music $17.6M 1997
75% 66% Romy and Michele's High School Reunion Original Music $29.2M 1997
83% 75% Liar Liar Original Music $181.4M 1997
74% 73% My Best Friend's Wedding Original Music $126.8M 1997
63% 80% The Devil's Advocate Original Music $61.0M 1997
30% 38% Dante's Peak Original Music $67.2M 1997
73% 44% The Trigger Effect Original Music $3.6M 1996
44% 63% Space Jam Original Music $90.4M 1996
8% 55% Eye for an Eye Original Music $25.7M 1996
53% 65% One Fine Day Original Music $46.1M 1996
77% 89% Primal Fear Original Music $56.1M 1996
48% 75% French Kiss Original Music $36.4M 1995
59% 56% Outbreak Original Music $65.9M 1995
71% 58% Restoration Original Music $3.5M 1995
39% 22% Junior Original Music $36.7M 1994
31% 61% Wyatt Earp Original Music $24.6M 1994
5% 44% Major League II Original Music $29.4M 1994
95% 72% Dave Original Music $61.0M 1993
62% 68% Alive Original Music $36.3M 1993
80% 87% The Saint of Fort Washington Original Music $100.9K 1993
96% 89% The Fugitive Original Music $183.8M 1993
75% 84% Falling Down Original Music $40.4M 1993
63% 78% Diggstown Original Music $4.0M 1992
95% 88% Glengarry Glen Ross Original Music $10.7M 1992
86% 68% American Heart Original Music $107.9K 1992
57% 30% Night and the City Original Music $6.2M 1992
23% 28% King Ralph Original Music $31.3M 1991
68% 55% Guilty by Suspicion Original Music $8.4M 1991
68% 70% The Prince of Tides Original Music $72.0M 1991
55% 77% My Girl Original Music $60.2M 1991
25% 65% Dying Young Original Music $32.3M 1991
91% 85% The Man in the Moon Original Music $2.2M 1991
79% 70% Grand Canyon Original Music $32.3M 1991
64% 68% Pretty Woman Original Music $178.4M 1990
27% 50% Marked for Death Original Music $43.1M 1990
50% 59% Flatliners Original Music $58.7M 1990
25% 72% Coupe de Ville Original Music $592.1K 1990
68% 45% The Package Original Music $9.3M 1989
83% 84% Major League Original Music $49.8M 1989
45% 47% Everybody's All-American Original Music $12.6M 1988
43% 42% Some Girls Original Music $6.2K 1988
45% 32% Off Limits Original Music $6.9M 1988
78% 53% Five Corners Original Music $305.4K 1987
14% 42% Russkies Original Music $1.8M 1987
0% 39% 8 Million Ways to Die Original Music $1.3M 1986
0% 27% Head Office Original Music $3.4M 1986

TV

Credit
84% 65% Willow Original Music 2022-2023