The Critics' Choice Award for Best Score (previously known as the Critics' Choice Award for Best Composer) is one of the Critics' Choice Awards given to people working in the film industry by the Critics Choice Association. It was first given out as a juried award from 1999 to 2001 and then competitively in 2002 onward.
Winners and nominees
1990s YearComposer(s)Film 1998 John Williams Saving Private Ryan 1999 Gabriel Yared The Talented Mr. Ripley
2000s YearComposer(s)Film(s) 2000 Hans Zimmer Gladiator, Mission: Impossible 2, and The Road to El Dorado 2001 Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring John Williams A.I. Artificial Intelligence and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Christopher Young The Shipping News 2002 John Williams Catch Me If You Can, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and Minority Report Philip Glass The Hours Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers 2003 Howard Shore The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Clint Eastwood Mystic River Danny Elfman Big Fish Gabriel Yared Cold Mountain Hans Zimmer The Last Samurai 2004 Howard Shore The Aviator Michael Giacchino The Incredibles Rolfe Kent Sideways 2005 John Williams Memoirs of a Geisha James Horner The New World Gustavo Santaolalla Brokeback Mountain Nancy Wilson Elizabethtown 2006 Philip Glass The Illusionist Clint Mansell The Fountain Thomas Newman The Good German Gustavo Santaolalla Babel Howard Shore The Departed Hans Zimmer The Da Vinci Code 2007 Jonny Greenwood There Will Be Blood Marco Beltrami 3:10 to Yuma Alexandre Desplat Lust, Caution (Se, jie) Clint Eastwood Grace Is Gone Dario Marianelli Atonement Alan Menken Enchanted 2008 A. R. Rahman Slumdog Millionaire Alexandre Desplat The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Clint Eastwood Changeling Danny Elfman Milk James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer The Dark Knight 2009 Michael Giacchino Up Carter Burwell and Karen O Where the Wild Things Are Marvin Hamlisch The Informant! Randy Newman The Princess and the Frog Hans Zimmer Sherlock Holmes
2010s YearComposer(s)Film 2010 Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross The Social Network Carter Burwell True Grit Alexandre Desplat The King's Speech Clint Mansell Black Swan Hans Zimmer Inception 2011 Ludovic Bource The Artist Cliff Martinez Drive Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo Howard Shore Hugo John Williams War Horse 2012 John Williams Lincoln Mychael Danna Life of Pi Alexandre Desplat Argo Moonrise Kingdom Jonny Greenwood The Master 2013 Steven Price Gravity Arcade Fire Her Thomas Newman Saving Mr. Banks Hans Zimmer 12 Years a Slave 2014 Antonio Sánchez Birdman Alexandre Desplat The Imitation Game Jóhann Jóhannsson The Theory of Everything Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Gone Girl Hans Zimmer Interstellar 2015 Ennio Morricone The Hateful Eight Carter Burwell Carol Jóhann Jóhannsson Sicario Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto The Revenant Howard Shore Spotlight 2016 Justin Hurwitz La La Land Nicholas Britell Moonlight Jóhann Jóhannsson Arrival Mica Levi Jackie Dustin O'Halloran and Hauschka Lion 2017 Alexandre Desplat The Shape of Water Jonny Greenwood Phantom Thread Dario Marianelli Darkest Hour Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer Blade Runner 2049 John Williams The Post Hans Zimmer Dunkirk 2018 Justin Hurwitz First Man Kris Bowers Green Book Nicholas Britell If Beale Street Could Talk Alexandre Desplat Isle of Dogs Ludwig Göransson Black Panther Marc Shaiman Mary Poppins Returns 2019 Hildur Guðnadóttir Joker Michael Abels Us Alexandre Desplat Little Women Randy Newman Marriage Story Thomas Newman 1917 Robbie Robertson The Irishman
2020s YearComposer(s)Film 2020 Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, and Atticus Ross Soul Alexandre Desplat The Midnight Sky Ludwig Göransson Tenet James Newton Howard News of the World Emile Mosseri Minari Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Mank 2021 Hans Zimmer Dune Nicholas Britell Don't Look Up Jonny Greenwood The Power of the Dog Spencer Nathan Johnson Nightmare Alley 2022 Hildur Guðnadóttir Tár Alexandre Desplat Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio Michael Giacchino The Batman Hildur Guðnadóttir Women Talking Justin Hurwitz Babylon John Williams The Fabelmans2023 Ludwig Göransson Oppenheimer Jerskin Fendrix Poor ThingsMichael GiacchinoSociety of the SnowDaniel PembertonSpider-Man: Across the Spider-VerseRobbie Robertson (posthumous)Killers of the Flower MoonMark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt Barbie2024 Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Challengers Volker Bertelmann ConclaveDaniel BlumbergThe BrutalistKris BowersThe Wild RobotClément Ducol and CamilleEmilia PérezHans Zimmer Dune: Part Two2025 Ludwig GöranssonSinners Alexandre DesplatFrankensteinJonny GreenwoodOne Battle After AnotherDaniel LopatinMarty SupremeMax RichterHamnetHans Zimmer F1
Multiple winners
4 wins John Williams
3 wins Trent Reznor Atticus Ross Howard Shore (2 consecutive)
2 wins Ludwig Göransson Hildur Guðnadóttir Justin Hurwitz Hans Zimmer
Multiple nominations (3 or more)
12 nominations Alexandre Desplat
11 nominations Hans Zimmer
8 nominations John Williams
7 nominations Howard Shore
6 nominations Jonny Greenwood
4 nominations Michael Giacchino Ludwig Göransson Trent Reznor Atticus Ross
3 nominations Nicholas Britell Carter Burwell Clint Eastwood Hildur Guðnadóttir Justin Hurwitz Jóhann Jóhannsson Thomas Newman
See also BAFTA Award for Best Original Music Academy Award for Best Original Score Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Grammy Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media
References