Jean-Christophe Beck (born 1968) is a Canadian composer of film and television scores. He is best known for his collaborations with Disney and its subsidiaries, which include composing the soundtracks of The Muppets (2011) and Muppets Most Wanted (2014), Frozen (2013) and Frozen 2 (2019), the Marvel Cinematic Universe works Ant-Man (2015), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), WandaVision (2021), Hawkeye (2021), and Agatha All Along (2024).
He composed the scores for several of Shawn Levy's films, including Big Fat Liar (2002), Just Married (2003), Cheaper by the Dozen (2003), The Pink Panther (2006), The Internship (2013), and Free Guy (2021). He is also known for composing the scores of the The Hangover (2009-13) film series, the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spinoff Angel, and the Disney's 100th anniversary logo.
Beck won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) for his work on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and was nominated for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series or Movie for WandaVision. He is also a Grammy Award and a two-time Gemini Award nominee.
Early life Beck was born and raised in Montreal, Quebec. His younger brother, Jason (b. 1972) is a composer, pianist, and rapper under the stage name Chilly Gonzales.
Beck started piano lessons at the age of five, and by the time he turned eleven, he was learning Bee Gees songs by ear and performing with his first band, Newton Talks, who licensed a song to Hot Tub Time Machine. He attended Crescent School where he studied piano, saxophone, and drums. He wrote two musicals while studying music at Yale University.
Career
Upon graduation, Beck moved to Los Angeles to attend USC's film scoring program, where he studied with Jerry Goldsmith. A personal recommendation from Buddy Baker, then head of the USC Music Department, led to his first assignment for a Canadian TV series called White Fang. Several TV series later, he was asked to score the second season of the WB Network show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Beck received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for his score to the Buffy episode "Becoming, Part 1".
In 2000, the cheerleading comedy Bring It On launched Beck's film career. His credits include Under the Tuscan Sun, Edge of Tomorrow, Crazy, Stupid, Love, Pitch Perfect, and the Hangover trilogy. More recently, Beck scored the Oscar- and Grammy-winning animated film Frozen, and several installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). At the D23 Expo in 2022, it was announced that Beck had composed a new arrangement of "When You Wish Upon a Star" to accompany Disney's 100th anniversary logo, conducted by Tim Davies, which debuted ahead of the film Strange World.
Beck works out of his studio in Santa Monica, California.
Filmography Composer
Film YearTitleNotes1996CrossworldsPast PerfectMr. OctoberShort film1997Hostile IntentThe Alarmist1998StarstruckBone DaddyAirborneDog Park1999Thick as ThievesLet the Devil Wear BlackGuinevereComing Soon2000The Broken Hearts ClubBring It OnBig TimeShort film2001LightmakerThe Cutting RoomShort film2002Big Fat LiarThe Skulls IIInterstate 60Stealing HarvardThe Tuxedo2003Just MarriedThe EventConfidenceAmerican WeddingDickie Roberts: Former Child StarUnder the Tuscan SunCheaper by the Dozen2004Saved!The Skulls IIIGarfieldA Cinderella StoryLittle Black BookWithout a PaddleTaxi2005ElektraIce PrincessThe Perfect Man3 NeedlesTwo for the MoneyYours, Mine & Ours2006The Pink PantherThe SentinelGarfield: A Tail of Two KittiesZoomSchool for ScoundrelsWe Are Marshall2007Year of the DogCharlie BartlettLicense to WedThe Seeker: The Dark Is RisingFred Claus2008Phoebe in WonderlandDrillbit TaylorWhat Happens in Vegas2009The GreatestThe Pink Panther 2The HangoverI Love You, Beth CooperPost GradThe Marc Pease ExperienceAll About Steve2010Waiting for 'Superman'DocumentaryPercy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning ThiefHot Tub Time MachineDate NightDeath at a FuneralREDDue DateBurlesque2011Cedar RapidsThe Hangover Part IICrazy, Stupid, Love.Tower HeistThe MuppetsSongs by Bret McKenzie2012This Means WarThe Road We've TraveledDocumentary shortThe WatchPitch PerfectPapermanShort filmThe Guilt Trip2013Movie 43Segment: "Happy Birthday"Charlie CountrymanThe Hangover Part IIIThe InternshipR.I.P.D.Runner RunnerFrozenSongs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert LopezFirst score for a fully animated film2014Endless LoveMuppets Most WantedSongs by Bret McKenzieRed ArmyDocumentaryEdge of TomorrowLet's Be CopsGood KillCakeAlexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day2015Hot Tub Time Machine 2Frozen FeverShort filmGet HardHot PursuitAnt-ManThe Peanuts MovieSisters2016TrollsJuneShort film2017LouAn Ordinary ManA Symphony of HopeDocumentaryAmerican MadeOlaf's Frozen AdventureShort filmThe 12th Man2018GringoAnonAnt-Man and the WaspThe Christmas Chronicles2019WatsonDocumentaryFrozen 2Songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez2020 Like a Boss Once Upon a Snowman Short film The Christmas Chronicles 22021 Free Guy 2023 Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania Shazam! Fury of the Gods Nimona 2024 Road House Unfrosted The Instigators 2026 The Sheep Detectives
Television YearTitleNotes1993-94White Fang1995Land's End2 episodesPig Sty1 episode1996The Outer Limits1 episodeGood CompanySecond Noah5 episodes1996-97Two14 episodes1996-98F/X: The Series39 episodes1997Friends 'Til the EndTV film1997Killing Mr. GriffinTV film1997-98George & Leo7 episodes Spy Game13 episodes1997-2001Buffy the Vampire Slayer58 episodes1998Earthquake in New YorkTV film1999The Last WitnessTV film1999-2000Angel22 episodesThe Practice24 episodes2001Wolf GirlTV film2006Day Break1 episode 2012The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!1 episodeRogueTV filmLittle Brother201430 for 30: Soccer Stories1 episode 2019Frozen 2 - SAKS - Enchanted ForestSpecial2021 WandaVision Limited seriesOriginal themes by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Hawkeye Limited seriesComposed with Michael Paraskevas2024 Agatha All Along Limited seriesComposed with Michael ParaskevasOriginal songs by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez Music department YearWorkContributionNotesReference1990Jetsons: The Movie(orchestrator)1994Death Match(additional music programmer)(music scoring mixer)1995Pig Sty(composer)(lyrics)(TV series)Land's End(composer)1997The Alarmist(music producer: score)1998F/X: The Series(composer)(TV series)1999Let the Devil Wear Black(score produced by)Guinevere(score producer)2000Bring It On2001Buffy the Vampire Slayer(musical director)(song arranger)(song producer)(composer)(TV series)(Episode: "Once More, with Feeling")2002Interstate 60: Episodes of the Road(conductor: score)HBO First Look(musician)(TV Series documentary short)2003Confidence(conductor)(score producer)2004Saved!(score produced by)Without a Paddle(score producer)2006The Pink Panther(score producer)School for Scoundrels2007Day Break(composer)(TV series)Charlie Bartlett(score producer)2010Hot Tub Time Machine(score producer)2012Struck by Lightning(score produced by)2013Frozen(additional song orchestrator)2018BaseBoys(music)(TV series)2025Snow White(music consultant)
Soundtrack YearWorkJobNotesReference1997Nightwatch(performer: "Looking for James")(writer: "Looking for James")1999Coming Soon(performer: "Alive Again")(writer: "Alive Again")2000Buffy the Vampire Slayer(performer)(writer)(TV series)2002Slap Her, She's French!(writer: "The Beef Song")Big Fat Liar(writer: "Spanish Backlot")2003The Event(performer: "F**k You Very Much", "Mother", "Final Goodbye")(writer: "F**k You Very Much", "Mother", "Final Goodbye")Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star("Son Sueños")2005Wedding Crashers(writer: "Springtime" (2003))2006Click(writer: "Home 3")Employee of the Month(performer: "All About the Money")(writer: "All About the Money")2007Fred Claus(writer: "Kids Miss the Old Life", "Even the Dog Is Homesick")2008Phoebe in Wonderland(arranger: "Ninety Times Nine")2009Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts(performer: "Rave Opera") / (writer: "Rave Opera")(Video)2010Hot Tub Time Machine(writer: "Blind Man")Knight and Day(writer: "Dolby's Con")2012Think Like a Man(writer: "Jack and Ali")Atop the Fourth Wall("Close Your Eyes")(TV series)2013Frozen[producer: "Vuelie", "Heimr Àrnadalr" (uncredited), "Vuelie (Reprise)"][writer: "Vuelie", "Heimr Àrnadalr" (uncredited), "Vuelie (Reprise)"]2014The Amazing Spider-Man 2(writer: "Blind Man")(uncredited)The Judge(writer: "Rose Pregnant")2015Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip(writer: "Joy Steals Cab")2016Disney Magic Kingdoms(performer: "Elsa and Anna", "Epilogue")(writer: "Elsa and Anna", "Epilogue")(Video Game)Life Is(music: "Let It Glow")(Short)2018Ralph Breaks the Internet["The Great Thaw", "Vuelie (Reprise)"]2019The Grand Tour(writer: "Heading To The States")(uncredited)(TV series)Avengers: Endgame(writer: "Ant-Man Theme")Frozen 2(producer: "Vuelie")(writer: "Vuelie")2020Trolls World Tour(writer: "Trolls You Wanna Have Fun")
Appearances Uncredited actor YearTitleRoleRef.2000Buffy the Vampire SlayerPianist
As himself YearTitleNotesRef.2007Finding KraftlandDocumentary2009Le grand journal de Canal+TV series documentary2014Just Seen ItTV series2016Score: A Film Music DocumentaryDocumentary2017Original Motion Picture SoundtrackDocumentary2018Score: The PodcastTV series
Accolades
YearAwardCategoryWorkResultReference1998Emmy AwardOutstanding Music Composition for a Series (Dramatic Underscore)Buffy the Vampire SlayerFor episode: "Becoming: Part 1"Gemini AwardsBest Original Music Score for a Dramatic SeriesF/X: The SeriesFor episode "Quicksilver"F/X: The Series For episode "Requiem for a Cop"2000OFTA Television AwardBest New Theme Song in a SeriesAngel2002Emmy AwardOutstanding Music DirectionBuffy the Vampire SlayerFor episode "Once More, With Feeling"2006Stinker AwardMost Intrusive Musical ScoreZoom2007IFMCA AwardBest Original Score for a Comedy FilmThe Pink Panther2010HMMA AwardBest Original Score - Indie Film / Documentary / ShortWaiting for 'Superman'2011IFMCA AwardBest Original Score for a Documentary FilmSLFCA AwardBest MusicThe Muppets2012ASCAP AwardTop Box Office Films2013Awards Circuit Community AwardsBest Original ScoreFrozenICP AwardBest Original Score or SoundtrackPFCS AwardBest Original ScoreSLFCA AwardBest SoundtrackWAFCA AwardBest Original Score2014Annie AwardsOutstanding Achievement in Music in an Animated Feature ProductionDFCS AwardBest Original ScoreGold Derby AwardOriginal ScoreHMMA AwardBest Original Score - DocumentaryRed ArmyIFMCA AwardBest Original Score for an Animated FilmFrozen2015Grammy AwardsBest Score Soundtrack for Visual MediaHMMA AwardBest Original Score - Sci-Fi/Fantasy FilmAnt-Man2018Annie AwardsOutstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature ProductionOlaf's Frozen AdventureHMMA AwardBest Original Score - Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror FilmAnt-Man and the WaspKosmorama, Trondheim Internasjonale FilmfestivalBest MusicDen 12. mann2019HMMA AwardBest Original Score - Animated FilmFrozen 22020Annie AwardsOutstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature ProductionAwards Circuit Community AwardsBest Original ScoreIFMCA AwardBest Original Score for an Animated Film2021Emmy AwardOutstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score)WandaVision: Previously On
See also Music of the Marvel Cinematic Universe
References
External links
Biography