Hans Zimmer is a German film composer and record producer. Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades, including two Academy Awards (out of twelve nominations), a BAFTA Award, two Critics' Choice Movie Award, three Golden Globe Awards, five Grammy Awards as well as nominations for eight Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award.
His first Academy Award nomination came in 1988 for his work in Barry Levinson's drama film Rain Man. In 1994, he scored the animated film The Lion King, for which he won his first Academy Award. He also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score and two Grammy Awards, Best Musical Album for Children for the film's soundtrack and Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals for the song "Circle of Life". He also received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Original Score for the musical based on the film.
In 2000, he scored Ridley Scott's historical drama Gladiator alongside Lisa Gerrard. For the film, he received nominations for the Academy Awards, BAFTA Awards and won the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Composer, as well as his second Golden Globe Award. In 2008, he collaborated with James Newton Howard for Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight; their work received several nominations and won a Classical Brit Award and a Grammy Award. He continued collaborating with Nolan, scoring Inception (2009), Interstellar (2014) and Dunkirk (2017); the films gave Zimmer his ninth, tenth and eleventh Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score.
Zimmer has also collaborated with Steve McQueen, in 12 Years a Slave (2013), and Widows (2018), receiving Golden Globe nominations for both films. In 2017, he scored Denis Villeneuve's Blade Runner 2049 alongside Benjamin Wallfisch, receiving a BAFTA Award nomination for the film. In 2019, Zimmer scored the 2019 remake of The Lion King, receiving two Grammy Award nominations. In 2021, he collaborated again with Villeneuve in Dune. For his work, he won various awards from critics associations, including his second Academy Award and his first BAFTA Award; he was also nominated for a Grammy Award.
Major associations Academy Awards The Academy Awards are a set of awards given by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences annually for excellence of cinematic achievements. Zimmer has won twice out of twelve nominations.
Year Category Nominated work Result 1989 Best Original Score Rain Man 1995 The Lion King 1997 The Preacher's Wife 1998 As Good as It Gets 1999 The Prince of Egypt (shared with Stephen Schwartz) The Thin Red Line 2001 Gladiator 2010 Sherlock Holmes 2011 Inception 2015 Interstellar 2018 Dunkirk 2022 Dune
BAFTA Awards The British Academy Film Award is an annual award show presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. The British Academy Television Craft Awards is an annual award show presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to recognize the best in crafts for television productions. The British Academy Games Awards is an annual award show presented by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts to recognize the best in the video game industry.
Year Category Nominated work Result British Academy Film Awards 1992 Best Original Film Score Thelma & Louise 1995 Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music The Lion King 2001 Gladiator (shared with Lisa Gerrard) 2009 Best Music The Dark Knight (shared with James Newton Howard) 2011 Best Original Music Inception 2014 12 Years a Slave 2015 Interstellar 2018 Blade Runner 2049 (shared with Benjamin Wallfisch) Dunkirk 2022 Dune British Academy Television Awards 2017 Best Original Music Planet Earth II (shared with Jacob Shea and Jasha Klebe) British Academy Games Awards 2009 Best Original Score Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (shared with Lorne Balfe)
Emmy Awards The Primetime Emmy Awards are presented annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, also known as the Television Academy, to recognize and honor achievements in the television industry.
Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 2010 Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie, or a Special The Pacific: Part 10 (shared with Blake Neely and Geoff Zanelli) 2017 Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music Genius (shared with Lorne Balfe) 2023 Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) Prehistoric Planet: Badlands (shared with Anže Rozman and Kara Talve) 2024 Planet Earth III: Extremes (shared with Jacob Shea and Sara Barone) Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited or Anthology Series, Movie or Special (Original Dramatic Score) The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Episode 1 (shared with Kara Talve) Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics "Love Will Survive" from The Tattooist of Auschwitz: Episode 6 (shared with Kara Talve, Walter Afanasieff and Charlie Midnight) 2025 Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score) The Americas: Andes (shared with Anže Rozman and Kara Talve) 2026 Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary/Nonfiction or Reality Program (Original Dramatic Score) Prehistoric Planet: Ice Age: The Big Freeze (shared with Anže Rozman and Kara Talve)
Golden Globe Awards The Golden Globe Award is an accolade bestowed by the 93 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) recognizing excellence in film and television, both domestic and foreign.
Year Category Nominated work Result 1995 Best Original Score The Lion King 1999 The Prince of Egypt (shared with Stephen Schwartz) 2001 Gladiator (shared with Lisa Gerrard) 2002 Pearl Harbor 2003 Best Original Song "Here I Am" from Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron (shared with Gretchen Peters and Bryan Adams) 2004 Best Original Score The Last Samurai 2005 Spanglish 2007 The Da Vinci Code 2009 Frost/Nixon 2011 Inception 2014 12 Years a Slave 2015 Interstellar 2017 Hidden Figures (shared with Pharrell Williams and Benjamin Wallfisch) 2018 Dunkirk 2022 Dune 2025Dune: Part Two
Grammy Awards The Grammy Award is an annual award show presented by The Recording Academy. Year Category Nominated work Result 1991 Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Driving Miss Daisy (End Titles) 1995 The Lion King Best Musical Album for Children Best Instrumental Arrangement with Accompanying Vocals "Circle of Life" (shared with Lebo M) 1996 Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television Crimson Tide 2000 Best Soundtrack Album The Prince of Egypt 2001 Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Gladiator (shared with Lisa Gerrard) 2007 The Da Vinci Code Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 2009 The Dark Knight (shared with James Newton Howard) 2011 Inception Sherlock Holmes 2012 The Dark Knight Rises 2016 Interstellar 2018 Dunkirk Hidden Figures (shared with Pharrell Williams and Benjamin Wallfisch) 2019 Blade Runner 2049 2020 The Lion King Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media 2022 Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media Dune 2023 No Time to Die Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media Top Gun: Maverick 2025 Best Score Soundtrack Album for Visual Media Dune: Part Two Best Song Written for Visual Media "Love Will Survive"
Tony Awards The Tony Awards are presented annually by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League to recognize the excellence in live Broadway theatre.
Year Category Nominated work Result 1998 Best Original Score The Lion King (shared with Elton John, Tim Rice, Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin and Julie Taymor)
Miscellaneous awards Annie Awards The Annie Awards are presented annually by ASIFA-Hollywood to recognize excellence in animation.
Year Category Nominated work Result 2000 Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production The Road to El Dorado (shared with Elton John, Tim Rice and John Powell) 2005 Madagascar 2008 Kung Fu Panda (shared with John Powell) Outstanding Achievement for Music in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production Secrets of the Furious Five (shared with Henry Jackman and John Powell) 2010 Kung Fu Panda Holiday (shared with Henry Jackman and John Powell) 2016 Outstanding Achievement for Music in a Feature Production The Little Prince (shared with Richard Harvey and Camille)
Classic Brit Awards The Classic Brit Awards are presented by the British Phonographic Industry.
Year Category Nominated work Result 2001 Album of the Year Gladiator (shared with Lisa Gerrard) 2009 The Dark Knight (shared with James Newton Howard) 2013 Composer of the Year Himself Outstanding Contribution to Music
Critics' Choice Movie Awards The Critics' Choice Movie Awards are presented annually since 1995 by the Broadcast Film Critics Association for outstanding achievements in the cinema industry.
Year Category Nominated work Result 2000 Best Score Gladiator (shared with Lisa Gerrard)The Road to El Dorado 2003 The Last Samurai 2006 The Da Vinci Code 2008 The Dark Knight (shared with James Newton Howard) 2009 Sherlock Holmes 2010 Inception 2013 12 Years of Slave 2014 Interstellar 2017 Blade Runner 2049 (shared with Benjamin Wallfisch) Dunkirk 2021 Dune 2024Dune: Part Two
Hollywood Music in Media Awards The Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) in an organization that honours the best in original music for media.
Year Category Nominated work Result 2010 Best Original Score in a Feature Film Inception 2014 Interstellar 2016 Best Original Score in an Animated Film The Little Prince (shared with Richard Harvey) Best Main Title Theme – TV Show/Digital Streaming Series The Crown Best Song/Score - Mobile Video Game Ngame (shared with Lorne Balfe) 2017 Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Horror Film Blade Runner 2049 (shared with Benjamin Wallfisch) Best Main Title Theme – TV Show/Limited Series Genius (shared with Lorne Balfe) Best Original Score in an Animated Film The Boss Baby (shared with Steve Mazzaro) 2018 Best Original Score in a Feature Film Widows 2019 Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film Dark Phoenix 2020 Wonder Woman 1984 Best Original Song/Score — Trailer Dune (shared with Stephanie Koury and Roger Waters) Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series "Out There" from Seven Worlds, One Planet (shared with Christopher Braide and Sia) 2021 Best Original Score in a Feature Film No Time to Die Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film Dune 2022 Best Original Song/Score — Documentary Series - TV/Digital Prehistoric Planet Best Original Song/Score — Trailer "Take Me Back Home" from Frozen Planet II Best Soundtrack Album Top Gun: Maverick 2024 Best Original Score in a Feature Film Blitz Best Original Score in a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film Dune: Part Two Best Original Score in a TV Show/Limited Series The Tattooist of Auschwitz Best Original Song in a TV Show/Limited Series "Love Will Survive" from The Tattooist of Auschwitz Best Original Song/Score – Mobile Video Game Call of Duty: Mobile
Saturn Awards The Saturn Awards are presented by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films.
Year Category Nominated work Result 1992 Best Music Toys (shared with Trevor Horn) 1995 Crimson Tide 1996 The Rock (shared with Nick Glennie-Smith and Harry Gregson-Williams) 1998 The Prince of Egypt 2000 Gladiator (shared with Lisa Gerrard) The Road to El Dorado (shared with John Powell) 2005 Batman Begins (shared with James Newton Howard) 2008 The Dark Knight (shared with James Newton Howard) 2009 Sherlock Holmes 2010 Inception 2012 The Dark Knight Rises 2014 Interstellar 2025 Dune: Part Two
Satellite Awards The Satellite Awards are a set of annual awards given by the International Press Academy.