Hans Zimmer

German film composer (born 1957)

Hans Florian Zimmer (born 12 September 1957) is a German movie score composer and music producer. He has written music for over 100 movies.

Hans Zimmer
Hans Zimmer receiving his star at the
Hollywood Walk of Fame (2010)
Background information
Birth nameHans Florian Zimmer
Born (1957-09-12) 12 September 1957 (age 66)
Frankfurt am Main, Germany
GenresMovie score, Video game music
Occupation(s)Composer
InstrumentsPiano, Keyboard, MIDI Master Keyboard, Synthesizer, Guitar
Years active1977–present
Websitewww.hanszimmer.com

His works include The Lion King (1994), Crimson Tide (1995), Gladiator (2000), Batman Begins (2005), The Dark Knight (2008), Inception (2010), Rango (2011), The Dark Knight Rises (2012), Man of Steel (2013), The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Dunkirk (2017), Widows (2018) and The Lion King (2019).

His most recent work was No Time to Die (2021), Wonder Woman 1984 (2021) and Dune (2021), for which he won another Academy Award.

Career change

Zimmer spent the early part of his career in the United Kingdom before moving to the United States. Before becoming known as a film score composer, he wrote commercial jingles and was even part of the band The Buggles, known for their 1979 one-hit "Video Killed the Radio Star".[1] He is in charge of the movie music division at DreamWorks studios. He also works with other composers through the company he founded, Remote Control Productions.[2]

Zimmer's works are notable for combining electronic music sounds with traditional orchestral arrangements. He has been given four Grammy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, a Classical BRIT Award, and an Academy Award. He was also named on the list of Top 100 Living Geniuses, published by The Daily Telegraph.[3]

In 2000, Zimmer's score for Gladiator became one of the best selling movie score albums of all time.[4] He also composed video game scores such as Call of Duty and Fortnite.

Discography change

As actor change

Feature films change

1980s change
Year Title Director Role Notes
1987 The Brave Little Toaster Jerry Rees Additional voices
1988 Who Framed Roger Rabbit Robert Zemeckis
Oliver & Company George Scribner
1989 The Little Mermaid Ron Clements
John Musker
1990s change
Year Title Director Role Notes
1990 The Rescuers Down Under Hendel Butoy
Mike Gabriel
Additional voices
1991 Beauty and the Beast Gary Trousdale
Kirk Wise
An American Tail: Fievel Goes West Phil Nibbelink
Simon Wells
1992 Aladdin John Musker
Ron Clements
1994 The Lion King Roger Allers
Rob Minkoff
North Rob Reiner
1995 Forget Paris Billy Crystal
Pocahontas Mike Gabriel
Eric Goldberg
The Run of the Country Peter Yates
Toy Story John Lasseter
1996 City Hall Harold Becker
The Hunchback of Notre Dame Gary Trousdale
Kirk Wise
1997 Cats Don't Dance Mark Dindal
Hercules Ron Clements
John Musker
1998 Quest for Camelot Frederik Du Chau
Mulan Barry Cook
Tony Bancroft
Antz Eric Darnell
Tim Johnson
The Lion King II: Simba's Pride Darrell Rooney
A Bug's Life John Lasseter Male Ants
The Prince of Egypt Brenda Chapman
Steve Hickner
Simon Wells
Additional voices
1999 Doug's 1st Movie Maurice Joyce
Tarzan Kevin Lima
Chris Buck
The Iron Giant Brad Bird Jim the Soldier, General Rogard's Army
The Story of Us Rob Reiner Additional voices
Toy Story 2 John Lasseter
2000s change
Year Title Director Role Notes
2000 The Tigger Movie Jun Falkenstein
Andrew Stanton
Additional voices
An Extremely Goofy Movie Ian Harrowell
Douglas McCarthy
Titan A.E. Don Bluth
Gary Goldman
Chicken Run Peter Lord
Nick Park
102 Dalmatians Kevin Lima
The Emperor's New Groove Mark Dindal
2001 Recess: School's Out Chuck Sheetz
Shrek Andrew Adamson
Vicky Jenson
Atlantis: The Lost Empire Gary Trousdale
Kirk Wise
Osmosis Jones Animation:
Tom Sito
Piet Kroon
Live-action:
Bobby Farrelly
Peter Farrelly
Monsters, Inc. Pete Docter
David Silverman
2002 Cinderella II: Dreams Come True John Kafka Direct-to-video
Ice Age Chris Wedge
Lilo & Stitch Chris Sanders
Dean DeBlois
Spirited Away Hayao Miyazaki Fire Chief
Treasure Planet Ron Clements
John Musker
Male Alien #2, Pirates
2003 Piglet's Big Movie Francis Glebas Additional voices
Finding Nemo Andrew Stanton
Brother Bear Aaron Blaise
Robert Walker
2004 Teacher's Pet Timothy Björklund
Home on the Range Will Finn
John Sanford
The Incredibles Brad Bird
2005 Pooh's Heffalump Movie Frank Nissen Direct-to-video
Robots Chris Wedge
Madagascar Eric Darnell
Tom McGrath
Pooh's Heffalump Halloween Movie Elliot M. Bour
Chicken Little Mark Dindal
2006 Curious George Matthew O'Callaghan
Ice Age: The Meltdown Carlos Saldanha
Cars John Lasseter
2010s change
Year Title Director Role Notes
2018 Early Man Nick Park Additional voices
Incredibles 2 Brad Bird

Television change

Year Title Role Notes
1999-2003 Mona the Vampire Additional voices
2003-2004 Caillou Additional voices 5 episodes

As composer change

Feature films change

1980s change
Year Title Director Studio / Publisher Notes
1982 Moonlighting Jerzy Skolimowski Miracle Films Composed with Stanley Myers
1984 Success Is the Best Revenge Gaumont Film Company
Story of O – Chapter 2 Éric Rochat Cannon Film Distributors
1985 My Beautiful Laundrette Stephen Frears Working Title Films
Channel Four Films
Insignificance Nicolas Roeg Recorded Picture Company
Zenith Productions
1986 The Zero Boys Nico Mastorakis Omega Entertainment
Separate Vacations Michael Anderson Alliance Communications
Playboy Productions
1987 Terminal Exposure Nico Mastorakis Omega Entertainment
Nightmare at Noon
The Wind
The Nature of the Beast Franco Rosso Channel Four Films
Cannon Film Distributors
1988 The Fruit Machine Philip Saville Film4 Productions
Cannon Films
A World Apart Chris Menges Atlantic Releasing Corporation
Taffin Francis Megahy Vestron Pictures
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
United Artists
Composed with Stanley Myers
Paperhouse Bernard Rose Working Title Films
Vestron Pictures
Rain Man Barry Levinson Barris Industries
Guber-Peters Company
United Artists
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominated–Academy Award for Best Original Score
Burning Secret Andrew Birkin Vestron Pictures
1989 Twister Michael Almereyda
Black Rain Ridley Scott Paramount Pictures 1st of 9 collaborations with R. Scott
Diamond Skulls Nick Broomfield Film4 Productions
Working Title Films
Driving Miss Daisy Bruce Beresford The Zanuck Company
Warner Bros. Pictures
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media
1990s change
Year Title Director Studio / Publisher Notes
1990 Chicago Joe and the Showgirl Bernard Rose LIVE Entertainment
PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Working Title Films
New Line Cinema
Bird on a Wire John Badham Interscope Communications
Universal Pictures
Fools of Fortune Pat O'Connor Channel Four Films
Days of Thunder Tony Scott Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Paramount Pictures
1st of 4 collaborations with T. Scott
Pacific Heights John Schlesinger Morgan Creek Productions
20th Century Fox
(Theatrical)
Sony Pictures
(Home media)
Green Card Peter Weir Umbrella Entertainment
Touchstone Pictures
1991 Backdraft Ron Howard Imagine Entertainment
Universal Pictures
1st of 8 collaborations with Howard
Thelma & Louise Ridley Scott Pathé
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Nominated–BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Regarding Henry Mike Nichols Paramount Pictures
Where Sleeping Dogs Lie Charles Finch August Entertainment
Columbia TriStar
Composed with Mark Mancina
K2 Franc Roddam Paramount Pictures Composed with Chaz Jankel
1992 Radio Flyer Richard Donner Columbia Pictures
The Power of One John G. Avildsen Regency Enterprises
Le Studio Canal+
Village Roadshow Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures
A League of Their Own Penny Marshall Columbia Pictures
Toys Barry Levinson Baltimore Pictures
20th Century Fox
Composed with Trevor Horn
Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Music
1993 Point of No Return John Badham Warner Bros. Pictures Composed with Nick Glennie-Smith
Younger and Younger Percy Adlon Transmundo Films
Calendar Girl John Whitesell Columbia Pictures
True Romance Tony Scott Morgan Creek Productions
Davis Films
Warner Bros. Pictures
Cool Runnings Jon Turteltaub Walt Disney Pictures
The House of the Spirits Bille August Constantin Film
Miramax Films
1994 I'll Do Anything James L. Brooks Gracie Films
Columbia Pictures
1st of 4 collaborations with Brooks
Renaissance Man Penny Marshall Cinergi Pictures
Touchstone Pictures
The Lion King Roger Allers
Rob Minkoff
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Walt Disney Pictures
Original songs by Elton John & Tim Rice
Academy Award for Best Original Score
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated–BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Arrangement, Instrumental and Vocals
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Musical Album for Children
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Drop Zone John Badham Paramount Pictures
1995 Crimson Tide Tony Scott Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Hollywood Pictures
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Music
Beyond Rangoon John Boorman Castle Rock Entertainment
Columbia Pictures
Nine Months Chris Columbus 1492 Pictures
20th Century Fox
Something to Talk About Lasse Hallström Warner Bros. Pictures Composed with Graham Preskett
Two Deaths Nicolas Roeg Castle Hill
1996 The Whole Wide World Dan Ireland Sony Pictures Classics
The Kushner-Locke Company
Cineville
with Harry Gregson-Williams
Broken Arrow John Woo 20th Century Fox
Muppet Treasure Island Brian Henson Jim Henson Productions
Walt Disney Pictures
Original songs by Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil
The Rock Michael Bay Don Simpson/Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Hollywood Pictures
1st of 6 collaborations with Bay
Composed with Nick Glennie-Smith & Harry Gregson-Williams
Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Music
The Fan Tony Scott Mandalay Entertainment
Scott Free Productions
TriStar Pictures
The Preacher's Wife Penny Marshall The Samuel Goldwyn Company
Touchstone Pictures
Nominated–Academy Award for Best Original Score
1997 Smilla's Sense of Snow Bille August Bavaria Film
Constantin Film
Det Danske Filminstitut
Greenland Film Production
Nordisk Film
with Harry Gregson-Williams
The Peacemaker Mimi Leder DreamWorks Pictures
As Good as It Gets James L. Brooks Gracie Films
TriStar Pictures
Nominated–Academy Award for Best Original Score
1998 The Last Days James Moll October Films Documentary film
The Prince of Egypt Simon Wells
Brenda Chapman
Steve Hickner
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Original songs by Stephen Schwartz
Nominated–Academy Award for Best Original Score
Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
The Thin Red Line Terrence Malick Phoenix Pictures
20th Century Fox
Nominated–Academy Award for Best Original Score
1999 The Iron Giant Brad Bird Warner Bros. Feature Animation
Warner Bros.
His first score for an animated movie.
Performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra.
Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
Chill Factor Hugh Johnson Morgan Creek Productions
Warner Bros. Pictures
Composed with John Powell
2000s change
Year Title Director Studio / Publisher Notes
2000 An Everlasting Piece Barry Levinson DreamWorks Pictures (US)
Columbia Pictures (International)
Mission: Impossible II John Woo Cruise/Wagner Productions
Paramount Pictures
Gladiator Ridley Scott Scott Free Productions
Red Wagon Entertainment
DreamWorks Pictures (US)
Universal Pictures (International)
Composed with Lisa Gerrard
Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated–Academy Award for Best Original Score
Nominated–BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Music
The Road to El Dorado Eric "Bibo" Bergeron
Don Paul
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Composed with John Powell
Nominated–Annie Award Outstanding Individual Achievement for Music in an Animated Feature Production
Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Music
The Luke Movie Brad Bird Warner Bros. Family Entertainment His first and only score for an animated movie. Performed by the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Soundtrack released by Varèse Sarabande.
Logan and Luke
2001 Black Hawk Down Ridley Scott Revolution Studios
Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Scott Free Productions
Columbia Pictures
Riding in Cars with Boys Penny Marshall Gracie Films
Columbia Pictures
Pearl Harbor Michael Bay Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Touchstone Pictures
Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Hannibal Ridley Scott Dino De Laurentiis Company
Scott Free Productions
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Universal Pictures
Invincible Werner Herzog Channel Four Films (UK)
Fine Line Features (US)
Composed with Klaus Badelt
The Pledge Sean Penn Franchise Pictures
Morgan Creek Productions
Warner Bros.
2002 Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron Kelly Asbury
Lorna Cook
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Features lyrics and vocals by Bryan Adams
Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
The Ring Gore Verbinski DreamWorks Pictures 1st of 7 collaborations with Verbinski
Nominated–Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Score
2003 The Last Samurai Edward Zwick Radar Pictures
The Bedford Falls Company
Cruise/Wagner Productions
Warner Bros.
Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Something's Gotta Give Nancy Meyers Columbia Pictures (US)
Warner Bros. (International)
Matchstick Men Ridley Scott ImageMovers
Scott Free Productions
Saturn Films
Warner Bros.
Tears of the Sun Antoine Fuqua Revolution Studios
Cheyenne Enterprises
Columbia Pictures
2004 Spanglish James L. Brooks Gracie Films
Columbia Pictures
Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Laura's Star Piet De Rycker Warner Bros. Family Entertainment Composed with Nick Glennie-Smith & Henning Lohner
Shark Tale Vicky Jenson
Bibo Bergeron
Rob Letterman
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
King Arthur Antoine Fuqua Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Touchstone Pictures
Thunderbirds Jonathan Frakes StudioCanal
Working Title Films
Universal Pictures
2005 The Weather Man Gore Verbinski Escape Artists
Paramount Pictures
Composed with James S. Levine
Der kleine Eisbär 2 – Die geheimnisvolle Insel Piet De Rycker Rothkirch Cartoon Film
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Composed with Nick Glennie-Smith
Madagascar Eric Darnell
Tom McGrath
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
1st of 3 collaborations with Darnell
1st of 5 collaborations with McGrath
Nominated–Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production

Replaced Harry Gregson-Williams

Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit Nick Park
Steve Box
DreamWorks Animation
Aardman Animation
DreamWorks Pictures
Composed with Julian Nott
Batman Begins Christopher Nolan DC Comics
Syncopy Inc.
Legendary Pictures
Warner Bros.
1st of 7 collaborations with Nolan
1st superhero film
Composed with James Newton Howard
Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Music
2006 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Gore Verbinski Jerry Bruckheimer Films
Walt Disney Pictures
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Da Vinci Code Ron Howard Imagine Entertainment
Rainmaker Digital Effects
Columbia Pictures
Nominated–Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated–Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
The Holiday Nancy Meyers Relativity Media
Waverly Films
Columbia Pictures (US)
Universal Pictures (International)
Composed with Heitor Pereira

Short films change

Year Title Director Studio / Publisher Notes
1986 Vardo Matthew Jacobs
1990 Arcadia Paul Bamborough Channel Four Films
Working Title Films
1991 To the Moon, Alice Jessie Nelson Chanticleer Films
2008 Secrets of the Furious Five Raman Hui DreamWorks Animation Composed with Henry Jackman & John Powell
Annie Award for Best Music in an Animated Television Production or Short Form
2011 Megamind: The Button of Doom Simon J. Smith DreamWorks Animation
Pacific Data Images
Composed with Lorne Balfe
Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters Tony Leondis DreamWorks Animation Composed with Lorne Balfe & John Powell
2012 The Longest Daycare David Silverman Gracie Films
Film Roman
20th Century Fox
The Simpsons animated short
Composed with James Dooley
2016 Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Scroll Rodolphe Guenoden DreamWorks Animation Composed with Lorne Balfe & John Powell

Television change

Year Title Network Notes
1985 Wild Horses CBS Television film
1987 Comeback ITV Yorkshire
Going for Gold[5] BBC With Sandy McClelland
1988 First Born BBC Miniseries
1992 Millennium: Tribal Wisdom and the Modern World BBC
Global Television Network
1993 Lifepod FOX Television film
Theme music only
Score composed by Mark Mancina
19931994 Space Rangers CBS Theme music only
Score composed by Mark Mancina and John Van Tongeren
19941995 The Critic Columbia Pictures Television
Gracie Films
ABC
FOX
Theme music only
Score composed by Alf Clausen
20002001 Die Motorrad-Cops – Hart am Limit [de] RTL Group Theme music only
Score composed by Matthias Weber, Justin Burnett, James S. Levine & Geoff Zanelli
2010 The Pacific HBO
DreamWorks
Playtone
Miniseries
Theme music only
Score composed by Geoff Zanelli & Blake Neely
Nominated–Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special
20112016 Through the Wormhole Revelations Entertainment
Discovery Communications
Documentary series
Theme music only
with Jacob Shea
2011 Curiosity Documentary series; 1 episode
2013 The Bible Lightworkers Media
History
Miniseries
Composed with Lisa Gerrard & Lorne Balfe
2015 Premier Boxing Champions Boxing program
Sons of Liberty A&E Networks
History
Miniseries
Theme music only
Score composed by Lorne Balfe
A.D. The Bible Continues NBC Music director only
Score composed by Lorne Balfe
2016 Planet Earth II BBC Documentary series; 6 episodes
Composed with Jasha Klebe & Jacob Shea
Nominated–BAFTA Award for Best Original Music
The Crown Sony Pictures Television
Left Bank Pictures
Netflix
Theme music only
Score composed by Rupert Gregson-Williams
2017 Genius National Geographic Theme music only
Score composed by Lorne Balfe
Nominated–Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music
Blue Planet II BBC Documentary series; 7 episodes
Composed with David Fleming & Jacob Shea
2018 Believer[6] HBO Documentary film
Composed with Dan Reynolds
2019 Seven Worlds, One Planet BBC Documentary series; 7 episodes
Composed with Jacob Shea

Influences change

Zimmer stated composers like Ennio Morricone, Carter Burwell, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, György Ligeti, Edward Elgar, Richard Wagner, Stanley Myers, Trevor Horn, Jerry Goldsmith, Lalo Schifrin, Alfred Newman, Elmer Bernstein, Bernard Herrmann, John Williams, Maurice Jarre, Robert Schumann, Johannes Brahms, Joseph Joachim, Max Steiner, Charles Munch, Hector Berlioz, Franz Waxman, Pyotr Tchaikovsky, John Barry, Ludwig Von Beethoven, James Horner, Michael Kamen and Michael Nyman as influences.

References change

  1. "Hans Zimmer Biography". Concerty.com.
  2. "Hans Zimmer". Filmtracks. Retrieved 2009-09-13.
  3. "Top 100 living geniuses". Telegraph.co.uk. 2007-10-30. Retrieved 2011-01-02.
  4. "Filmtracks: Hans Zimmer". Filmtracks.com. Retrieved September 22, 2013.
  5. "Talking Shop: Hans Zimmer". July 28, 2008 – via news.bbc.co.uk.
  6. Sterling, Scott (January 3, 2018). "Imagine Dragons Documentary Coming To HBO". Radio.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2018. Retrieved January 3, 2018.

Other websites change

  Media related to Hans Zimmer at Wikimedia Commons