Academy Award for Best Original Score

Academy Award for Best Original Score
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Name	Academy Award for Best Original Score
Awarded for	Achievement in creating an original musical score for a film
Presenter	Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Country	United States
Year	1935
Year2	2024

Academy Award for Best Original Score is one of the Academy Awards presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize outstanding achievement in composing an original musical score for a film. First introduced at the 7th Academy Awards in 1935, it honors the composer's contribution to the cinematic experience through music. The award has undergone several name changes and category splits throughout its history, reflecting the evolving nature of film music.

History and background

The award was first presented at the 7th Academy Awards for films released in 1934, with the initial award for "Best Scoring" won by Louis Silvers for Columbia Pictures' *One Night of Love*. Early ceremonies often combined original scores with adaptations or musicals under a single category. Significant restructuring occurred in the late 1990s, leading to the separation of awards for original dramatic scores and original musical or comedy scores between the 70th and 80th ceremonies. The current name, Best Original Score, was solidified, with rules emphasizing that the music must be a substantial body of original work specifically created for the film by the submitting composer.

Eligibility and nomination process

Eligibility requires that the score be a substantial original work written specifically for the film by the submitting composer. Scores that are diluted by the use of tracked or pre-existing music may be disqualified. The nomination process involves the Academy's Music Branch, whose members participate in a preliminary voting round to create a shortlist. Following this, a second round of voting by the entire branch determines the final five nominees. Final winners are chosen by a vote of the entire active membership of the Academy, a process consistent with most other award categories.

Winners and nominees

Winners are selected from a field of typically five nominees announced each January. Early notable winners include Max Steiner for *The Informer* and Erich Wolfgang Korngold for *The Adventures of Robin Hood*. The 2020s have seen wins for composers like Hildur Guðnadóttir for *Joker* and Ludwig Göransson for *Oppenheimer*. The award is presented during the live televised Academy Awards ceremony, often by notable figures from the film or music industries.

Multiple wins and nominations

Composer John Williams holds the record for the most nominations in this category, with over 50, and has won five times for films including *Jaws* and *E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial*. Alfred Newman won nine times, though some of these were in now-retired categories. Other composers with multiple wins include Dimitri Tiomkin, Max Steiner, and more recently, Hans Zimmer. Alan Menken has also won multiple times, primarily in the former Best Original Musical or Comedy Score category for his work on Disney films like *The Little Mermaid*.

Notable composers and works

The award has celebrated landmark scores that have become integral to film history. Bernard Herrmann's work for *Psycho* and *Vertigo*, though not all winners, set new standards for suspense. Ennio Morricone won for *The Hateful Eight* after an honorary award. Jerry Goldsmith's score for *The Omen* is a notable win. Contemporary influential winners include Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for *The Social Network*, and Jonny Greenwood's nominated work for *There Will Be Blood*.

Impact and legacy

Winning the award often significantly elevates a composer's career and brings greater public recognition to the art of film scoring. The accolade can influence the commercial success of a soundtrack and is a key marker of prestige within the industry. The award's history reflects broader trends in Hollywood cinema, from the grand orchestral works of the Golden Age to the incorporation of electronic music and global influences. It remains a primary benchmark for excellence, inspiring composers and highlighting the essential role of music in storytelling for films from studios like Warner Bros. and MGM.

Category:Academy Awards