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List of compositions by Danny Elfman

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of compositions by Danny Elfman for film, television, stage and the concert hall.

For a list of recordings, see Danny Elfman discography, and for Elfman's work as lead singer/songwriter of Oingo Boingo, see Oingo Boingo discography.

Film scores

[edit]

The following list consists of select films for which Danny Elfman composed the score and/or songs.

1980s

[edit]
Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes / Accolades
1982 Forbidden Zone Richard Elfman The Samuel Goldwyn Company First film score
Film released in 1982[1] though Elfman has said he wrote the music in 1980[2]
In addition to composing the score and songs with the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, Elfman arranged and performed Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher" with new lyrics as the character Satan[3]
1985 Pee-wee's Big Adventure Tim Burton Warner Bros.
Aspen Film Society
Debut score for a major film studio[4]
1986 Back to School Alan Metter Orion Pictures
Paper Clip Productions
In addition to composing the score, Elfman appears in the film as the lead singer of Oingo Boingo performing their song "Dead Man's Party"[5]
Wisdom Emilio Estevez 20th Century Fox (United States)
Cannon Films (International)
Gladden Entertainment
Composed, arranged and performed by Elfman entirely on synthesizer[2]
1987 Summer School Carl Reiner Paramount Pictures 1984 Publishing put out this previously unreleased score by Elfman in 2023 on CD and on vinyl in 4 different color variants.[6]
1988 Beetlejuice Tim Burton Warner Bros.
The Geffen Company
At the top of the "Main Titles" music as heard in the film, Elfman sings lyrics from "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" in the style of Harry Belafonte, the original version of which is used to comic effect later in the film[7]: 63 

Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music

Midnight Run Martin Brest Universal Pictures
City Light Films
Big Top Pee-wee Randal Kleiser Paramount Pictures
Hot to Trot Michael Dinner Warner Bros.
Scrooged Richard Donner Paramount Pictures
Mirage Productions
1989 Batman Tim Burton Warner Bros.
Grammy Award Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[8]
Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition (for "Batman theme")

1990s

[edit]
Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes
1990 Nightbreed Clive Barker 20th Century Fox
Morgan Creek Productions
Dick Tracy Warren Beatty Touchstone Pictures
Silver Screen Partners IV
Mulholland Productions
Nominated- Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television[8]
Darkman Sam Raimi Universal Pictures
Renaissance Pictures
Edward Scissorhands Tim Burton 20th Century Fox Nominated- Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television[8]
Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music
1992 Article 99 Howard Deutch Orion Pictures
Batman Returns Tim Burton Warner Bros. In addition to composing the score, co-wrote the song "Face to Face" with Siouxsie And The Banshees[9]
1993 Sommersby Jon Amiel Warner Bros.
Le Studio Canal+
Regency Enterprises
Alcor Films
The Nightmare Before Christmas Henry Selick Touchstone Pictures
Skellington Productions
First score for an animated Film. In addition to the score, Elfman wrote ten original songs and provided the singing voice of main character Jack Skellington, among others[10]

Saturn Award for Best Music
Nominated- Grammy Award for Best Children's Album

1994 Black Beauty Caroline Thompson Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
1995 Dolores Claiborne Taylor Hackford Columbia Pictures
Castle Rock Entertainment
Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music
Dead Presidents Albert Hughes
Allen Hughes
Hollywood Pictures
Caravan Pictures
Underworld Entertainment
First Elfman score to be credited as conductor[citation needed]
To Die For Gus Van Sant Columbia Pictures
Rank Organisation
Laura Ziskin Productions
Elfman and Van Sant performed some vocals on the score credited to "Little Gus And The Suzettes"[11]
1996 Mission: Impossible Brian De Palma Paramount Pictures
Cruise/Wagner Productions
Mission: Impossible themes by Lalo Schifrin[12]
The Frighteners Peter Jackson Universal Pictures
WingNut Films
Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music
Freeway Matthew Bright Republic Pictures
The Kushner-Locke Company
Illusion Entertainment Group
Extreme Measures Michael Apted Columbia Pictures
Castle Rock Entertainment
Simian Films
Mars Attacks! Tim Burton Warner Bros. Pictures
Tim Burton Productions
Saturn Award for Best Music
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Original Score
1997 Men in Black Barry Sonnenfeld Columbia Pictures
Amblin Entertainment
Parkes/MacDonald Productions
Saturn Award for Best Music
Nominated- Academy Award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score[13]
Nominated- Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or Television[8]
Flubber Les Mayfield Walt Disney Pictures
Great Oaks
Good Will Hunting Gus Van Sant Miramax Films
Be Gentlemen
Nominated- Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score[13]
1998 A Simple Plan Sam Raimi Paramount Pictures (North America and United Kingdom)
Concorde Filmverleih (Germany)
UGC Fox Distribution (France)
Toho-Towa (Japan)
Mutual Film Company
Savoy Pictures
Tele-München
Marubeni
Newmarket Capital Group
A Civil Action Steven Zaillian Touchstone Pictures
Paramount Pictures
Wildwood Enterprises, Inc
1999 Instinct Jon Turteltaub Touchstone Pictures
Spyglass Entertainment
Anywhere but Here Wayne Wang 20th Century Fox
Sleepy Hollow Tim Burton Paramount Pictures (Select territories)
Summit Entertainment (International)
Mandalay Pictures
Scott Rudin Productions
American Zoetrope
Tim Burton Productions
Satellite Award for Best Original Score
Saturn Award for Best Music

2000s

[edit]
Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes
2000 Proof of Life Taylor Hackford Warner Bros. Pictures
Castle Rock Entertainment
Bel-Air Entertainment
Anvil Films
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Original Score
The Family Man Brett Ratner Universal Pictures
Beacon Pictures
Saturn Films
2001 Planet of the Apes Tim Burton 20th Century Fox
The Zanuck Company
Nominated- Grammy Award Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[8]
Spy Kids Robert Rodriguez Dimension Films
Troublemaker Studios
Composed with John Debney & Harry Gregson-Williams
2002 Spider-Man Sam Raimi Columbia Pictures
Marvel Enterprises
Laura Ziskin Productions
Saturn Award for Best Music
Nominated- Grammy Award Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[8]
Men in Black II Barry Sonnenfeld Columbia Pictures
Amblin Entertainment
MacDonald Parkes Productions
Red Dragon Brett Ratner Universal Pictures
Imagine Corporation
Chicago Rob Marshall Miramax Films
Producer Circle Co.
Zadan/Meron Production
Songs by John Kander & Fred Ebb
Adapted material by Kander

Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Film Music

2003 Hulk Ang Lee Universal Pictures
Marvel Studios
Valhalla Motion Pictures
Good Machine
Replaced Mychael Danna

Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music

Big Fish Tim Burton Columbia Pictures
Jinks/Cohen Company
The Zanuck Company
Nominated- Academy Award for Best Original Score[13] Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score
Nominated- Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated- Grammy Award Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[8]
2004 Spider-Man 2 Sam Raimi Columbia Pictures
Marvel Enterprises
Laura Ziskin Productions
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Original Score
Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music
2005 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tim Burton Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures
The Zanuck Company
Plan B Entertainment
Theobald Film Productions
In addition to score, wrote five songs and sings all vocal parts of the Oompa-Loompa characters[14]

Nominated- Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media (for "Wonka's Welcome Song")[8]
Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music

Corpse Bride Warner Bros. Pictures
Tim Burton Productions
Laika
Patalex II Productions
In addition to the score, composed all four songs and voiced of the character "Bonejangles" who sings "Remains of the Day"

Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Original Score

2006 Deep Sea 3D Howard Hall Warner Bros. Films
IMAX Business Needs
Adapted from Elfman's concert work Serenada Schizophrana, with additional music by Elfman and composer Deborah Lurie
Nacho Libre Jared Hess Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon Movies
Black & White
Charlotte's Web Gary Winick Paramount Pictures
Nickelodeon Movies
Walden Media
The K Entertainment Company
2007 Meet the Robinsons Stephen Anderson Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Nominated- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production
The Kingdom Peter Berg Universal Pictures
Relativity Media
Forward Pass
Stuber/Parent
2008 Standard Operating Procedure Errol Morris Sony Pictures Classics
Participant Media
Elfman's score incorporates two movements from his Serenada Schizophrana concert work, specifically "Pianos" and "Blue Strings" reworked and retitled as "Main Titles: Vacation in Iraq" and "A Bad Feeling" respectively
Wanted Timur Bekmambetov Universal Pictures
Spyglass Entertainment
Relativity Media
Marc Platt Productions
Kickstart Productions
Top Cow Productions
In addition to the score, wrote and sang the song "The Little Things" in English and Russian for the soundtrack[15]
Hellboy II: The Golden Army Guillermo del Toro Universal Pictures
Relativity Media
Lawrence Gordon/Lloyd Levin Productions
Dark Horse Entertainment
Hellboy themes by Marco Beltrami
Milk Gus Van Sant Focus Features
Axon Films
Groundswell Productions
Jinks/Cohen Company
Nominated- Academy Award for Best Original Score
Nominated- Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Score
Nominated- Grammy Award Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[8]
Nominated- Satellite Award for Best Original Score
2009 Notorious George Tillman, Jr. Fox Searchlight Pictures
Bad Boy Films
By Storm Films
State Street Pictures
Voletta Wallace Films
Terminator Salvation McG Warner Bros. Pictures (United States)
Columbia Pictures (International)
The Halcyon Company
Wonderland Sound and Vision
Terminator themes by Brad Fiedel
9 Shane Acker Focus Features
Relativity Media
Lux Animation
Elfman provided themes only, with score composed by Deborah Lurie
Taking Woodstock Ang Lee Focus Features

2010s

[edit]
Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes
2010 The Wolfman Joe Johnston Universal Pictures
Relativity Media
Stuber Pictures
Elfman's original score was initially rejected by the studio and replaced with a new score by Paul Haslinger.[16] The studio ultimately reverted to Elfman's music, though some cues had to be reworked to fit the film's final edit.[17]
Alice in Wonderland Tim Burton Walt Disney Pictures
Roth Films
The Zanuck Company
Team Todd
Nominated- BAFTA Award for Best Film Music
Nominated- Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score
Nominated- Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media[8]
The Next Three Days Paul Haggis Lionsgate
Highway 61 Films
Fidélité Films
2011 Restless Gus Van Sant Sony Pictures Classics (United States)
Columbia Pictures (International)
Imagine Entertainment
Real Steel Shawn Levy Touchstone Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures
21 Laps Entertainment
ImageMovers
Montford Murphy Productions
2012 Dark Shadows Tim Burton Warner Bros. Pictures
Village Roadshow Pictures
Infinitum Nihil
GK Films
The Zanuck Company
Men in Black 3 Barry Sonnenfeld Columbia Pictures
Amblin Entertainment
Hemisphere Media Capital
P+M Image Nation
Imagination Abu Dhabi
Frankenweenie Tim Burton Walt Disney Pictures
Tim Burton Productions
Saturn Award for Best Music
Silver Linings Playbook David O. Russell The Weinstein Company
Hitchcock Sacha Gervasi Fox Searchlight Pictures
The Montecito Picture Company
Cold Spring Pictures
Promised Land Gus Van Sant Focus Features
Participant Media
Image Nation Abu Dhabi
Pearl Street Films
Sunday Night Productions
2013 Oz the Great and Powerful Sam Raimi Walt Disney Pictures
Roth Films
Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music
Epic Chris Wedge 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Animation
Blue Sky Studios
Nominated- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production
American Hustle David O. Russell Columbia Pictures
Atlas Entertainment
Annapurna Pictures
2014 Mr. Peabody & Sherman Rob Minkoff 20th Century Fox
DreamWorks Animation
PDI/DreamWorks
Bullwinkle Studios
Nominated- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production
The Unknown Known Errol Morris Radius-TWC
History Films
Moxie Pictures
Participant Media
Big Eyes Tim Burton The Weinstein Company
Electric City Entertainment
Silverwood Films
Tim Burton Productions
2015 The End of the Tour James Ponsoldt A24
Anonymous Content
Kilburn Media
Modern Man Films
Fifty Shades of Grey Sam Taylor-Johnson Universal Pictures
Focus Features
Michael De Luca Productions
Trigger Street Productions
Except the cue "Bliss" written by David Buckley[18]
Avengers: Age of Ultron Joss Whedon Marvel Studios Themes by Alan Silvestri & Patrick Doyle
Composed with Brian Tyler[19]
Goosebumps Rob Letterman Columbia Pictures
Sony Pictures Animation
LStar Capital
Village Roadshow Pictures
Original Film
Scholastic Entertainment
2016 Alice Through the Looking Glass James Bobin Walt Disney Pictures
Roth Films
Team Todd
Tim Burton Productions
Before I Wake Mike Flanagan Netflix
Intrepid Pictures
Demarest Films
MICA Entertainment
Composed with The Newton Brothers
The Girl on the Train Tate Taylor Universal Pictures (Worldwide)
Mister Smith Entertainment (EMEA)
DreamWorks Pictures
Reliance Entertainment
Marc Platt Productions
2017 Tulip Fever Justin Chadwick The Weinstein Company (United States)
Entertainment Film Distributors (United Kingdom)
Worldview Entertainment
Paramount Pictures[a]
Ruby Films
Fifty Shades Darker James Foley Universal Pictures
Perfect World Pictures[b]
Michael De Luca Productions
Trigger Street Productions
The Circle James Ponsoldt STXfilms
EuropaCorp
Image Nation Abu Dhabi
Playtone
Likely Story
IM Global
Parkes + Macdonald Productions
Route One
1978 Films
Justice League Zack Snyder[c] Warner Bros. Pictures
RatPac-Dune Entertainment[d]
DC Films
Atlas Entertainment
Cruel and Unusual Films
Replaced Junkie XL
In addition to creating several new themes for his score, Elfman used the "Batman Theme" from his Batman score, John Williams' "Superman Theme" from Superman, and the Wonder Woman theme from the cue "Is She With You" composed by Hans Zimmer, Robert Badami, Melissa Muik, Mark Andrew Wherry and Steve Mazzaro for Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice[23]
2018 Fifty Shades Freed James Foley Universal Pictures
Perfect World Pictures
Michael De Luca Productions
Trigger Street Productions
Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot Gus Van Sant Amazon Studios
Iconoclast
Anonymous Content
The Grinch Scott Mosier
Yarrow Cheney
Universal Pictures
Illumination
In addition to composing original themes for the film, Elfman incorporated the tune "Welcome Christmas" written for the 1966 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! animated television special, as well as collaborated with Tyler the Creator on a cover of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch”[24] Nominated- Annie Award for Music in a Feature Production
2019 Aliens, Clowns & Geeks Richard Elfman Elfmaniac Media
Producers: Scott Roughgarden, Bernie Stern, Debbie Vandermeulen
Composed with Ego Plum[25]
Dumbo Tim Burton Walt Disney Pictures
Tim Burton Productions
Infinite Detective Productions
Secret Machine Entertainment
In addition to composing original themes for the film, Elfman incorporated music from Disney's original 1941 animated film, including “Casey Junior," “Pink Elephants on Parade,” and “When I See an Elephant Fly”[26] Nominated- Saturn Award for Best Music
Men in Black: International F. Gary Gray Columbia Pictures
Amblin Entertainment
P + M Productions
Image Nation
Tencent Pictures
Composed with Chris Bacon[27]

2020s

[edit]
Year Title Director Studio(s) Notes
2020 Dolittle Stephen Gaghan Universal Pictures
R/K Films
Team Downey Productions
Perfect World Pictures
2021 The Woman in the Window Joe Wright Netflix
20th Century Studios
Fox 2000 Pictures
Scott Rudin Productions
Replaced Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.[28]
2022 Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness Sam Raimi Marvel Studios In addition to contributing the full score with several original themes, Elfman referenced thematic material from 2016's Doctor Strange by Michael Giacchino, Captain America: The First Avenger by Alan Silvestri, WandaVision by Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, and X-Men: The Animated Series; the score also adapts music from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Bach's Toccata and Fugue for a climatic fight scene[29]
White Noise Noah Baumbach Netflix
2024 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Tim Burton Warner Bros. Pictures
2025 Dracula: A Love Tale Luc Besson LBP Productions
EuropaCorp

Additional film work

[edit]

In addition to his feature scores, Elfman has supplied thematic material and additional music for films scored by others (theme only unless otherwise noted):

Year Title Director Composer Notes
1984 Bachelor Party Neal Israel Robert Folk "Bachelor Party Theme" with Oingo Boingo[30]
1985 Weird Science John Hughes Ira Newborn "Weird Science" title song with Oingo Boingo[31]
1991 Pure Luck Nadia Tass Jonathan Sheffer "Main Title" and "We Found Her"
1992 Army of Darkness Sam Raimi Joseph LoDuca "March of the Dead"
1994 Shrunken Heads Richard Elfman Richard Band
1997 Scream 2 Wes Craven Marco Beltrami "Cassandra Aria" & "Cassandra Aria Reprise"
1998 Modern Vampires Richard Elfman Michael Wandmacher
1999 My Favorite Martian Donald Petrie John Debney "Uncle Martin's Theme"
2001 Heartbreakers[32] David Mirkin
Novocaine David Atkins Steve Bartek
2010 Kick-Ass Matthew Vaughn John Murphy
Henry Jackman
Marius de Vries
Ilan Eshkeri
"Walk to Rasul's"
2011 Do Not Disturb[33] Mali Elfman Mike Einziger
Oliver Hecks

Elfman composed the music for the Hollywood Pictures logo in 1991, and an excerpt from his main title for Sommersby was subsequently used as the logo music for Regency (the company that made Sommersby) beginning in 1994.[34]

Concert and stage works

[edit]

The following list consists of select works composed for the stage and concert hall.

Year Title Other Artists Notes / Accolades
2005 Serenada Schizophrana Commissioned and premiered by the American Composers Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Sloane First commissioned concert work
Premiered February 23, 2005 at Carnegie Hall[35]
Recorded in 2006 by conductor John Mauceri and the Hollywood Studio Symphony Orchestra
2008 Rabbit & Rogue First ballet score, written for Twyla Tharp's Rabbit and Rogue
Co-commission by American Ballet Theatre and Orange County Performing Arts Center
Premiered June 3, 2008, at the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center[36]
LA Film Festival's Rabbit and Rogue contest provided free usage of Elfman's music to which filmmakers created short films[37]
2011 Iris Commissioned by Cirque Du Soleil for director Philippe Decouflé's Cirque du Soleil show based on the history and themes of cinema
Elfman's score was pre-recorded with an orchestra of 100 musicians (the largest in Cirque du Soleil's history), that was then mixed with the show's eight live, in-house musicians during performance.[38]
2013 Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton John Mauceri conductor Nearly two hours of orchestral suites newly arranged by Elfman from his scores for the films of Tim Burton

Premiered at the Royal Albert Hall in London on October 7, 2013, with John Mauceri conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra, and Elfman performing the songs of characters Jack Skellington and Oogie Boogie in The Nightmare Before Christmas segment.[39]
Continues to tour internationally, with performances in Europe, Japan, Australia, and throughout the U.S.
The 2015 performance at Lincoln Center was recorded live and broadcast on PBS[40]

2017 Violin Concerto "Eleven Eleven" Violinist Sandy Cameron, conductor John Mauceri and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra First violin concerto
Co-commissioned by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Live at Stanford University, and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for violinist Sandy Cameron[41]
Premiered in Prague June 21, 2017, with Cameron, Mauceri and the Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Recorded in 2019 with Cameron, Mauceri and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra
2018 Piano Quartet Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet (Matthew Hunter, Knut Weber, Luis Esnaola, Markus Groh) First piano quartet
Co-commissioned by the Lied Center for Performing Arts University of Nebraska in Lincoln and the Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet
Premiered February 6, 2018, at the Lied Center in Lincoln, Nebraska[42]
2019 Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus Incidental music for the Broadway production written by Taylor Mac, directed by George C. Wolfe and produced by Scott Rudin[43]
Percussion Quartet Third Coast Percussion Commissioned by Third Coast Percussion, who premiered the piece at Philip Glass Center's 2019 Central Coast Days & Nights Festival on October 10, 2019[44]
2022 Danny Elfman: From Boingo to ‘Batman’ to ‘Big Mess’ to Beyond! Steve Bartek (conductor), Wes Borland (guitar), Stu Brooks (bass), Nili Brosh (guitar), Josh Freese (drums)[45] Initially announced as Danny Elfman: Past, Present and Future! From Boingo to Batman and Beyond! as part of Coachella 2020, the concert was postponed to April 16, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic[46][47]
Featuring selections of Elfman's film and television music arranged for band, orchestra and choir, as well as songs from his solo album Big Mess and new arrangements of songs from his Oingo Boingo catalogue[48]
Expanded for two concerts performed Halloween weekend at the Hollywood Bowl[49]
Cello Concerto Gautier Capucon (cello), Wiener Symphoniker, David Robertson (conductor) Commissioned jointly by Wiener Konzerthaus, Wiener Symphoniker, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra.
World premiere Wiener Konzerthaus, Vienna 18 March 2022[50]
Percussion Concerto Colin Currie (percussion), London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ludwig Wicki (conductor) Commissioned jointly by London Philharmonic Orchestra and Soka University of America
World premiere Royal Festival Hall, London 25 March 2022[50]
Wunderkammer National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Andrew Gourlay (conductor) Commissioned by National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain
World premiere Bridgewater Hall, Manchester 3 August and then at the BBC Proms, 6 August 2022[51]
2023 Suite for Chamber Orchestra Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Co-commissioned by the Library of Congress, The Andre Kostelanetz Royalty Pool, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland
World premiere St. Mark's Episcopal Church (Washington, D.C.) 4 May 2023[52]

Television

[edit]

Elfman has written the theme music and occasional episodic scores for several television series, including:

Year Title Notes
1985 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Episode: "The Jar", directed by Tim Burton
Amazing Stories Episodes: "Mummy, Daddy" & "The Family Dog" with Steve Bartek
1986 Pee-wee's Playhouse Episodes: "Monster in the Playhouse," "Cowboy and the Cowntess," "Store," & "Pee-Wee Catches A Cold"
Sledge Hammer! Theme music only
Score composed by Don Davis, Ron Grant, Lance Rubin & Richard Stone
Fast Times Theme music only, with Oingo Boingo
Score composed by Barry Goldberg, Arthur Barrow & Steve Schiff
1989 Tales from the Crypt Theme music only
Score composed by various others including Jay Ferguson, Nicholas Pike, Alan Silvestri, J. Peter Robinson & Michael Kamen
Beetlejuice: The Animated Series Theme music only
Score composed by Tom Szczesniak
The Simpsons Theme music only
Score composed by Richard Gibbs, Patrick Williams, Ray Colcord, Alf Clausen & Bleeding Fingers Music

Nominated- Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music

1990 The Flash Theme music only
Score composed by Shirley Walker
1992 Batman: The Animated Series "Main Title" & "End Credit"

Score composed by various others including Shirley Walker

1993 Family Dog Theme music only
Score composed by Steve Bartek
1997 Perversions of Science Theme music only
Score composed by J. Peter Robinson & Ernest Troost
1999 Dilbert Theme music only, rearrangement of the title song for Forbidden Zone
Score composed by Adam Cohen & Ian Dye
2004 Desperate Housewives Theme music only
Score composed by Steve Bartek, Stewart Copeland & Steve Jablonsky

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music[53]

2005 Point Pleasant Theme music only
Score composed by Robert Duncan
2008 Amas de Casa Desesperadas Theme music only
Score composed by Steve Bartek, Stewart Copeland & Steve Jablonsky
2017 When We Rise Miniseries
Score composed with Chris Bacon[54]
2022 Wednesday Television series
Theme music
Score composed with Chris Bacon

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Main Title Theme Music

TBA Rhona Who Lives By The River Television series

Score composer, songwriter and executive producer[55]

On October 30, 2015, PBS's "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcast Danny Elfman's Music from the Films of Tim Burton, for which Elfman won Outstanding Music Direction at the 68th Primetime Emmy Awards.[56]

In 2019 selections from his score to the film Midnight Run were used in the third season of Netflix's Stranger Things,[57] including "Stairway Chase" in episodes 5 and 6, and "Wild Ride" and "Package Deal" in episode 6.

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Notes
2004 Fable[58] Opening title theme
Score composed by Russell Shaw
2008 Lego Batman: The Videogame Excerpts from Batman; DS version also uses excerpts from Batman Returns
Score arranged by Morgan Peeters
Fable II[59] Composed with Russell Shaw
2009 Wanted: Weapons of Fate Themes from Wanted
Score composed by Ulf Andersson
2012 Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes Excerpts from Batman and Batman Returns
Compliments score composed by Rob Westwood
2013 Puppet Masterpiece Theater: The Circus iPad app created by children's entertainment group Organa Kids[60]
2014 Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham Excerpts from Batman
Compliments score composed by Rob Westwood

Miscellaneous

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Paramount, which initially acquired rights to the film, were only given a studio credit in the final film.
  2. ^ Even though Perfect World Pictures produced the film, their logo is not shown on any promotional material or in the film itself.
  3. ^ Snyder was the director during principal photography, but was replaced by Joss Whedon during post-production. Snyder retained directorial credit for the finished film,[20] though reports have indicated Whedon reshot a majority of the film.[21]
  4. ^ In home release, RatPac-Dune Entertainment was replaced with Access Entertainment (RatPac's current owner), following the rape and sexual harassment allegations against RatPac-Dune's CEO, Brett Ratner.[22]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Digiovanna, James (March 31, 2005). "Intestinal Fortitude". Tucson Weekly. Retrieved June 6, 2007.
  2. ^ a b Music for a Darkened Theatre: Film & Television Music Volume One (booklet). Danny Elfman. Universal City, CA: MCA Records. 1990. p. 2–9. MCD10065.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  3. ^ Grow, Kory. "Inside Danny Elfman’s Twisted Cult Film ‘Forbidden Zone’", Rolling Stone, November 6, 2015.
  4. ^ D'Angelo, Mike (January 16, 2014). "Danny Elfman's score tied Pee-wee's Big Adventure together—and launched a career". The Dissolve. Pitchfork. Retrieved September 25, 2019.
  5. ^ Buck, David. "Mystic Knights of the Movie Soundtrack", Tedium, March 14, 2018.
  6. ^ Danny Elfman - Summer School, 2023, retrieved 2023-10-20
  7. ^ Bond, Jeff (October 2015). Danse Macabre: 25 years of Danny Elfman and Tim Burton. Warner Bros. pp. 12–259. 5251722.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Artist: Danny Elfman". Grammy.com. Recording Academy. n.d. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  9. ^ Taylor, Drew (June 19, 2012). "20th Anniversary: 5 Things You Might Not Know About 'Batman Returns'". IndieWire. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved October 10, 2019. In addition to the score, Elfman co-wrote the Siouxsie and the Banshees song that plays during the masquerade ball.
  10. ^ Ng, David (October 24, 2015). "Danny Elfman can relate to 'Nightmare Before Christmas' hero Jack Skellington". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 14, 2019.
  11. ^ "Soundtrack Information: To Die For". Soundtrack.Net. n.d. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  12. ^ Bond, Jeff (2019). Mission: Impossible - Limited Edition (booklet). Danny Elfman. Los Angeles, CA: La-La Land Records, Inc. pp. 5–6. LLLCD1411.
  13. ^ a b c Glionna, John M. (April 18, 1999). "A Different Beat". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 8, 2019. Though he earned two Academy Award nominations in 1997 for "Men in Black" and "Good Will Hunting," his work has long been scrutinized by industry peers...
  14. ^ Lowman, Rob (July 18, 2019). "It's music to Oompa Loompa by". Orlando Sentinel. Things got a little crazy at composer Danny Elfman's home studio when he began creating the singing parts for the Oompa Loompa songs in Tim Burton's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory... Elfman laid down the vocals in his home. He did every part six times.
  15. ^ Anderson, Kyle (July 22, 2011). "Danny Elfman on Tim Burton, Gus Van Sant, and why it's so hard to sing in Russian: An EW Q&A". Entertainment Weekly. Meredith Corporation. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
  16. ^ Fisher, Russ (February 17, 2010). "Sample the Rejected Rock Score for The Wolfman". SlashFilm.com. /Film. Retrieved September 27, 2019. Many changes were wrought to Joe Johnston's The Wolfman during production... One of the last-stage changes was a switch from Danny Elfman's original score to a new one by electronic/rock composer Paul Haslinger.
  17. ^ Miller, Ross (January 20, 2010). "Danny Elfman's 'Wolfman' Score Brought Back Into Play". Screen Rant. Valnet Inc. Retrieved September 27, 2019. Universal has apparently decided to switch back to Elfman's original score... Because of commitments to Burton's Alice in Wonderland, Elfman can't work on the film right now, so additional composers are being brought in to finish his work.
  18. ^ "David Buckley: Credits". DavidBuckleyMusic.com. Firefly Music. n.d. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  19. ^ Burton, Byron (November 18, 2017). "Danny Elfman Hates When Reboots Scrap Classic Themes". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 10, 2019. Elfman and Whedon previously worked together on 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron, another situation he describes as another "three-alarm call." He shared scoring credits with Brian Tyler.
  20. ^ Strauss, Bob (November 15, 2017). "Joss Whedon brought 'own flavor' to 'Justice League' after Zack Snyder left". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on June 27, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
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  22. ^ Chapman, Tom (February 13, 2018). "Justice League: Brett Ratner Credit Replaced For Home Video". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on May 23, 2018. Retrieved May 22, 2018.
  23. ^ Danny Elfman (November 10, 2017). Justice League: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD liner). Burbank, CA: WaterTower Music. 19075807271. Retrieved September 27, 2019.
  24. ^ Lenker, Maureen Lee (November 9, 2019). "Danny Elfman talks reinventing 'You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch' with Tyler the Creator". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 12, 2019. ...once Elfman felt his own heart grow two sizes when it came to Christmas, incorporating the original songs become one of the highlights of writing his score for The Grinch. "The 'Welcome' song was easy," he says. "We were playing the song twice in the film, so it was just how to score it and then pick up the melody and have it kind of lift up and explode when his heart does." When it came to the other hit song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," Elfman had a slightly more complex task, collaborating with rapper Tyler the Creator on the iconic tune first recorded by Thurl Ravenscroft.
  25. ^ Coffel, Chris (September 10, 2019). "Director Richard Elfman Talks Clowns, Scotch, and Teaching Hollywood PR [Interview]". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved October 8, 2022. "I was, and am, an Afro-Latin percussionist — currently playing in a band, Mambo Demonico with Ego Plum (Guerrero), who did the score with Danny [Elfman]. [The movie] actually has seventy-five minutes of music in a ninety minute movie.
  26. ^ Burlingame, Jon (March 28, 2019). "Danny Elfman Broke His Cardinal Rule for 'Dumbo's' Bittersweet Score". Variety. Retrieved October 12, 2019. "This is a cultural icon," the composer says, "and I was happy to pay homage." So "Pink Elephants on Parade," "When I See an Elephant Fly" and the train motif "Casey Junior" all make appearances...
  27. ^ Kaufman, Gil (June 6, 2019). "Danny Elfman on Composing Score for 'Men in Black: International': 'I Get to Visit a World I Love'". Billboard. Retrieved October 11, 2019. Working with co-composer Chris Bacon, Elfman says he stuck to his trusty playbook when it comes to return trips to previously explored cinematic universes.
  28. ^ "Danny Elfman to Score Joe Wright's 'The Woman in the Window'". Film Music Reporter. November 23, 2019. Retrieved December 4, 2019.
  29. ^ Hood, Cooper (May 5, 2022). "The Marvel Movie Music Secretly Hidden In Doctor Strange 2". Screen Rant. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  30. ^ Buck, David (March 14, 2019). "Mystic Knights of the Movie Soundtrack". Tedium. Retrieved October 8, 2019. Bachelor Party... has not one, but two (possibly three) Boingo songs. The title track—written and performed by Oingo Boingo specifically for the film—recaps the plot in the band's inimitable style. "Something Isn't Right" is an earlier song that only saw a release with this soundtrack album.
  31. ^ Sean O'Neal (October 27, 2014). "Danny Elfman on Oingo Boingo, film scores, and the Beatles almost ruining Batman". AV Music. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  32. ^ Goldwasser, Dan (March 3, 2001). "Review: Heartbreakers". Soundtrack.net. Autotelics, LLC. Retrieved October 8, 2019. The resulting film is... backed by a quirky score by John Debney (with a main theme by Danny Elfman), as well as a swath of mood-setting pop songs.
  33. ^ Valkor (May 3, 2011). "InterView: Mali Elfman Director of "Do Not Disturb"". The-Other-View.com. Retrieved October 8, 2019. I asked my dad [Danny Elfman] for a theme. He wrote it in about 20 minutes and wouldn't let me hear it until a week later when he had about 3 themes, and 10 variations. I ended up picking the first piece that he wrote for the opening credits and using it as the theme for the film.
  34. ^ "Composer Logo Music". Soundtrack.net. Autotelics, LLC. n.d. Retrieved October 8, 2019. I got a call from John Hughes talking about the movie, and wouldn't it be fun, and I literally wrote it [in my head] while I was talking to him.
  35. ^ "All World Premiere Concert Features Legendary Rock Guitarist Andy Summers & Orchestral Debut of Hollywood Composer Danny Elfman". AmericanComposers.org. February 23, 2005. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  36. ^ "Rabbit And Rogue". TwylaTharp.org. n.d. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
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  38. ^ Goldwasser, Dan (June 11, 2012). "Review: Cirque du Soleil: Iris". Soundtrack.net. Autotelics, LLC. Retrieved September 27, 2019. the music would be composed by Oscar-nominated film composer Danny Elfman, and feature a soundtrack performed by over 100 musicians... In the balconies on the sides, a small musical ensemble surrounds us, and performs live to accompany the pre-recorded musical material.
  39. ^ Griffin, Matt. "In pictures: Helena Bonham Carter and Danny Elfman help celebrate classic Danny Elfman scores", RoyalAlbertHall.com, October 8, 2013.
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  42. ^ Kruse, Kyle (February 22, 2018). "Berlin Philharmonic Piano Quartet premieres Danny Elfman piece at Lied Center". The Daily Nebraskan. Lincoln, NE. Retrieved October 8, 2019.
  43. ^ Portwood, Jerry (March 11, 2019). "Danny Elfman to Score 'Gary' Production on Broadway". Rolling Stone. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  44. ^ Philip Glass Center. "Third Coast Percussion Performs Elfman & Glass: World Premiere", philipglasscenter.org, September 11, 2019 (retrieved).
  45. ^ Pearis, Bill (April 17, 2022). "Watch Danny Elfman play Oingo Boingo, Simpson's, 'Nightmare Before Christmas' & more at Coachella". Pitchfork. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
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  63. ^ "Review: Psycho (1998) (Bernard Herrmann/Danny Elfman/Steve Bartek)". FilmTracks. November 27, 2009. Retrieved October 7, 2019. So loyal is Elfman (and cohort Steve Bartek) to Herrmann's original intent that he succeeded better than anyone else at re-recording the work.
  64. ^ Zahed, Ramin (November 2, 2000). "Stainboy". Variety. Los Angeles, CA. Retrieved October 7, 2019. Also effective is Burton's frequent music collaborator Danny Elfman, who offers a grandiose, orchestral score to the Stainboy's adventures.
  65. ^ "GALLERY 22: Best of the US - Honda". Campaign. London: Haymarket Media Group. November 30, 2002. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  66. ^ Ng, David (August 30, 2019). "Danny Elfman to bring concert of Tim Burton movie music to L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 7, 2019. [Danny Elfman and John Mauceri] also collaborated on "The Overeager Overture," which was performed at the Hollywood Bowl in 2006.
  67. ^ Donelson, Sophie (October 22, 2006). "The Costumes Are All Vintage. Very Tiny Vintage". The New York Times. Retrieved October 8, 2019. It is Mr. Sanko's first feature-length marionette performance, in addition to being an outlet for the composer Danny Elfman to indulge his dark side in between writing songs for the new movie version of 'Charlotte's Web.'
  68. ^ Napolitano, Dean (June 14, 2013). "Danny Elfman on Scoring for a Disney Ride". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved September 19, 2019. ...the film composer Danny Elfman jumped at the chance to try something new: creating the music for Mystic Manor, a new Disneyland ride in Hong Kong...Figures in Chinese art leap off the walls, Roman frescos come alive, musical instruments play themselves, and floating headgear from armored suits sing in three languages: Mandarin, Cantonese and English. ("It's me singing in English, by the way," Mr. Elfman says.)
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  72. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (August 21, 2020). "Joe Biden's DNC Videos Were Shot by An Oscar-Winning Documentarian". Variety. Retrieved August 23, 2020.
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