The BAFTA Film Awards are held each year in honour of the very best in British and international contributions to film and TV history. The BAFTA for Best Original Music has been awarded to composers from around the globe – some more than others. John Williams is the most nominated and most awarded in this category, with other frequently awarded composers including Alexandre Desplat, Hans Zimmer, Richard Rodney Bennett, Thomas Newman, Ennio Morricone, Howard Shore and George Fenton. In 2019, Lady Gaga became the first woman ever to win the BAFTA for Best Original Music for her work on A Star is Born, and the following year she was followed by Hildur Guðnadóttir, who was the first to receive a solo win in this category.
BAFTA winners and nominees for Best Original Music throughout history, in order
2023 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Oppenheimer (Ludwig Göransson)
2024 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Killers of the Flower Moon (Robbie Robertson)
- Oppenheimer (Ludwig Göransson)
- Poor Things (Jerskin Fendrix)
- Saltburn (Anthony Willis)
- Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (Daniel Pemberton)
2023 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
All Quiet on the Western Front (Volker Bertelmann)
2023 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Bablyon (Justin Hurwitz)
- The Banshees of Inisherin (Carter Burwell)
- Everything Everywhere All at Once (Son Lux)
- Guillermo del Toro's Pinnochio (Alexandre Desplat)
2022 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
2022 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Being the Ricardos (Daniel Pemberton)
- Don't Look Up (Nicholas Britell)
- The French Dispatch (Alexandre Desplat)
- The Power of the Dog (Jonny Greenwood)
2020 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Soul (Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross)
2020 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Mank (Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross)
- Minari (Emile Mosseri)
- News of the World (James Newton Howard)
- Promising Young Woman (Anthony Willis)
2019 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
2019 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- 1917 (Thomas Newman)
- Jojo Rabbit (Michael Giacchino)
- Little Women (Alexandre Desplat)
- Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (John Williams)
2018 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
A Star is Born (Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga and Lucas Nelson)
2018 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- BlacKkKlansman (Terence Blanchard)
- If Beale Street Could Talk (Nicholas Britell)
- Isle of Dogs (Alexandre Desplat)
- Mary Poppins Returns (Marc Shaiman)
2017 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Shape of Water (Alexandre Desplat)
2017 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Blade Runner 2049 (Benjamin Wallfisch and Hans Zimmer)
- Darkest Hour (Dario Marianelli)
- Dunkirk (Hans Zimmer)
- Phantom Thread (Jonny Greenwood)
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2016 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
La La Land (Justin Hurwitz)
2016 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Arrival (Jóhann Jóhannsson)
- Jackie (Mica Levi)
- Lion (Hauschka and Dustin O'Halloran)
- Nocturnal Animals (Abel Korzeniowski)
2015 BAFTA winner for Best Original SMusiccore
The Hateful Eight (Ennio Morricone)
2015 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Bridge of Spies (Thomas Newman)
- The Revenant (Ryuichi Sakamoto and Carsten Nicolai)
- Sicario (Jóhann Jóhannsson)
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens (John Williams)
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2014 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Grand Budapest Hotel (Alexandre Desplat)
2014 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Birdman (Antonio Sánchez)
- Interstellar (Hans Zimmer)
- The Theory of Everything (Jóhann Jóhannsson)
- Under the Skin (Mica Levi)
2013 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Gravity (Steven Price)
2013 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- 12 Years a Slave (Hans Zimmer)
- The Book Thief (John Williams)
- Captain Phillips (Henry Jackman)
- Saving Mr Banks (Thomas Newman)
2012 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Skyfall (Thomas Newman)
2012 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Anna Karenina (Dario Marianelli)
- Argo (Alexandre Desplat)
- Life of Pi (Mychael Danna)
- Lincoln (John Williams)
2011 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Artist (Ludovic Bource)
2011 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross)
- Hugo (Howard Shore)
- Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Alberto Iglesias)
- War Horse (John Williams)
2010 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The King's Speech (Alexandre Desplat)
2010 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- 127 Hours (AR Rahman)
- Alice in Wonderland (Danny Elfman)
- How to Train your Dragon (John Powell)
- Inception (Hans Zimmer)
2009 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Up (Michael Giacchino)
2009 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Avatar (James Horner)
- Crazy Heart (T Bone Burnett and Stephen Bruton)
- Fantastic Mr Fox (Alexandre Desplat)
- Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Chaz Jankel)
2008 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Slumdog Millionaire (AR Rahman)
2008 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Alexandre Desplat)
- The Dark Knight (James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer)
- Mamma Mia! (Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus)
- WALL-E (Thomas Newman)
2007 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
La Vie en Rose (La môme) (Christopher Gunning)
2007 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
American Gangster (Marc Streitenfeld) Atonement (Dario Marianelli) The Kite Runner (Alberto Iglesias) There Will Be Blood (Jonny Greenwood)
2006 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Babel (Gustavo Santaolalla)
2006 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
Casino Royale (David Arnold) Dreamgirls (Henry Krieger) Happy Feet (John Powell) The Queen (Alexandre Desplat)
2005 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Memoirs of a Geisha (John Williams)
2005 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
Brokeback Mountain (Gustavo Santaolalla) The Constant Gardener (Alberto Iglesias) Mrs Henderson Presents (George Fenton) Walk the Line (T Bone Burnett)
2004 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Motorcycle Diaries (Diarios de motocicleta) (Gustavo Santaolalla)
2004 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Aviator (Howard Shore)
- The Chorus (Les choristes) (Bruno Coulais)
- Finding Neverland (Jan AP Kaczmarek)
- Ray (Craig Armstrong)
2003 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Cold Mountain (T Bone Burnett and Gabriel Yared)
2003 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Girl with a Pearl Earring (Alexandre Desplat)
- Kill Bill: Volume 1 (RZA)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Howard Shore)
- Lost in Translation (Brain Reitzell and Kevin Shields)
2002 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Hours (Philip Glass)
2002 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Catch Me If You Can (John Williams)
- Chicago (Fred Ebb, Danny Elfman and John Kander)
- Gangs of New York (Howard Shore)
- The Pianist (Wojciech Kilar)
2001 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Moulin Rouge! (Craig Armstrong and Marius de Vries)
2001 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Amélie (Le fabuleux destin d'Amélie Poulain) (Yann Tiersen)
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (Howard Shore)
- Mulholland Drive (Angelo Badalamenti)
- Shrek (Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell)
2000 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Wo hu cang long) (Tan Dun)
2000 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Almost Famous (Nancy Wilson)
- Billy Elliot (Stephen Warbeck)
- Gladiator (Lisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer)
- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (T Bone Burnett and Carter Burwell)
1999 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
American Beauty (Thomas Newman)
1999 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Buena Vista Social Club (Ry Cooder and Nick Gold)
- The End of the Affair (Michael Nyman)
- The Talented Mr Ripley (Gabriel Yared)
1998 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Elizabeth (David Hirschfelder)
1998 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Hilary and Jackie (Barrington Pheloung)
- Saving Private Ryan (John Williams)
- Shakespeare in Love (Stephen Warbeck)
1997 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Romeo + Juliet (Nellee Hooper, Craig Armstrong and Marius de Vries)
1997 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Full Monty (Anne Dudley)
- LA Confidential (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Titanic (James Horner)
1996 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The English Patient (Gabriel Yared)
1996 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Brassed Off (Trevor Jones)
- Evita (Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber)
- Shine (David Hirschfelder)
1995 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Postman (Il postino) (Luis Enríquez Bacalov)
1995 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Braveheart (James Horner)
- The Madness of King George (George Fenton)
- Sense and Sensibility (Patrick Doyle)
1994 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Backbeat (Don Was)
1994 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (Guy Gross)
- Four Weddings and a Funeral (Richard Rodney Bennett)
- The Lion King (Hans Zimmer)
1993 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Schindler's List (John Williams)
1993 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Aladdin (Alan Menken)
- The Piano (Michael Nyman)
- Sleepless in Seattle (Marc Shaiman)
1992 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Strictly Ballroom (David Hirschfelder)
1992 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Beauty and the Beast (Howard Ashman and Alan Menken)
- Hear My Song (John Altman)
- The Last of the Mohicans (Randy Edelman and Trevor Jones)
1991 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Cyrano de Bergerac (Jean-Claude Petit)
1991 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Dances with Wolves (John Barry)
- The Silence of the Lambs (Howard Shore)
- Thelma & Louise (Hans Zimmer)
1990 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Cinema Paradiso (Andrea Morricone and Ennio Morricone)
1990 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Fabulous Baker Boys (Dave Grusin)
- Memphis Belle (George Fenton)
- Postcards from the Edge (Carly Simon)
1989 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Dead Poets Society (Maurice Jarre)
1989 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Dangerous Liaisons (George Fenton)
- Mississippi Burning (Trevor Jones)
- Working Girl (Carly Simon)
1988 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Empire of the Sun (John Williams)
1988 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Bird (Lennie Niehaus)
- The Last Emperor (Ryuichi Sakamoto, David Byrne and Cong Su)
- Moonstruck (Dick Hyman)
1987 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Untouchables (Ennio Morricone)
1987 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Cry Freedom (George Fenton and Jonas Gwangwa)
- Hope and Glory (Peter Martin)
- Wish You Were Here (Stanley Myers)
1986 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Mission (Ennio Morricone)
1986 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Out of Africa (John Barry)
- A Room with a View (Richard Robbins)
- Round Midnight (Herbie Hancock)
1985 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Witness (Maurice Jarre)
1985 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Beverly Hills Cop (Harold Faltermeyer)
- The Emerald Forest (Brian Gascoigne and Junior Homrich)
- A Passage to India (Maurice Jarre)
1984 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Once Upon a Time in America (Ennio Morricone)
1984 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Carmen (Paco de Lucía)
- The Killing Fields (Mike Oldfield)
- Paris, Texas (Ry Cooder)
1983 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence (Ryuichi Sakamoto)
1983 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Flashdance (Giorgio Moroder)
- Local Hero (Mark Knopfler)
- An Officer and a Gentleman (Jack Nitzsche)
1982 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
ET the Extra-Terrestrial (John Williams)
1982 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Blade Runner (Vangelis)
- Gandhi (George Fenton and Ravi Shankar)
- Missing (Vangelis)
1981 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The French Lieutenant's Woman (Carl Davis)
1981 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Arthur (Burt Bacharach)
- Chariots of Fire (Vangelis)
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (John Williams)
1980 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Empire Strikes Back (John Williams)
1980 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Breaking Glass (Hazel O'Connor)
- Fame (Michael Gore)
- Flash Gordon (John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, Roger Taylor and Howard Blake)
1979 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Days of Heaven (Ennio Morricone)
1979 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Alien (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Apocalypse Now (Carmine Coppola and Francis Ford Coppola)
- Yanks (Richard Rodney Bennett)
1978 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Star Wars (John Williams)
1978 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (John Williams)
- Julia (Georges Delerue)
- Saturday Night Fever (Barry Gibb, Maurice Gibb and Robin Gibb)
1977 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
A Bridge Too Far (John Addison)
1977 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Equus (Richard Rodney Bennett)
- The Spy Who Loved Me (Marvin Hamlisch)
- A Star is Born (Paul Williams, Barbra Streisand, Kenny Ascher, Rupert Holmes, Leon Russell, Kenny Loggins, Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman, and Donna Weiss)
1976 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Taxi Driver (Bernard Herrmann)
1976 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Bugsy Malone (Paul Williams)
- One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Jack Nitzsche)
- The Slipper and the Rose (Richard M Sherman and Robert B Sherman)
1975 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Jaws and The Towering Inferno (John Williams)
1975 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Godfather Part II (Nino Rota)
- The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (David Shire)
- The Wind and the Lion (Jerry Goldsmith)
1974 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Murder on the Orient Express (Richard Rodney Bennett)
1974 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Chinatown (Jerry Goldsmith)
- Happy New Year (Francis Lai)
- Serpico (Mikis Theodorakis)
- The Three Muskateers (Michel Legrand)
1973 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
O Lucky Man! (Alan Price)
1973 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid (Bob Dylan)
- Sounder (Taj Mahal)
- State of Siege (Mikis Theodorakis)
1972 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Godfather (Nino Rota)
1972 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Lady Caroline Lamb (Richard Rodney Bennett)
- The Tragedy of Macbeth (Third Ear Band)
- Young Winston (Alfred Ralston)
1971 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Summer of '42 (Michel Legrand)
1971 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Little Big Man (John Hammond)
- Shaft (Isaac Hayes)
- Traffic (Charles Dumont)
1970 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Burt Bacharach)
1970 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Alice's Restaurant (Arlo Guthrie)
- Figures in a Landscape (Richard Rodney Bennett)
- The Railway Children (Johnny Douglas)
1969 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
Z (Mikis Theodorakis)
1969 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- Secret Ceremony (Richard Rodney Bennett)
- The Thomas Crown Affair (Michel Legrand)
- Women in Love (Georges Delerue)
1968 BAFTA winner for Best Original Music
The Lion in Winter (John Barry)
1968 BAFTA nominees for Best Original Music
- The Charge of the Light Brigade (John Addison)
- Live for Life (Francis Lai)
- Romeo and Juliet (Nino Rota)