Best Original Score Oscar Shortlist 2025: ‘Emilia Pérez,’ ‘Wicked’

Two exceptional composing teams have achieved recognition on the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Score, alongside an impressive roster of 18 individual composers. This acknowledgment underscores the remarkable talent and creativity present in today’s film music landscape, highlighting the vital role that scores play in enhancing cinematic storytelling.

Clément Ducol and Camille have been nominated for their outstanding work on Emilia Pérez, a Netflix feature that has captivated audiences with its emotional depth. Meanwhile, renowned duo Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross are recognized for their score in Challengers. Interestingly, their other project, Queer, did not make the shortlist. This talented pair has previously secured two Oscars in this category, for their scores in The Social Network and Soul, the latter being a collaboration with Jon Batiste.

On Tuesday, December 17, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences unveiled shortlists across ten categories, including the coveted Best Original Score and Best Original Song. Notably, the number of shortlisted scores increased from 15 to 20 this year, reflecting the growing number of entries in this competitive category. A total of 145 scores were eligible, showcasing the thriving landscape of film music, while the Best Original Song category maintained its 15 shortlisted songs.

Acclaimed composer Hans Zimmer has secured a spot on the score shortlist for his work on Blitz, directed by Steve McQueen. While Zimmer could have seen dual nominations, his score for Dune: Part Two was disqualified due to the Academy’s stringent regulations regarding pre-existing music. According to the Academy’s rules, sequels and franchise scores must utilize no more than 20% of themes or music borrowed from earlier works. Zimmer’s composition for Dune: Part Two included significant elements from his Oscar-winning score for Dune in 2021.

Notably, Dune: Part Two has received nominations for both a Golden Globe and a Critics Choice Award for Best Original Score. The scores nominated for these prestigious awards also made it to the Oscar shortlist, including Daniel Blumberg’s The Brutalist, Reznor & Ross’ Challengers, Volker Bertelmann’s Conclave, Ducol & Camille’s Emilia Pérez, and Kris Bowers’ The Wild Robot.

Another noteworthy contender is John Powell, whose score for Wicked has made the shortlist. This film is rapidly approaching Mamma Mia! in terms of box office success, solidifying its position as one of the highest-grossing adaptations of a Broadway musical in history, showcasing the power of music in film.

Also making waves is Andrea Datzman, who is recognized for her work on Inside Out 2. With this release, Datzman has made history as the first woman to compose a score for a Pixar film, breaking new ground in the animation industry and inspiring future generations of female composers.

Below is a comprehensive list of the 20 shortlisted scores vying for the prestigious Best Original Score Oscar this year:

2023 Best Original Score Oscar Shortlist

Alien: Romulus (20th Century Studios) – Benjamin Wallfisch

Babygirl (A24) – Critobal Tapia de Veer

Beetlejuice Beetlejuice (Warner Bros. Pictures) – Danny Elfman

Blink Twice (Amazon MGM Studios) – Chanda Dancy

Blitz (Apple Original Films) — Hans Zimmer

The Brutalist (A24) — Daniel Blumberg

Challengers (Amazon MGM) — Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Conclave (Focus Features) — Volker Bertelmann

Emilia Pérez (Netflix) — Clément Ducol, Camille

The Fire Inside (Amazon MGM) — Tamar-kali

Gladiator II (Paramount Pictures) — Harry Gregson-Williams

Horizon: An American Saga Chapter 1 (New Line Cinema) – John Debney

Inside Out 2 (Pixar) — Andrea Datzman

Nosferatu (Focus Features) – Robin Carolan

The Room Next Door (Sony Pictures Classics) — Alberto Iglesias

Sing Sing (A24) — Bryce Dessner

The Six Triple Eight (Netflix) – Aaron Zigman

Wicked (Universal Pictures) – John Powell

The Wild Robot (DreamWorks Animation) — Kris Bowers

Young Woman and the Sea (Walt Disney Pictures) — Amelia Warner

Additionally, several highly-anticipated scores were notably absent from the shortlist, sparking discussions among film and music enthusiasts.

High-Profile Scores Not Included in the Shortlist

Deadpool & Wolverine (Marvel Studios) — Rob Simonsen

Drive-Away Dolls (Focus Features) — Carter Burwell

Flow (Janus Films/Sideshow) — Gints Zilbalodis, Rihards Zalupe

Hard Truths (Bleecker Street) — Gary Yershon

Here (Sony Pictures) — Alan Silvestri

IF (Paramount Pictures) — Michael Giacchino

I’m Still Here (Sony Pictures Classics) — Warren Ellis

Memoir of a Snail (IFC Films) — Elena Kats-Chernin

Mufasa: The Lion King (Walt Disney Pictures) — Nicholas Britell, Dave Metzger, Pharrell Williams

Moana 2 (Walt Disney Pictures) — Mark Mancina, Opetaia Foaʻi

The Piano Lesson (Netflix) — Alexandre Desplat

Queer (A24) — Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross

Saturday Night (Sony Pictures) — Jon Batiste

September 5 (Paramount Pictures) — Lorenz Dangel

The Substance (Mubi) — Raffertie

Transformers One (Paramount Pictures) — Brian Tyler

We Live in Time (A24) — Bryce Dessner

Looking ahead, the nominations-round voting is scheduled to take place from January 8 to 12. The official nominations will be announced on January 17. The final-round voting is set for February 11 to 18. The highly anticipated 97th Academy Awards will occur on Sunday, March 2, at the renowned Dolby Theatre in Ovation Hollywood. Viewers can look forward to watching the event live on ABC and in over 200 territories worldwide, with the added convenience of streaming live on Hulu for the first time.