Hollywood Scores: Veteran Giants and Overlooked Artists Compete for Statues

The 99th Academy Awards will feature a crowded field in the Best Original Score category, pitting established giants against composers seeking their first major recognition. The race involves artists with decades of accolades and newcomers whose work has previously flown under the radar. For voters, the category offers a choice between rewarding consistent excellence or acknowledging long-overdue artistic merit.

Ludwig Göransson enters the season as a three-time winner. He won for “Black Panther” in 2018, “Oppenheimer” in 2023, and “Sinners” in 2025. At 42, the Swedish-born composer is now attached to “The Odyssey.” His track record places him in a distinct tier of repeat winners, setting a high bar for his peers this year.

Hans Zimmer returns to the competition after winning his second Oscar for “Dune” in 2021. That win followed his earlier victory for “The Lion King” in 1994. Zimmer was ineligible for “Dune: Part Two” but developed new original cues for the sequel’s conclusion, which is due out in December. His German background and long history with director Denis Villeneuve keep him a central figure in the discourse.

John Williams, 94, continues to break records while collaborating with Steven Spielberg on the sci-fi drama “Disclosure Day.” He holds 54 Oscar nominations, the second-most in history behind Walt Disney. He is also the oldest nominee in any category, a record he has set three times. His most recent nomination was for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny” in 2023, when he was 91. Another nomination would extend his active tenure in the industry.

Daniel Pemberton represents the potential breakout artist in this field. The English musician has composed for “Steve Jobs” (2015), “Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” (2018), and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (2023). Despite this body of work, his only prior Oscar nomination was as a songwriter for “The Trial of the Chicago 7” in 2020. This year, he contributes music to six films: “The Bad Guys 2,” “The Drama,” “Ink,” “Masters of the Universe,” “Musk,” and “Project Hail Mary.”

Pemberton recently received the Distinguished Composer Award at the Middleburg Film Festival. He performed live with a full orchestra at the event, drawing a standing ovation at the Salamander Resort. This recognition adds to the momentum surrounding his work as the awards season progresses.

The category also serves as a traditional venue for rewarding technical achievements in films that may not win Best Picture. Historical examples include Dario Marianelli for “Atonement” (2007), Gustavo Santaolalla for “Babel” (2006), Jan A.P. Kaczmarek for “Finding Neverland” (2004), and Anne Dudley for “The Full Monty” (1997). “Project Hail Mary” is positioned as a major contender in this space, facing competition from “Dune: Part Three” and “The Odyssey.”

Other composers in the mix include Raül Refree for “La Bola Negra,” Damon Albarn for “Artificial,” Ari Balouzian for “You Can See Everything,” and Devonté Hynes for “The Invite.” Established names like Randy Newman for “Toy Story 5,” Michael Giacchino for “Ray Gunn,” and Alberto Iglesias for “Bitter Christmas” also remain in the conversation. Female composers in the field include Rebekka Karijord, Natalie Holt, Hildur Guðnadóttir, Isobel Waller-Bridge, and Tara Nome Doyle.

Preliminary voting for the shortlist in 12 categories runs from December 7 to December 11. The shortlist announcement will follow on December 15. The eligibility period closes on December 31, 2026. Nominations voting takes place from January 11 to January 15, 2027. The official nominations will be announced on January 21, 2027. The ceremony is scheduled for March 14, 2027, at the Dolby Theatre.