Line #2 Music/HansZimmer


1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hans_zimmer-1_6842.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:300:'''''[[Film/{{Inception}} BWOOOOOOOONG]]''''']]
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4	Should you ever decide to make a high-octane glossy action Hollywood blockbuster and are looking for someone to compose a brassy and kick-ass soundtrack to complement the CGI wizardry and SceneryPorn on screen, German composer Hans Florian Zimmer (born September 12, 1957 in Frankfurt am Main) will be pretty high up on your list.
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6	Zimmer initially started his career in 1977 as a session musician, working with artists ranging from {{New Wave\|Music}} group Music/TheBuggles to PunkRock outfit Music/{{The Damned\|Band}}. Moving to London as a result of his studio work, he started cutting advertising jingles before partnering with film composer Stanley Myers, building the Lillie Yard recording studio and composing soundtracks for various independent films. In 1987, Zimmer got to produce Music/RyuichiSakamoto and Music/DavidByrne's score for ''Film/TheLastEmperor'', and this in turn set the stage for his breakthrough as the composer for ''Film/RainMan'' the following year. Since then, Zimmer has remained an in-demand film scorer for decades.
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8	In addition to ''Rain Man'', Zimmer is most famous for his music for ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'', ''Film/TheRock'', ''Film/CrimsonTide'', ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean'', ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'', Creator/ChristopherNolan's films, and (for the gamers out there) the theme for ''VideoGame/ModernWarfare2'', among some 200 soundtracks he composed. Of course, he did other genres (even composing a number of animated films from Creator/DreamWorksAnimation), but it's usually the big brass and violin numbers he wrote for action set pieces that get remembered.
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10	He is known for [[AssociatedComposer frequently working with several directors]], namely Creator/RidleyScott, Creator/GoreVerbinski, and Creator/ZackSnyder alongside the aforementioned Nolan. He has also [[TheMentor trained a number of other composers]], including Mark Mancina, John Powell, Nick Glennie-Smith, Henry Jackman, Klaus Badelt, Music/SteveJablonsky, and Music/LorneBalfe. His Japanese equivalent is Music/YukiKajiura, known for her eclectic blends of synth with real instruments and soloists. He can also be viewed as the remixed modern-day Music/EnnioMorricone.
11	----
12	!!Some of his works include (in chronological order):
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14	* ''Film/RainMan'' (1988)
15	* ''Film/{{Paperhouse}}''
16	* ''Film/DrivingMissDaisy'' (1989), for which he performed the entire thing himself on synthesizers.
17	* ''Twister'' (1989, a comedy, not the [[{{Film/Twister}} Bill Paxton-Helen Hunt disaster movie]])
18	* ''Film/DaysOfThunder'' (1990)
19	* ''Literature/WhiteFang'' (1991) (additional music; then-Creator/{{Disney}} chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg intended for Zimmer to replace the film's composer Music/BasilPoledouris. (Perhaps due to Poledouris being the director's AssociatedComposer, the finished product has substantial amounts of both scores; Poledouris has "Music By" credit on the film.)
20	* ''Film/{{Backdraft}}'' (1991)
21	* ''Film/RegardingHenry'' (1991) Replacing Georges Delerue.
22	* ''Film/ThelmaAndLouise'' (1991)
23	* ''Film/RadioFlyer'' (1992)
24	* ''Literature/ThePowerOfOne'' (1992)
25	** Some tracks from this film would later be re-used in the Creator/{{IMAX}} NatureDocumentary ''Africa: The Serengeti''.
26	* ''Series/SpaceRangers1993'' (1993) Series theme only.
27	* ''Film/CoolRunnings'' (1993)
28	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'' (1994) Series theme only.
29	* ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing1994'' (with Music/EltonJohn and Tim Rice)
30	** ''WesternAnimation/TheLionKing2019'' (with Pharrell Williams)
31	* ''Film/CrimsonTide'' (1995)
32	* ''Series/HighIncident'' (1996-97) Series theme only.
33	* ''Film/MuppetTreasureIsland'' (1996)
34	* ''Film/BrokenArrow1996'' (1996)
35	* ''Film/TheRock'' (1996, with Nick Glennie-Smith)
36	* ''Film/ThePeacemaker'' (1997; the first film released by Creator/DreamWorksSKG, where Zimmer served as its head of music.
37	* ''Film/TheThinRedLine'' (1998, with John Powell)
38	* ''WesternAnimation/ThePrinceOfEgypt'' (1998)
39	* ''Film/{{Gladiator}}'' (2000)
40	* ''WesternAnimation/TheRoadToElDorado'' (2000, with John Powell)
41	* ''Film/MissionImpossibleII'' (2000)
42	* ''Film/BlackHawkDown'' (2001)
43	* ''Film/PearlHarbor'' (2001)
44	* ''Film/TheRing'' and its sequel (2002 and 2005)
45	* ''WesternAnimation/SpiritStallionOfTheCimarron'' (2002)
46	* ''Film/TheLastSamurai'' (2003)
47	* The ''Franchise/PiratesOfTheCaribbean films''[[note]] (''[[Film/PiratesOfTheCaribbeanTheCurseOfTheBlackPearl The Curse of The Black Pearl]]'' was mainly scored by Music/KlausBadelt, with Zimmer only contributing) [[/note]] (2003-2011)
48	* ''WesternAnimation/SharkTale'' (2003)
49	* ''Film/KingArthur2004''
50	* ''WesternAnimation/LaurasStar'' (2004)
51	* ''Film/{{Thunderbirds}}'' (2004)
52	* ''WesternAnimation/TheCurseOfTheWereRabbit'' (2004, with Julian Nott)
53	* ''The Franchise/{{Madagascar}}'' films (2005-2012)
54	* ''Film/TheDarkKnightTrilogy''
55	** ''Film/BatmanBegins'' (2005, with Music/JamesNewtonHoward)
56	** ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' (2008, also with Music/JamesNewtonHoward)
57	** ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' (2012, [[RuleOfThree this time]] ''[[SubvertedTrope without]]'' Music/JamesNewtonHoward)
58	* ''Film/TheHoliday'' (2006, with Heitor Pereira)
59	* ''Literature/TheDaVinciCode'' (2006, with Graham Preskitt)
60	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie'' (2007, took over music production of [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons the series itself]] as of season 29 and provided music for ''VideoGame/TheSimpsonsGame'')
61	** ''WesternAnimation/MaggieSimpsonInTheLongestDaycare'' (2012)
62	* The ''Franchise/KungFuPanda'' films (2008-2024, the first two with John Powell, the fourth with Steve Mazzaro)
63	* ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'' (2009, 2014; additional music composition)
64	** ''Film/TransformersRevengeOfTheFallen''
65	** ''Film/TransformersAgeOfExtinction''
66	* ''[[Film/SherlockHolmes2009 Sherlock Holmes]]'' (2009)
67	** ''Film/SherlockHolmesAGameOfShadows'' (2011)
68	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Megamind}}'' (2010, with Music/LorneBalfe)
69	* ''Film/{{Inception}}'' (2010)
70	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Rango}}'' (2011)
71	* ''Film/TheDilemma'' (2011, with Music/LorneBalfe)
72	* ''VideoGame/{{Crysis}} 2'' (2011, with Borislav Slavov and Tilman Sillescu)
73	* ''[[Film/{{Rush 2013}} Rush]]'' (2013)
74	* ''Film/TheLoneRanger'' (2013)
75	* ''Film/TwelveYearsASlave'' (2013)
76	* ''Franchise/DCExtendedUniverse''
77	** ''Film/ManOfSteel'' (2013)
78	** ''Film/BatmanVSupermanDawnOfJustice'' (2016, with Music/JunkieXL)
79	** ''Film/WonderWoman1984'' (2020)
80	* ''Film/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'' (with the Magnificent Six, Pharrell Williams and Johnny Marr) (2014)
81	* ''Film/{{Interstellar}}'' (2014)
82	* ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBaby'' (2017, with Steve Mazzaro)
83	** ''WesternAnimation/TheBossBabyFamilyBusiness'' (2021, with Steve Mazzaro)
84	* ''Film/{{Dunkirk}}'' (2017)
85	* ''Film/BladeRunner2049'' (2017, with Benjamin Wallfisch). Replaced Music/JohannJohannsson.
86	* ''Film/{{Widows}}'' (2018)
87	* ''Film/DarkPhoenix'' (2019)
88	* ''Literature/HillbillyElegy'' (2020)
89	* ''Film/NoTimeToDie'' (2021, with Steve Mazzaro and Music/JohnnyMarr). Replaced Dan Romer.
90	* ''Franchise/{{Dune}}''
91	** ''[[Film/Dune2021 Dune: Part One]]'' (2021)
92	** ''Film/DunePartTwo'' (2024)
93	** ''Dune Messiah'' (TBA)[[note]]The film has not been announced yet but Zimmer is already working on the soundtrack[[/note]]
94	* ''Film/ArmyOfThieves'' (2021, with Steve Mazzaro)
95	* ''Film/TopGunMaverick'' (2022, with Harold Faltermeyer, Lorne Balfe and Music/LadyGaga)
96	* ''Series/PrehistoricPlanet'' (2022)
97	* ''Literature/AreYouThereGodItsMeMargaret'' (2023)
98	* ''Film/{{The Creator\|2023}}'' (2023)
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100	!!Tropes
101	* BrilliantButLazy: Has admitted to this, saying that he would spend moments at a time doing seemingly nothing and that it's an irresponsible life to live:
102	--> '''Hans Zimmer:''' I wake up around noon, [[SmokingIsCool light a cigarette]], get a cup of coffee, sit in the bathtub for an hour and daydream, and I usually come up with some ideas... It's a very irresponsible life. The only decisions I make are about the notes I'm writing.
103	* SelfPlagiarism: [[http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2013/11/05/hans_zimmer_scores_the_same_does_movie_composer_repeat_himself_audio.html All the time]]
104	** Compare this [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsrbLEs-diM&feature=related Modern Warfare 2 Soundtrack]] with [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQPXsXxX0_w Blackhawk Down]]. Still very epic.
105	** His ''Film/BatmanBegins'' theme [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl9jb_No1GI appears first]] in ''Film/BlackRain'', and later in ''Film/NoTimeToDie''. His theme for the finale of ''Film/TheDarkKnight'' and ''Film/TheDarkKnightRises'' is used in a flashback scene during ''Film/TheThinRedLine''.
106	** During the end of ''[[Film/PiratesoftheCaribbeanDeadMansChest Dead Man's Chest]]'' the music sounds like it was 'borrowed' from ''Film/KingArthur2004''.
107	** Remnant of ''Film/KingdomOfHeaven'' soundtrack [[note]] however, he only contributed a little, leaving the majority of the work to Harry Gregson-Williams [[/note]] can be heard in ''Film/AngelsAndDemons''.
108	** The ''Inception'' and ''12 Years a Slave'' themes are [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KyIaruNlP8 very much alike.]]
109	** His theme from ''WesternAnimation/TheCritic'' uses the same chord progression as his theme from ''Film/DrivingMissDaisy'' (with a little bit of Music/GeorgeGershwin's "Rhapsody In Blue" thrown in for good measure).
110	** Well aware of his tendency to do this, Christopher Nolan ''[[AvertedTrope strictly forbade]]'' him from doing this for ''Interstellar'', asking for an entirely original composition.

Context Music / HansZimmer