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Wojciech Kilar

Wojciech Kilar

Composer · Died December 29, 2013, aged 81 · Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Wojciech Kilar (Polish: [ˈvɔjt͡ɕex ˈkilar]; 17 July 1932 – 29 December 2013) was a Polish classical and film music composer. His film scores have won many honors including the best score award for the music to Ziemia obiecana / The Promised Land in 1975, followed by the Prix Louis Delluc in 1980 for the music to Le Roi et l'Oiseau / The King and the Mockingbird, and an award at the Cork International Film Festival for the music to From A Far Country (1981) about the life of Pope John Paul II. One of his greatest successes came with his score to Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula in 1993 which received the ASCAP Award from the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Producers in Los Angeles, nominated also for the Saturn Award for Best Music in a science fiction, fantasy, or horror film in San Francisco in 1993. In 2003, he won the César Award for Best Film Music written for The Pianist, at France's 28th César Awards Ceremony in 2003, for which he also received a BAFTA nomination. The Pianist (soundtrack) featured his "Moving to the Ghetto Oct. 31, 1940" with the other 10 tracks being works by Frédéric Chopin. The music in the movie includes pieces by Beethoven and Bach. The vast majority of Wojciech Kilar's work remains undiscovered by the music public at large, despite having written music for well over 100 films, including: Bram Stoker's Dracula, Death and the Maiden, The Portrait of a Lady, The Ninth Gate, Pan Tadeusz, The Pianist, Zemsta, and We Own the Night.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
July 17, 1932
Died
December 29, 2013 (aged 81)
From
Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland
Works as
Composer
Titles
18 on MovieCove · 148 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 15% in 30 days

What are Wojciech Kilar's films like?

Across their 16 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Power.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 63rd percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
27%
Power
15%
Society
14%
Bonds
13%
Ideas
11%
Self
10%
Survival
10%
Faith4 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeOppression3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate2 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 16 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 3 · Serious 3 · Dark 10

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 3

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 2 · Charged 6 · Intense 8

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 8 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 1

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 2

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 6 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 12 · Full focus 3

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 4 · Affecting 3 · Heavy 9

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 9 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
9
Melancholic
10
Dread
5
Contemplative
5
Warm
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Haunting8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy3
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous3
  • Other1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Wojciech Kilar's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 8 of their 18 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Wojciech Kilar's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

148 credits, 18 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Nature of Beauty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Composer

  • Dracula (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Composer

  • Foreign Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Poste restante (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Revisited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Welcome(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • And a Warm Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • We Own the Night(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • The Blood Is the Life: The Making of 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Black Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • Persona non grata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • The Revenge(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • The Pianist(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Supplement (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

  • I Remember (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: The Hidden Treasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Composer

  • The Last Days (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Composer

  • The Ninth Gate(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • A Week in the Life of a Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: Unwritten Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: Dilatory Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: The Last Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: Deceptive Charm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: The Soul Sings (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Our God's Brother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: Little Faith (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • The Portrait of a Lady(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • At Full Gallop (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer

  • Ghost with Driver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer

  • Weekend Stories: A Woman's Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer

  • Faustina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Composer

  • Legenda Tatr (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Composer

  • Smierc jak kromka chleba(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Death and the Maiden(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • A King for Burning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 2 episodes · Composer

  • Dracula(1992)

    Composer · Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • The Silent Touch (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Das lange Gespräch mit dem Vogel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Life for Life: Maximilian Kolbe(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Napoleon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

  • Obrazy i dźwięki. O muzyce Wojciecha Kilara (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Actor

  • Korczak (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Inventory (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • Turning Table (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer · Musical

  • Wherever You Are... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer

  • Salsa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer

  • Blind Chance(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Chronicle of Amorous Accidents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Paradigma(1985)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Year of the Quiet Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Credo... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

  • Imperative (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • The Contract (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • Versuchung (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Composer

  • From a Far Country(1981)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • Gwiazda Wytrwałości (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Composer

  • The Constant Factor(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • The Beads of One Rosary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Composer

  • The King and the Mockingbird(1980)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Ways in the Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • From a Night Porter's Point of View (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Rodzina Połanieckich (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 7 episodes · Composer

  • David (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • Krzesany (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Composer

  • The Spiral (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Composer

  • Ziemia obiecana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 4 episodes · Composer

  • Camouflage(1977)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Anatomiestunde (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Composer

  • The Leper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Composer

  • The Shadow-Line (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Composer

  • The Catamount Killing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • Znikąd donikąd (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • The Promised Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • A Woman's Decision (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Composer

  • The Wicket Gate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Composer

  • Hipoteza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Illumination (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Jealousy and Medicine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Hubal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Possession (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Composer

  • Wielka miłość Balzaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    Show 7 episodes · Composer

  • Bolesław Śmiały (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Composer

  • Glass Ball (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Composer

  • Brylanty pani Zuzy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Composer

  • Pearl in the Crown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Composer

  • Theatre Macabre(1971)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all shows

  • Family Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • Martwa fala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • Rola (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • The Ring of Queen Ann (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • Dancing at Hitler's Headquarters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • Przystań (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Composer

  • Romantyczni (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • The Cruise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Lokis: A Manuscript of Professor Wittembach (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • The Taste of the Black Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Mountains at Dusk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Composer

  • Only the Dead Can Answer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • The Structure of Crystal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • The Criminal Who Stole a Crime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • The Red and the Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • The Neighbours (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • The Pier (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • Człowiek z M-3 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • Loneliness of the Couple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Composer

  • The Doll (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Ostatni po Bogu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Tabliczka marzenia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Wolves' Echoes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • The Vampire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Composer

  • Stajnia na Salvatorze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Our Folks (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Westerplatte Resists (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • The Killer Leaves a Trace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Bicz Boży (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Full Ahead (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Music Director

  • Skinny and Others (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Return to Earth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Composer

  • Bumerang (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • Ktokolwiek wie... (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • Maria and Napoleon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • Hell and Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • The Catastrophe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • Tomorrow Mexico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Composer

  • Trzy kroki po ziemi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Composer

  • Salto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Composer

  • Wyspa złoczyńców (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Composer

  • Obok prawdy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Composer

  • Late Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Composer

  • Pięciu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Echo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Giuseppe in Warsaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Ciemnogród (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Composer

  • Kryptonim Nektar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Composer

  • Mansarda (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Composer

  • Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Composer

  • Far Is the Road (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Composer

  • Czerwone berety (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Composer

  • Spotkanie w 'Bajce' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • Rodzina Milcarków (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • The Voice from Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • I ty zostaniesz Indianinem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • Wild Horses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    Composer

  • Silent Traces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Composer

  • Nobody's Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Composer

  • The Moonwalkers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Composer

  • Narciarze (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 148 titles from 1958 to 2025.

Biggest box office

Dracula (1992)

$216M worldwide

Highest rated

The Pianist (2002)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 148: 1 only acting, 0 with another roleWriting1 of 148: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleMusic146 of 148: 144 only music, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score80thOther crew2 of 148: 1 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s1 · crew1960s49 · crew1970s38 · crew1980s17 · crew1990s26 · 1 acting · 25 crew2000s14 · crew2010s1 · crew2020s2 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Wojciech Kilar's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 82nd percentile, the median of all 17; across their 16 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 78th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

78thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Approval · how many liked their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Reach · how many have seen their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 16

Midcredits score across 18 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th3
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 18 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · composer

From a Far Country (1981)

69th percentile spread · 27% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

The Pianist (2002)

Midcredits 99th · 94% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 72/100 in their films, across 9 reviewed titles; fans 81, detractors 44. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Wojciech Kilar's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles60–92 · median 78 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles25–76 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity6 titles35–84 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles36–60 · median 41 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles46–88 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Wojciech Kilar work with?

People who share at least 2 of Wojciech Kilar's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Krzysztof Zanussi shares the most, 5.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors