Skip to content
MovieCove
Lisa Gerrard

Lisa Gerrard

Composer, also actor · Born April 12, 1961 (65) · Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Golden Globe winner · Primetime Emmy nominee · BAFTA Award nominee · 1 other major award body

With a vision and vocal style that is as unique as it is precise and all-embracing, Lisa Gerrard has established herself as one of the world's most highly acclaimed film composers, winning a Golden Globe for her work on the score for 'Gladiator' with Hans Zimmer. Lisa also received an Oscar nomination for 'Gladiator' along with two further Golden Globe Award nominations for her scores to 'Ali' and 'The Insider'. Lisa's film work also includes 'Whale Rider', a feature which received an Academy Award nomination and garnered Lisa an international award for the score. Her musical journey began in the early 1980s when she and fellow Australian Brendan Perry formed duo 'Dead Can Dance'. In 2012 the band reunited for a sell-out world tour. With nine albums released between 1984 and 1995, the duo's musical canvas expanded with each release to take in a timeless mix of world-music influences, medieval chants, folk ballads, baroque stylings, Celtic flavours, electronics, samples and anything else that took their fancy. Several solo and collaborative albums were well received and Lisa made a natural progression to composing for films.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 12, 1961 (65)
From
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Works as
Composer, also actor
Titles
26 on MovieCove · 34 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 157 days to Oct 28Down 24% in 30 days

What are Lisa Gerrard's films like?

Across their 18 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Survival and Morality.

Genres

Drama6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 67th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 75th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 95th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Documentary 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
Survival
26%
Morality
25%
Self
14%
Bonds
13%
Ideas
10%
Power
6%
Society
6%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeTrauma3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFate2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 18 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 0 · Serious 5 · Dark 13

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 9 · Stylized 6 · 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 1 · Charged 8 · Intense 9

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

Steady 4 · Shifting 11 · Whiplash 3

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

Straight-faced 17 · Some laughs 1 · Funny 0

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

A split, not a type: Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 2

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

Casual 4 · Engaged 11 · Full focus 3

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

Easy watch 1 · Affecting 7 · Heavy 10

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 7 · Ambiguous 2

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
16
Melancholic
13
Dread
5
Contemplative
4
Hopeful
4
Other
8

How their films linger

Thought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Bittersweet13
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous3
  • Cyclical1

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 Lisa Gerrard's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 26 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Lisa Gerrard'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

34 credits, 26 with a MovieCove page; 7 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Gladiator II(2024)

    Vocals

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • City of Dreams(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Ferrari(2023)

    Additional Music

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Undertow(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Rhythm Section(2020)

    Additional Music

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • West of Sunshine(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • 2:22(2017)

    Composer · Music Producer · Vocals

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Jane Got a Gun(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Tanna(2015)

    Vocals

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • The Water Diviner(2014)

    Additional Music

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Samsara(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • InSight(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Burning Man(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Tears of Gaza(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Oranges and Sunshine(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

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

    Composer

  • Solo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • The Defector (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • Ichi(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Sanctuary: Lisa Gerrard (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • Strength and Honor: Creating the World of 'Gladiator' (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Ashes and Snow (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Fateless(2005)

    Vocals

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Killing the Afternoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Layer Cake(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Man on Fire(2004)

    Vocals

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Tears of the Sun(2003)

    Composer · Vocals

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Whale Rider(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Ali(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Gladiator(2000)

    Composer · Vocals

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • The Insider(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • In the Presence of Mine Enemies(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Thread of Voice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Sound Recordist

  • Moon Child(1989)

    Composer · as Georgina

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

Career shape

A full career of 32 titles from 1989 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Gladiator (2000)

$466M worldwide

Highest rated

Gladiator (2000)

Midcredits 99th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting1 of 32: 0 only acting, 1 with another roleMusic27 of 32: 23 only music, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score64thOther crew8 of 32: 5 only other crew, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score79th

32 titles, 4 with more than one role — music and other crew overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · 1 acting · 1 crew1990s3 · crew2000s14 · crew2010s9 · crew2020s5 · 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.

Awards

a Golden Globe from 7 major nominations, 2000–2019.

WinNomination
  1. 2019
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best New Age Album
  2. 2005
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Music Composition for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special (Dramatic Underscore)
  3. 2002
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Original Score - Motion Picture
  4. 2001
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Original Score - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
    • +1 other major body · 1 nomination
      • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
  5. 2000
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Original Score - Motion Picture

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Lisa Gerrard's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 26; across their 18 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Approval · how many liked their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Reach · how many have seen their films

86thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 18

Midcredits score across 26 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th9
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th3

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 26 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed8

Most divisive · composer

Tears of Gaza (2010)

87th percentile spread · 16% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Gladiator (2000)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 66/100 in their films, across 17 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 45. 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 Lisa Gerrard's work okay for kids?

Across up to 10 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore9 titles19–90 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity10 titles23–60 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles30–80 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs8 titles10–58 · median 38 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense9 titles39–74 · median 51 · moderateheavier 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 Lisa Gerrard work with?

People who share at least 2 of Lisa Gerrard's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Marcello De Francisci shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers