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John Powell

John Powell

Composer · Born September 18, 1963 (63) · London, England

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

John Powell is an English composer best known for his film scores. He has been based in Los Angeles since 1997 and has composed the scores to over 70 feature films. He is best known for composing scores for films, including Face/Off, the Bourne film series, the Happy Feet films, United 93, X-Men: The Last Stand, Wicked and its sequel, Evolution, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax, Migration, Drumline, Hancock, The Call of the Wild, Bolt, eight Blue Sky Studios films, and nine DreamWorks Animation films. His work on Happy Feet, Ferdinand, and Solo: A Star Wars Story has earned him three Grammy nominations. He was nominated for an Academy Award for How to Train Your Dragon. Powell was a member of Hans Zimmer's music studio, Remote Control Productions, and has collaborated frequently with other composers from the studio, including Harry Gregson-Williams on Antz, Chicken Run, and Shrek and Zimmer himself on Chill Factor, The Road to El Dorado, and the first two Kung Fu Panda films. He has also collaborated with film directors such as Carlos Saldanha, Dean DeBlois, Chris Sanders, Benjamin Renner, Chris Renaud, George Miller, John Woo, Ron Underwood, Doug Liman, Charles Stone III, Simon Otto, Jared Hess, and Paul Greengrass. Description above from the Wikipedia article John Powell (film composer), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 18, 1963 (63)
From
London, England
Works as
Composer
Titles
81 on MovieCove · 89 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 28% in 30 days

What are John Powell's films like?

Across their 71 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Animation30 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Action21 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies
Comedy10 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 37th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 68th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Adventure2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile
: browse their Biography 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
Self
31%
Bonds
27%
Morality
12%
Society
12%
Power
8%
Survival
5%
Ideas
5%
Identity23 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds19 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity18 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth10 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship10 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFreedom8 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 71 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 47 · Serious 13 · Dark 11

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

Grounded 16 · Stylized 32 · Heightened 23

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

Gentle 21 · Charged 29 · Intense 21

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

Steady 25 · Shifting 39 · Whiplash 7

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 14 · Some laughs 30 · Funny 27

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

Slow burn 10 · Even-paced 44 · Relentless 17

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

Casual 42 · Engaged 23 · Full focus 5

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

Easy watch 48 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 68 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Thrilling
34
Joyful
29
Tense
25
Hopeful
31
Warm
18
Other
72

How their films linger

Hopeful40 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good38 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun30 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 11 with a twist

  • Happy44
  • Bittersweet22
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous4

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 John Powell's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 50 of their 81 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Disney+ (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for John Powell'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

89 credits, 81 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Shrek 5 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2027)

    Composer

  • Minions & Monsters(2026)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Wicked: For Good(2025)

    Composer · Music Director

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • How to Train Your Dragon(2025)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • That Christmas(2024)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Wicked(2024)

    Composer · Music Director

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Thelma the Unicorn(2024)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • The Last Ranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Composer

  • Migration(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Don't Worry Darling(2022)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: Scrat Tales(2022)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Locked Down(2021)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Call of the Wild(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Solo: A Star Wars Story(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Ferdinand(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Jason Bourne(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Pan(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • How to Train Your Dragon 2(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Rio 2(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: Continental Drift(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Lorax(2012)

    Composer · Songs

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Masters(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Happy Feet Two(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Book of Dragons(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Dragons: Gift of the Night Fury(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Panda 2(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Rio(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Mars Needs Moms(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Panda Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Legend of the BoneKnapper Dragon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Composer

  • Knight and Day(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Fair Game(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • How to Train Your Dragon(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Green Zone(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Super Rhino(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Bolt(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Panda: Secrets of the Furious Five(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Hancock(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Kung Fu Panda(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Stop-Loss(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Horton Hears a Who!(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Jumper(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • P.S. I Love You(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • The Light and The Dark: The Making of Face/Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Composer

  • The Bourne Ultimatum(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • United 93: The Families and the Film(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Happy Feet(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • X-Men: The Last Stand(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • United 93(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Ice Age: The Meltdown(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Aunt Fanny's Tour of Booty(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Robots(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Be Cool(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Alfie(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • The Bourne Supremacy(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Mr. 3000(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Paycheck(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Gigli(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • The Italian Job(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Agent Cody Banks(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Stealing Sinatra(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Two Weeks Notice(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Drumline(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Pluto Nash(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • The Bourne Identity(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • D-Tox(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • I Am Sam(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Man and Cat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Rat Race(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Evolution(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Shrek(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Just Visiting(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Chicken Run(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Road to El Dorado(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Chill Factor(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Endurance(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Forces of Nature(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • The Thin Red Line(1998)

    Additional Music

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Antz(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • With Friends Like These(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Human Bomb (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Face/Off(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • I Am Your Punishment (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 88 titles, 87 of them dated from 1996 to 2026.

Biggest box office

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (2009)

$887M worldwide

Highest rated

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Midcredits 99th

Most popular right now

Shrek (2001)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Music88 of 88: 84 only music, 4 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thOther crew4 of 88: 0 only other crew, 4 with another role

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

By decade

1990s9 · crew2000s43 · crew2010s22 · crew2020s13 · 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 Primetime Emmy from 12 major nominations, 2002–2026.

WinNomination
  1. 2026
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Composition
    • Grammy Award, nominated ×2 · Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
  2. 2025
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures (Original Score)
  3. 2023
    • Primetime Emmy, won · Outstanding Music Composition for a Documentary Series or Special (Original Dramatic Score)
  4. 2019
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Instrumental Composition
  5. 2011
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
  6. 2008
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
  7. 2007
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
  8. 2002
    • BAFTA Award, nominated

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 John Powell's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 66th percentile, the median of all 80; across their 71 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 71

Approval · how many liked their films

62ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 71

Reach · how many have seen their films

97thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 71

Midcredits score across 81 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up27
  • 50th to 74th31
  • 25th to 49th14
  • Below 25th9

Shape of the crowd

41 of their 81 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved14
  • Universally Panned1
  • Crowd Pleaser41
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed17

Most divisive · composer

Square Roots: The Story of SpongeBob SquarePants (2009)

73rd percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

How to Train Your Dragon (2010)

Midcredits 99th · 92% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 64/100 in their films, across 64 reviewed titles; fans 71, 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 John Powell's work okay for kids?

Across up to 59 MovieCove titles with content scores, alcohol & drugs runs lighter than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore58 titles20–71 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity59 titles10–44 · median 26 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity59 titles8–67 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs58 titles4–44 · median 22 · mildlighter than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense56 titles23–64 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all 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 John Powell work with?

People who share at least 2 of John Powell's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Carlos Saldanha shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles