Henry Jackman writes the soundtracks of our lives. The number of films he’s scored and stories he’s helped tell is beyond impressive. This English composer’s work has become iconic in Hollywood and instantly recognizable around the world. For fans, he’s the person most responsible for setting the mood in some of the most beloved movies ever made.
While credited for orchestrating the dense audio backdrop to the MCU, Jackman’s contributions to movies and music don’t end there. Animated films and action features are all part of his impressive resume. Characters and conflicts are created in step with his melodies and a great Jackman score can blend the viewer immediately into the next scene. It’s this immersive style that gives this composer. So, how does one rank all his work? It’s not easy, but it’s doable. We did it. Here are Henry Jackman’s best film scores, ranked.
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9 Puss in Boots
Paramount Pictures
With 22 tracks composed on this release, Jackman played a pivotal role in the ambiance of Puss In Boots. Utilizing both folk instrumentation and a symphonic orchestra, Jackman created cues for the characters.
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In an interview with Animated Views, Jackman said of director Chris Miller, “He’s good to work with because he has very strong ideas and he expresses them, you know, like a director. It’s not his job to be musically trained and describe to me the orchestration he’s looking for or play me a specific piece of music."
8 Kong: Skull Island
Warner Bros. Pictures
Jackman tapped into 1970s influences for his score of Kong: Skull Island. This reboot of the classic monster film wanted to emphasize the rich history of the franchise with the psychedelic guitars of that era. The music of this film is credited as strongly contributing to the overall eeriness of the island. It was something that the composer himself relished in. In speaking with EW, Jackman said of Skull Island, “The great thing about a monster movie is that it opens the door to use the symphony orchestra in its most sumptuous way.”
7 Wreck-It Ralph
Walt Disney Pictures
When composing Wreck-It Ralph, Jackman tried to produce a classic game-inspired soundtrack. Through piano, synth, and electronics, an eight-bit orchestra produced some of the most recognizable music in any film. While critics had issues with some of the non-Jackman tracks on this album, his part of the release is generally met with praise.
6 Kingsman: The Secret Service
20th Century Fox
The 2015 soundtrack for Kingsman: The Secret Service is a big favorite among fans. This 18-track set by Jackman and Matthew Margeson played perfectly into the spy-action comedy. Jackman enjoyed the film’s message. In an interview with Motion Pictures, he explained how, in a film, it’s not about what you shoot on the screen, but why you shoot it: “Some of the stuff in Kingsman and Kick-Ass is pretty gruesome, but they always feel positive to me,” Jackman revealed. “(Director Matthew Vaughn) once said to me, “Whenever you’re at a creative crossroads, whatever it is, just be bold.”
5 Big Hero 6
Disney
Jackman got a glimpse of Big Hero 6 six months before its release and immediately went to work creating music from a “wide palette of sounds.” Using a 77-piece orchestra for the main themes, the musical director went all out on this compilation. It is one of his most recognizable releases.
4 Kick-Ass
Lionsgate
His first step in becoming an iconic superhero scorer, Jackman joined Kick-Ass and produced a score that, well, kicked ass. Along with director Matthew Vaughn, he helped to shape a memorable movie. It was his first flight as a superhero musical creator.
Today, he credits this film for beginning his journey but saw it as a chance to try something new. In an interview with Awards Radar, Jackman explained, “I said, ‘Look Matthew, I’ll write you a superhero tune on a rainy Sunday afternoon. If you like it, we’ll start talking. If you don’t like it, forget I ever wrote it.’”
3 Captain Phillips
Columbia Pictures
One of Jackman’s most iconic scores is also one of his most controversial. The music for Captain Phillips sets the mood for an incredible performance by Tom Hanks. In the end, though, one song did raise eyebrows as Jackman’s “Safe Now” bared an incredible resemblance to Hans Zimmer’s “Time” from Inception.
While the two songs have many similarities, professionals have been quick to point out that while the structure may be the same, the compositions are not. In fact, similarities between scores can be found all over Hollywood. The end result here is that Captain Phillips remains one of Jackson’s most prolific pieces of work.
2 X-Men: First Class
20th Century Studios
Known for his epic scores of super films, Jackman’s contributions to X-Men: First Class can’t be overstated. Reuniting with Vaughn, the director of Kick-Ass, Jackman composed a true masterpiece that merged pop and rock perfectly in relation to the story.
Jackman experimented with many styles in preparing this collection. Wanting to stay away from orchestral music, he drew inspiration from James Bond musical composer John Barry. A little bit of Superman, a little bit of “posh punk,” the final soundtrack was met with mostly positive reviews.
1 Captain America: The Winter Soldier
Marvel Studios
One of Jackman’s most polarizing soundtracks, Captain America: The Winter Soldier has divided fans and critics since its release in 2013. The composer’s use of electronics while dismissing the Alan Silvestri theme from the first film drew ire from critics.
An overwhelming amount of fans, however, stand against this notion. For many, it exemplifies the tone of the film and overall mood perfectly. The difference of opinion between these two camps is so immense with so many online calling it the best MCU soundtrack. Meanwhile, the critical reception was abysmal.
Despite being released in 2013, the battle over the score rages on. Critics have panned it and fans have defended it. Today, this soundtrack, once called “weird,” “grating,” and “barren” by critics, sits with 99% positive reviews by Google users.
