The Academy Has Reveales the Best Original Score Contenders Shortlist for the 2026 Oscars

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has unveiled the shortlist for the Best Original Score category for the 98th Academy Awards, highlighting a year defined by sonic innovation and diverse musical storytelling. This year’s selection of twenty films features a mix of veteran composers returning to iconic franchises and bold newcomers redefining the soundscape of cinema. From the pulse-pounding rhythms of high-octane sports dramas to the haunting melodies accompanying gothic horror, these scores represent the artistic zenith of 2025. The Music Branch has voted to advance these specific works, setting the stage for the final nominations. Below are the scores competing for the ultimate recognition in film music.

‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ (2025)

Composer Simon Franglen returns to Pandora to expand the musical universe established by James Horner, introducing aggressive new motifs for the Ash People. The score juxtaposes the ethereal, choral beauty of the planet’s forests with heavy, percussive war drums and volcanic instrumentation to represent the new fire-based tribe. Franglen masterfully weaves cultural sounds with a sweeping orchestral backdrop, elevating the emotional stakes of the Sully family’s journey. This soundtrack is praised for its ability to balance massive action set pieces with intimate moments of character development.

‘Bugonia’ (2025)

Yorgos Lanthimos reteams with composer Jerskin Fendrix for this science fiction comedy, creating a soundscape that is as eccentric and unsettling as the film’s premise. The score utilizes disjointed harmonies and unconventional instrumentation to mirror the paranoia of two conspiracy theorists who kidnap a CEO. Fendrix’s work avoids traditional melodic structures, opting instead for jagged, unpredictable rhythms that underscore the film’s absurdist tone. The music acts as a destabilizing force, keeping the audience off-balance while perfectly complementing the director’s unique visual style.

‘Captain America: Brave New World’ (2025)

Laura Karpman delivers a soaring and patriotic score that redefines the musical identity of the Star-Spangled Avenger for Sam Wilson’s cinematic debut as Captain America. The composition blends brass-heavy fanfares reminiscent of the political thrillers of the 1970s with modern electronic elements to reflect the contemporary geopolitical landscape. Themes of legacy and burden are explored through somber string arrangements that contrast with the high-energy action sequences. The music effectively bridges the gap between the character’s history and his new future, grounding the superhero spectacle in emotional reality.

‘Diane Warren: Relentless’ (2025)

While the documentary focuses on the legendary songwriter herself, the original score provides a poignant and driving undercurrent to her decades-spanning career. The background compositions deftly weave elements of her most famous hits into a cohesive narrative tapestry without overshadowing the songs themselves. Musically, the score reflects the subject’s tenacity and work ethic, utilizing a relentless rhythmic drive that mirrors Warren’s non-stop creative process. It serves as a subtle yet powerful character study, harmonizing with the archival footage to paint a complete portrait of an industry titan.

‘F1’ (2025)

Hans Zimmer collaborates with director Joseph Kosinski to create an auditory experience that rivals the roar of Formula 1 engines. The score is an adrenaline-fueled mixture of synthesizing engine frequencies and orchestral bombast, designed to immerse the viewer in the cockpit. Zimmer employs rapid-fire percussion and electric cello riffs to simulate the sheer speed and danger inherent in the sport. This musical accompaniment intensifies the race sequences, ensuring that the stakes feel life-threatening at every turn.

‘Frankenstein’ (2025)

Alexandre Desplat reunites with Guillermo del Toro to craft a tragic and gothic romance for this new adaptation of the Mary Shelley classic. The score is characterized by its melancholic waltzes and the use of period-specific instrumentation that evokes 19th-century Europe. Desplat creates a “monster theme” that is surprisingly tender, emphasizing the creature’s loneliness rather than his monstrosity. The music swells with operatic grandeur during the film’s horrific climaxes, providing a stark contrast to the quiet desperation of the calmer scenes.

‘Hamnet’ (2025)

For Chloé Zhao’s adaptation of the best-selling novel, the score adopts a minimalist and naturalistic approach to depict the grief of Shakespeare’s family. The music relies heavily on period instruments like the lute and recorder, blended with ambient nature sounds to ground the story in its rural setting. It avoids melodrama, instead using silence and sparse melodies to convey the devastating loss of a child. The result is a hauntingly intimate soundtrack that feels timeless, effectively bridging the gap between historical drama and raw human emotion.

‘Hedda’ (2025)

Nia DaCosta’s reimagining of Hedda Gabler features a score that is taut, psychological, and suffocating. The music reflects the protagonist’s internal entrapment through the use of repetitive, claustrophobic string motifs that refuse to resolve. As Hedda’s desperation grows, the score introduces dissonant piano chords that mirror her fracturing psyche. It is a composition that prioritizes tension over melody, turning the domestic setting into a landscape of sonic dread.

‘A House of Dynamite’ (2025)

This film features an explosive score that matches its high-stakes narrative about a volatile confrontation. The composer utilizes a mix of ticking-clock percussion and sudden, loud orchestral stings to maintain a constant level of anxiety. The music mimics the instability of the titular “house,” with quiet moments of suspense inevitably leading to chaotic crescendos. It is a masterclass in dynamic range, using volume and tempo to manipulate the audience’s heart rate throughout the runtime.

‘Jay Kelly’ (2025)

Noah Baumbach’s latest collaboration features a jazz-infused score that perfectly captures the neuroses and wit of its characters. The music swings with a frenetic energy, utilizing brass and piano to underscore the fast-paced dialogue and urban setting. There is a nostalgic quality to the arrangements, evoking the classic screwball comedies of the past while remaining distinctly modern. The score serves as a rhythmic backbone for the film, propelling the narrative forward with style and sophistication.

‘Marty Supreme’ (2025)

For Josh Safdie’s biopic of ping pong legend Marty Reisman, the score is a kinetic and retro-electronic tour de force. Composer Daniel Lopatin likely employs analog synthesizers and sampled ping pong ball sounds to create a rhythmic texture that mimics the sport’s rapid-fire nature. The music captures the grit and glamour of the mid-century New York table tennis scene. It is a propulsive soundtrack that transforms matches into gladiatorial battles, emphasizing the intensity and obsession of the protagonist.

‘Nuremberg’ (2025)

The score for James Vanderbilt’s historical drama is solemn, weighty, and respectful of the gravity of the subject matter. It utilizes a full orchestra to convey the scale of the post-war trials, with deep brass and lower strings dominating the soundscape. The music avoids sensationalism, instead focusing on the moral complexity and the somber atmosphere of the courtroom. It provides a dignified musical backing to the performances, underscoring the themes of justice and accountability without resorting to sentimentality.

‘One Battle after Another’ (2025)

Reflecting the weary and relentless nature of conflict, this score employs a repetitive and industrial musical palette. The composer uses metallic percussion and droning synths to simulate the machinery of war and the exhaustion of the soldiers. Melodies are scarce and fleeting, often drowned out by the oppressive wall of sound that represents the battlefield. It is an immersive and harrowing auditory experience that emphasizes the futility and endless cycle of violence.

‘Sinners’ (2025)

Ludwig Göransson delivers a chilling and atmospheric score for Ryan Coogler’s Depression-era vampire horror film. The music blends Southern blues and folk influences with terrifying, dissonant horror tropes to create a unique sonic identity. Distorted guitars and wailing vocals are used to evoke the supernatural threat lurking in the shadows. The score builds a sense of dread that is palpable, grounding the fantastical elements in a gritty, historical reality.

‘Sirāt’ (2025)

This spiritual drama features a transcendent score that blends Middle Eastern instrumentation with modern ambient textures. The music represents the metaphysical journey across the bridge to the afterlife, utilizing ethereal vocals and the ney flute to create a sense of otherworldliness. It is a meditative and expansive composition that invites deep reflection from the audience. The score’s fluid structure mirrors the film’s exploration of faith, destiny, and the unknown.

‘Train Dreams’ (2025)

Accompanying the story of a laborer in the American West, the score is sparse, atmospheric, and deeply melancholic. It utilizes acoustic guitar and fiddle to evoke the vast, lonely landscapes of the early 20th century. The music often fades into the background, allowing the natural sounds of the wilderness to take center stage, reflecting the protagonist’s isolation. It is a hauntingly beautiful work that captures the passage of time and the fading of an era.

‘Tron: Ares’ (2025)

Nine Inch Nails, comprising Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, take the reins for the latest installment in the grid-based saga, delivering a dark, industrial electronic score. The music departs from the polished synthwave of its predecessor, opting for grittier, more aggressive textures that reflect the film’s invasion plot. Pulsating basslines and distorted synthesizers drive the action sequences, creating a sense of digital menace. The score honors the franchise’s musical legacy while pushing it into heavier, more experimental territory.

‘Truth & Treason’ (2025)

The score for this historical thriller is built on layers of suspense and intrigue, utilizing strings and piano to create a web of musical tension. As the plot involving espionage and moral dilemmas unfolds, the music shifts from quiet unease to driving urgency. The composer uses leitmotifs to represent different factions, weaving them together as the conspiracy tightens. It is a classic thriller score that effectively heightens the danger and emotional stakes for the characters involved.

‘Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery’ (2025)

Nathan Johnson returns to the franchise with another lush, orchestral score that pays homage to the classic mystery films of the past. The music is playful and intricate, featuring woodwind flourishes and sharp staccato strings that mimic the ticking of a clock. Johnson balances the comedic elements with genuine suspense, ensuring the score aids in the misdirection of the audience. It is a sophisticated and elegant composition that perfectly matches the opulent setting and the cleverness of Benoit Blanc.

‘Wicked: For Good’ (2025)

John Powell provides the musical conclusion to the cinematic adaptation of the beloved musical, expanding on the themes introduced in the first part. The score creates a grand, symphonic backdrop for the final confrontation and resolution between Elphaba and Glinda. Powell integrates the iconic song melodies into the underscoring, giving them new emotional weight and dramatic context. The result is a sweeping and magical auditory experience that captures the heart and spectacle of the land of Oz.

Share your favorite scores from this shortlist and your predictions for the final nominees in the comments.