Howard Shore

Sound

Howard Shore

Born 1946-10-18 · Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Howard Leslie Shore (born October 18, 1946) is a Canadian composer, conductor and orchestrator noted for his film scores. He has composed the scores for over 80 films, most notably for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies. He won three Academy Awards for his work on The Lord of the Rings, one for the song "Into the West", an award he shared with Eurythmics lead vocalist Annie Lennox and writer/producer Fran Walsh, who wrote the lyrics. He consistently collaborates with director David Cronenberg, having scored all but one of his films since 1979, and collaborated with Martin Scorsese on six of his films. Shore has also composed concert works including one opera, The Fly, based on the plot of Cronenberg's 1986 film, which premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris on July 2, 2008; a short piece named Fanfare for the Wanamaker Organ and the Philadelphia Orchestra; and a short overture for the Swiss 21st Century Symphony Orchestra. Shore has also composed for television, including serving as the original musical director for the American sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1980. In addition to his three Oscars, Shore has won three Golden Globe Awards, four Grammy Awards, three Genie Awards, and nine Canadian Screen Awards. Description above from the Wikipedia article Howard Shore, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Acting credits

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King poster
8.5

As armies mass for a final battle that will decide the fate of the world--and powerful, ancient forces of Light and Dark compete to determine the outcome--one member of the Fellowship of the Ring is revealed as the noble heir to the throne of the Kings of Men. Yet, the sole hope for triumph over evil lies with a brave hobbit, Frodo, who, accompanied by his loyal friend Sam and the hideous, wretched Gollum, ventures deep into the very dark heart of Mordor on his seemingly impossible quest to destroy the Ring of Power.​

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

2003

Lorne poster
6.9

An unprecedented, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the man who built the inimitable empire of comedy, shaping television and culture for generations. The documentary features exclusive footage, archival treasures, and candid interviews with the show’s most iconic cast members and writers including Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, John Mulaney, Andy Samberg, Conan O’Brien, Chris Rock and many more.

Lorne

2026

A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King' poster
6.5

A documentary about the making of 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'.

A Filmmaker's Journey: Making 'The Return of the King'

2004

The Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' poster
8.8

A behind-the-scenes documentary on the making of 2001's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring." Created by filmmaker Costa Botes, personally selected by director Peter Jackson, this documentary uses raw footage to reveal the inside story on how the greatest adventure film franchise was born.

The Making of 'The Fellowship of the Ring'

2006

Score: A Film Music Documentary poster
7.2

Music is an integral part of most films, adding emotion and nuance while often remaining invisible to audiences. Matt Schrader shines a spotlight on the overlooked craft of film composing, gathering many of the art form’s most influential practitioners, from Hans Zimmer and Danny Elfman to Quincy Jones and Randy Newman, to uncover their creative process. Tracing key developments in the evolution of music in film, and exploring some of cinema’s most iconic soundtracks, 'Score' is an aural valentine for film lovers.

Score: A Film Music Documentary

2017

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music poster
7.7

Untold stories behind the culture-defining and newsmaking musical performances, sketches and cameos of the past 50 years.

Ladies & Gentlemen... 50 Years of SNL Music

2025

No artwork available
6.1

An in-depth documentary about the making of David Cronenberg's feature film, Cosmopolis (2012), an adaptation of Don DeLillo's novel of the same name.

Citizens of Cosmopolis

2012

Gilda Live poster
6.1

Gilda Radner is recorded during a live comedy concert. Radner's classic characters are seen in sketches that are sometimes more risque than when they appeared on television. During her breaks, the character Father Guido Sarducci takes the stage.

Gilda Live

1980

Howard Shore Weekend  - The Lord of the Rings poster
4.0

A concert dedicated to Canadian film composer Howard Shore, famous for his scores to Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings and David Cronenberg’s The Fly. With the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Concert filmed on May 12, 2023 in the Auditorium de Radio France, Paris. Program: - Fanfare for Organ and Brass - La Mouche - Le Festin Nu - The Forest, concerto for guitar and orchestra - The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Howard Shore Weekend - The Lord of the Rings

2023

Inside the Labyrinth: The Making of 'The Silence of the Lambs' poster
7.3

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of this Oscar winning thriller, prepared for its tenth anniversary. Includes interviews with star Anthony Hopkins, as well as other members of the cast and crew, giving their views on the experience of creating this masterpiece of terror and suspense.

Inside the Labyrinth: The Making of 'The Silence of the Lambs'

2001

People Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia' poster
4.8

10 years after the release of "Philadelphia," director Jonathan Demme, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington and others discuss about the making of that film and it's important legacy through the years of being the first mainstream Hollywood film about dealing with the topic of Aids, revealing its impact on culture and society. Cast and crew talk about the inception of the project, the making of it and curious stories about one of the greatest hits of 1993.

People Like Us: Making 'Philadelphia'

2004

Howard Shore Weekend - Eastern Promises poster
NR

A second concert dedicated to the music of Howard Shore, composer of famous film scores such as David Cronenberg’s Eastern Promises. Bastien Stil conducts the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France. Concert filmed on May 14, 2023 in the Auditorium de Radio France, Paris. Program : - Concertino from Eastern Promises, music from the film Eastern Promises by David Cronenberg - The Song of Names, suite for violin and orchestra, music from the film The Song of Names by François Girard - Mythic Gardens concerto for cello and orchestra (concert work) - Ruin and Memory, concerto for piano and orchestra (concert work)

Howard Shore Weekend - Eastern Promises

2023

The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz poster
5.3

"The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz" - a featurette narrated by Sydney Pollack.

The Art of Imagination: A Tribute to Oz

2005

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music poster
NR

A look at Dan and John's partnership and the music

The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music

2005

100 Jahre Hollywood - Die Carl Laemmle Story poster
9.0

Red carpet, flashbulbs, tuxedos and evening gowns: Hollywood celebrates its birthday. For a hundred years, this has been the place where films and their stars are celebrated. Hollywood is the most American of dreams. But hardly anyone suspects that this story began in the German provinces - with the Swabian emigrant Carl Laemmle from Laupheim near Ulm, who founded Universal Studios in Hollywood in 1912. Together with his niece Carla Laemmle, who is as old as the dream factory itself - namely one hundred years old - the film takes us on a fantastic journey back to the beginnings of film history - to a time when everything was simply "wild", when Indians, elephants and monsters ran around on the Universal premises and things were still loud and hearty during filming.

100 Jahre Hollywood - Die Carl Laemmle Story

2011

Music for Middle-earth poster
NR

Behind-the-scenes documentary of the Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

Music for Middle-earth

2002

Scoring the Silence poster
6.0

Documentary featuring an interview with Howard Shore, composer of the score of the film "The Silence of the Lamb" (1991).

Scoring the Silence

2006

Ed Wood: The Theremin poster
NR

A conversation with Howard Shore about the music in the film, and how they recorded the Theremin track. There is also demonstration and explanation of how a Theremin works and is played.

Ed Wood: The Theremin

2004

Howard Shore: A Composer's Dream poster
NR

This short film demonstrates how Howard Shore has distinguished himself as one of Canada's most accomplished - and versatile - composers. During woodland rambles with his beloved dogs, Shore gives free rein to his ceaseless creativity. Whether composing delicate counterpoint or Oscar®-winning movie music, Shore is keenly tuned to a remarkable range of musical expression.

Howard Shore: A Composer's Dream

2011

Creating the Lord of the Rings Symphony poster
7.2

Creating The Lord of the Rings Symphony includes excerpts of live concert footage from The Lord of the Rings Symphony: Six Movements for Orchestra, Chorus and Soloists, documentary commentary by Howard Shore, and the illustrations of Alan Lee and John Howe.

Creating the Lord of the Rings Symphony

2004

Behind the camera