---
name: "Carter Burwell"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/carter-burwell"
fi1m_id: "carter-burwell"
imdb_id: "nm0001980"
tmdb_id: 1225
wikidata_id: "Q374754"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "18 November 1955"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 37
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_over: 37
updated: "2026-10-22T04:22:36.878865+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Carter Burwell

## Identity

Carter Burwell

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/carter-burwell
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** carter-burwell
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001980
- **TMDB ID:** 1225
- **Wikidata ID:** Q374754
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Burwell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q374754, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001980/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1225

Composer. Born 18 November 1955 in New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 18 November 1955, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1987–present
- **Also known as:** Carter Benedict Burwell
- **Frequently works with:** [Ethan Coen](https://film.one/person/ethan-coen.md), [Joel Coen](https://film.one/person/joel-coen.md), [Frances McDormand](https://film.one/person/frances-mcdormand.md), [Graham Broadbent](https://film.one/person/graham-broadbent.md), [Martin McDonagh](https://film.one/person/martin-mcdonagh.md), [Peter Czernin](https://film.one/person/peter-czernin.md), [Spike Jonze](https://film.one/person/spike-jonze.md), [Bill Condon](https://film.one/person/bill-condon.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 3 Oscar nominations
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (1), 1990s 83 (9), 2000s 76 (10), 2010s 73 (13), 2020s 72 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 77 to 72 across 37 titles
- **Score spread:** 22 at 80+, 11 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 27, Comedy 18, Crime 12, Fantasy 7, Thriller 6, Romance 5
- **Screen time:** 65 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $3,811m across 34 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carter_Burwell, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q374754, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001980/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1225

## Coming up

- *Wild Horse Nine* (2026-11-04), Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Carol*](https://film.one/film/carol.md) (88), [*A Serious Man*](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md) (84), [*Adaptation.*](https://film.one/film/adaptation.md) (83), [*Gods and Monsters*](https://film.one/film/gods-and-monsters.md) (82)
- **Apple TV:** [*No Country for Old Men*](https://film.one/film/no-country-for-old-men.md) (91), [*True Grit*](https://film.one/film/true-grit.md) (84), [*The Tragedy of Macbeth*](https://film.one/film/the-tragedy-of-macbeth.md) (80)
- **Disney+:** [*Fargo*](https://film.one/film/fargo.md) (91)
- **HBO Max:** [*Olive Kitteridge*](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md) (84)
- **Hulu:** [*Where the Wild Things Are*](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md) (80)
- **Netflix:** [*The Ballad of Buster Scruggs*](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md) (79)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Hudsucker Proxy*](https://film.one/film/the-hudsucker-proxy.md) (78)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Carter Burwell is an American film composer. He has frequently collaborated with the Coen brothers, providing the music for most of their films, including *Miller's Crossing* (1990), *Barton Fink* (1991), *The Hudsucker Proxy* (1994) and *Drive-Away Dolls* (2024).

Born in New York City, Burwell studied at Harvard College. His other notable scores include *Fargo* (1996), *The Big Lebowski* (1998), *In Bruges* (2008), the *Twilight* films (2008–2012), *True Grit* (2010) and *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017). He received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Score for *Carol* (2015), *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* and *The Banshees of Inisherin* (2022).

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, carterburwell.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (37)

- *Good Fortune* (2025), Fi1m 66, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/good-fortune.md)
- *Drive-Away Dolls* (2024), Fi1m 60, Conductor, Orchestrator, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/drive-away-dolls.md)
- *The Banshees of Inisherin* (2022), Fi1m 84, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-banshees-of-inisherin.md)
- *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (2021), Fi1m 80, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-tragedy-of-macbeth.md)
- *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018), Fi1m 79, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md)
- *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), Fi1m 74, Original Music Composer, Conductor, Music, Orchestrator — [page](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md)
- *Hail, Caesar!* (2016), Fi1m 72, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/hail-caesar.md)
- *Anomalisa* (2015), Fi1m 82, Orchestrator, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/anomalisa.md)
- *Carol* (2015), Fi1m 88, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/carol.md)
- *Legend* (2015), Fi1m 57, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/legend-2015.md)
- *Olive Kitteridge* (2014), Fi1m 84, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), Fi1m 72, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2* (2012), Fi1m 55, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2.md)
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), Fi1m 70, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md)
- *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1* (2011), Fi1m 47, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-1.md)
- *The Kids Are All Right* (2010), Fi1m 80, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-kids-are-all-right.md)
- *True Grit* (2010), Fi1m 84, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/true-grit.md)
- *A Serious Man* (2009), Fi1m 84, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md)
- *The Blind Side* (2009), Fi1m 52, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-blind-side.md)
- *Where the Wild Things Are* (2009), Fi1m 80, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md)
- *Burn After Reading* (2008), Fi1m 72, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/burn-after-reading.md)
- *In Bruges* (2008), Fi1m 83, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/in-bruges.md)
- *Twilight* (2008), Fi1m 70, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/twilight.md)
- *No Country for Old Men* (2007), Fi1m 91, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/no-country-for-old-men.md)
- *Adaptation.* (2002), Fi1m 83, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/adaptation.md)
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), Fi1m 81, Music, Conductor, Orchestrator, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *Hamlet* (2000), Fi1m 68, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/hamlet-2000.md)
- *Being John Malkovich* (1999), Fi1m 89, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/being-john-malkovich.md)
- *Three Kings* (1999), Fi1m 80, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/three-kings.md)
- *Gods and Monsters* (1998), Fi1m 82, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/gods-and-monsters.md)
- *The Big Lebowski* (1998), Fi1m 85, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-lebowski.md)
- *Velvet Goldmine* (1998), Fi1m 81, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/velvet-goldmine.md)
- *Fargo* (1996), Fi1m 91, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/fargo.md)
- *The Hudsucker Proxy* (1994), Fi1m 78, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hudsucker-proxy.md)
- *Barton Fink* (1991), Fi1m 83, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/barton-fink.md)
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), Fi1m 82, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *Raising Arizona* (1987), Fi1m 84, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/raising-arizona.md)

## Complete filmography (122)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Wild Horse Nine* (2026), Original Music Composer — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/wild-horse-nine.md)
- *Good Fortune* (2025), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/good-fortune.md)
- *Honey Don't!* (2025), Original Music Composer, Conductor, Orchestrator
- *Drive-Away Dolls* (2024), Original Music Composer, Conductor, Orchestrator — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/drive-away-dolls.md)
- *Finestkind* (2023), Original Music Composer
- *Schoolhood, The Past References of an Unforeseeable Future* (2023), Original Music Composer
- *To Catch a Killer* (2023), Original Music Composer
- *The Banshees of Inisherin* (2022), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-banshees-of-inisherin.md)
- *Catherine Called Birdy* (2022), Original Music Composer
- *The Tragedy of Macbeth* (2021), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-tragedy-of-macbeth.md)
- *Space Force* (2020), series, Original Music Composer
- *The Good Liar* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *The Morning Show* (2019), series, Original Music Composer
- *Missing Link* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *The Ballad of Buster Scruggs* (2018), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ballad-of-buster-scruggs.md)
- *Hunting Bigfoot* (2018), Music
- *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), Original Music Composer, Orchestrator, Conductor — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/three-billboards-outside-ebbing-missouri.md)
- *Wonderstruck* (2017), Original Music Composer
- *Goodbye Christopher Robin* (2017), Original Music Composer
- *The Founder* (2016), Original Music Composer, Conductor
- *The Family Fang* (2016), Original Music Composer
- *Hail, Caesar!* (2016), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/hail-caesar.md)
- *The Finest Hours* (2016), Original Music Composer
- *Anomalisa* (2015), Original Music Composer, Orchestrator — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/anomalisa.md)
- *Carol* (2015), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/carol.md)
- *Legend* (2015), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/legend-2015.md)
- *Mr. Holmes* (2015), Original Music Composer
- *Olive Kitteridge* (2014), series, Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/olive-kitteridge.md)
- *The Fifth Estate* (2013), Original Music Composer
- *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2* (2012), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-2.md)
- *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/seven-psychopaths.md)
- *Moving Gracefully Towards the Exit* (2011), Music, Orchestrator
- *The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1* (2011), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/the-twilight-saga-breaking-dawn-part-1.md)
- *Mildred Pierce* (2011), series, Original Music Composer — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/tv/mildred-pierce.md)
- *True Grit* (2010), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/true-grit.md)
- *Howl* (2010), Original Music Composer
- *The Kids Are All Right* (2010), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-kids-are-all-right.md)
- *The Blind Side* (2009), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/the-blind-side.md)
- *Where the Wild Things Are* (2009), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/where-the-wild-things-are.md)
- *A Serious Man* (2009), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/a-serious-man.md)
- *Twilight* (2008), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/twilight.md)
- *Burn After Reading* (2008), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/burn-after-reading.md)
- *In Bruges* (2008), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/in-bruges.md)
- *No Country for Old Men* (2007), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/no-country-for-old-men.md)
- *Before the Devil Knows You're Dead* (2007), Original Music Composer, Conductor, Orchestrator
- *The Hoax* (2006), Original Music Composer
- *Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus* (2006), Original Music Composer, Music
- *Kinsey* (2004), Original Music Composer
- *The Alamo* (2004), Original Music Composer, Conductor
- *The Ladykillers* (2004), Original Music Composer
- *Intolerable Cruelty* (2003), Original Music Composer
- *Adaptation.* (2002), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/adaptation.md)
- *S1m0ne* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *Searching for Paradise* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *The Rookie* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), Original Music Composer, Conductor, Orchestrator — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *A Knight's Tale* (2001), Original Music Composer
- *Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2* (2000), Musician, Original Music Composer
- *Before Night Falls* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *O Brother, Where Art Thou?* (2000), Additional Music — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/o-brother-where-art-thou.md)
- *Hamlet* (2000), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/hamlet-2000.md)
- *What Planet Are You From?* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *Being John Malkovich* (1999), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/being-john-malkovich.md)
- *Mystery, Alaska* (1999), Original Music Composer, Conductor
- *Three Kings* (1999), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/three-kings.md)
- *The General's Daughter* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *The World of Gods and Monsters: A Journey with James Whale* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *The Corruptor* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *The Hi-Lo Country* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *Gods and Monsters* (1998), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/gods-and-monsters.md)
- *Velvet Goldmine* (1998), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/velvet-goldmine.md)
- *Mercury Rising* (1998), Additional Music
- *The Big Lebowski* (1998), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/film/the-big-lebowski.md)
- *The Spanish Prisoner* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *The Jackal* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *Girls Night Out* (1997), Music
- *The Locusts* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *Conspiracy Theory* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *Picture Perfect* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *Assassin(s)* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *The Chamber* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Joe's Apartment* (1996), as The Roach Chorus (voice) · Original Music Composer
- *Fear* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *The Celluloid Closet* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Fargo* (1996), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/fargo.md)
- *Two Bits* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Rob Roy* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *A Goofy Movie* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Bad Company* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Airheads* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *It Could Happen to You* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *The Hudsucker Proxy* (1994), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hudsucker-proxy.md)
- *Wayne's World 2* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *And the Band Played On* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *A Dangerous Woman* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *Kalifornia* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *XXXtasy: Two Days in the Life of a Saint* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *This Boy's Life* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *Storyville* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Waterland* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Transeltown* (1992), as Original Music Composer
- *Doc Hollywood* (1991), Original Music Composer
- *Barton Fink* (1991), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/barton-fink.md)
- *Scorchers* (1991), as Piano Player · Original Music Composer
- *Miller's Crossing* (1990), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/millers-crossing.md)
- *Checking Out* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *It Takes Two* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *The Beat* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *Pass the Ammo* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *Raising Arizona* (1987), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/raising-arizona.md)
- *Psycho III* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Blood Simple* (1985), Original Music Composer
- *R.A.B.L.* (1985), Original Music Composer
- *A Hero of Our Time* (1985), Music
- *Creation Myth* (1985), Music
- *3DV* (1984), Animation
- *Steps* (1983), Music
- *Help, I'm Being Crushed to Death by a Black Rectangle* (1978), Director
- *Subway Slut* (1977), Director
- *Jack of Spades*, Original Music Composer
- *Go, Beavers!*, Original Music Composer

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 3 nominated

- 2023: Best Original Score (nominated), for *The Banshees of Inisherin*
- 2018: Best Original Score (nominated), for *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri*
- 2016: Best Original Score (nominated), for *Carol*

### Golden Globes — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 2023: Best Original Score (nominated), for *The Banshees of Inisherin*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/carter-burwell