---
name: "George Fenton"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/george-fenton"
fi1m_id: "george-fenton"
imdb_id: "nm0006070"
tmdb_id: 1528
wikidata_id: "Q920167"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "19 October 1949"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 24
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_over: 24
updated: "2026-10-07T13:23:51.885997+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."
---

# George Fenton

## Identity

George Fenton

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/george-fenton
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** george-fenton
- **IMDb ID:** nm0006070
- **TMDB ID:** 1528
- **Wikidata ID:** Q920167
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fenton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q920167, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006070/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1528

Composer. Born 19 October 1949 in Bromley, Kent, England, UK.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 19 October 1949, Bromley, Kent, England, UK
- **Active:** 1979–present
- **Also known as:** George Howe, George Richard Ian Howe
- **Frequently works with:** [Alan Bennett](https://film.one/person/alan-bennett.md), [Ken Loach](https://film.one/person/ken-loach.md), [Nicholas Hytner](https://film.one/person/nicholas-hytner.md), [Rebecca O'Brien](https://film.one/person/rebecca-obrien.md), [Damian Jones](https://film.one/person/damian-jones.md), [Innes Lloyd](https://film.one/person/innes-lloyd.md), [Kevin Loader](https://film.one/person/kevin-loader.md), [Paul Laverty](https://film.one/person/paul-laverty.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 5 Oscar nominations
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (7), 1990s 78 (8), 2000s 67 (1), 2010s 61 (5), 2020s 57 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 69 to 64 across 20 titles
- **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 5 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 19, Comedy 8, History 5, Romance 4, Fantasy 3, Horror 2
- **Screen time:** 43 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $876m across 18 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Fenton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q920167, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0006070/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1528

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Groundhog Day*](https://film.one/film/groundhog-day.md) (88), [*The Jewel in the Crown*](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md) (85), [*An Englishman Abroad*](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md) (84), [*Sorry We Missed You*](https://film.one/film/sorry-we-missed-you.md) (82), [*Gandhi*](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md) (73), [*The Crucible*](https://film.one/film/the-crucible.md) (68), [*The Old Oak*](https://film.one/film/the-old-oak.md) (65)
- **Pluto TV:** [*The Madness of King George*](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md) (83)
- **AMC+:** [*I, Daniel Blake*](https://film.one/film/i-daniel-blake.md) (82)
- **Apple TV:** [*You've Got Mail*](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md) (66)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*The Lady in the Van*](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md) (64)
- **Netflix:** [*The Choral*](https://film.one/film/the-choral.md) (57)

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

## Biography

George Fenton (born George Richard Ian Howe, 19 October 1949) is an English composer of film, television and theatre scores. He was born in Bromley, Kent.

Fenton began composing for the theatre in the 1970s, including work for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He is best known for his film scores, among them *Gandhi* (1982), *Groundhog Day* (1993), *You've Got Mail* (1998), *Hitch* (2005) and *Cold Pursuit* (2019). He has maintained long collaborations with directors including Ken Loach, Richard Attenborough, Nora Ephron, Stephen Frears and Nicholas Hytner.

His recent credits include the scores for *Allelujah* (2023) and *The Old Oak* (2023). Fenton has received five Academy Award nominations and numerous BAFTA, Ivor Novello and other awards; he is a Fellow of the Ivors Academy.

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

## On Fi1m (24)

- *The Choral* (2025), Fi1m 57, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-choral.md)
- *Allelujah* (2023), Fi1m 50, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/allelujah.md)
- *The Old Oak* (2023), Fi1m 65, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-old-oak.md)
- *Sorry We Missed You* (2019), Fi1m 82, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/sorry-we-missed-you.md)
- *Red Joan* (2018), Fi1m 45, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/red-joan.md)
- *I, Daniel Blake* (2016), Fi1m 82, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/i-daniel-blake.md)
- *Absolutely Anything* (2015), Fi1m 34, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md)
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), Fi1m 64, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md)
- *The History Boys* (2006), Fi1m 67, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), Fi1m 66, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *The Crucible* (1996), Fi1m 68, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/the-crucible.md)
- *Land and Freedom* (1995), Fi1m 83, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/land-and-freedom.md)
- *Interview with the Vampire* (1994), Fi1m 79, Music Supervisor — [page](https://film.one/film/interview-with-the-vampire.md)
- *The Madness of King George* (1994), Fi1m 83, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md)
- *Groundhog Day* (1993), Fi1m 88, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/groundhog-day.md)
- *Shadowlands* (1993), Fi1m 79, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/shadowlands.md)
- *The Fisher King* (1991), Fi1m 80, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), Fi1m 84, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-liaisons.md)
- *High Spirits* (1988), Fi1m 52, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md)
- *Cry Freedom* (1987), Fi1m 72, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md)
- *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), Fi1m 85, Music — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md)
- *An Englishman Abroad* (1983), Fi1m 84, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md)
- *Gandhi* (1982), Fi1m 73, Music, Original Music Composer, Conductor — [page](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md)
- *Walter* (1982), Fi1m 78, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/walter.md)

## Complete filmography (140)

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

- *The Choral* (2025), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-choral.md)
- *Unit 234* (2024), Original Music Composer
- *The Old Oak* (2023), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/the-old-oak.md)
- *Allelujah* (2023), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/allelujah.md)
- *Wild Isles* (2023), series, Original Music Composer
- *Elizabeth: A Portrait in Part(s)* (2022), Original Music Composer
- *Beat the Devil* (2021), Original Music Composer
- *The Duke* (2021), Original Music Composer, Orchestrator
- *The United Way* (2021), Original Music Composer
- *The Secret: Dare to Dream* (2020), Original Music Composer
- *Sorry We Missed You* (2019), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/sorry-we-missed-you.md)
- *Cold Pursuit* (2019), Original Music Composer
- *Red Joan* (2018), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 45, [page](https://film.one/film/red-joan.md)
- *Woman Walks Ahead* (2018), Original Music Composer
- *I, Daniel Blake* (2016), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/i-daniel-blake.md)
- *Wild Oats* (2016), Original Music Composer
- *The Lady in the Van* (2015), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/the-lady-in-the-van.md)
- *Absolutely Anything* (2015), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 34, [page](https://film.one/film/absolutely-anything.md)
- *Jimmy's Hall* (2014), Original Music Composer
- *The Voysey Inheritance* (2014), Music
- *Bears* (2014), Original Music Composer
- *Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight* (2013), Original Music Composer
- *The Zero Theorem* (2013), Original Music Composer
- *National Theatre Live: People* (2013), Music
- *The Angels' Share* (2012), Original Music Composer
- *Frozen Planet* (2011), series, Original Music Composer
- *One Life* (2011), Original Music Composer
- *Route Irish* (2011), Original Music Composer
- *The Bounty Hunter* (2010), Original Music Composer
- *Life* (2009), series, Original Music Composer
- *Looking for Eric* (2009), Original Music Composer
- *Fool's Gold* (2008), Original Music Composer
- *Earth* (2007), Original Music Composer
- *It's a Free World...* (2007), Original Music Composer
- *Planet Earth: The Future* (2006), series, as Music
- *The History Boys* (2006), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-history-boys.md)
- *The Wind That Shakes the Barley* (2006), Original Music Composer
- *Planet Earth* (2006), series, Original Music Composer
- *Last Holiday* (2006), Original Music Composer
- *Mrs. Henderson Presents* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Bewitched* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Valiant* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Tickets* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Hitch* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *Stage Beauty* (2004), Original Music Composer
- *Ae Fond Kiss...* (2004), Original Music Composer
- *Pride* (2004), Music, Original Music Composer
- *Imagining Argentina* (2003), Original Music Composer
- *Deep Blue* (2003), Original Music Composer
- *Sweet Home Alabama* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *Sweet Sixteen* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *The Navigators* (2001), Original Music Composer
- *The Blue Planet* (2001), series, Original Music Composer
- *Summer Catch* (2001), Original Music Composer
- *Lucky Numbers* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *Bread and Roses* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *Center Stage* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *Anna and the King* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *Entropy* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *Grey Owl* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *You've Got Mail* (1998), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/youve-got-mail.md)
- *Living Out Loud* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *EverAfter* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *My Name Is Joe* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *The Object of My Affection* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *Dangerous Beauty* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *The Woodlanders* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *In Love and War* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *The Crucible* (1996), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-crucible.md)
- *Carla's Song* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *August* (1996), Conductor
- *Multiplicity* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Heaven's Prisoners* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Mary Reilly* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Land and Freedom* (1995), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/land-and-freedom.md)
- *The Madness of King George* (1994), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/the-madness-of-king-george.md)
- *Mixed Nuts* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *Interview with the Vampire* (1994), Music Supervisor — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/interview-with-the-vampire.md)
- *China Moon* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *Ladybird Ladybird* (1994), Original Music Composer
- *Shadowlands* (1993), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/shadowlands.md)
- *Life in the Freezer* (1993), series, Original Music Composer
- *Born Yesterday* (1993), Original Music Composer
- *Groundhog Day* (1993), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/groundhog-day.md)
- *Hero* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Final Analysis* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *The Fisher King* (1991), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/the-fisher-king.md)
- *The Long Walk Home* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *102 Boulevard Haussmann* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *White Palace* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *Trials of Life* (1990), series, Music
- *The Trials of Life* (1990), Music
- *Memphis Belle* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *We're No Angels* (1989), Original Music Composer, Orchestrator
- *Dangerous Liaisons* (1988), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/dangerous-liaisons.md)
- *The Dressmaker* (1988), Original Music Composer, Music
- *High Spirits* (1988), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/high-spirits.md)
- *A Handful of Dust* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *Talking Heads* (1988), series, Music
- *White Mischief* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Cry Freedom* (1987), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/cry-freedom.md)
- *84 Charing Cross Road* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Past Caring* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Call Me Mister* (1986), series, Original Music Composer
- *The Monocled Mutineer* (1986), series, Music
- *Clockwise* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Song of Experience* (1986), Music
- *Billy the Kid and the Green Baize Vampire* (1985), Original Music Composer
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, Music
- *The Company of Wolves* (1984), Original Music Composer
- *The Jewel in the Crown* (1984), series, Music — Fi1m 85, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-jewel-in-the-crown.md)
- *An Englishman Abroad* (1983), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/an-englishman-abroad.md)
- *Saigon: Year of the Cat* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *The Ghost Writer* (1983), Music
- *Runners* (1983), Conductor, Original Music Composer
- *Walter and June* (1983), Original Music Composer
- *Gandhi* (1982), Conductor, Original Music Composer — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/gandhi.md)
- *Walter* (1982), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/walter.md)
- *Easter 2016* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *Play for Tomorrow* (1982), series, Original Music Composer
- *Going Gently* (1981), Original Music Composer
- *The History Man* (1981), series, Original Music Composer
- *Dead End* (1980), Original Music Composer
- *Hussy* (1980), Original Music Composer, Conductor
- *Bloody Kids* (1980), Original Music Composer
- *Fox* (1980), series, Music
- *Shoestring* (1979), series, Original Music Composer
- *All Day on the Sands* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *One Fine Day* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *Afternoon Off* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *The Old Crowd* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *The Waterloo Bridge Handicap* (1978), Music
- *Doris and Doreen* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *Me! I'm Afraid of Virginia Woolf* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *Out* (1978), series, Music
- *A Visit from Miss Prothero* (1978), Original Music Composer
- *Last Summer* (1977), Music
- *A Day Out* (1972), as Florence's Brother
- *Private Road* (1971), as Henry · Original Music Composer
- *BBC Play of the Month* (1965), series, Music

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 5 nominated

- 1992: Best Original Score (nominated), for *The Fisher King*
- 1989: Best Original Score (nominated), for *Dangerous Liaisons*
- 1988: Best Original Song (nominated)
- 1988: Best Original Score (nominated), for *Cry Freedom*
- 1983: Best Original Score (nominated), for *Gandhi*

### Other awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- European Film Award for Best Composer 2012: European Film Award for Best Composer (nominated), for *The Angels' Share*

*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/george-fenton