---
name: "Wojciech Kilar"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/wojciech-kilar"
fi1m_id: "wojciech-kilar"
imdb_id: "nm0004384"
tmdb_id: 1400
wikidata_id: "Q319777"
roles: ["Composer"]
born: "17 July 1932"
died: "29 December 2013"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 77
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-23T04:14:04.123628+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."
---

# Wojciech Kilar

## Identity

Wojciech Kilar

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/wojciech-kilar
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** wojciech-kilar
- **IMDb ID:** nm0004384
- **TMDB ID:** 1400
- **Wikidata ID:** Q319777
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojciech_Kilar, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q319777, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004384/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1400

Composer. Born 17 July 1932 in Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland. Died 29 December 2013.

## Details

- **Work:** Composer
- **Born:** 17 July 1932, Lwów, Lwowskie, Poland
- **Died:** 29 December 2013
- **Active:** 1975–2002
- **Also known as:** Wojciech Artur Kilar
- **Frequently works with:** [Roman Polanski](https://film.one/person/roman-polanski.md)
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 74 (3), 2000s 87 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 80 to 69 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Romance 2, Horror 1, Thriller 1, War 1
- **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $364m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wojciech_Kilar, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q319777, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004384/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1400

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Pianist*](https://film.one/film/the-pianist.md) (87), [*Death and the Maiden*](https://film.one/film/death-and-the-maiden.md) (74)

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

## Biography

Wojciech Kilar was a Polish composer of classical and film music. Born on 17 July 1932 in Lwów (now Lviv, Ukraine), he studied piano and composition at the State Higher School of Music in Katowice, graduating in 1955. He died on 29 December 2013 in Katowice.

Kilar composed scores for over 100 films. He is known for his work on *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), *The Pianist* (2002), *The Ninth Gate* (1999), *Death and the Maiden* (1994), *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996) and *The King and the Mockingbird* (1980). His film music earned awards including the César Award for Best Film Music for *The Pianist* and an ASCAP Award for *Bram Stoker's Dracula*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, culture.pl.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *The Pianist* (2002), Fi1m 87, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-pianist.md)
- *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), Fi1m 68, Music, Original Music Composer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md)
- *Death and the Maiden* (1994), Fi1m 74, Original Music Composer, Music — [page](https://film.one/film/death-and-the-maiden.md)
- *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), Fi1m 79, Music, Original Music Composer, Orchestrator — [page](https://film.one/film/bram-stokers-dracula.md)

## Complete filmography (148)

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

- *The Nature of Beauty* (2025), Music
- *Dracula* (2022), Music
- *Foreign Body* (2014), Original Music Composer
- *Poste restante* (2009), Music
- *Revisited* (2009), Original Music Composer
- *Welcome* (2009), Music
- *And a Warm Heart* (2008), Original Music Composer
- *We Own the Night* (2007), Original Music Composer
- *The Blood Is the Life: The Making of 'Bram Stoker's Dracula'* (2007), Music
- *Black Sun* (2007), Original Music Composer
- *Persona non grata* (2005), Original Music Composer
- *The Revenge* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *The Pianist* (2002), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/the-pianist.md)
- *The Supplement* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *I Remember* (2002), Original Music Composer
- *Weekend Stories: The Hidden Treasure* (2001), Original Music Composer
- *Life as a Fatal Sexually Transmitted Disease* (2000), Original Music Composer
- *The Last Days* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *The Ninth Gate* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *A Week in the Life of a Man* (1999), Original Music Composer
- *Weekend Stories: Unwritten Law* (1998), Music
- *Weekend Stories: Dilatory Line* (1998), Music
- *Weekend Stories: The Last Circle* (1998), Original Music Composer
- *Weekend Stories: Deceptive Charm* (1998), Music, Original Music Composer
- *Weekend Stories: The Soul Sings* (1997), Music
- *Our God's Brother* (1997), Original Music Composer
- *Weekend Stories: Little Faith* (1997), Music
- *The Portrait of a Lady* (1996), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/the-portrait-of-a-lady.md)
- *At Full Gallop* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Ghost with Driver* (1996), Original Music Composer
- *Weekend Stories: A Woman's Business* (1996), Music
- *Faustina* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Legenda Tatr* (1995), Original Music Composer
- *Death as a Slice of Bread* (1994), Music, Original Music Composer
- *Death and the Maiden* (1994), Original Music Composer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/death-and-the-maiden.md)
- *A King for Burning* (1993), series, Original Music Composer
- *Bram Stoker's Dracula* (1992), Orchestrator, Original Music Composer — Fi1m 79, [page](https://film.one/film/bram-stokers-dracula.md)
- *The Silent Touch* (1992), Original Music Composer
- *Das lange Gespräch mit dem Vogel* (1992), Music
- *Life for Life: Maximilian Kolbe* (1991), Music
- *Napoleon* (1991), series, Original Music Composer
- *Obrazy i dźwięki. O muzyce Wojciecha Kilara* (1991), Actor
- *Korczak* (1990), Original Music Composer
- *Inventory* (1989), Original Music Composer
- *Turning Table* (1988), Musical, Original Music Composer
- *Wherever You Are...* (1988), Original Music Composer
- *Salsa* (1988), Music
- *Blind Chance* (1987), Original Music Composer
- *Chronicle of Amorous Accidents* (1986), Original Music Composer
- *Power Of Evil* (1985), Music
- *A Year of the Quiet Sun* (1984), Original Music Composer
- *Credo...* (1983), Music
- *Imperative* (1982), Music
- *The Contract* (1982), Original Music Composer
- *Versuchung* (1982), Music
- *From a Far Country* (1981), Music
- *Gwiazda Wytrwałości* (1981), Music
- *The Constant Factor* (1980), Music
- *The Beads of One Rosary* (1980), Music
- *The King and the Mockingbird* (1980), Music, Original Music Composer
- *Ways in the Night* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *From a Night Porter's Point of View* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *Rodzina Połanieckich* (1979), series, Original Music Composer
- *David* (1979), Music
- *Krzesany* (1979), Original Music Composer
- *The Spiral* (1978), Music
- *Ziemia obiecana* (1978), series, Music
- *Camouflage* (1977), Original Music Composer
- *Anatomiestunde* (1977), Music
- *The Leper* (1976), Original Music Composer
- *The Shadow-Line* (1976), Original Music Composer
- *The Catamount Killing* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *Znikąd donikąd* (1975), Music
- *The Promised Land* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *A Woman's Decision* (1975), Original Music Composer
- *The Wicket Gate* (1974), Music
- *Hipoteza* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Illumination* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Jealousy and Medicine* (1973), Music
- *Hubal* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Possession* (1973), Original Music Composer
- *Wielka miłość Balzaka* (1973), series, Music
- *Bolesław Śmiały* (1972), Music
- *Glass Ball* (1972), Music
- *Brylanty pani Zuzy* (1972), Music
- *Pearl in the Crown* (1972), Original Music Composer
- *Theatre Macabre* (1971), series, Original Music Composer
- *Family Life* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *Martwa fala* (1971), Music
- *Rola* (1971), Music
- *The Ring of Queen Ann* (1971), Original Music Composer
- *Dancing at Hitler's Headquarters* (1971), Music
- *Przystań* (1971), Music
- *Romantyczni* (1970), Music
- *The Cruise* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Lokis: A Manuscript of Professor Wittembach* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *The Taste of the Black Earth* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Mountains at Dusk* (1970), Original Music Composer
- *Only the Dead Can Answer* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *The Structure of Crystal* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *The Criminal Who Stole a Crime* (1969), Original Music Composer
- *The Red and the Gold* (1969), Music
- *The Neighbours* (1969), Music
- *The Pier* (1969), Music
- *Człowiek z M-3* (1969), Music
- *Loneliness of the Couple* (1969), Music
- *The Doll* (1968), Original Music Composer
- *Ostatni po Bogu* (1968), Music
- *Tabliczka marzenia* (1968), Music
- *Wolves' Echoes* (1968), Music
- *The Vampire* (1968), Music
- *Stajnia na Salvatorze* (1967), Music
- *Our Folks* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Westerplatte Resists* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *The Killer Leaves a Trace* (1967), Music
- *Bicz Boży* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Full Ahead* (1967), Music Director
- *Skinny and Others* (1967), Original Music Composer
- *Return to Earth* (1967), Music
- *Bumerang* (1966), Music
- *Ktokolwiek wie...* (1966), Music
- *Maria and Napoleon* (1966), Music
- *Hell and Heaven* (1966), Music
- *The Catastrophe* (1966), Music
- *Tomorrow Mexico* (1966), Music
- *Trzy kroki po ziemi* (1965), Music
- *Salto* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Wyspa złoczyńców* (1965), Original Music Composer
- *Obok prawdy* (1965), Music
- *Late Afternoon* (1965), Music
- *Pięciu* (1964), Music
- *Echo* (1964), Original Music Composer
- *Giuseppe in Warsaw* (1964), Music
- *Ciemnogród* (1964), Music
- *Kryptonim Nektar* (1963), Music
- *Mansarda* (1963), Music
- *Silence* (1963), Music
- *Far Is the Road* (1963), Music
- *Czerwone berety* (1963), Music
- *Spotkanie w 'Bajce'* (1962), Original Music Composer
- *Rodzina Milcarków* (1962), Music
- *The Voice from Beyond* (1962), Music
- *I ty zostaniesz Indianinem* (1962), Music
- *Wild Horses* (1962), Music
- *Silent Traces* (1961), Original Music Composer
- *Nobody's Calling* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *The Moonwalkers* (1960), Original Music Composer
- *Narciarze* (1958), Original Music Composer

## Gallery

- ![Wojciech Kilar](https://film.one/media/person/80525/gallery-aa104161d733.jpg) Wojciech Kilar — Cezary Piwowarski, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Wojciech_Kilar_2.jpg/1280px-Wojciech_Kilar_2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Kilar at the Catholic cemetery at Sienkiewicza Street in Katowice. (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/80525/gallery-7497cf1f93d0.jpg) The tomb of Mr. and Mrs. Kilar at the Catholic cemetery at Sienkiewicza Street in Katowice. (2023) — Abraham, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/45/20230822_grobowiec_Pa%C5%84stwa_Kilar%C3%B3w.jpg/1280px-20230822_grobowiec_Pa%C5%84stwa_Kilar%C3%B3w.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Plaque of Wojciech Kilar in Walk of Fame in Międzyzdroje, exposed during the XIX European Stars Festival in 2014 year.](https://film.one/media/person/80525/gallery-70b5b756785a.jpg) Plaque of Wojciech Kilar in Walk of Fame in Międzyzdroje, exposed during the XIX European Stars Festival in 2014 year. — Mariochom, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Al_Gwiazd_Wojciech_Kilar.jpg/1280px-Al_Gwiazd_Wojciech_Kilar.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Aleja Gwiazd w Łodzi, Wojciech Kilar. (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/80525/gallery-830cdef50cb5.jpg) Aleja Gwiazd w Łodzi, Wojciech Kilar. (2006) — HuBar, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/AlejaGwiazd_Lodz.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![pomnik Wojciecha Kilara w Czeladzi, popiersie na postumencie przed kościołem św. Stanisława w Czeladzi; z tyłu pomnik Jana Pawła II i fasada kościoła (2021)](https://film.one/media/person/80525/gallery-3cf1b4fef1b2.jpg) pomnik Wojciecha Kilara w Czeladzi, popiersie na postumencie przed kościołem św. Stanisława w Czeladzi; z tyłu pomnik Jana Pawła II i fasada kościoła (2021) — Adrian Tync, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Czeladz_Wojciech_Kilar_monument_2021.jpg/1280px-Czeladz_Wojciech_Kilar_monument_2021.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Czeladź, pow. będziński ul. Bytomska. Pomnik Wojciecha Kilara. Autor Tomasz Wenklar, 2019. (2026)](https://film.one/media/person/80525/gallery-d02ef88ef0b4.jpg) Czeladź, pow. będziński ul. Bytomska. Pomnik Wojciecha Kilara. Autor Tomasz Wenklar, 2019. (2026) — Januszk57, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ce/Czelad%C5%BA_pow._b%C4%99dzi%C5%84ski_ul._Bytomska_pomnik_W._Kilar.jpg/1280px-Czelad%C5%BA_pow._b%C4%99dzi%C5%84ski_ul._Bytomska_pomnik_W._Kilar.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 13 won

- Knight of the Legion of Honour 2013: Knight of the Legion of Honour (won)
- Order of the White Eagle 2012: Order of the White Eagle (won)
- Per Artem ad Deum Medal 2009: Per Artem ad Deum Medal (won)
- Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta 2008: Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta (won)
- Golden Medal for Merit to Culture 2005: Golden Medal for Merit to Culture (won)
- Juliusz Ligoń Award 2003: Juliusz Ligoń Award (won)
- Karol Miarka Award 2003: Karol Miarka Award (won)
- César Award for Best Music Written for a Film 2002: César Award for Best Music Written for a Film (won)
- Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta 2002: Commander with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta (won)
- Lux ex Silesia 1995: Lux ex Silesia (won)
- Wojciech Korfanty prize 1995: Wojciech Korfanty prize (won)
- Louis Delluc Prize 1980: Louis Delluc Prize (won)
- Polish State Award 1980: Polish State Award (won)

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

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© 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/wojciech-kilar