Unbreakable (soundtrack)

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Unbreakable (Original Motion Picture Score)
Unbreakable (soundtrack).jpg
Film score by
ReleasedNovember 18, 2000
Recorded2000
Venue London
Studio
Genre Film score
Length45:22
Label Hollywood
Producer
James Newton Howard chronology
Dinosaur
(2000)
Unbreakable
(2000)
Vertical Limit
(2000)

Unbreakable (Original Motion Picture Score) is the film score to the 2000 film Unbreakable directed by M. Night Shyamalan, starring Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson, and Robin Wright. It is the first instalment in the Unbreakable film series. The film score is composed by James Newton Howard and released through Hollywood Records on November 18, 2000.

Contents

Development

James Newton Howard was approached by Shyamalan to work on Unbreakable immediately after scoring The Sixth Sense . [1] [2] "He sat there and storyboarded the whole movie for me", Howard said. "I've never had a director do that for me." [3] Shyamalan wanted a "singularity" tone for the music. "He wanted something that was very different, very distinctive, that immediately evoked the movie when people heard it," [3] Howard explained. Howard and Shyamalan chose to simplify the score, and minimized the number of instruments (strings, trumpets and piano), with limited orchestrations. It was recorded at AIR Studios Lyndhurst Hall, a converted church in London. "You could have recorded the same music in a studio in Los Angeles, and it would have been great, but there is something about the sound of that church studio," Howard remarked. "It's definitely more misterioso ." [3]

Reception

Calling it a "moody, atmospheric score", Heather Phares of AllMusic wrote "The mix of symphonic and subtle electronic elements in Howard's score is an appropriate sonic backdrop for the film". [4] Christian Clemmensen of Filmtracks wrote "Unbreakable is a more intelligent score than its predecessor, but its disembodied spirit on album once again fails to translate into a viable listening experience unless you're specifically in the mood for a Shyamalan-inspired atmosphere." [5] Zanobard Reviews wrote "James Newton Howard created a moody, mysterious and pensively heroic style for Unbreakable, and this together with an abundance of spellbinding themes form one of the most unique and atmospherically intriguing superhero scores around." [6]

Michael Gingold of Fangoria called it an "excellent score by James Newton Howard". [7] Todd McCarthy of Variety called it a "supple, supportive score." [8] Diego Pineda Pacheco of Collider listed it as one of the best superhero film scores and wrote "James Newton Howard was the mind behind the music of Unbreakable, and the result is a score as creative and distinctive as the film itself. It perfectly captures the mysterious mood of the story, mixing in some emotional and heroic elements that capture the movie's tone beautifully." [9]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Visions"5:57
2."Reflection of Elijah"4:08
3."Weightlifting"3:43
4."Hieroglyphics"2:01
5."Falling Down"2:32
6."Unbreakable"3:23
7."Goodnight"2:25
8."The Wreck"3:45
9."Second Date"1:31
10."School Nurse"1:22
11."Blindsided"1:54
12."The Orange Man"2:28
13."Carrying Audrey"2:34
14."Mr. Glass/End Titles"7:40
Total length:45:22

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes: [10]

Orchestra
Choir
Soloists
Management

Accolades

AwardsCategoryRecipientResultRef.
International Film Music Critics Association Film Score of the Year James Newton Howard Nominated [11]

References

  1. Burlingame, Jon (November 25, 2000). "He Scores, They Shoot: The Unusual Twist of 'Unbreakable'". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  2. Chitwood, Adam (February 23, 2021). "How M. Night Shyamalan Changed the Way Composer James Newton Howard Writes Music". Collider . Archived from the original on May 19, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Lyman, Rick (November 24, 2000). "At The Movies: A Full Plate For the Holidays". The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 27, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  4. Phares, Heather. "Review: Unbreakable [Original Motion Picture Score]". AllMusic . Archived from the original on February 20, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  5. Clemmensen, Christian (November 28, 2000). "Filmtracks: Unbreakable (James Newton Howard)". Filmtracks . Archived from the original on January 25, 2001. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  6. "Unbreakable – Soundtrack Review". Zanobard Reviews. May 30, 2020. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  7. Gingold, Michael (November 7, 2024). "Review: Unbreakable". Fangoria . Archived from the original on December 27, 2024. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  8. McCarthy, Todd (November 20, 2000). "Unbreakable". Variety . Archived from the original on December 16, 2015. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  9. Pacheco, Diego Pineda (May 24, 2023). "10 Best Superhero Movie Scores, From 'The Batman' to 'The Avengers'". Collider . Archived from the original on July 25, 2025. Retrieved August 17, 2025.
  10. James Newton Howard. Unbreakable (Original Motion Picture Score) (Media notes). Hollywood Records.
  11. IFMCA (2001). "2000 IFMCA Awards". IFMCA. IFMCA. Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved May 1, 2020.