Wonder (soundtrack)

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Wonder (Original Soundtrack Album)
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedNovember 17, 2017
Recorded2017
Studio
Genre Film score
Length55:10
Label Milan
Producer
Alexandre Desplat chronology
Civil
(2017)
Wonder
(2017)
The Land of Steady Habits
(2018)

Wonder (Original Soundtrack Album) is the soundtrack album to the 2017 film Wonder directed by Stephen Chbosky based on the 2012 novel by R. J. Palacio and starring Julia Roberts, Owen Wilson, Jacob Tremblay, Mandy Patinkin, and Daveed Diggs. The soundtrack is produced by Alexandra Patsavas, Zarvos and Chbosky, and released through Milan Records on November 17, 2017.

Contents

Background

The film score is composed by Marcelo Zarvos, [1] who recalled in an interview with Zach Laws of GoldDerby that he cried while watching the film for the first time, owing to its emotional undertone and wanted to capture the spirit of Auggie Pullman in the "the most profound yet childlike way." [2] While working on Wonder, Zarvos recalled that he did not do films that fit for a family-viewing experience and Wonder was the first film he did which he could watch with his kids, hence the soundscape was much different. Zarvos and Chbosky had worked extensively to find the framework of the sounds, and they experimented a lot and "everything ultimately needed to feel like a song to [Chbosky], like it was a perfect little melody." [2]

Bea Miller composed a song "Brand New Eyes" for the film, which was released as a single on August 4, 2017, through Hollywood Records. [3] The soundtrack to the film also included a compilation of songs curated by Alexandra Patsavas, [4] notably included the Natalie Merchant song "Wonder" (1995), that inspired Palacio to write the novel. It also featured songs from the White Stripes, Bobby Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers, Butterfly Boucher, Caroline Pennell, Passion Pit and Hannah Faye. [5] Milan Records released the soundtrack on November 17, 2017, alongside the film. [5]

Reception

David Edelstein of Vulture wrote "a piano-heavy score by Marcelo Zarvos that is sometimes perfect and sometimes too plaintive". [6] Screen International and Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter called it "emotional" and "moving". [7] [8] Richard Propes of The Independent Critic wrote "Marcelo Zarvos's original music never hits a false note". [9] Gill Harris of Swindon Advertiser noted that Zarvos' score "shamelessly pluck at our heartstrings". [10] Courtney Howard of Fresh Fiction wrote "Marcelo Zarvos' score, while lovely, does overstay its welcome, pushing you into "the feels" when the narrative already has you there." [11]

Track listing

No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."We're Going to Be Friends" The White Stripes 2:21
2."Ordinary Kid" 4:23
3."The First Day" 2:34
4."Darker"Hannah Faye2:56
5."Shoes" 1:38
6."Class Photo" 3:51
7."Pop Quiz" 1:33
8."Halloween" 1:18
9."Monster Mash" Bobby Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers 3:12
10."Winter" 3:29
11."Via" 1:30
12."Coney Island" 1:29
13."Break the Rules" Butterfly Boucher 1:59
14."The Other First Day" 1:17
15."Letters" 1:22
16."Spring" 1:20
17."We're Going to Be Friends" Caroline Pennell 3:01
18."Camera Obscura" 1:35
19."Graduation" 1:00
20."Moth's Wings" Passion Pit 4:16
21."Wonder" Natalie Merchant 4:26
Total length:50:30

Personnel

Credits adapted from liner notes: [12]

References

  1. "Marcelo Zarvos to Score Steven Chbsoky's 'Wonder'". Film Music Reporter. January 11, 2017. Archived from the original on July 8, 2017. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Laws, Zach (December 20, 2017). "Marcelo Zarvos ('Wonder' composer): 'The first time I watched it, I cried a lot' [EXCLUSIVE VIDEO INTERVIEW]". GoldDerby . Archived from the original on December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  3. "Bea Miller's 'Brand New Eyes' from 'Wonder' Released". Film Music Reporter. August 4, 2017. Archived from the original on September 16, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  4. Newman, Melinda (November 18, 2017). "Go Behind The Scenes of Marcelo Zarvos' Score for Julia Roberts' New Film 'Wonder': Exclusive". Billboard . Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Marcelo Zarvos: Wonder - Soundtrack". Milan Records . November 17, 2017. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  6. Edelstein, David (November 17, 2017). "Wonder Overflows With Empathy and Humanism". Vulture . Archived from the original on April 30, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  7. Grierson, Tim (November 12, 2017). "'Wonder': Review". Screen International . Archived from the original on December 16, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  8. Linden, Sheri (November 12, 2017). "'Wonder': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  9. Propes, Richard. ""Wonder" May Very Well Be My Favorite Film of 2017". The Independent Critic. Archived from the original on August 25, 2025. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  10. Harris, Gill (November 30, 2017). "REVIEW: Drama is a real wonder". Swindon Advertiser . Archived from the original on June 20, 2021. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  11. Howard, Courtney (November 12, 2017). "Movie Review: 'WONDER' holds a wonderfully sincere, necessary message on the ripple effect of kindness". Fresh Fiction. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  12. Marcelo Zarvos. Wonder (Original Soundtrack Album) (Media notes). Milan Records.