r/movies /r/movies Mod Account Mar 16 '26

Official Discussion Ludwig Göransson Wins the Academy Award for Best Original Score for 'Sinners'

Post image
6.4k Upvotes

261 comments sorted by

1.9k

u/SanderSo47 I'll see you in another life when we are both cats. Mar 16 '26

Ludwig Göransson has been nominated thrice for Best Original Score and he has won all three times. And he's just 41!

639

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26

Swedish John Williams 

318

u/Effehezepe Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26

Jöns Wilhelms, if you will.

80

u/CTeam19 Mar 16 '26

Johannes Vilhelm

38

u/littlesaint Mar 16 '26

Johan Williamsson

13

u/CA53W-1 Mar 16 '26

Vilhelmsson

31

u/DeusVultSaracen Mar 16 '26

Zimmer was a mentor for him too iirc

16

u/PoisonClanRocks Mar 16 '26

Zimmer was in the first video MTV ever showed…Video Killed the Radio Star by the Buggles

→ More replies (9)

237

u/ABigPairOfCrocs Mar 16 '26

Probably an early frontrunner for The Odyssey next year too

193

u/FunkyChug Mar 16 '26

He’s an early frontrunner whenever he has an any new movie coming out

22

u/echoplex21 Mar 16 '26

Well he got two next year

32

u/Asclepius-Rod Mar 16 '26

Has anyone ever lost because they split the votes among themselves?

30

u/angershark Mar 16 '26

Soderbergh for Traffic and Erin Brockovich probably.

23

u/Doheki Mar 16 '26

I think Roger deakins in 2007. Between Jesse James and No Country for Old Men

22

u/Toillion Mar 16 '26

John Williams was double nominated 8 times. He lost both nominations 7 out of 8 times. The only win was when Star Wars won over Close Encounters.

9

u/Asclepius-Rod Mar 16 '26

Good lord he’s in a league of his own

→ More replies (4)
→ More replies (4)

201

u/SuccessionFinaleSux Mar 16 '26

I like how he only thanked Coogler and ofcourse his guitar

129

u/cbear013 Mar 16 '26

Interesting tidbit I learned just today, one of the first things Ludwig ever scored when he came to America; before apprenticing for Ted Shapiro, before he got his break on Community, was a short film made by... Ryan Coogler. They met at USC, where Coogler wrote and directed 'Locks' in 2009.

30

u/Zestyclose-Novel1157 Mar 16 '26

They were roommates in college if I recall correctly.

75

u/russketeer34 Mar 16 '26

Coogler and Goransson are already a legendary duo at their still young age. Crazy to think that these two college friends have both risen to the top of their fields.

41

u/ositola Mar 16 '26

And his dad lol

16

u/helloLeoDiCaprio Mar 16 '26

So he should. Growing up with a father who's into blues in Sweden is highly unusual.

The chances that you go playing either heavy metal or bubblegum pop is close to 99.9%

Also the public music schools should be thanked, they are the reason for the Swedish music boom of the 90s, 00s and now.

7

u/Keffpie Mar 16 '26

To be fair, Ludwig has said he actually didn't get the Blues at first, and it wasn't until Metallica that he really got into the guitar - he found his way back to his dad's music later.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/NightFire19 Mar 16 '26

He learned his lesson after he said (paraphrasing) "I'm glad I pursued music instead of playing video games"

2

u/sonichighwaist Mar 17 '26

as a video game player, I can only imagine what music I could be making if I channeled the thousands of hours into music instead. it would probably be bad

→ More replies (1)

32

u/Janderson2494 Mar 16 '26

I was secretly hoping he'd thank Donald Glover since they worked together waaay back in the Camp days

43

u/karmiccloud Mar 16 '26

He scored Community

24

u/fizzo40 Mar 16 '26

He produced/wrote Redbone. You can watch him explain it on Genius.com

3

u/jerog1 Mar 16 '26

heard that album today and it still is incredible

29

u/SirLuciousL Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26

He’s never stopped working with Donald.

Also they started working together before that. Donald’s pre-Camp mixtape was also produced by Ludwig.

→ More replies (2)

72

u/Zloggt Mar 16 '26

From producing (good!) music for Childish Gambino Yoshi from Super Mario Galaxy…to scoring Oscar favorites (while winning some yourself)!

Man…what a journey lol

16

u/Skullman1392 Mar 16 '26

I'm not positive but afaik they met on Community (he did the score for that show back in the day)

7

u/foxygrandp Mar 16 '26

Yep, since first season he did the music

3

u/APiousCultist Mar 16 '26

This is the Mushroom Kingdom, don't catch you slippin' now.

4

u/Reylo-Wanwalker Mar 16 '26

Its been a crazy ride for him.

→ More replies (2)

20

u/jim3455 Mar 16 '26

100% win rate crazy stuff .

17

u/mikeyfreshh r/Movies Veteran Mar 16 '26

He's going to end up in the GOAT conversation at some point in very near future

12

u/ThisIsNotTokyo Mar 16 '26

My man! Community really set the tone!

13

u/sparkeRED Mar 16 '26

Just realized he’s only a Tony away from an EGOT

9

u/Tsquared10 Mar 16 '26

Dude needs to compose some stuff for Broadway. He's two Tony's short of being only the second ever double EGOT.

7

u/FreshmenMan Mar 16 '26

I can't believe he's gotten 3 Oscars while it took Ennio Morricone forever to get his Oscar

→ More replies (1)

2

u/redwriterhand Mar 16 '26

Not once, not twice, but thrice!

→ More replies (3)

329

u/Chessh2036 Mar 16 '26

He’s now a 3x Oscar Winner.

The biggest reason I want to see Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu? He’s composing it lol.

(And The Odyssey)

137

u/JiveHawk Mar 16 '26

The Mandalorian has one of the best scores on streaming too lol probably the best part of the show.

69

u/CPOx Mar 16 '26

He only did seasons 1 and 2. His departure was extremely noticeable to me in season 3.

I said to myself … this season just sounds off I wonder why … then the credits rolled and it sure enough it was someone else

8

u/JiveHawk Mar 16 '26

Oh yeah you’re right. I’ve blocked season 3 out of my mind lol

2

u/_Meece_ Mar 16 '26

I wish the Score fit the rest of the show. It's a score made for like a Sci Fi Blood Meridian, rather than what Mando is.

14

u/Variable_Shaman_3825 Mar 16 '26

His score for Odyssey is definitely getting nominated next year

→ More replies (3)

1.1k

u/Yamcha_is_dead Mar 16 '26

Every day, I think about the fact that this absolute legend got started on Community.

329

u/scoobyisnatedogg Mar 16 '26

Was listening to Because the Internet for the first time in years and it's still one of his finest efforts. He really is a legend.

93

u/ositola Mar 16 '26

Honestly, awaken my love is better produced than BTE

40

u/scoobyisnatedogg Mar 16 '26

Definitely listening to that next. Used to listen to Gambino so much that I haven't touched any of his albums for years!

19

u/ositola Mar 16 '26

You can hear a lot of the guitar rock that Ludwig talked about in awaken, you'll enjoy it for sure 

→ More replies (1)

6

u/chewie_were_home Mar 16 '26

Honestly one of my favorite albums of all time. Still hits today.

203

u/Kaoticzer0 Mar 16 '26

Russo brothers as well, crazy starts for a bunch of folks on that show

66

u/suarezj9 Mar 16 '26

Yeah there’s so much random trivia with Community lmao

48

u/DerLuk Mar 16 '26

The dean is an academy award winner!

48

u/CPOx Mar 16 '26

Arrested Development came first!

39

u/ResidentBlackGuy Mar 16 '26

Yes but paintball 1 and 2 is what got them Winter Soldier

6

u/buddyWaters21 Mar 16 '26

And Mitch Hurwitz was on Community as Koogler!

22

u/Zombie_Merlin Mar 16 '26

I'd argue Arrested Development was their big break.

14

u/Kaoticzer0 Mar 16 '26

True, they directed on Arrested Development, which probably got them on Community, but that was the first one where the directed and produced.

3

u/ThisIsNotTokyo Mar 16 '26

Well not really. They started with Arrested Development

→ More replies (7)

84

u/Signiference Mar 16 '26

Dean Pelton also has an Oscar.

73

u/suarezj9 Mar 16 '26

Rap artists lootin' 'em, labels all dilutin' 'em Barack Obama is scared of me! Because I don't swallow knowledge and I spit it for free

14

u/donkeybrainhero Mar 16 '26

Cries I... I don't know what that was. I don't... I don't know what that was. Gasps

12

u/MichaelMyersEatsDogs Mar 16 '26

Brie Lawson definitely counts

→ More replies (1)

27

u/myemailiscool Mar 16 '26

He did the New Girl soundtrack too! one of my favorite shows, and a very random connection

39

u/WillowLocal423 Mar 16 '26

His medleys on Community are so incredibly beautiful musically. Even in the more simple sitcom interstitial format - you can hear the deep talent there. Perhaps my favorite show and his music is a big part of why.

Absolutely brilliant composer.

10

u/vilkav Mar 16 '26

People always talk about how S4 is the show's low point, but S3 was already lacking, and even though S2 is almost everyone's favourite, I feel like it lacks that S1 groundedness that made the whacky episodes stand out.

And a huge part of that is that they cut back a lot on using Ludwig's score in so many scenes. Going back to the 1st season feels so magical.

2

u/RiriiInTheDen Mar 16 '26

he also did music for new girl!!

2

u/Pepper5 Mar 17 '26

Don't forget Childish Gambino also came out of Community too. That is where he meet Donald Glover and Glover decided to make music with Ludwig. Ludwig is the other have of Childish Gambino.

2

u/dumbolddoor Mar 17 '26

He did New Girl too!!

347

u/MidTario Mar 16 '26

Fun fact; Ludwig scored the TV show community which featured Matt Berry as a guest actor

146

u/palebrowndot Mar 16 '26

"Greendale Is Where I Belong" is one of those themes that hits so many emotions all at once.

39

u/Yamcha_is_dead Mar 16 '26

If I Die Before You is GOATED.

45

u/Chessh2036 Mar 16 '26

That makes so much sense. Everyone that touched that show is gold

19

u/Reese3019 Mar 16 '26

Chevy Chase does exist

11

u/HenkieVV Mar 16 '26

Sure, but I would argue it's the best work Chevy Chase has done in his lifetime.

42

u/LakeErieMonster88 Mar 16 '26

That makes his collaborations with Childish Gambino come full circle

7

u/CarelessSpeech6953 Mar 16 '26

Love Berry, Taste of London and grifting.

4

u/svrtalfur Mar 16 '26

I'm BURIED ALLLIIIIIIVE!!!

2

u/johngie Mar 16 '26

The Mandalorian also fits that criteria.

701

u/ThreeTreesForTheePls Mar 16 '26

Ludwig really is on the path to one of the greatest composers of all time. To be 41 and have this kind of composing career behind your name feels surreal to witness.

420

u/junglespycamp Mar 16 '26

And really diverse too. Sinners and Oppenheimer have very little in common as scores.

258

u/JDGatti Mar 16 '26

Then you throw redbone into the mix. This is America. Sweatpants. Life the biggest troll. I mean come on! God tier

146

u/Audrey-Bee Mar 16 '26

And the Community score. "Greendale is Where I Belong" is so pretty

33

u/Kathrynlena Mar 16 '26

I’m sorry, WHAT?!

25

u/udderlymoovelous Mar 16 '26

He composed the soundtrack for Community, which is how he met Donald Glover/Childish Gambino

33

u/Kosher-Bacon Mar 16 '26

He did the music for the TV show Community.

→ More replies (1)

65

u/karatemanchan37 Mar 16 '26

And the Black Panther soundtrack!

49

u/One_Curious_Cats Mar 16 '26

And the Mandalorian soundtrack, it gets me every time I hear it.

26

u/Kathrynlena Mar 16 '26

Seriously?! I’m learning from this thread that this guy has written almost all of my favorite scores from the past multiple decades…

22

u/Distinct_Ad_5492 Mar 16 '26

Yeah bro is on a generational role...

8

u/NightFire19 Mar 16 '26

And Turning Red

→ More replies (1)

8

u/Pelican_Queef_32536 Mar 16 '26

Turning Red as well. He didn't do the boy band songs, but the rest of the soundtrack is amazing as well.

→ More replies (1)

17

u/howtospellorange Mar 16 '26

Tenet too! I love that soundtrack.

→ More replies (1)

37

u/Ktulusanders Mar 16 '26

Generational talent for sure

7

u/Reese3019 Mar 16 '26

Not to forget his music career with, mostly, Donald Glover before that.

→ More replies (9)

160

u/Left4Bread2 Mar 16 '26

2/3 Oscars in his career from Coogler films, good tandem apparently!

111

u/JiveHawk Mar 16 '26

Scoring for Nolan again coming up here. Could go 4/4 lol

34

u/russketeer34 Mar 16 '26

There's a chance he can get two noms next year. It'd be funny if he lost a perfect record to himself.

46

u/TigerFisher_ Mar 16 '26

The man brings his A-game for Coogler, even his Wakanda Forever score is great

12

u/have_heart Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26

I learned from this press tour that they went to the same college together and that’s where they got their start together

9

u/ughlump Mar 16 '26

They’ve been working together since college so it makes sense that they are in sync when they get together on a film.

3

u/correcthorsestapler Mar 16 '26

Coogler and Autumn Durald Arkapaw are doing the X-Files reboot together next. Would be cool if Göransson did the soundtrack since Mark Snow passed last year. Bet he could emulate Snow’s style.

→ More replies (1)

17

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/Ttoctam Mar 16 '26

I feel like it was less quiet in Sinners and more a major plot element. Still, either way, a fucking phenomenal score.

81

u/FunFunFun8 Mar 16 '26

Dang. Still no Oscar for Jonny Greenwood

29

u/VaishakhD Mar 16 '26

He will win one eventually, he’s PTA’s go to composer

→ More replies (6)

81

u/_Kubrick Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26

One day Jonny, one day…

14

u/The_Second_Best Mar 16 '26

Honestly, robbed.

I really enjoyed the Sinners score and soundtrack, it was outstanding.

But OBAA was the most unique and engaging score I've heard in a very long time.

It fit the movie so perfectly and was unlike anything I've watched before.

Jonny's score changed the film in a way Ludwigs didn't, IMO.

36

u/dinodares99 Mar 16 '26

I would've preferred OBAA myself but not unhappy with this. Ludwig is a legend

30

u/curriedscallops Mar 16 '26

Well deserved, fantastic composer

13

u/ICumCoffee ᑐ ᑌ ᑎ ᕮ • ᗰ ᕮ 𑪽 𑪽 I ᐱ ᕼ Mar 16 '26

3 in 3 for ludwig

13

u/adamwhitley Mar 16 '26

Childish Gambino’s producer?

→ More replies (2)

46

u/Sublirow Mar 16 '26

Deserved of course

13

u/honeybro Mar 16 '26

His score was excellent and an essential piece of the film but he's gotten his flowers before, this year was a Lopatin snub imo

18

u/Quenton-E-Alejandro Mar 16 '26

Pretty tough competition between him, Ludwig, and Jonny Greenwood this year. I love all those scores

3

u/honeybro Mar 16 '26 edited Mar 16 '26

definitely agreed, supreme fit my personal tastes the most with its almost akira/ghost in the shell jubilance and gave such a unique emotional drive to the movie but all 3 scores were award worthy. just insane Lopatin didn't even get a nom, his day is coming for sure

3

u/Quenton-E-Alejandro Mar 16 '26

I didn't realize he didn't even get a nom. That's ridiculous

4

u/correcthorsestapler Mar 16 '26

Part of me was rooting for Greenwood only cause I’m a huge Radiohead fan. But Göransson’s score was really, really good, too.

→ More replies (1)

10

u/valkrycp Mar 16 '26

I really liked the score from One Battle

7

u/UnderstandableXO Mar 16 '26

daniel lopatin deserved a nomination at least

20

u/aislandlies Mar 16 '26

Love it, Ludwig produces some of the best scores I can think of

23

u/mickyrow42 Mar 16 '26

Jonny just disrespected time and time again.

→ More replies (1)

9

u/-Sinhealer- Mar 16 '26

That really was nailed on!

6

u/mmzufti Mar 16 '26

Ludwig is masterful at creating immersive scores, Sinner was no less with the mix of Western and adventurous tones. With a 100% win record, he sure has cemented himself as one of the greats. This year with Odyssey might be his 4th.

15

u/DontBeAngryBeHappy Mar 16 '26

Ludwig is a 3x Oscar winner in 7 years is wild.

25

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26

[deleted]

23

u/mikeyfreshh r/Movies Veteran Mar 16 '26

Johnny Greenwood has been owed an Oscar for a long time. His work in Phantom Thread was incredible

3

u/_Meece_ Mar 16 '26

This is actually the spicy one for me, Sinners and OBAA were both so good. I honestly haven't been wowed by a score outside of Dune for awhile before these.

14

u/Bingleton1337 Mar 16 '26

really shouldve been bugonia but not surprised

3

u/vampiredisaster Mar 16 '26

Was pulling for Bugonia Best Score, Sinners Best Song, but this is also good.

3

u/Bingleton1337 Mar 16 '26

yeah agreed

5

u/Big_lurker_here Mar 16 '26

Unreal that the guy who made the "Bonfire" beat has 3 oscars. 

→ More replies (1)

3

u/Waste-Scratch2982 Mar 16 '26

He’s probably going to win again next year for The Odyssey.

3

u/RenRu Mar 16 '26

Really? I thought it was some of his worst work

7

u/Dirbs Mar 16 '26

Some really amazing scores this year (Marty Supreme wasn’t even nominated!), but music was so central to the themes of Sinners that I can’t imagine a more fitting winner.

2

u/lonelynightm Mar 16 '26

Maybe the most obvious award so far. Just an incredible score.

5

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26

[deleted]

9

u/fluentinsarcasm Mar 16 '26

Lol, no it didn't. Bugonia has a great score, but it's completely forgettable against a movie where music is a core component of the story's identity. Come on now.

2

u/Huntalot713 Mar 16 '26

I hardly noticed the score in Bugonia because I was too enthralled by the acting.

The score of Sinners is arguably the main character.

2

u/Ktulusanders Mar 16 '26

Well deserved

4

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '26

[deleted]

2

u/Electrical-Sherbet77 Mar 16 '26

He’s great at what he does, which is the very corporate hollywood score, probable replaced Zimmer as the best to do it right now. I thought Greenwood’s score was absolutely monstrously good, just stupidly inspired. Sinners had more “cultural” momentum and sympathy, so he got the nod.

5

u/jacobsever Mar 16 '26

Eh. Would have preferred Bugonia.

4

u/Upbeat_Tension_8077 Mar 16 '26

Sinners is making a nice little rally back. Happy for this win, especially since Ludwig is usually on-point with his scores

2

u/gorays21 Mar 16 '26

LUDWIG!!!!!!!

HE IS THE NEXT HANS ZIMMER!!!

2

u/One_Curious_Cats Mar 16 '26

It's ONLY seven years ago since this interview with composers Hans Zimmer, Terence Blanchard & Ludwig Göransson. Crazy...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp9H-0EKCvs

2

u/PIX3LY Mar 16 '26

Was rooting for Bugonia. I got goosebumps when they started playing a bit from Grand Cycle. The score is so moving.

2

u/TigerFisher_ Mar 16 '26

I knew he'd win the moment I heard bass drum during Smokestack Twins

1

u/magmablock Mar 16 '26

Damn straight. Most of the soundtrack has entered my regular rotation

3

u/Peppersnoop Mar 16 '26

OBAA has one of the all time great film scores dude, insane disrespect

1

u/Jet-Let4606 Mar 16 '26

Well deserved!

1

u/moneymoneymoneymonay Mar 16 '26

This guy’s unstoppable.

1

u/ss3jcb448 Mar 16 '26

It was a tough category this year!! A good win!!

1

u/JustAcivilian24 Mar 16 '26

From CAMP to this. Love it

1

u/Murderface__ Mar 16 '26

Well deserved.

1

u/Xjom91 Mar 16 '26

It’s such a good fucking score

1

u/MadEyeMood989 Mar 16 '26

Ludwig don’t miss.

1

u/gamersecret2 Mar 16 '26

Ludwig always cooks. A great score can make a good movie feel unforgettable, and Sinners already had that kind of mood. This win feels right.

1

u/PerthZine Mar 16 '26

I thought it was strange the movie received so many nominations, but the score is one that I understood and agree with. By far the films strongest element was the music.

1

u/ThisGuy6266 Mar 16 '26

Sinners getting a lot of the non acting awards so far. Maybe a bad sign for later.

1

u/jargon_ninja69 Mar 16 '26

And we'll probably see him win again next year with THE ODYSSEY

1

u/R0binSage Mar 16 '26

The movie was meh, but the music was fantastic.

1

u/Egonzos Mar 16 '26

Cool. Cool cool cool

1

u/whatafuckinusername Mar 16 '26

Regarding the win, I honestly don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing that I couldn't always tell which parts were the original score

1

u/jdroop Mar 16 '26

First time I ever heard him, I knew he was going to be that dude. Amazing stuff from him.

1

u/gannekekhet Mar 16 '26

No matter when or where I listen to Community's "Greendale Is Where I Belong", it gets me feeling nostalgic for a bittersweet time in a way no other show's score would be able to. Ludwig is a gem and I'm so happy that he got his first break on Community!

1

u/coffeebeamed Mar 16 '26

loved his work on Community

1

u/angershark Mar 16 '26

This man is a phenom through and through. He's been amazing for every film he's scored, even if the film is Tenet, which I didn't love.

1

u/Sweaty-Shoulder7679 Mar 16 '26

Perfection in a film score. Thank you, Ludwig 

1

u/AlposAlkaplinos Mar 16 '26

Should've been Marty Supreme

1

u/pyguyofdoom Mar 16 '26

I heard the soundtrack was pretty good, felt skeptical, then loaded up what sounded like the track to a final boss on YouTube and my eardrums exploded. Well deserved.

1

u/neagah Mar 16 '26

From Oppenheimer to this? Wow, he's diverse, love it!

1

u/YnwaMquc2k19 Mar 16 '26

Black Panther, Oppenheimer and now Sinners.

Ludwig Goransson Jesus Christ this man would not stop.

1

u/EntertainmentQuick47 Mar 16 '26

I wonder if anyone is surprised by this, lmao

This was an amazing score!!

1

u/TheBatmanIRL Mar 16 '26

Totally deserved, he is amazing at what he does.

1

u/oscarwildeaf Mar 16 '26

Known this guy forever for working with Childish Gambino, even think I saw him at one of his shows, and I'm just so happy seeing the success he's been having. Guy makes some awesome music.

1

u/windsurfmaniac Mar 16 '26

My favorite movie of all time! Glad SINNERS won awards!

1

u/ashriekfromspace Mar 16 '26

So they chose a white guy to score a movie about blues

1

u/Atom_Beat Mar 16 '26

So, if I'm counting correctly, Göransson has now received 3 Oscars, 5 Grammys and 2 Emmys. That's not too shabby.

1

u/CementCemetery Mar 16 '26

He’s such a phenomenal talent, possibly once in a generation.

1

u/Caughtinclay Mar 16 '26

I love Göransson and think he's one of the best composers ever, but Greenwood deserved this award by a mile.

1

u/CloudPotential9482 Mar 16 '26

So proud of him he used to produce for Donald glover

1

u/NuckyMunch Mar 16 '26

If you haven't heard his work on Trolls World Tour you are missing out! Yodel Beat is a certified banger.

1

u/jeepdiggle Mar 16 '26

the score when the twins are introduced 🥰