BY: Alexis Eichelberger

Trent Reznor is a multi-talented musician who has evolved from a rockstar to an acclaimed composer for films.

He started his career in 1988 when he founded the rock band Nine Inch Nails. Reznor has released 12 albums under the band’s name, serving as its frontman and only permanent member until 2016.

Despite Reznor’s success as a rockstar, he shifted his focus to film scoring in 2010. Together with fellow Nine Inch Nails member Atticus Ross, he has scored nine films, one documentary, and two television series.

We’ve listed all of those film scores here and ranked them. Here are Trent Reznor’s nine-film scores, ranked.

 

#9: PATRIOT’S DAY

At the bottom of our list is the 2016 action film Patriot’s Day. This movie dramatizes the 2013 bombing of the Boston Marathon. Reznor himself played all the instruments in this dramatic, suspense-building score.

 

#8: BIRD BOX

Speaking of suspense, Reznor is also responsible for the score of Netflix’s smash hit horror film Bird Box. The monster in this movie is always invisible, but Reznor makes up for any missing visuals with intense music.

 

#7: MID90S

At number seven is Jonah Hill’s coming of age story Mid90s. Reznor’s score perfectly complements the compilation of essential 90s rock and rap hits in the film.

 

#6: WAVES

The 2019 drama Waves is up next. The movie is emotional and about a family’s navigation of loss and grief. In creating its music, Reznor showed just how wide a range of films he can score.

 

#5: THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

This thriller starring Daniel Craig deserves a spot near the top of our list. Reznor’s score for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo earned him multiple accolades, including the Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

 

#4: GONE GIRL

Number four brings us another thriller. Gone Girl marked Reznor and Ross’ third score together and was a sonically wild ride –– perfectly appropriate for such an enthralling movie.

 

#3: MANK

Mank, a dazzling film about the making of Citizen Kane, features a score with more than 50 tracks. Reznor and Ross used authentic 1940s instrumentation to create the score, making the movie’s romantic vintage vibe even more precise.

 

#2: THE SOCIAL NETWORK

At number two is The Social Network. This score received widespread acclaim from music and film critics alike. It earned Reznor multiple major awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Original Score – Motion Picture and the Academy Award for Best Original Score.

 

#1: SOUL

Topping our list is Disney’s animated masterpiece Soul. Reznor and Ross worked together with other musicians to blend ambient sounds with original jazz tracks. This score is the perfect accompaniment for a story with music at its center.