Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
arts

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Steve Jablonsky

American composer (born 1970)


American composer (born 1970)

FieldValue
nameSteve Jablonsky
birth_date
birth_placeLos Angeles, California, U.S.
genreFilm score, video game music, post-rock, alternative rock, electronic, classical
occupationsFilm composer,
video game composer
instrumentsPiano, keyboards, guitar, drums
years_active1999–present
website

video game composer Steve Jablonsky (born October 9, 1970) is an American composer for film, television, and video games, best known for his musical scores in the Transformers film series, Desperate Housewives, and The Sims 3. Some of his frequent collaboration partners include film directors Michael Bay and Peter Berg, and fellow composer Hans Zimmer.

Early life

Jablonsky's mother was born in a Japanese internment camp. He went to the University of California, Berkeley for college and studied computer science at first, but switched to music composition a year later. After graduation, he became an intern at Hans Zimmer's Remote Control Productions after cold calling the studio to ask if they needed any help. During that time, Jablonsky met Harry Gregson-Williams, a fellow composer of Zimmer, and started working as his assistant. Later, he became more engaged with Zimmer and started composing for works such as Desperate Housewives and the Transformers film series.

Career

Jablonsky has composed the soundtracks to the films The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), Steamboy (2004), The Island (2005), Transformers (2007), D-War (2007), Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011), Battleship (2012), Ender's Game (2013) (replacing renowned film composer James Horner), Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), and Transformers: The Last Knight (2017). He was also a contributor on Team America: World Police (2004) among many others. In addition, he helped compose some of the music to the video game Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and composed the theme music for BBC's Seven Wonders of the Industrial World in 2003. He also has written music for the television show Desperate Housewives (2004 - 2012) since the fourth episode. His track "Trailblazing" served as the opening theme for WrestleMania X8 and WrestleMania XIX, as well as the soundtrack to the TNA Hall of Fame induction of Sting.

Jablonsky also wrote the music for Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium Wars, taking the place of the former Command & Conquer music composer Frank Klepacki who was unable to write the game's score due to his involvement with Universe at War: Earth Assault.

Jablonsky has worked for Harry Gregson-Williams at Media Ventures, the music production company which was conceived and founded by Jay Rifkin and Hans Zimmer, for seven years. His most recent projects include the scores for the South Korean film D-War, Gears of War 3 for the Xbox 360 gaming console, and music for The Sims 3.

Currently, Jablonsky is employed at Zimmer's studio, Remote Control Productions, having been mentored by the company's members Zimmer and Nick Glennie-Smith, as well as former members Harry Gregson-Williams and Klaus Badelt. Additionally, Jablonsky was very recently invited in September 2024 by rock band Weezer to write some of the music they performed in their Voyage to the Blue Planet Tour.

In February 2015, Jablonsky was hired to compose the score for the film The Last Witch Hunter. He also composed the soundtrack for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the sequel to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and the 2016 Peter Berg film Deepwater Horizon, starring Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell.

Filmography

Film

YearFilmDirectorAdditional MusicStudio / DeveloperNotes
1998Border to BorderThomas WhelanStage 15 Productions
2003The Texas Chainsaw MassacreMarcus NispelJay FloodNew Line Cinema
2004SteamboyKatsuhiro OtomoSony Pictures Entertainment
2005The Amityville HorrorAndrew Douglas{{flatlistMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer
The IslandMichael Bay{{flatlistWarner Bros. Pictures
2006The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The BeginningJonathan LiebesmanJay FloodNew Line Cinema
2007The HitcherDave Meyers{{flatlistRogue PicturesIncidental music by Holeg Spies
TransformersMichael Bay{{flatlistParamount Pictures
DreamWorks Pictures
D-WarShim Hyung-raeJay FloodFreestyle Releasing
2009Friday the 13thMarcus Nispel{{flatlistNew Line Cinema
Paramount Pictures
Transformers: Revenge of the FallenMichael Bay{{flatlistParamount Pictures
DreamWorks PicturesFeaturing original song by Linkin Park "New Divide"
2010A Nightmare on Elm StreetSamuel BayerJay FloodWarner Bros. PicturesNew Line Cinema
2011Your HighnessDavid Gordon GreenUniversal Pictures
Transformers: Dark of the MoonMichael Bay{{flatlistParamount Pictures
2012BattleshipPeter Berg{{flatlistUniversal Pictures
2013Gangster SquadRuben FleischerWarner Bros. Pictures
Pain & GainMichael BayClay DuncanParamount Pictures
Ender's GameGavin HoodJacob SheaSummit EntertainmentOrchestra conducted by Gavin Greenaway
Lone SurvivorPeter Berg{{flatlistUniversal PicturesComposed with Explosions in the Sky
2014Transformers: Age of ExtinctionMichael Bay{{flatlistParamount PicturesFeaturing original song By Imagine Dragons "Battle Cry"
2015The Last Witch HunterBreck Eisner{{flatlistLionsgate FilmsOrchestra conducted by David Shipps and performed by Nashville Music Scoring Orchestra
2016KeanuPeter AtencioElgin Thrower Jr.Warner Bros. PicturesComposed with Nathan Whitehead
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the ShadowsDave Green{{flatlistParamount Pictures
Nickelodeon MoviesOrchestra conducted by James Sale
Deepwater HorizonPeter BergJon Jablonsky (Drums)Summit EntertainmentFeaturing original song by Gary Clark Jr.
2017Transformers: The Last KnightMichael Bay{{flatlistParamount PicturesOrchestra conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith & James Sale
2018Game Over, Man!Kyle NewacheckChristian WibeNetflix
SkyscraperRawson Marshall Thurber{{flatlistUniversal Pictures
Legendary EntertainmentFeaturing original song by Jamie N Commons "Walls"
Morning Express IIRandall MillerMediacorp Onetree Pictures
mm2 Entertainment
2020Spenser ConfidentialPeter BergJared FlyNetflix
BloodshotDavid S. F. Wilson{{flatlistColumbia PicturesOrchestra conducted by Nick Glennie-Smith
2021Red NoticeRawson Marshall Thurber{{flatlistNetflixOrchestra conducted by Jasper Randall
2022DC League of Super-PetsJared SternWarner Bros. PicturesReplaced Dominic Lewis
2024The Tiger's ApprenticeRaman Hui{{flatlistParamount+
BorderlandsEli RothLionsgate FilmsReplaced Nathan Barr

Additional music credits

YearFilmDirectorAdditional MusicStudio / DeveloperNotes
1997Smilla's Sense of SnowBille August{{flatlistFox Searchlight PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Hans Zimmer
DeceiverJonas Pate
Josh PateMetro-Goldwyn-MayerScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
1998Border to BorderThomas WhelanStage 15 Productions
ArmageddonMichael Bay{{flatlistTouchstone PicturesScore composed by Trevor Rabin
AntzEric Darnell
Tim Johnson{{flatlistDreamWorks PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and John Powell
1999Light It UpCraig Bolotin{{flatlist20th Century FoxScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
Deep Blue SeaRenny Harlin{{flatlistWarner Bros. PicturesScore composed by Trevor Rabin
2000The Tigger MovieJun Falkenstein{{flatlistWalt Disney PicturesScore composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
The Magic of MarcianoTony BarbieriCape Atlantic Productions
Chicken RunPeter Lord
Nick Park{{flatlistDreamWorks PicturesScore composed by John Powell and Harry Gregson-Williams
2001Pearl HarborMichael Bay{{flatlistTouchstone PicturesScore composed by Hans Zimmer
2002Spirit: Stallion of the CimarronKelly Asbury
Lorna Cook{{flatlistDreamWorks PicturesScore composed by Bryan Adams and Hans Zimmer
2003Tears of the SunAntoine Fuqua{{flatlistColumbia PicturesScore composed by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black PearlGore Verbinski{{flatlistWalt Disney PicturesScore composed by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer
Bad Boys IIMichael Bay{{flatlistColumbia PicturesScore composed by Trevor Rabin
20196 Underground{{flatlistNetflixScore composed by Lorne Balfe

Television

YearTitleTV ChannelNotes
1999Swing VoteTelevision film
Additional music only
Score composed by Harry Gregson-Williams
2002AFP: American Fighter PilotCBS
Live from BaghdadHBOTelevision film
National Geographic ExplorerNational Geographic ChannelEpisode: "Lost Subs: Disaster at Sea"
2003Seven Wonders of the Industrial WorldBBC7 episodes
Threat MatrixABC3 episodes
2004–2012Desperate Housewives157 episodes
2005The ContenderNBC
ThresholdCBS
2006Him and UsTelevision film
2008Amas de Casa DesesperadasUnivision24 episodes
2009WWII in HDHistoryOnly composed "Trailblazing"
2011Vietnam in HD
2013The ListTelevision film
OccultA&E
2014The Last ShipTNTSeason 1
2015You, Me and the ApocalypseNBC10 episodes
2021Why Women KillParamount+3 episodes

Video games

YearTitlePublisherNotes
2001Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of LibertyKonamiAdditional music only
Music composed by Harry Gregson-Williams and Norihiko Hibino
E3 Best Original Score
2007Command & Conquer 3: Tiberium WarsElectronic ArtsComposed with Trevor Morris
Transformers: The GameActivisionComposed with Jonathan Flood, David Whittaker and Adam Hay
2008Gears of War 2Microsoft Game Studios
2009The Sims 3Electronic ArtsComposed CAS, Map View, Buy and Build mode music
Transformers: Revenge of the FallenActivisionAdditional music by Julien-K and Bobby Tahouri
2010Prince of Persia: The Forgotten SandsUbisoftMain Title, Cinematics and Front Music
PlayStation 3, Windows, Xbox 360 versions
2011Gears of War 3Microsoft Game Studios
2013Gears of War: JudgmentComposed with Jacob Shea
2014Transformers: Rise of the Dark SparkActivisionComposed with Jeff Broadbent, Bobby Tahouri and Troels Brun Folmann

References

References

  1. (2016). "Steve Jablonsky". [[The New York Times]].
  2. "Steve Jablonsky {{!}} Composer, Music Department, Additional Crew".
  3. (January 28, 2017). "My mom was born in a Japanese internment camp. I almost did not exist because of policies similar to what's happening right now.".
  4. (2014-07-31). "EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Michael Bay's 'Transformers' Composer Steve Jablonsky Talks Making Music For Movies, TV, Video Games And More!". Mstarz.
  5. (24 April 2018). "Episode #6 {{!}} Steve Jablonsky, Behind the Score: Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross & Name That Score".
  6. Newman, Melinda. (2014-06-26). "Composer Steve Jablonsky on Transformers: Age of Extinction: This was the craziest film of all". Uproxx.
  7. "Instagram".
  8. (February 12, 2015). "Steve Jablonsky to Score 'The Last Witch Hunter'.". filmmusicreporter.com.
  9. "x.com".
  10. "Steve Jablonsky Scoring Jared Stern's 'DC League of Super-Pets' | Film Music Reporter".
  11. (2023-10-09). "Steve Jablonsky Scoring 'Borderlands' Film Adaptation".
  12. "Steve Jablonsky". Hans-Zimmer.com.
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Steve Jablonsky — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report