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Craig Armstrong

Craig Armstrong

Composer · Born April 29, 1959 (67) · Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Golden Globe winner · 2 BAFTA Awards · 1 other major award body

Craig Armstrong, OBE (born 29 April 1959), is a Scottish composer of modern orchestral music, electronica, and film scores. He graduated from the Royal Academy of Music in 1981 and has since written music for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and the London Sinfonietta.Armstrong's score for Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet earned him a BAFTA for Achievement in Film Music and an Ivor Novello. He would collaborate with Luhrmann again on his next two films, Moulin Rouge! and The Great Gatsby. His score for the former earned him the 2001 American Film Institute's Composer of the Year award, a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score, and a BAFTA. Armstrong was awarded a Grammy Award for Best Original Score in 2004 for the biopic Ray. His other feature film scoring credits include Love Actually, Oliver Stone's World Trade Centre, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and The Incredible Hulk. Armstrong was born in Shettleston, Glasgow, Scotland. Description above from the Wikipedia article Craig Armstrong, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
April 29, 1959 (67)
From
Glasgow, Scotland, UK
Works as
Composer
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 41 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 26% in 30 days

What are Craig Armstrong's films like?

Across their 29 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Drama12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 81st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 80th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography movies
Comedy4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 55th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 58th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
34%
Self
22%
Morality
16%
Survival
11%
Power
10%
Ideas
5%
Society
2%
Romantic love11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth5 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeObsession4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 29 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 8 · Serious 4 · Dark 17

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 19 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 5

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 10 · Intense 16

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 10 · Shifting 17 · Whiplash 2

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 21 · Some laughs 7 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 9 · Even-paced 18 · Relentless 2

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 15 · Full focus 5

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 6 · Affecting 12 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 17 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
17
Melancholic
18
Romantic
10
Hopeful
11
Dread
7
Other
23

How their films linger

Hopeful15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy4
  • Bittersweet19
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Craig Armstrong's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Craig Armstrong's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

41 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page; 1 appearance as themselves is hidden until asked for.

  • The Critic(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Great Escaper(2023)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • CS Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert(2021)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Dirt Music(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The One and Only Ivan(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Burnt Orange Heresy(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Mrs Lowry & Son(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Orphans Reunited (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Snowden(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Bridget Jones's Baby(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Me Before You(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Victor Frankenstein(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Far from the Madding Crowd(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • The Great Gatsby(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 10 episodes · Composer

  • In Time(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Neds(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Day After Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • The Incredible Hulk(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Elizabeth: The Golden Age(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • World Trade Center(2006)

    Composer · Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • Piano Works - The Film (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Craig Armstrong

  • Must Love Dogs(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Fever Pitch(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ray(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Clearing(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Love Actually(2003)

    Composer · Musician · Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • The Quiet American(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • The Magdalene Sisters(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Rosso Fango (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Sound

  • Kiss of the Dragon(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • Moulin Rouge!(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • The Bone Collector(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • One Day in September(1999)

    Additional Music

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Best Laid Plans(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Plunkett & Macleane(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Orphans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Romeo + Juliet(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Composer

  • The Super Mario Bros. Super Show!(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Frankenstein's Monster

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all shows

Career shape

A full career of 40 titles from 1989 to 2024.

Biggest box office

The Great Gatsby (2013)

$354M worldwide

Highest rated

The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting3 of 40: 3 only acting, 0 with another roleMusic36 of 40: 34 only music, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score69thOther crew3 of 40: 1 only other crew, 2 with another role

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s7 · crew2000s15 · 1 acting · 14 crew2010s12 · 1 acting · 11 crew2020s5 · crew

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

Awards

a Golden Globe, 2 BAFTA Awards and 1 other major award from 6 major nominations, 1998–2014.

WinNomination
  1. 2014
    • Grammy Award, nominated · Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media
  2. 2006
    • Grammy Award, won · Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
  3. 2005
    • BAFTA Award, nominated
  4. 2002
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Original Score - Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, won
  5. 1998
    • BAFTA Award, won

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Craig Armstrong's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 69th percentile, the median of all 33; across their 29 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 64th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

64thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Approval · how many liked their films

65thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Reach · how many have seen their films

95thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 29

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up13
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th9
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

18 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser18
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · composer

CS Lewis: The Most Reluctant Convert (2021)

60th percentile spread · 11% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

Ray (2004)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 59/100 in their films, across 26 reviewed titles; fans 66, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as a composer.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Craig Armstrong's work okay for kids?

Across up to 22 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore19 titles11–83 · median 43 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity22 titles15–62 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity20 titles28–78 · median 53 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs18 titles25–59 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense17 titles15–79 · median 42 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Craig Armstrong work with?

People who share at least 2 of Craig Armstrong's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Eric Fellner shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles