Skip to content
MovieCove
Shigeru Umebayashi

Shigeru Umebayashi

Composer · Born February 19, 1951 (75) · Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Composer.

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 19, 1951 (75)
From
Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan
Works as
Composer
Titles
28 on MovieCove · 87 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Official site (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Up 6% in 30 days

What are Shigeru Umebayashi's films like?

Across their 26 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Action11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 79th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime 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
32%
Morality
31%
Self
12%
Survival
12%
Power
8%
Society
4%
Ideas
1%
Romantic love8 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption5 titles, browse their movies with this themeBetrayal4 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSacrifice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRevenge2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief3 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 26 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 4 · Serious 5 · Dark 17

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

Grounded 7 · Stylized 11 · Heightened 8

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

Gentle 1 · Charged 9 · Intense 16

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

Steady 6 · Shifting 16 · Whiplash 4

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

Straight-faced 23 · Some laughs 2 · 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 16 · Relentless 1

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

Casual 6 · Engaged 14 · Full focus 6

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

Easy watch 3 · Affecting 8 · Heavy 15

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 11 · Ambiguous 4

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
20
Melancholic
16
Romantic
8
Dread
5
Thrilling
5
Other
17

How their films linger

Bittersweet16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting9 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 5 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet14
  • Tragic7
  • Ambiguous4

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 Shigeru Umebayashi's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 18 of their 28 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Shigeru Umebayashi'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

87 credits, 28 with a MovieCove page.

  • My World without Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Composer

  • In the Mood for Love 2001 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Composer

  • Dwelling by the West Lake (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Composer

  • In the Belly of a Tiger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Composer

  • The Yin Yang Master Zero(2024)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • In the Mirror (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Composer

  • Greetings from Crîngași (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Composer

  • Sombras Íntimas (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Composer

  • Hero(2022)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • The Yinyang Master(2021)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Rebel Princess(2021)

    Show 68 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all shows

  • Leap(2020)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Olma Djon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Composer

  • God of War(2017)

    Composer · Music Director

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Wasted Times(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 43rd percentile of all films

  • The Bride(2015)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Rise of the Legend(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • One Step Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Composer

  • Like the Wind (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Composer

  • The Grandmaster(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • The Assassins(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Days of Grace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Composer

  • Foreign Affairs Police: Don't be fooled by that man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Composer

  • Nightfall(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Trishna(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • True Legend(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • The Everlasting Flame(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Murderer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    Composer

  • Tears for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    Composer

  • Absurdistan(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Incendiary(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Hannibal Rising(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Curse of the Golden Flower(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Hans van Mierlo, What I Still Dream of Writing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • The Dark Sea (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Composer

  • NIGHT HEAD GENESIS (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 24 episodes · Composer · Music Producer

  • Daisy(2006)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Fearless(2006)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Hibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Composer

  • Making of House of Flying Daggers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Composer

  • Dream Land (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    Composer

  • 2046(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • House of Flying Daggers(2004)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • The Floating Landscape (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Composer

  • Onmyoji II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Composer

  • Zhou Yu's Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Composer

  • Rain of Light (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • Akui (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · Composer

  • Onmyoji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer · Music Producer

  • An Adolescent(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Midnight Fly (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Composer

  • In the Mood for Love(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • 2000 AD(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Sleepless Town(1998)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Option Zero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • The Things We Liked (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Isana no umi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Ichigo domei (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    Composer

  • Mogura (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Director · Writer

  • Futarikko (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 150 episodes · Composer

  • Kumokiri Nizaemon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 15 episodes · Composer

  • The Christ of Nanjing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Composer

  • Boxer Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Composer

  • Zero Woman: Final Mission (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Composer

  • Natural Woman (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Music Director

  • Ghost Pub (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Composer

  • N45゜ (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Composer

  • Yoi Ko to Asobou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Composer

  • Tokarev (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Composer

  • Korosiya Ami (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer

  • The City That Never Sleeps: Shinjuku Shark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Composer · Music Producer

  • Yamai wa kikara: Byôin e ikô 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Investigation of a Typical Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Check (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Yumeji (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Goaisatsu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Tekken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • Hong Kong Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Composer

  • The Chaser (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • Love and Action in Osaka (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer

  • The Gentlemen’s Alliance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • For Business (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • And Then (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • Let Him Rest in Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Composer

  • Someday, Someone Will Be Killed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

  • Dansen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 85 titles from 1983 to 2025.

Biggest box office

House of Flying Daggers (2004)

$93M worldwide

Highest rated

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Midcredits 98th

By role

only this rolewith another role
Directing1 of 85: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting1 of 85: 0 only writing, 1 with another roleMusic82 of 85: 81 only music, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score65thOther crew3 of 85: 2 only other crew, 1 with another role

By decade

1980s8 · crew1990s25 · crew2000s27 · crew2010s15 · crew2020s10 · 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.

How do Shigeru Umebayashi's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 60th percentile, the median of all 27; across their 26 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 63rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

63rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Approval · how many liked their films

57thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Reach · how many have seen their films

79thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 26

Midcredits score across 28 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up9
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th7
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

13 of their 28 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser13
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · composer

Hero (2022)

81st percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

In the Mood for Love (2000)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 59/100 in their films, across 21 reviewed titles; fans 67, detractors 46. 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 Shigeru Umebayashi's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles15–78 · median 64 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles11–57 · median 32 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity4 titlesmedian 7 · minimalMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs4 titlesmedian 37 · moderateMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 29 · mildMedian 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 Shigeru Umebayashi work with?

People who share at least 2 of Shigeru Umebayashi's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bill Kong shares the most, 7.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Cinematographers and editors

Producers