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David Newman

David Newman

Composer · Born March 11, 1954 (72) · Los Angeles, California, USA

Oscar nominee

David Louis Newman (born March 11, 1954) is an American composer and conductor known particularly for his film scores. In a career spanning nearly forty years, he has composed music for nearly 100 feature films. Newman was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Mississippi-born Martha Louise (née Montgomery) and Hollywood composer Alfred Newman. He is the brother of Thomas Newman and the cousin of Randy Newman, both of whom are also composers of film scores. An accomplished violinist, and successful concert conductor, Newman was educated at the University of Southern California.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
March 11, 1954 (72)
From
Los Angeles, California, USA
Works as
Composer
Titles
100 on MovieCove · 107 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 155 days to Oct 26Up 25% in 30 days

What are David Newman's films like?

Across their 95 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy49 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 34th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Adventure13 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Adventure movies
Action12 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 20th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Animation9 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 38th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Animation movies
Drama7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 48th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 41st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Biography 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
41%
Self
25%
Morality
13%
Society
8%
Power
7%
Survival
4%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds32 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship24 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love20 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth13 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity15 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose10 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity16 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception12 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 94 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 77 · Serious 13 · Dark 4

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

A split, not a type: Grounded 42 · Stylized 39 · Heightened 13

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

Gentle 34 · Charged 50 · Intense 10

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

A split, not a type: Steady 45 · Shifting 38 · Whiplash 11

Funny: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their funny movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 9 · Some laughs 26 · Funny 59

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

Slow burn 26 · Even-paced 58 · Relentless 10

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

Casual 75 · Engaged 18 · Full focus 1

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

Resolved 84 · Open-ended 9 · Ambiguous 1

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
47
Absurd
43
Tense
32
Warm
31
Thrilling
24
Other
87

How their films linger

Feel-good65 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun49 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful30 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet15 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 9 with a twist

  • Happy68
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous5

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 David Newman's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 70 of their 100 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (27).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for David Newman'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

107 credits, 100 with a MovieCove page; 9 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Arthur's Whisky(2024)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • West Side Story(2021)

    Music Arranger

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Green Eggs and Ham(2019)

    Show 23 episodes · Composer

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

  • Pets United(2019)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Night School(2018)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Naked(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 20th percentile of all films

  • Girls Trip(2017)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Army of One(2016)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Some Kind of Beautiful(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • 5 Flights Up(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Behaving Badly(2014)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Tarzan(2013)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • A Christmas Story 2(2012)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son(2011)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo! Curse of the Lake Monster(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Animals United(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Spy Next Door(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Crazy on the Outside(2010)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 16th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo! The Mystery Begins(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • My Life in Ruins(2009)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • The Spirit(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Welcome Home, Roscoe Jenkins(2008)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Norbit(2007)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Serenity(2005)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Monster-in-Law(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Man of the House(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Are We There Yet?(2005)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed(2004)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • The Cat in the Hat(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Duplex(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Daddy Day Care(2003)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days(2003)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Scooby-Doo(2002)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Life or Something Like It(2002)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Death to Smoochy(2002)

    Composer · Songs

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Ice Age(2002)

    Composer · Conductor

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • The Affair of the Necklace(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Dolittle 2(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Flamingo Rising(2001)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • Bedazzled(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • 102 Dalmatians(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 13th percentile of all films

  • Duets(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Nutty Professor II: The Klumps(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 7th percentile of all films

  • The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas(2000)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Galaxy Quest(1999)

    Composer · Orchestrator

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Brokedown Palace(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Bowfinger(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Never Been Kissed(1999)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • 1001 Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Composer

  • Anastasia(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Out to Sea(1997)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Jingle All the Way(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Matilda(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The Nutty Professor(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Phantom(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Big Bully(1996)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Operation Dumbo Drop(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Tommy Boy(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Boys on the Side(1995)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • I Love Trouble(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Cowboy Way(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • The Flintstones(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films

  • My Father the Hero(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Air Up There(1994)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Undercover Blues(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Coneheads(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The Sandlot(1993)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Hoffa(1992)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • The Mighty Ducks(1992)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Honeymoon in Vegas(1992)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • That Night(1992)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • The Itsy Bitsy Spider (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Composer

  • Other People's Money(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Paradise(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Rover Dangerfield(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Talent for the Game(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • The Marrying Man(1991)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • The Runestone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Composer

  • Mr. Destiny(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • DuckTales: The Movie - Treasure of the Lost Lamp(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • The Freshman(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Meet the Applegates(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • Fire Birds(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Madhouse(1990)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • The War of the Roses(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Gross Anatomy(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Little Monsters(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • Tales from the Crypt(1989)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all shows

  • Back to Neverland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Composer

  • Disorganized Crime(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Heathers(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure(1989)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Die Reis Na Blinkliggiestad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Composer

  • Throw Momma from the Train(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Brave Little Toaster(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Malone(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • My Demon Lover(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • The Kindred(1987)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 34th percentile of all films

  • Vendetta(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Aladdin and His Wonderful Lamp (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Composer

  • Critters(1986)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Amazing Stories(1985)

    Show 1 episode · Composer

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Frankenweenie(1984)

    Composer

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Curious George (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Composer

Career shape

A full career of 107 titles from 1984 to 2024.

Biggest box office

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (2009)

$443M worldwide

Highest rated

The Sandlot (1993)

Midcredits 96th

Most popular right now

Ice Age (2002)

By role

only this rolewith another role
Music106 of 107: 99 only music, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score37thOther crew8 of 107: 1 only other crew, 7 with another role · typical Midcredits score81st

107 titles, 7 with more than one role — music and other crew overlap on 7 of them.

By decade

1980s20 · crew1990s42 · crew2000s27 · crew2010s16 · crew2020s2 · 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

Nominated for an Oscar in 1998, Best Music, Original Musical or Comedy Score.

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 David Newman's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 36th percentile, the median of all 97; across their 94 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 39th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

39thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 94

Approval · how many liked their films

34thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 94

Reach · how many have seen their films

92ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 94

Midcredits score across 100 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up15
  • 50th to 74th19
  • 25th to 49th35
  • Below 25th31

Shape of the crowd

45 of their 100 titles are Mixed.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Universally Panned1
  • Divisive1
  • Crowd Pleaser30
  • Broadly Agreed19
  • Mixed45

Most divisive · composer

The Cat in the Hat (2003)

95th percentile spread · 38% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · composer

The Sandlot (1993)

Midcredits 96th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the sound and music 55/100 in their films, across 65 reviewed titles; fans 65, detractors 39. 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 David Newman's work okay for kids?

Across up to 67 MovieCove titles with content scores, profanity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore43 titles20–63 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity67 titles14–54 · median 33 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity51 titles21–67 · median 46 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs42 titles12–55 · median 31 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense42 titles12–59 · median 33 · mildnear 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 David Newman work with?

People who share at least 2 of David Newman's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Brian Levant shares the most, 8.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Editors

Producers

Mixed roles