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John Williams Says He 'Never Liked' Film Music, Calling Much of It Ephemeral

The 93-year-old composer's remarks surfaced in a Guardian interview tied to a forthcoming biography.

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Overview

  • Williams said film scores "usually aren't" good beyond brief stretches and suggested audiences remember them largely through nostalgia.
  • He argued that movie music is fragmentary and should not be treated like concert-hall masterworks unless reconstructed as standalone pieces.
  • The comments were published Aug. 24 in The Guardian and were widely reported Aug. 26 by outlets including People and Entertainment Weekly.
  • Despite the critique, he highlighted a "very special" collaboration with Steven Spielberg, praising the director's musical sensibility.
  • Coverage situates the remarks against his legacy as a 54-time Oscar nominee with five wins and notes a new biography due in September.