London, 1963
John Powell
How to Train Your Dragon and the Bourne films: just as at home in animation as in action cinema.
He studied at Trinity College London and started in advertising. In 1997 he moved to Los Angeles and joined Hans Zimmer's studio. He scored Face/Off and the nervous pulse of The Bourne Identity, and at DreamWorks and Aardman found his more melodic side. He has had two Oscar nominations: How to Train Your Dragon and Wicked.
- Style
- Big orchestra with fast percussion, Celtic pipes and fiddles, and themes that change size with the scene.
- Awards
- Oscar nominations for How to Train Your Dragon (2011) and Wicked (2025, with Stephen Schwartz).
Essential films
- Face/Off (1997)
- Chicken Run (2000)
- The Bourne Identity (2002)
- Happy Feet (2006)
- How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
- Wicked (2024)
Listen
- Test Drive · How to Train Your DragonSpotifyYouTube
- Romantic Flight · How to Train Your DragonSpotifyYouTube
Everything on Spotify Everything on YouTube Full biography on Wikipedia
Upcoming concerts with their music
- How to Train Your Dragon in ConcertPittsburgh, United States · Heinz Hall · Music by John Powell · Pittsburgh Symphony · until the 22nd
Awards counted up to the 2026 Academy Awards. Facts reviewed in October 2026.