Danny Elfman discography


Select commercially released recordings of Danny Elfman's music for film, television, stage and the concert hall. For a full list of Elfman's compositions, see List of compositions by Danny Elfman. For Elfman's recordings as lead singer/songwriter for Oingo Boingo, see the Oingo Boingo discography page.

Solo releases

Original scores

1980s and 1990s

Release dateAlbumTypeLabelNotes
1983Forbidden ZoneSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1986Pee-wee's Big Adventure/Back to SchoolRe-recordingVarèse SarabandeAlbum features re-recordings of Elfman's scores for 1985's Pee-wee's Big Adventure and 1986's Back to School
The original recording of Pee-wee's Big Adventure was unavailable until the 2011 release of the Danny Elfman & Tim Burton 25th Anniversary Music Box
Elfman appears in Back to School as lead singer of Oingo Boingo performing the song "Dead Man's Party", which appears on the MCA song soundtrack
1986WisdomSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1987Summer SchoolSoundtrackChrysalis RecordsThough this remains Elfman's only completely unreleased film score to date, he wrote and performed the pop tune "Happy", which appears on film's song soundtrack
1988BeetlejuiceSoundtrackGeffen Records
1988Midnight RunSoundtrackMCA
1988Big Top Pee-weeSoundtrackAristaThe original soundtrack release including dialogue was reissued by PEG
An expanded album without dialogue was released by La-La Land Records in 2014
1988ScroogedScore-
1989BatmanScoreWarner Bros. RecordsWon Elfman's only Grammy Awards|Grammy] for Best Score Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
Re-released with complete remastered score by La-La Land Records in 2010
1990NightbreedSoundtrackMCA
1990Dick TracyScoreSire RecordsNominated for 33rd Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
Complete score was remastered and released by Intrada Records in 2016
1990DarkmanSoundtrackMCAIn 2020, La-La Land Records issued a 2-CD album with the 1990 soundtrack album on CD 1, and an expanded score presentation on CD 2.
1990Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 1CompilationMCA
1990Edward ScissorhandsSoundtrackMCANominated for 34th Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
Complete expanded and remastered score released by Intrada Records in 2015
1992Article 99SoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1992Batman ReturnsSoundtrackWarner Bros. RecordsExpanded, remastered score released from La-La Land Records in 2010
1993SommersbySoundtrackElektra
1993'The [Nightmare Before Christmas |Soundtrack]Walt Disney RecordsRe-released in 2006 with an additional disc featuring covers by Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, Fall Out Boy and Panic! at the Disco, as well as several of Elfman's original song demos
Elfman's first score for an animated film.
1994Black BeautySoundtrackGiantExpanded edition released by La-La Land Records in 2013
1995Dolores ClaiborneSoundtrackVarèse SarabandeExpanded edition from the label in 2020.
1995Dead PresidentsSoundtrackCapitol RecordsWith one Elfman track: "Dead President's Theme"
Score remains unreleased except for a suite included on Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2
1995To Die ForSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1996Mission: ImpossibleSoundtrackPhillipsWith three Elfman tracks: "Impossible Mission", "Claire" and "Trouble"
1996Mission: ImpossibleScorePoint MusicExpanded and remastered score released by La-La Land Records in 2019
1996Music for a Darkened Theatre, Vol. 2CompilationMCA
1996'SoundtrackMCA
1996Extreme MeasuresSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1996Mars Attacks!SoundtrackAtlanticFirst Elfman score to receive an expanded edition, released in 2009 by La-La Land Records
1997Men in BlackSoundtrackSony MusicWith two Elfman tracks: "M.I.B. Main Theme" and "M.I.B. Closing Theme"
1997Men in BlackScoreColumbia RecordsNominated for 70th Academy Award for Best Original Musical or Comedy Score, and for 40th Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture or for Television
1997FlubberSoundtrackWalt Disney Records
1997Good Will HuntingSoundtrack with two Elfman tracksCapitol Records
1997Good Will HuntingScoreMusic Box RecordsNominated for 70th Academy Award for Best Original Dramatic Score
1998SoundtrackCompass III
1998A [Civil Action |A Civil Action]SoundtrackHollywood Records
1999InstinctSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande
1999Anywhere but HereSoundtrackAtlanticWith one Elfman track: "Anywhere But Here Score Suite"
1999Sleepy HollowSoundtrackHollywood RecordsIn 2021 Intrada Records issued a 3-CD set featuring the full score and the soundtrack album remastered.

2000s

2010s

2020s

Other

Albums that include themes or music written by Elfman where he did not compose the full score:
Release dateAlbumTypeLabelTracks composed by Elfman
1984Bachelor PartySoundtrackI.R.S. Records"Bachelor Party" and "Something Isn't Right" with Oingo Boingo
1985Weird ScienceSoundtrackMCA Records"Weird Science" title song with Oingo Boingo
1991Pure LuckSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande"Main Title" and "We Found Her"
1992Tales from the CryptSoundtrackBig Screen Records"Tales from the Crypt "
1992Army of DarknessSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande"March of the Dead"
1994Shrunken HeadsSoundtrackFull Moon Records"Main Title"
1997Songs in the Key of SpringfieldCompilationRhino Records"The Simpsons Theme"
1998PsychoSoundtrackGeffen Records"Intro", based on themes by Bernard Herrmann
2001HeartbreakersSoundtrackRCA Victor"Heart Breakers Suite 1 & 2", with music by John Debney
2001Spy KidsSoundtrackChapter III Records"My Parents Are Spies", "Buddy Pack Escape", "Floop's Song " and "Sneaking Around Machetes"
2001NovocaineSoundtrackTVT Soundtrax"Main Titles" and "I Wish"
2005Music from and Inspired by Desperate HousewivesCompilationHollywood Records"Desperate Housewives Theme"
2008Batman: The Animated SeriesSoundtrackLa-La Land Records"Main Title" and "End Title"
20099SoundtrackE1 MusicThemes only. Score composed by Deborah Lurie.
2016Scream 2: The Deluxe EditionSoundtrackVarèse SarabandeExpanded score album for this 1997 film contained the first commercial release of Elfman's "Cassandra Aria" and "Cassandra Reprise"
2017Before I WakeSoundtrackVarèse Sarabande"Sean", "Christmas" and "Defeated"
2017When We RiseSoundtrackHollywood Records"When We Rise Suite", co-composed with Chris Bacon
2026Don't Be DumbStudio album"Stole Ya Flow"; unspecified contribution, by ASAP Rocky