Superpower is a 2023 documentary co-directed by Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman, produced by Penn’s Vice Studios. The film follows Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s unlikely path from actor to wartime president, and documents the months leading up to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through the hours after Vladimir Putin launched the attack on Kyiv. It premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February 2023, before the film’s scope expanded mid-shoot to capture the war itself.
Quick Facts
| Directors | Sean Penn & Aaron Kaufman |
| Composer | Justin Melland |
| Genre | Documentary |
| Production | Vice Studios |
| Distributor | Paramount+ |
| Premiere | Berlin Film Festival, February 17, 2023 |
| Release Date | September 18, 2023 (Paramount+) |
| Where to Stream | Paramount+ |
Who Composed the Superpower Soundtrack?
Justin Melland composed the original score for Superpower. He’s worked extensively in true-crime and documentary film and television, with credits including The Innocence Files, Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes, Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich, and both seasons of Wrong Man. He also scored the documentary short The Death of Kevin Carter: Casualty of the Bang Bang Club and the Netflix original EXTREMIS (2016).
Melland’s score for Superpower was released digitally as the Superpower (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) album via Lakeshore Records on December 1, 2023.
Superpower Soundtrack List
Here is the complete Superpower score tracklist. Stream it on Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music.
| # | Track | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Opening | 0:44 |
| 2 | Main Titles | 2:12 |
| 3 | The Breakdown | 0:49 |
| 4 | Horizon | 0:46 |
| 5 | Imminent | 1:10 |
| 6 | Movement Cycle | 1:03 |
| 7 | Sideways | 1:22 |
| 8 | Slow Motion | 2:04 |
| 9 | Near the Line | 1:07 |
| 10 | Time to Go | 2:17 |
| 11 | Low End Hunger | 1:21 |
| 12 | Twilight | 1:40 |
| 13 | Closing In | 2:30 |
| 14 | Backstory | 1:29 |
| 15 | An Appeal | 1:31 |
| 16 | Heart | 3:11 |
| 17 | Throughline | 2:06 |
| 18 | Resolve | 2:10 |
| 19 | The Wall | 2:06 |
| 20 | Unified | 1:17 |
| 21 | Last Word | 2:22 |
Who Is in Superpower?
Superpower features real-life appearances from Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Sean Penn, Vitali Klitschko, Jens Stoltenberg, and Chris Rock, along with archival footage of world leaders including Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, as the film traces Ukraine’s fight to hold onto its sovereignty.
Where to Stream Superpower
Superpower is available to stream on Paramount+, where it launched on September 18, 2023. Melland’s score is available on Spotify and Apple Music. For more true-story documentary scores, browse our full streaming guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Superpower soundtrack?
Justin Melland composed the score, known for his work on The Innocence Files and Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes.
Who directed Superpower?
Superpower was co-directed by Sean Penn and Aaron Kaufman, and produced by Penn’s Vice Studios.
Where can I watch Superpower?
Superpower streams on Paramount+, where it debuted on September 18, 2023.
Is there a Superpower soundtrack album?
Yes. Justin Melland’s 21-track score was released via Lakeshore Records on December 1, 2023.
What is Superpower about?
The documentary follows Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s path from actor to wartime president, and documents Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through Sean Penn’s on-the-ground filming.
Related reading: for another Ukraine-war documentary score, see our guide to Camp Courage Soundtrack (2023), or browse the full streaming hub for more documentary soundtracks.