Men in Black 3 (2012) sent Agents J and K through time, and its music came from a perfect-fit composer: Danny Elfman, who returned to score the trilogy’s third entry. The film’s pop anthem, meanwhile, came from a new voice — Pitbull’s “Back in Time.”
As the final film in the original trilogy, the score builds on Elfman’s themes from the first two movies while pushing into bigger, time-bending territory.
Quick Facts
| Title | Men in Black 3 |
|---|---|
| Year | 2012 |
| Genre | Sci-fi action comedy |
| Director | Barry Sonnenfeld |
| Score composer | Danny Elfman |
| Score label | Sony Classical |
| Score release | May 29, 2012 |
| Theme song | “Back in Time” – Pitbull |
| Lead cast | Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin |
The Score & Theme Song
Danny Elfman — composer of the first two Men in Black films and a frequent Tim Burton collaborator — returned for the third installment. He reused musical ideas from the predecessors while leaning on orchestra, then transitioning into electronic and rock textures with choir for the finale. Sony Classical released the score album on May 29, 2012.
The film’s end-credits theme song is “Back in Time” by Pitbull — the first lead single for a Men in Black film not performed by Will Smith. It samples Mickey & Sylvia’s classic “Love Is Strange” and was released as a single in March 2012, though it does not appear on the orchestral score album.
The score also had to support the film’s time-travel premise — Agent J travels back to 1969 to team up with a younger Agent K (Josh Brolin) — so Elfman balanced the trilogy’s established themes with new material for the period setting and its villain, Boris the Animal.
Key Music
The film’s score and its hit theme song.
| Title | Artist / Composer | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Men in Black 3 (Original Score) | Danny Elfman | Sony Classical, May 29, 2012 |
| Back in Time | Pitbull | End-credits theme; samples “Love Is Strange” |
Where to Stream
Men in Black 3 is available to stream and to rent or buy on major services including Prime Video and Apple TV. Danny Elfman’s score is on Apple Music and Spotify, and Pitbull’s “Back in Time” is available as a single.
For more blockbuster scores, browse our streaming soundtrack hub.
Main Cast
- Will Smith as Agent J
- Tommy Lee Jones as Agent K
- Josh Brolin as Young Agent K
- Jemaine Clement as Boris the Animal
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Men in Black 3 score?
Danny Elfman, who scored the first two films, returned to compose Men in Black 3. The album was released by Sony Classical on May 29, 2012.
Who sings the Men in Black 3 theme song?
“Back in Time” is performed by Pitbull. It was the first Men in Black lead single not performed by Will Smith.
Does “Back in Time” sample another song?
Yes. It samples “Love Is Strange” by Mickey & Sylvia.
Is “Back in Time” on the score album?
No. The Pitbull song accompanies the end credits and was released as a single; it is not included on Danny Elfman’s orchestral score album.
Where can I watch Men in Black 3?
It is available to stream and to rent or buy on major platforms such as Prime Video and Apple TV.
Did Danny Elfman score the other Men in Black films?
Yes. Danny Elfman composed the scores for the first two Men in Black films (1997 and 2002) before returning for Men in Black 3.
Related reading: Prime Video soundtracks · Apple TV+ soundtracks · All streaming soundtracks