Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Film | Saltburn |
| Genre | Black comedy / psychological thriller |
| Director | Emerald Fennell |
| Lead Cast | Barry Keoghan as Oliver Quick, Jacob Elordi as Felix Catton |
| Composer | Anthony Willis |
| US Release | Limited November 17, 2023; wide November 22, 2023 |
| Score Album | Saltburn (Original Motion Picture Score) — Milan Records, November 17, 2023 |
| Notable Needle-Drop | “Murder on the Dancefloor” by Sophie Ellis-Bextor (final scene) |
| Awards Note | Score shortlisted for Best Original Score, 96th Academy Awards |
Saltburn Soundtrack: Saltburn is a British black comedy-thriller film released in November 2023. The film is written, directed, and produced by Emerald Fennell, who also directed Promising Young Woman in 2020.
Based around a college student named Oliver Quick, played by Barry Keoghan, Jacob Elordi plays a wealthy classmate named Felix Catton.
Saltburn Soundtrack
The film features an impressive supporting cast, including Rosamund Pike as Elspeth Catton, Richard E. Grant as Sir James Catton, Alison Oliver as Venetia Catton, Archie Madekwe as Farleigh Start, Millie Kent, Paul Rhys as Duncan the butler, Reece Shearsmith, and Carey Mulligan as “Poor Dear” Pamela — a small supporting role that reunited her with Fennell after starring in the director’s debut, Promising Young Woman.
Saltburn had a limited US theatrical release on November 17, 2023, courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios, before expanding wide on November 22, 2023.
Who is the Composer of Saltburn Soundtrack
Anthony Willis composed the score for Saltburn. He spent years as part of composer John Powell’s team at 5 Cat Studios, contributing to scores including How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014) and How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (2019) — but Powell, not Willis, was the credited composer on those films.
Willis went on to compose solo scores of his own, including the 2019 holiday special How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming, before his breakout as lead composer on Emerald Fennell’s directorial debut, Promising Young Woman (2020) — which earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Score. He also scored M3GAN (2022). Fennell brought him back to score Saltburn, her second feature, which earned Willis another BAFTA nomination and a spot on the Oscar shortlist for Best Original Score at the 96th Academy Awards.
Original Soundtrack of Saltburn
Anthony Willis’s score, Saltburn (Original Motion Picture Score), was released digitally by Milan Records on November 17, 2023, featuring 18 cues recorded with the London Contemporary Orchestra. Here is the complete list of cues. You can listen on Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and other various platforms.
- I Loved Him/ Oliver Quick! (3:27)
- NFI’D (1:38)
- Felix Amica (2:35)
- Throwing Pebbles (1:51)
- Journey to Saltburn (1:19)
- Felix’s Tour (1:37)
- You’re So Real (1:02)
- A Shared Bathroom/ Inconsistent Stories (2:43)
- Venetia’s See-Through Night Dress (1:51)
- Slightly Bad Form (1:54)
- Accusations & Departures (0:54)
- The Summer Burned On (0:49)
- Spit Roast (2:55)
- Blood Run Cold (1:46)
- The Maze (2:21)
- Staff Exit (1:52)
- Almost None (5:35)
- Felix’s Suite (7:49)
Additional Music of Saltburn
Beyond the score, Saltburn leans heavily on pop needle-drops as storytelling devices, much like Fennell did in Promising Young Woman. Here is a complete list of the additional soundtrack songs:
- “Sound Of The Underground” is a song performed by Girls Aloud. The song is part of the album Sound of the Underground which was released on 23 May 2003.
- “Time To Pretend” is a song by MGMT from the album Oracular Spectacular, the debut studio album by the American band MGMT, released on October 2, 2007.
- “Hang Me Up To Dry” is a song by Cold War Kids
- “Mr Brightside” is a song by The Killers from the album Hot Fuss, the debut studio album by the American rock band The Killers, released on June 7, 2004. Composer Anthony Willis has said it was the most expensive music cue to license in the entire film.
- “Rent” is a song by Pet Shop Boys, part of the album Actually, the second studio album by English synth-pop duo Pet Shop Boys, released on 7 September 1987.
- “No Cars Go” is a song by Arcade Fire from the album Neon Bible, first released on March 5, 2007.
- “This Modern Love” is a song by Bloc Party from Silent Alarm Remixed, released in 2005.
“Have A Cheeky Christmas” is a song by The Cheeky Girls from the album PartyTime, released on 11 August 2003. - “Zadok The Priest” by George Frideric Handel is a British coronation anthem composed for King George II in 1727. Fennell used it to bookend the film, opening and closing on the piece.
- “Murder On The Dancefloor” is a song by Sophie Ellis-Bextor, from the album Read My Lips. It was released on 27 August 2001 by Polydor Records, and soundtracks the film’s now-famous final scene. The needle-drop sent the song re-entering the UK top 40 in early 2024 and drew over 1.4 million Spotify streams in a single day on New Year’s Eve.
- “Low” is a song by Flo Rida feat. T-Pain
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the Saltburn soundtrack?
Anthony Willis composed the score. He previously scored director Emerald Fennell’s debut film, Promising Young Woman (2020), and also composed M3GAN (2022).
Did Anthony Willis work on How to Train Your Dragon?
He contributed to John Powell’s team on How to Train Your Dragon 2 and The Hidden World, but Powell was the credited composer on those films. Willis later composed the 2019 special How to Train Your Dragon: Homecoming solo before breaking out with Promising Young Woman.
What song plays at the end of Saltburn?
Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” soundtracks the film’s viral final scene, which sent the song back into the UK top 40 in early 2024.
When was the Saltburn score released?
Milan Records released the 18-track score digitally on November 17, 2023, the same day as the film’s international release.
Was the Saltburn score nominated for any awards?
Yes. Willis’s score received a BAFTA nomination and was shortlisted for Best Original Score at the 96th Academy Awards in December 2023.
Related reading: Movie Soundtrack hub | Prime Video Soundtracks