Music of Good Will Hunting

The 1997 film Good Will Hunting features a score by film composer Danny Elfman, with additional songs provided by singer-songwriter Elliott Smith.[1] It was first issued in 1997 as a soundtrack album featuring only two of Elfman's pieces, before a version with all his pieces was released in 2014.[2]

Good Will Hunting: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture

A soundtrack album for the film was released by Capitol Records on November 18, 1997, although only two of Elfman's cues appear on the release.[3][4]

Good Will Hunting: Music from the Miramax Motion Picture
No.TitleMusicLength
1."Between the Bars (Orchestral)"Elliott Smith1:09
2."As the Rain"Jeb Loy Nichols4:51
3."Angeles"Elliott Smith2:55
4."No Name #3"Elliott Smith3:10
5."Fisherman's Blues"The Waterboys4:19
6."Why Do I Lie?"Luscious Jackson3:27
7."Will Hunting" (Main Titles)"Danny Elfman2:41
8."Between the Bars"Elliott Smith2:21
9."Say Yes"Elliott Smith2:15
10."Baker Street"Gerry Rafferty4:08
11."Somebody's Baby"Andru Donalds3:10
12."Boys Better"The Dandy Warhols4:32
13."How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?"Al Green6:18
14."Miss Misery"Elliott Smith3:12
15."Weepy Donuts"Danny Elfman3:48
Total length:52:16

"Afternoon Delight" by the Starland Vocal Band and "Runaway" by Del Shannon were featured in the film but did not appear on the soundtrack album.

Good Will Hunting: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

A limited-edition soundtrack album featuring Elfman's complete score from the film was released by Music Box Records on March 3, 2014. The soundtrack, issued in 1500 copies, includes all of Elfman's cues (including music not featured on the rare Miramax Academy promo) and contains the songs by Elliott Smith. One of the tracks is Smith's songs with Elfman's arrangements added to the mix.[5]

  1. Main Title (2:44)
  2. Genie Mopper (0:37)
  3. First Calculation (1:08)
  4. Theorem (0:42)
  5. Kick Ass Choir (0:59)
  6. Mystery Math (2:28)
  7. Them Apples (0:57)
  8. Jail (1:13)
  9. Second Shrink (1:14)
  10. Any Port (1:25)
  11. Times Up (1:14)
  12. Oliver Twist (1:58)
  13. Staring Contest (0:49)
  14. Secret Weapon (0:57)
  15. Retainer (Part A) (0:58)
  16. Retainer (Part B) (0:20)
  17. Tell You Something (0:48)
  18. No Love Me (0:47)
  19. Fire Music (1:11)
  20. Whose Fault (2:34)
  21. End Titles (3:50)
  22. Between the Bars (Orchestral) (1:09) – Performed by Elliott Smith / Arr. by Elfman
  23. No Name #3 (3:04) – Performed by Elliott Smith
  24. Say Yes (2:15) – Performed by Elliott Smith
  25. Between the Bars (2:21) – Performed by Elliott Smith
  26. Angeles (2:55) – Performed by Elliott Smith
  27. Miss Misery (3:12) – Performed by Elliott Smith

Reception

In a 2009 retrospective review of Good Will Hunting's soundtrack, Alex Young of Consequence called Elfman and Smith's collaboration a "tremendous example of composer and contemporary musician weaving together their creativity".[4] He appreciated the dichotomy between Smith's gentle music and Will's tough exterior, which concealed his vulnerability.[4] In a 2015 review, Bernard Zuel of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the soundtrack three stars and a half out of five, saying that Smith's songs overshadowed Elfman's score.[6]

References

  1. ^ Nanos, Janelle (January 10, 2013). "How Elliott Smith's Music Transformed Good Will Hunting". Boston. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  2. ^ Crane, Larry. "Danny Elfman: Just Enough to Fuck it Up". Tape Op. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  3. ^ "Good Will Hunting – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. All Media Network, LLC. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Young, Alex (August 26, 2009). "Cinema Sounds: Good Will Hunting". Consequence. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 14, 2025.
  5. ^ "Good Will Hunting – Danny Elfman". Music Box Records. Archived from the original on March 9, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2014.
  6. ^ Zuel, Bernard (July 3, 2015). "Soundtrack album reviews: Jaws, ET, Good Will Hunting, The Big Lebowski, The Good, The Bad And The Ugly, Little Shop Of Horrors". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on November 23, 2025. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
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