Theodore Shapiro

Theodore Michael Shapiro, born and raised in Washington D.C., has carved out a seriously impressive niche as one of the go-to composers in Hollywood. Seriously, you’ve probably heard his stuff even if you weren’t paying attention. He’s got a knack for jumping genres – one minute he’s scoring the ridiculous antics of DodgeBall, the next he’s deep in the drama of The Devil Wears Prada, making those high-fashion meltdowns feel extra intense. Not to mention, his music in Tropic Thunder just cranks up the absurdity. He’s also the guy behind the bonkers soundtrack of Jennifer’s Body, which, let’s be honest, is half the reason that movie is so memorable. And yeah, he’s been around the comedy block too: Zoolander 2, Old School, Wet Hot American Summer – all of them have that signature Shapiro groove, a mix of quirky and catchy, sometimes a little weird, but always spot on. Even Captain Underpants got the Shapiro treatment, making toilet humor sound kind of epic. But don’t box him in as just the “funny movie” guy – he’s done everything from hard-hitting indie flicks like Girlfight to out-there sci-fi like Idiocracy. The guy’s range is wild. Whether he’s amping up the tension in On the Ropes or sprinkling some nostalgia magic on 13 Going on 30, Shapiro’s fingerprints are all over the sound of modern movies. If you’ve watched a comedy or offbeat drama in the last twenty years, odds are, you’ve vibed to his tunes.