Who composed the score for the 1996 Mission: Impossible film?

Danny Elfman composed the score for the 1996 Mission: Impossible film.

Elfman wrote the film’s original dramatic and action music during post-production after Alan Silvestri’s earlier score was rejected. He had only a short period to create the replacement score, which had to support Brian De Palma’s suspenseful direction and Tom Cruise’s portrayal of IMF agent Ethan Hunt.

Elfman’s music incorporates Lalo Schifrin’s famous Mission: Impossible theme from the original television series. That distinction explains a frequent source of confusion: Schifrin composed the classic theme, while Elfman composed the 1996 film’s score and arranged material connected with Schifrin’s music.

The film also had a separate soundtrack album featuring songs inspired by the movie. U2 members Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jr. recorded a dance-oriented version of the theme, which became a major international hit. That recording is not evidence that they composed the film’s score; the credited score composer remains Danny Elfman. Elfman’s work helped establish the musical identity of the film franchise before Hans Zimmer and Michael Giacchino scored later installments.