Christopher Joseph Lennertz (born January 2, 1972) is an American composer, songwriter, and conductor of film, television, and video game scores. He is a dual citizen of the USA and Italy. His musical scores appeared in Alvin and the Chipmunks, Hop, Think Like a Man, and Horrible Bosses, and the video game series Medal of Honor, created by Steven Spielberg. He composed the score for Supernatural, and Revolution, two television series created by Eric Kripke. He also composed the score for The Movie of a Teenage Robot, of which he earned the Academy Award for Best Original Score, as well as The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge of the New World, Welcome to Toonville and Noveltoons: Tooned Out!. He is also the composer for the PBS Kids edutainment television series The Adventures of Dash and Dot, replacing James Newton Howard from the 2009 film Dash and Dot's Wild Ride.
Lennertz is also the composer of the Reel FX Looney Tunes short films directed by Matthew O'Callaghan. He has also has appeared Galavant and Sausage Party with Alan Menken and Marvel's Agent Carter including a first ever Marvel musical number co-written with Tony award winning lyricist David Zippel. He composed the score for the RCH Animation film Venus, and returned to compose the score for the sequel Venus and Mars with Philip White. He wrote the songs for UglyDolls with Glenn Slater for Kelly Clarkson, Nick Jonas, Lizzo, Janelle Monáe, and Blake Shelton. He also composed the score for the Netflix series Lost in Space and the Amazon Prime Video series The Boys from Kripke, Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.
With a career that has lasted for over 25 years, Christopher Lennertz is a frequent collaborator with filmmakers such as Seth Gordon, Tim Story, Max Mayer, Kelly Asbury, Tom Dey, Matthew O'Callaghan and Tim Hill. His most recent compositions include The Loud House Movie (in which he wrote the themes with Philip White), Sandy in Texas, 13: The Musical, Making Friends, Venus and Mars, The Curse of Bridge Hollow, and Dashing Through the Snow. His next film composition is Toony Tales: One Last Ride, which is scheduled to be theatrically released on October 18, 2024.
Early life[]
Christopher Joseph Lennertz was born in Methuen, Massachusetts in the United States on January 2, 1972. He attended Easton Area High School in Easton, Pennsylvania and then Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California, where he studied with Academy Award-winner Elmer Bernstein.
Career[]
Lennertz has written music for a variety of comedies such as Horrible Bosses, Ride Along, as well as Identity Thief, and Think Like a Man. He has also worked on hit family films including Hop, and Alvin and the Chipmunks and critically acclaimed dramas Adam and Thanks For Sharing. Some of his other acclaimed work also include The Movie of a Teenage Robot, which earned him an Academy Award for Best Original Score, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge of the New World and Noveltoons: Tooned Out!.
He has worked with artists including Basil Poledouris, Michael Kamen, Ozomatli, Dave Grusin, Alan Menken, The RZA, Five For Fighting, and Alien Ant Farm. His collaboration with Ozomatli on their record Street Signs garnered a Grammy Award for Best Latin Rock Album.
Honors and awards[]
He was named best new composer in 2002 for his score to Clive Barker's Saint Sinner. He won several awards for his 2003 soundtrack to Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, the first of three Medal of Honor games composed by Lennertz. In 2006 he was nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Composition in a Series for his score for the pilot of the television series Supernatural, and he is the first recipient of the Film & TV Music Award for Best Score for an Independent Feature Film for Tortilla Heaven. In 2008, Lennertz received the Academy Award for Best Original Score for his composition of The Movie of a Teenage Robot.
Personal life[]
Christopher Lennertz is of British-Irish ancestry. He has two children, Tobi and Vesper Lennertz.
Filmography[]
Films[]
| Year | Title | Director(s) | Production company(s) | Distributor(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | |||||
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command: The Adventure Begins | Tad Stones | Walt Disney Pictures Walt Disney Television Animation Pixar |
Buena Vista Home Entertainment | Direct-to-video film; as orchestrator and additional music only; score by Adam Berry |
| 2002 | Saint Sinner | Joshua Butler | Seraphim Films | Sci Fi Channel | Television film |
| 2004 | Soul Plane | Jessy Terrero | 3 Arts Entertainment Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
MGM Distribution Co. 20th Century Fox |
— |
| 2005 | Confessions of an Action Star | Brad Martin | Vivendi Entertainment Lightyear Entertainment |
— | |
| 2006 | Dr. Dolittle 3 | Rich Thorne | Davis Entertainment | 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment | Direct-to-video film |
| Shark Bait | Howard E. Baker John Fox |
WonderWorld Studios DigiArt FXDigital |
CJ Entertainment The Weinstein Company |
— | |
| 2007 | Tortilla Heaven | Judy Hecht Dumontet | Archangel Releasing | — | |
| The Comebacks | Tom Brady | Tapestry Films | 20th Century Fox Fox Atomic |
— | |
| The Perfect Holiday | Lance Rivera | Capital Arts Entertainment True North Productions Flavor Unit Entertainment |
Yari Film Group Freestyle Releasing Destination Films |
— | |
| Alvin and the Chipmunks | Tim Hill | Fox 2000 Pictures Regency Enterprises Dune Entertainment Bagdasarian Productions |
20th Century Fox | — | |
| 2008 | Meet the Spartans | Jason Friedberg Aaron Seltzer |
Regency Enterprises New Regency 3 in the Box |
— | |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | J. J. Abrams | Nickelodeon Movies Relativity Media Village Roadshow Pictures The Kennedy/Marshall Company Mirage Studios |
Paramount Pictures Roadshow Films |
— | |
| The Movie of a Teenage Robot | Rob Renzetti | Nickelodeon Movies Legendary Pictures The Kennedy/Marshall Company Frederator Incorporated |
Paramount Pictures | — | |
| Disaster Movie | Jason Friedberg Aaron Seltzer |
Grosvenor Park The Safran Company 3 in the Box |
Lionsgate | — | |
| 2009 | A Fast and Furious Teenage Robot | Justin Lin | Nickelodeon Movies Frederator Incorporated Relativity Media Original Film |
Paramount Pictures | Short film; released with Fast & Furious |
| Adam | Max Mayer | Olympus Pictures | Fox Searchlight Pictures | — | |
| Thomas & Friends: Secrets of the City | Paul J. Bolger Britt Allcroft |
Universal Pictures Relativity Media Working Title Films HIT Entertainment |
Universal Pictures | Wrote songs with Robert Hartshorne | |
| Noveltoons: Tooned Out! | Tim Hill | Paramount Animation Original Film Walden Media |
Paramount Pictures | — | |
| The Open Road | Michael Meredith | Odd Lot Entertainment Heavy Lifting Perfect Weekend Aqua Foxx Productions Maximon Pictures |
Anchor Bay Entertainment | Composed with Charlie Sexton | |
| La Horde | Benjamin Rocher Yannick Dahan |
Capture [The Flag] Films Le Pacte Coficup Canal+ CinéCinéma |
Le Pacte | — | |
| Dash and Dot's Wild Ride | Matthew O'Callaghan | Universal Animation Studios Relativity Media Imagine Entertainment PBS |
Universal Pictures | — | |
| Woodpecking Problems | Mike Mitchell | Universal Animation Studios Amblin Entertainment |
Short film; released with Dash and Dot's Wild Ride | ||
| Welcome to Toonville | Justin Lin | Nickelodeon Movies Village Roadshow Pictures Relativity Media Spyglass Entertainment |
Paramount Pictures Universal Pictures |
Composed with Alan Menken | |
| The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge of the New World | Paul Tibbitt | Nickelodeon Movies United Plankton Pictures Walden Media |
Paramount Pictures | — | |
| Shear Troubles | Matthew O'Callaghan | Nickelodeon Movies RCH Animation |
Short film; released with The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge of the New World | ||
| Super Mario Bros. | Ash Brannon | Universal Pictures Nintendo Films Original Film |
Universal Pictures | Original themes by Koji Kondo | |
| Shot-to-Dot | Bret Haaland | Universal Animation Studios Relativity Media Imagine Entertainment PBS |
Universal Pictures Universal Studios Home Entertainment |
Short film; released with Dash and Dot's Wild Ride | |
| 2010s | |||||
| 2010 | Marmaduke | Tom Dey | 20th Century Fox Regency Enterprises Davis Entertainment Dune Entertainment |
20th Century Fox | — |
| Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: The Secrets of the Ooze | J. J. Abrams | Nickelodeon Movies Village Roadshow Pictures The Kennedy/Marshall Company Mirage Studios |
Paramount Pictures | — | |
| Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore | Brad Peyton | CD2 Pictures Village Roadshow Pictures Mad Chance Polymorphic Pictures |
Warner Bros. Pictures | — | |
| Coyote Falls | Matthew O'Callaghan | Warner Bros. Animation Reel FX Creative Studios |
Short film; released with Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore | ||
| Calvin and Hobbes | Chris Sanders Dean DeBlois |
Nickelodeon Movies Original Film |
Paramount Pictures | ||
| Vampires Suck | Jason Friedberg Aaron Seltzer |
Regency Enterprises 3 in a Box |
20th Century Fox | — | |
| Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam | Paul Hoen | Coin Flip Productions Alan Sacks Productions |
Disney Channel | Television film | |
| Fur of Flying | Matthew O'Callaghan | Warner Bros. Animation Reel FX Creative Studios |
Warner Bros. Pictures | Short film; released with Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole | |
| Rabid Rider | Short film; released with Yogi Bear | ||||
| 2011 | Hop | Tim Hill | Universal Pictures Illumination Entertainment Relativity Media |
Universal Pictures | — |
| Taking Flight | Bret Haaland | Universal Animation Studios Relativity Media Imagine Entertainment PBS |
Short film; released with Hop | ||
| Lemonade Film | Patricia Riggen | Martin Chase Productions G Wave Productions American Greetings Productions |
Disney Channel | Television film | |
| Horrible Bosses | Seth Gordon | New Line Cinema Rat Entertainment |
Warner Bros. Pictures | — | |
| I Tawt I Taw a Puddy Tat | Matthew O'Callaghan | Warner Bros. Animation Reel FX Creative Studios |
Short film; adaptation score only; song by Billy May, Warren Foster and Michael Maltese; released with Happy Feet Two | ||
| The Smurfs: A Christmas Carol | Troy Quane | Sony Pictures Digital Productions Sony Pictures Animation Sony Pictures Imageworks Duck Studios |
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment | Short film; released as part of The Smurfs three-disc holiday gift set | |
| 2012 | Daffy's Rhapsody | Matthew O'Callaghan | Warner Bros. Animation Reel FX Creative Studios |
Warner Bros. Pictures | Short film; adaptation score only; song by Billy May, Warren Foster and Michael Maltese; released with Journey 2: The Mysterious Island |
| Think Like a Man | Tim Story | Rainforest Films Screen Gems |
Sony Pictures Releasing | — | |
| Thanks for Sharing | Stuart Blumberg | Olympus Pictures Class 5 Films |
Lionsgate Roadside Attractions |
— | |
| Girl in Progress | Patricia Riggen | Pantelion Films | Lionsgate | — | |
| Item 47 | Louis D'Esposito | Marvel Studios | Marvel One-Shot film that inspired the TV series of the same name; short film | ||
| 2013 | Identity Thief | Seth Gordon | Relativity Media Scott Stuber Productions Aggregate Films Bluegrass Films |
Universal Pictures | — |
| Remember Sunday | Jeff Bleckner | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Television film | ||
| As Cool as I Am | Max Mayer | IFC Films | — | ||
| Some New Friends | Mike Mitchell | Universal Animation Studios Relativity Media Imagine Entertainment PBS |
Universal Pictures | Short film; released with Despicable Me 2 | |
| Agent Carter | Louis D'Esposito | Marvel Studios | Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment | Marvel One-Shot film that inspired the TV series of the same name; short film | |
| The Smurfs: The Legend of Smurfy Hollow | Stephen Franck | Sony Pictures Digital Productions Sony Pictures Animation Sony Pictures Imageworks Duck Studios |
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment | Short film; direct-to-video | |
| Battle of the Year | Benson Lee | Screen Gems Contrafilm |
Sony Pictures Releasing | — | |
| Gimme Shelter | Ronald Krauss | Roadside Attractions Day 28 Films |
Roadside Attractions | — | |
| 2014 | Ride Along | Tim Story | Universal Pictures Relativity Media Cube Vision Rainforest Films |
Universal Pictures | — |
| Flash in the Pain | Matthew O'Callaghan | Warner Bros. Animation Reel FX Creative Studios |
Warner Bros. Pictures | — | |
| Think Like a Man Too | Tim Story | Screen Gems Will Packer Productions |
Sony Pictures Releasing | — | |
| Horrible Bosses 2 | Sean Anders | New Line Cinema Benderspink RatPac Entertainment |
Warner Bros. Pictures | — | |
| 2015 | The Wedding Ringer | Jeremy Garelick | Screen Gems Adam Fields/Will Packer Productions |
Sony Pictures Releasing Miramax Films |
— |
| 2016 | Ride Along 2 | Tim Story | Will Packer Productions Cube Vision |
Universal Pictures | Featuring Shelia E & Arturo Sandoval; additional music provided by Alexander Bornstein, Matt Bowen & Jess Stroup |
| My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Kirk Jones | Gold Circle Films HBO Films Playtone |
— | ||
| The Boss | Ben Falcone | Gary Sanchez Productions On The Day Productions |
— | ||
| Bad Moms | Jon Lucas Scott Moore |
STX Entertainment H. Brothers Tang Media Productions Virgin Produced |
STX Entertainment | Featuring soloist by KT Tunstall | |
| Sausage Party | Greg Tiernan Conrad Vernon |
Columbia Pictures Annapurna Pictures Point Grey Pictures Nitrogen Studios |
Sony Pictures Releasing | R-rated animated film; composed with Alan Menken | |
| 2017 | Smurfs: The Lost Village | Kelly Asbury | Columbia Pictures Sony Pictures Animation Kerner Entertainment Company |
Additional music provided by Philip White | |
| Baywatch | Seth Gordon | Paramount Pictures Uncharted Shanghai Film Group Huahua Media The Montecito Picture Company Seven Bucks Productions Flynn Company Co. Fremantle Productions |
Paramount Pictures | Additional music provided by Alexander Bornstein, Joshua R. Mosley, Nathan Rightour & Zack Ryan | |
| Venus | Vicky Jenson | Nickelodeon Movies RCH Animation Media Rights Capital |
— | ||
| Boo 2!: A Madea Halloween | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry Studios | Lionsgate | Themes only; score composed by Philip White | |
| A Bad Moms Christmas | Jon Lucas Scott Moore |
STX Entertainment H. Brothers Tang Media Productions |
Brothers |
— | |
| El Camino Christmas | David E. Talbert | Goldenlight Films Brother |
Netflix | — | |
| Pitch Perfect 3 | Trish Sie | Universal Pictures Gold Circle Entertainment Perfect World Pictures Brownstone Productions |
Universal Pictures | — | |
| 2018 | Acrimony | Tyler Perry | Tyler Perry Studios | Lionsgate | — |
| Uncle Drew | Charles Stone III | Summit Entertainment Temple Hill Entertainment Pepsi Productions |
— | ||
| The Happytime Murders | Brian Henson | STX Films H. Brothers Black Bear Pictures TMP Henson Alternative On the Day Productions |
STX Entertainment | — | |
| Nobody's Fool | Tyler Perry | Paramount Players Tyler Perry Studios BET Films |
Paramount Pictures | Score producer only; score composed by Philip White | |
| 2019 | A Madea Family Funeral | Tyler Perry Studios | Lionsgate | Themes only; score composed by Philip White | |
| UglyDolls | Kelly Asbury | STX Family Reel FX Animation Studios Alibaba Pictures Original Force Troublemaker Studios |
STX Entertainment | Wrote songs with Glenn Slater | |
| Shaft | Tim Story | Davis Entertainment Khalabo Ink Society New Line Cinema |
Warner Bros. Pictures Netflix |
Additional music provided by Alexander Bornstein, Dara Taylor & Stu Thomas | |
| 2020s | |||||
| 2021 | Tom & Jerry | Tim Story | Warner Animation Group The Story Company Turner Entertainment Co. |
Warner Bros. Pictures | — |
| Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar | Josh Greenbaum | Lionsgate Gloria Sanchez Productions Stellie |
Lionsgate | Composed with Dara Taylor | |
| The Loud House Movie | Dave Needham | Nickelodeon Movies Nickelodeon Animation Studio |
Netflix | Themes only; composed by Philip White | |
| 2022 | Sandy in Texas | Betty Thomas | Paramount Animation Nickelodeon Movies Skydance Media United Plankton Pictures |
Paramount Pictures | Composed with Philip White |
| 13: The Musical | Tamra Davis | Zadan/Meron Productions | Netflix | Song lyrics by Jason Robert Brown | |
| Making Friends | Phil Lord Christopher Miller |
Paramount Animation Nickelodeon Movies Lord Miller Productions Scholastic Entertainment |
Paramount Pictures | — | |
| Venus and Mars | Vicky Jenson | Nickelodeon Movies RCH Animation MRC |
Paramount Pictures | Composed with Philip White | |
| The Curse of Bridge Hollow | Jeff Wadlow | Ugly Baby Productions | Netflix | — | |
| 2023 | Dashing Through the Snow | Tim Story | Walt Disney Pictures Will Packer Productions Smart Entertainment |
Disney+ | — |
| 2024 | Toony Tales: One Last Ride | Brad Peyton Zaiden Fischer |
Paramount Animation Nickelodeon Movies Lord Miller Productions New Republic Pictures |
Paramount Pictures | Post production |