A Wedding. 1978
On The Nickel. 1980
Bad Timing. 1980
Wolfen. 1981
One From The Heart. 1982
Prenom Carmen. 1984
Streetwise. 1984/ 1986
Down By Law. 1986
Ironweed. 1987)
Sea Of Love. 1989
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale. 1989
In Una Notte Di Chiaro Di Luna. 1989
Night On Earth. 1991
L�olo. 1992
Jersey Girl. 1992
American Heart. 1992
12 Monkeys. 1995
Little Criminals. 1995
Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead. 1995
Georgia. 1995
Irren Ist M�nnlich. 1995
Boys On The Side. February 3, 1995
Dead Man Walking. 1995/ 1996
Generation X. 1996
Basquiat. 1996
La Buena Vida. 1996
Art City #1 - Making It In Manhattan. 1996
The End Of Violence. 1997
Afterglow. 1997
Trojan War. 1997
Bunny. 1998
A Little Bit Of Soul. 1997
Johnny Skidmarks. 1998
Permanent Midnight. 1998
What's He Building? 1999
Fight Club. 1999
Liberty Heights. 1999
The Specialist, 1999
Limbo. 1999
Keeping The Faith. 2000
Pollock. 2000
Gun Shy. 2000
The Perfect Storm. 2000
Maelstrom. 2000
The Last Castle. 2001
Big Bad Love. 2002
Night At The Golden Eagle. 2002
Art City #2 - Simplicity. 2002
Los Lunes Al Sol. 2002
The United States Of Leland. 2003
Lighter or Darker. March 2003
Long Gone. 2003
Crowfilm. 2003
The Big Empty. 2003
Noviembre. September 26, 2003
One From The Heart. 2004
Joe's Flyin A-Garic. February, 2004
The Prince And Me. April, 2004
Shrek 2. June, 2004
Hellboy. July, 2004
Mon Ange. January 19, 2004
In The Realms Of The Unreal. 2004
Around The Bend. October 8, 2004
Daltry Calhoun. 2005
Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room. January 23, 2005
La Vida Secreta De Las Palabras. March, 2005
Robots. March 11, 2005
Our Burden Is Light. March 21, 2005
Quando Sei Nato Non Puoi Pi� Nasconderti. May 15, 2005
Yes. June 21, 2005
East Of Sunset. September 13, 2005
Domino. October 2, 2005
La Tigre E La Neve. October 14, 2005
Jarhead. November 4, 2005
A Little Trip To Heaven. December 26, 2005
Wristcutters - A Love Story. January, 2006
Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon. May 23, 2007
Immagine In Cornice. September 25, 2007
The Dalai Lama - Peace And Prosperity. April 28, 2008
1 in 8. November 25, 2008
Paradise Alley. 1978
Movie directed by Sylvester Stallone.
TW: Actor, composer. Movie debut as pianist Mumbles. On soundtrack: "Meet Me In Paradise Alley" and "Annie's Back In Town".
"Sylvester Stallone hired Waits for a cameo role in the ill-fated 'Paradise Alley'as a Hoagy Carmichael bar pianist. A few snatches of his music make it onto the soundtrack, though Waits did not score the movie nor write the main theme, sung over the credits by Stallone himself. Intended as a Damon Runyan comedy the film didn't fare too well with either critics or public. 'I went and sat in front of a piano for three weeks and then I went home. I didn't go to see it after.' Waits' appearance seems rather truncated in the film. He agrees. 'I had more scenes but they got cut. I finally saw it on TV with my wife (a script-writer from Twentieth Century Fox he married in '81 after breaking up with long-time partner Rickie Lee Jones). I sat her down to watch it, got really excited - look honey, here I am - shit where'd I go?' (Source: "A Simple Love Story" City Limits magazine (UK), by Peter Guttridge. Date: London. July 1-7, 1983)
A Wedding. 1978
Movie directed by Robert Altman (released in VHS by Twentieth Century Fox in 1986)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: unknown
On The Nickel. 1980
TV documentary directed by Ralph Waite. Rose Park production, re-released by Vestron in 1981.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "On The Nickel" (title song).
"Ralph Waite directed, produced and stars in this touching, highly acclaimed to the surprisingly interesting "bums" who live "on the Nickel". Life on L.A's skid row, amidst the alcoholics, and the penniless, is not as bad as it seems. A tight knit of individuals, they share their wine, food and whatever pitiful; shelter they may find. This delicate and humor-filled drama actually shows that these men are derelicts by choice - because skid row offers them a lifestyle with which they can cope. When they leave it they must relearn how to behave in a sober world. Full of dignity and honor, on the Nickel, tells the story of these social outcasts and the friendship, humor, love and beauty they've found in the most unlikely of places. Title song written and sung by Tom Waits. Also stars David Moffat, Penelope Allen, Hal Williams, James Gammon, Bert Conway and Jack Kehoe as "bad mood"."
Bad Timing. 1980
Movie directed by Nicolas Roeg.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Invitation To The Blues".
TW: 'Nicholas Roeg asked me to write a title song for "Bad Timing" but I was busy. Roeg took some off one of the albums.' What he took was 'Invitation to the Blues', a drifter's paeon to a roadhouse waitress which might have fitted 'The Postman Always Rings Twice' but certainly not Roeg's coffee table psychodrama. What did Waits think of the film? 'Well... I don't know anybody who wants to see Art Garfunkel with his shirt off.' (Source: "A Simple Love Story" City Limits magazine (UK), by Peter Guttridge. Date: London. July 1-7, 1983)
Wolfen. 1981
Movie directed by Michael Wadleigh.
TW: Actor, composer. Uncredited cameo as inebriated piano player. On soundtrack: "Jitterbug Boy".
One From The Heart. 1982
Movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
TW: Actor, composer. Soundtrack with Crystal Gayle, and cameo as trumpet player (original cinema version).
Read full story: One From The Heart
Prenom Carmen. 1984
Movie directed by Jean-Luc Goddard.
TW: composer. On soundtrack "Ruby's Arms''.
Streetwise. 1984/ 1986
Movie directed by Martin Bell. "Nominated for an Oscar, this movie portrays the lives of desperate teenagers. Thrown too young into a seedy grown up world, these runaways survive. With Rat the dumpster diver, Tiny the teen prostitute, Shellie the baby faced blonde and DeWayne the hustler. All underage survivors on the streets of downtown Seattle. Released by LCA in 1986."
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Take Care Of All Of My Children".
Down By Law. 1986
Movie directed by Jim Jarmusch. Shot on location in New Orleans in 1985.
TW: actor & composer. Plays main role as DJ Zack. On soundtrack: "Jockey Full Of Bourbon" and "Tango Till They're Sore".
Ironweed. 1987)
Movie directed by Hector Babenco. An adaptation of William Kennedy's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Ironweed. With Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.
TW: actor & composer. Plays Rudy the Kraut. On soundtrack: "Poor Little Lamb", "Big Rock Candy Mountain"
Sea Of Love. 1989
Movie directed by Harold Becker.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Sea Of Love" (re-arrangement).
Bearskin: An Urban Fairytale. 1989
Movie directed by Ann Guedes. Stars J�lia Britton, Charlotte Coleman, Damon Lowry, Isabel Ruth, Tom Waits.
TW: Actor, composer. Plays Punch & Judy man Silva. British film unreleased in the US. Soundtrack features "Singapore". "When 17 year old Johnny Fortune chances upon a newspaper advertisement which reads simply "Entertainer Requires Assistant", he thinks he sees a way out of a seemingly hopeless situation. Employed as a dancing bear by an unconventional Punch & Judy man called Silva, he finds that his past catches up with him nonetheless."
In Una Notte Di Chiaro Di Luna. 1989
Movie written and directed by Lina Wertm�ller.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Strange Weather"
Night On Earth. 1991
Movie directed by Jim Jarmusch. With: Winona Ryder and Roberto Benigni.
TW: composer. Soundtrack.
L�olo. 1992
Movie directed by Jean Claude Lauzon (Canada).
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Temptation" and "Cold, Cold Ground".
Jersey Girl. 1992
Movie directed by David Burton Morris.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Jersey Girl" (performed by Jack Mack And The Heartattack)
American Heart. 1992
Movie directed by Martin Bell.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby", "Jack's Flashback Theme and Additional Music", "jersey Girl" and "I'll Never Let Go Of Your Hand"
Recorded at Prairie Sun Recording studios. Cotati, CA/ USA, 1992
12 Monkeys. 1995
Movie directed by Terry Gilliam.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Earth Died Screaming"
Little Criminals. 1995
Movie directed by Stephen Surjik.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Clap Hands"
Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead. 1995
Movie directed by Gary Fleder.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Jockey Full Of Bourbon"
Georgia. 1995
Movie directed by Ulu Grosbard. Soundtrack features contributions by: Lou Reed, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "The Piano Has Been Drinking".
Irren Ist M�nnlich. 1995
Movie directed by Sherry Hormann.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Who Are You?"
Boys On The Side. February 3, 1995
Movie directed by Herbert Ross.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Ol' '55" (performed by Sarah McLachlan)
Dead Man Walking. 1995/ 1996
Movie directed by Tim Robbins.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "The Fall Of Troy" and "Walk Away". Soundtrack only, not featured in movie.
Generation X. 1996
TV movie for Fox TV directed by Jack Sholder. Written by Eric Blakeney (Gun Shy, 2000)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Telephone Call From Istanbul".
Basquiat. 1996
Movie directed by Julian Schnabel.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Tom Traubert's Blues", "Who Are You".
La Buena Vida. 1996
Spanish comedy directed by David Trueba.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "I Don't Wanna Grow Up" (performed by actress).
Art City #1 - Making It In Manhattan. 1996
A video documentary art tour of New York City, entering galleries and studios and the homes of collectors. Interviewing critics, collectors, and artists (US and Canada only). Directed by Chris Maybach.
TW: composer. Soundtrack contribution unknown
The End Of Violence. 1997
Movie directed by Wim Wenders.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Little Drop Of Poison".
Afterglow. 1997
Movie directed by Alan Rudolph.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Somewhere".
Trojan War. 1997
Movie directed by George Huang. DVD release: July 28, 1998
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “I Hope That I Don’t Fall In Love With You” (performed by Jennifer Love Hewitt)
Bunny. 1998
Oscar winning animated movie directed by Chris Wedge.
TW: composer (w. Kathleen Waits-Brennan). On soundtrack: instrumentals and "Bend Down The Branches". Music arranger: Francis Thumm. Sound engineer: Jacquire King. Musicians: Andrew Borger, Matt Brubeck, Ralph Carney, Trevor Dunn, Joe Gore, Carla Kihlstedt, Nik Phelps. Second engineer: Jeff Sloan. Foley artist: Ginger Geary
A Little Bit Of Soul. 1997
Movie directed by: Peter Duncan (Australia)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Cold Cold Ground”
Johnny Skidmarks. 1998
Movie directed by John Raffo.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Walking Spanish".
Permanent Midnight. 1998
Movie directed by David Veloz. DVD release: February 23, 1999
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Walking Spanish”
What's He Building? 1999
Music video promoting "What's He Building?" (1999). Directed by Lex Brand.
TW: musical performer (does not appear in video). This videoclip was made for Dutch advertising company Kessels/ Kramer. Apparently Waits/ Anti liked it so much, they used it as an official promo. The clip appeared on MTV and other stations. No longer available as of 2008 due to a copyright claim by Viacom International Inc.
Fight Club. 1999
Movie directed by David Fincher.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Goin' Out West"
Liberty Heights. 1999
Movie written and directed by Barry Levinson.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Putting On The Dog" and "It's Over".
The Specialist, 1999
Movie directed by Eyal Sivan. Theatrical release: April 12, 2000.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Russian Dance" (played over closing credits)
Limbo. 1999
Movie written and directed by John Sayles (Germany). DVD release: July 10, 2000
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “The Heart Of Saturday Night” (performed by Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio)
Keeping The Faith. 2000
Movie directed by Edward Norton.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Please Call Me Baby".
Pollock. 2000
Movie directed by Ed Harris.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: ''The World Keeps Turning'' (during credit titles)
Gun Shy. 2000
Movie written and directed by Eric Blakeney.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "More Than Rain"
The Perfect Storm. 2000
Movie directed by Wolfgang Petersen.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "The Heart Of Saturday Night"
Maelstrom. 2000
Canadian movie directed by Denis Villeneuve.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "The Ocean Doesn't Want Me"
The Last Castle. 2001
Movie directed by Rod Lurie. DVD released: June 13, 2002
TW: composer. On soundtrack "Get Behind The Mule" (performed by John Hammond)
Big Bad Love. 2002
Movie directed by Arliss Howard
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Long Way Home" and "Jayne's Blue Wish" (first release)
Night At The Golden Eagle. 2002
Movie written and directed by Adam Rifkin. DVD released: April 22, 2003
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Swordfishtrombone”
Art City #2 - Simplicity. 2002
Video documentary. Travelling around the country, "ART CITY: Simplicity" takes viewers on a revealing trip into the studios and lives of a group of singular artists. Directed by Chris Maybach.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "..?.."
Los Lunes Al Sol. 2002
Spanish movie directed by Fernando Leon De Aranda.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "On the Other Side of the World" (instrumental and version w. Tom Waits singing)
The United States Of Leland. 2003
Movie directed and written by Matthew Ryan Hoge. DVD release: July 1, 2005.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Diamond In Your Mind” (performed by Solomon Burke)
Lighter or Darker. March 2003
Promotional film "Lighter or Darker: look at the drugs problem with different eyes" (aka Black or White) for Dianova. Dianova is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping substance abusers through residential treatment.
TW: composer. Original music is "Coney Island Baby"
Long Gone. 2003
Documentary film directed by: Jack Cahill/ David Eberhardt. "Intertwining stories of six tramps who hop freight trains to travel across America over a seven year period, the movie forms a portrait of contemporary "hoboes" who struggle to overcome their pasts, haunting war memories, substance abuse, shattered marriages and criminal warrants. Presented in a sympathetic and clear-eyed way, this debut film is humane and unflinching. Original music by Tom Waits. Winner of Best Documentary and the Kodak Vision Award for Best Cinematography at the Slamdance Film Festival (premi�re)."
TW: composer. "Besides helping to score funding for the project, Waits would use some of the rail-riding tunes for his comeback album Mule Variations." (City Pages review of "Long Gone" by Jeremy O'Kasick for the Twin Cities City Pages, April 2, 2003). On soundtrack: "Lost at the Bottom of the World" (first release), "Down There by the Train" (first release), "On the Road/ Home I'll Never Be", "Pony", "Town With No Cheer" (intro). Further reading: Long Gone official site
Crowfilm. 2003
Short experimental documentary by Edward P. Davee.
TW: composer. On soundtrack "Fawn"
The Big Empty. 2003
John Person (Jon Favreau) is a 30-something struggling actor living alone and facing eviction from his one room apartment in Hollywood. Behind on his rent and heavily in debt, he goes against his better judgment - and that of his pretty neighbor Grace (Joey Lauren Adams) - and accepts an unsolicited offer from his strange neighbor Neely (Bud Cort) to courier a blue suitcase up to the desert truck stop of Baker, California.
Movie directed by Steve Anderson (Rainstorm Entertainment)
TW: composer. On soundtrack "Walk Away" performed by Smokestack Lightnin' (courtesy of Witchcraft International)
Noviembre. September 26, 2003
Movie directed by Achero Mañas (Spain).
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Tom Traubert’s Blues”
One From The Heart. 2004
DVD two-disc and D-Theater VHS "Special Edition" reissue of this 1982 film by Francis Ford Coppola. DVD features a new high definition transfer from the original camera negative supervised by Academy Award winning cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. The soundtrack is remixed and remastered from the original 1981 Tom Waits recording studio sessions.
Movie directed by Francis Ford Coppola.
TW: Actor, composer, interviewee. Soundtrack with Crystal Gayle
Read full story: One From The Heart
Joe's Flyin A-Garic. February, 2004
Animated short by Katrina Whalen (Corduroy Road Productions, Canada)
TW: composer. Features "Table Top Joe"
The Prince And Me. April, 2004
Movie directed by Martha Coolidge.
TW: composer. On soundtrack "I Hope That I Don't Fall In Love With You" performed by Marc Cohn
Shrek 2. June, 2004
Movie directed by: Kelly Asbury, Andrew Adamson
TW: composer. On soundtrack "Little Drop Of Poison"
Hellboy. July, 2004
Movie directed by: Guillermo del Toro
TW: composer. On soundtrack "Heartattack And Vine"
Mon Ange. January 19, 2004
Movie written and directed by Serge Frydman (France)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "On The Nickel" and "Russian Dance"
In The Realms Of The Unreal. 2004
Movie directed by Jessica Yu and produced by Susan West. Video release: June, 2005
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Innocent When You Dream"
Around The Bend. October 8, 2004
Movie directed by Jordan Roberts (Warner Independent Pictures). DVD release: February 22, 2005
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Old Shoes” (performed by David Baerwald)
Daltry Calhoun. 2005
Movie written and directed by Katrina Holden Bronson. DVD release: September 25, 2005
TW: composer. On soundtrack: “Looks Like I’m On Shit Creek Again” (performed by Nora O’Connor)
Enron: The Smartest Guys In The Room. January 23, 2005
Movie directed by Alex Gibney. The story behind the infamous Enron scandal
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "What's He Building", "Straight To The Top (Vegas)", "Temptation", "God's Away On Business". Soundtrack album only has "What's He Building"
Alex Gibney (2005): "The musicians were very kind. Tom Waits and his wife/collaborator Kathleen Brennan also suggested a song that we ended up using in the credit sequence: “God’s Away on Business.”"
La Vida Secreta De Las Palabras. March, 2005
Spanish movie directed by Isabel Coixet
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "All The World Is Green"
Robots. March 11, 2005
Animated comedy directed by Chris Wedge (Blue Sky Studios/ Bunny)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Underground" (not on soundtrack album)
Our Burden Is Light. March 21, 2005
Movie directed by Denise Coates (Revelation Films ltd)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Little Trip To Heaven"
Quando Sei Nato Non Puoi Pi� Nasconderti. May 15, 2005
Movie directed by Marco Tullio Giordana (Italy)
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Ruby's Arms"
Yes. June 21, 2005
Movie written and directed by Sally Potter.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Fawn" (instrumental performed by Fred Firth and Thomas Bloch)
East Of Sunset. September 13, 2005
Movie written by Heather Miller, directed by Brian McNelis. Executive Producer: Evan Cohen (Third Story/ Manifesto Records)
TW: composer. On soundtrack 1. Lonely, The Caseworker 2. Ruby's Arms, The Caseworker 3. Heart Attack and Vine, Lydia Lunch 4. I Hope that I Don't Fall in Love with You, The Caseworker 5. Downtown, Alex Chilton 6. Better Off Without a Wife, Pete Shelley 7. Poncho's Lament, The Caseworker 8. New Coat of Paint, Lee Rocker 9. You Can't Unring a Bell, These Immortal Souls 10. Cinny's Waltz, The Caseworker 11. Broken Bicycles, Botanica 12. Old Shoes, The Caseworker 13. Ruby's Arms, Frente! 14. Old Shoes, Drugstore 15. Poncho's Lament (instrumental), The Caseworker 16. Lonely (instrumental), The Caseworker 17. Old Shoes (Instrumental), The Caseworker 18. Ruby's Arms (Instrumental), The Caseworker
Domino. October 2, 2005
Movie directed by Tony Scott.
TW: actor (as a wandering soothsayer), composer. On soundtrack: "Jesus Gonna Be Here"
La Tigre E La Neve. October 14, 2005
Italian movie directed by Roberto Benigni
TW: actor, composer. On soundtrack: "You Can Never Hold Back Spring" (first release, several variations)
Jarhead. November 4, 2005
Movie directed by Sam Mendes
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Soldier's Things"
A Little Trip To Heaven. December 26, 2005
Icelandic film directed by Balthasar Kormakur. With Forest Withaker and Julia Stiles.
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "Little Trip To Heaven" (performed by Mugison)
Wristcutters - A Love Story. January, 2006
Independent feature film directed by Goran Dukic
TW: actor (plays Kneller), composer. On soundtrack: "Dead and Lovely"
Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon. May 23, 2007
Movie directed by Julian Schnabel
TW: composer. On soundtrack: "All The World Is Green" and "Green Grass"
Immagine In Cornice. September 25, 2007
Pearl Jam concert film (Rhino Records), directed by Danny Clinch
TW: composer. Film has a Pearl Jam cover of “Picture in A Frame”, performed Italy/ September 17, 2006 (hidden bonus track)
The Dalai Lama - Peace And Prosperity. April 28, 2008
Feature documentary on the Dalai Lama, directed by Sian Edwards and Richard Wirth
TW: composer. Tom Waits and Phillip Glass supply music videos
1 in 8. November 25, 2008
TV and online commercial by Feeding America partnered with the Ad Council to raise awareness of hunger in the USA. Directed by Tony Kaye.
TW: composer. Commercial features "Never Let Go"