After Earth (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2013 film After Earth directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Jaden Smith and Will Smith; the film's score is composed by James Newton Howard, whose inclusion was confirmed in July 2012, conducted by Pete Anthony and performed by the Hollywood Studio Symphony. The film is Howard's eighth collaboration with Shyamalan. Sony Masterworks released the 28-track score album on May 28, 2013.
Contents
Critical reception
Thomas Glorieux, in his review for Maintitles.net described it as an "average album is only held together by its begin and end". James Southall of Movie Wave also described it as "the least impressive of Howard’s score albums from Shyamalan films". In contrast, Filmtracks.com reviewed "After Earth is a robust Howard effort that could potentially go unnoticed by those dismissing the film. It's standard fare, and a lack of a global sense of tragedy for the fate of Earth is an issue. The primal textures do grate in an environment that tries at the same time to be a touching father and son bonding score. But all of that said, give this one a chance and rearrange it as needed."
Katy Vans of Blueprint wrote "This is ok, not great, but who needs great; it serves a purpose". Chris Bumbray of JoBlo.com wrote: "The musical score by James Newton Howard is excellent". Luke Mullen of Film School Rejects wrote "The score by James Newton Howard is subtle and not overused but also not particularly memorable." A review from The New Indian Express summarized that "kudos to composer James Newton Howard, for a strong soundtrack that blends into the film."
Post-release
Howard re-recorded a piece of the score suite from the film, to be included in his studio album Night After Night; a compilation of Howard's scores for Shyamalan's films. Pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet performed the suite as the featured soloist.