Atticus Ross
MusicianAtticus Ross is an English composer and Nine Inch Nails member who, with his brother Leopold Ross, wrote the score for Netflix's 2017 live-action Death Note film.
Death Note Role
Ross and his brother Leopold composed the music for Adam Wingard's 2017 Death Note, the Netflix film that relocated the story to Seattle and renamed its lead Light Turner. The brothers brought the cold, pulsing electronic textures they had honed on prior thriller work to underline the escalating standoff between Light and L, giving the streaming adaptation a moodier, synth-driven identity distinct from the original anime's orchestral sound. It stood as one of several genre film scores the pair produced together outside their main partnership with Trent Reznor.
Career and Notable Roles
Ross rose to prominence through his collaborations with Reznor, first on the Tapeworm project and later within Nine Inch Nails, which he joined as a full member in 2016. Scoring together, the two have won an Academy Award for The Social Network, a Grammy for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and a Golden Globe and Oscar for Soul, adding a further Golden Globe for Challengers in 2025. Ross entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Nine Inch Nails in 2020 and later co-founded the virtual project WitchGang with Reznor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atticus Ross part of Nine Inch Nails?
Yes, Atticus Ross joined Nine Inch Nails as a full member in 2016, after rising to prominence through his collaboration with Trent Reznor that began on the Tapeworm project. He has continued composing alongside Reznor ever since.
What is Atticus Ross famous for?
Ross is known for his long composing partnership with Trent Reznor; the pair entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame together with Nine Inch Nails in 2020. Ross has also co-founded the virtual project WitchGang with Reznor.
What Death Note movie did Atticus Ross compose the score for?
Ross and his brother Leopold composed the music for Adam Wingard's 2017 Death Note, the Netflix film that relocated the story to Seattle and renamed its lead Light Turner. Their cold, pulsing electronic score gave the adaptation a moodier identity distinct from the original anime's orchestral sound.
What awards has Atticus Ross won?
Scoring together with Trent Reznor, Ross has won an Academy Award for The Social Network, a Grammy for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and a Golden Globe and Oscar for Soul. The pair added a further Golden Globe for Challengers in 2025.
Who is Atticus Ross's brother?
Atticus Ross's brother is Leopold Ross, with whom he has composed several genre film scores outside his main partnership with Trent Reznor, including the 2017 Death Note soundtrack. The two often work together as a composing duo distinct from Ross's Nine Inch Nails collaborations.
Related Reading
See all
Super Saiyan Pubes: The Song About Where Super Saiyan Hair Actually Goes
The transformation everyone knows, the follow-up question nobody would touch. Why we made a smooth R&B track about the golden glow Dragon Ball never talks about....
The Bleach Female Characters Nobody Can Agree On, Settled
Five Bleach female characters, ranked and settled. Yoruichi sits at number five, the spot nobody expects, and our number one is an Arrancar with a soft heart....
Sources & Information
This content is original writing by Daddy Jim Headquarters based on the Death Note anime series, manga, and official materials. Episode and chapter references are cited where applicable.
Character and scene imagery on this site is original artwork by Daddy Jim Headquarters, not screenshots or licensed imagery. Official cover art is used on three types of pages for editorial commentary:
- Movie pages: theatrical posters and key visuals, credited to Nippon Television and Warner Bros. Japan.
- Game pages: official box art, credited to Konami and other publishers.
- Manga chapter pages: Jump Comics volume covers, credited to Shueisha, Tsugumi Ohba, and Takeshi Obata.
Official resources:
Help Us Keep This Wiki Accurate
Daddy Jim Headquarters maintains this encyclopedia. If you spot an error, a translation issue, or something that doesn't look right, let us know.