Why Charli XCX Is Hollywood's Most Exciting New Composer

The year 2024 was defined by the inescapable neon green glow of *Brat*. While some remember Charli XCX from her Tumblr-era anthems like ‘Break the Rules’ a decade ago, and others recall the radio saturation of ‘Boom Clap,’ her finger has consistently been on the pulse of pop culture. She’s been a trendsetter since her teenage years, dropping her debut album, *14*, shortly after turning 15. Though not as polished as later hits like ‘365’ or ‘Von dutch’, those early tracks showcased her signature deadpan delivery over danceable electro-pop beats. After breaking into the mainstream, she became the voice for a generation of internet-savvy teens before diving into the less commercial world of hyper-pop, crafting abrasive, glitchy soundscapes on tracks like ‘pink diamond’. With the arrival of *Brat*, however, XCX became a global phenomenon. The album wasn't just music; it was a cultural moment, with its signature color even being used by Kamala Harris’s Presidential campaign. Its brash singles about club life, viral TikTok dances, and endless clips of XCX owning the stage made it impossible to ignore. It was the ultimate party girl soundtrack, yet it also offered moments of deep introspection on songs like ‘I think about it all the time’.

From Pop Sensation to Score Creator

So where does a pop icon go from there? It appears her next frontier is the world of film composition. XCX is set to release a full album’s worth of songs as the score for the upcoming film *Wuthering Heights*, scheduled for a February 2026 release. She has already offered a glimpse with two tracks, including the mesmerizing collaboration ‘House’ with John Cale. Additionally, she is credited as a composer on David Lowery’s highly anticipated film *Mother Mary*, which stars Anne Hathaway and is slated for release next year.

Building a Cinematic Resume

This isn't her first time creating music for the big screen. In 2023, she worked with Leo Birenberg on the score for *Bottoms*, a project that featured production from PC Music founder AG Cook. A year prior, she recorded the track ‘Hot Girl’ for another Rachel Sennott movie, *Bodies Bodies Bodies*. However, *Bottoms* marked her first comprehensive scoring project, focusing more on instrumental pieces than traditional pop songs. With *Brat* released between two major film scoring gigs, it’s clear XCX has her sights set on Hollywood, a move that complements her growing presence as an actor.

Her love for movies is no secret, as she often shares her favorite, sometimes obscure, films with fans on TikTok. Her acting career is also gaining momentum with roles in upcoming films like *Erupcja, 100 Nights of Hero*, and *Sacrifice*. She is also set to appear in the new Gregg Araki movie, *I Want Your Sex*, and a future project from director Takashi Miike.

Shaking Up the Sound of Film

With her reign over the pop world firmly established, Charli XCX seems ready to conquer cinema. While her acting roles have drawn mixed reactions, her venture into film scoring is a welcome development. The industry is in dire need of more female composers and more artists creating genuinely interesting original songs for films. We’ve seen brilliant, unconventional soundtracks before—think of Broadcast’s work for *Berberian Sound Studio* or Air’s dreamy, melancholic score for Sofia Coppola’s *The Virgin Suicides*. These albums created their own distinct worlds, and XCX appears poised to do the same.

If ‘House’—a haunting, abrasive track made with the legendary founder of The Velvet Underground—is any indication, XCX is a cinematic force to be reckoned with. Her soundtrack might just be the most interesting part of the new *Wuthering Heights* adaptation, which has already received a lukewarm reception in early previews. It’s possible her music could elevate the entire film. Fans can only hope that her work on *Mother Mary* is just as compelling, paving the way for a long and exciting career bringing her experimental and unconventional musical style to the world of film scoring.