Paddington 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) is the soundtrack to the 2017 film Paddington 2 directed by Paul King, which is a sequel to Paddington (2014). Originally, the film was set to be scored by Nick Urata, who expressed his interest in returning to the sequel. However, the film was later scored by Dario Marianelli in his first collaboration with King.
Decca Records released the soundtrack on 10 November 2017 alongside the film's theatrical release in the United Kingdom.
Ai provides the theme song for the Japanese release of the sequel, titled "Little Hero."
Critical reception
Geoffrey Macnab of The Independent summarised "Composer Dario Marianelli's whirling, high tempo score adds to the increasingly frantic feel of the storytelling." Blake Goble of Consequence wrote "There's even a poppy glockenspiel on the score from Oscar winner Dario Marianelli while these washings occur; this movie is just that upbeat." Guy Lodge of Variety and Leslie Felperin of The Hollywood Reporter called it as "lovable" and "charming". KT Schaefer of Substream Magazine wrote "Composer Dario Marianelli is a new addition to this film and his beautiful score flows through the scenes and heightens the emotional and comedic beats."
David Ehrlich of IndieWire ranked the album as the tenth best film score of 2018. Ehrlich described Marianelli's work as "colorful but never cloying, sensitive but never saccharine, and always as buoyant and bright-eyed as Paddington himself" and felt it to be "deeper, richer, and more vibrant in every way" in comparison with Urata's score for the predecessor. He also voted on Paddington 2 receiving nominations at the 91st Academy Awards for minimum five categories, which included Best Original Score for Marianelli. However, the film did not receive any nominations at the ceremony.