Newman’s success seems tied to his collaboration with actor/director Danny DeVito, beginning with Throw Momma from the Train (1987). He continued with DeVito for The War of the Roses (1989), Other People’s Money (1991), Hoffa (1992), Matilda (1996) and Death to Smoochy (2002). His sensibility toward comedy brought him to The Flintstones (1994), The Mighty Ducks (1992), The Nutty Professor (1996), and Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), and requests for his scores for comedic films have continued to this day. His other scores include Critters, The Phantom, The Brave Little Toaster, Anastasia, Malone, Ice Age, Serenity, and R.O.T.O.R.. He received an Academy Award nomination for the score to the animated film Anastasia.
In 1997, David Newman began a four year stint as the music director for the Sundance Institute, and he has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra on several occasions. That year, he also re-recorded the Twentieth Century Fox Fanfare, composed by his father Alfred Newman. David Newman was elected president of The Film Music Society in February 2007.