Best Original Film Scores Ever
Not even bad movies can ruin an otherwise brilliant original score. With film scores, the composer’s imagination (in the context of the film, or course) is the limit, and has the potential to be so much better than the script itself. If John Williams composed the music to Basic Instinct 2, he’d likely be nominated for an Oscar (okay, maybe not, but you get my point).
Now, in alphabetical order, here are the best scores out there, some extremely obvious, and others in films that can’t hold a candle to their themes. I’m leaving out cartoons and musicals because, to me, those belong on a different list, one devoted solely to films meant for, or are famous for, only their music. Also, purposely lacking on this list are scores to much older films, because I sincerely believe that the most memorable and recognized scores today came out only in the last 40 years, mainly due to the advent of the blockbuster film which virtually requires accompanying blockbuster music. I’m sure the theme from Gone with the Wind is good, how couldn’t it be? But I’d say we’ll be whistling the theme to Star Wars for decades longer as those who actually saw Wind die out.
The Addams Family – Marc Shaiman
Starting with a snoozer, huh? Sure, the 1991 film was silly, but Shaiman’s theme is everything from over-the-top romantic to creepy and sneaky, just like the family. Each track on this album is good, and Shaiman rarely succumbs to composing filler for blah scenes. It’s also got the extended version of Mamushka, sang wonderfully by the late Raúl Juliá who played Gomez. The Addams Family on Amazon
American Beauty – Thomas NewmanWith unconventional sounds and instruments, this score doesn’t seem to follow any traditional method of film composing, and it’s a hit. Just a warning – people buy this looking for the song that played as Angela undressed, but it’s not on here. That’s Annie Lennox singing a Neil Young song called “Don’t Let it Bring You Down” which is available on her album Medusa, and not even the soundtrack (not score) album for this Academy Award-winning film. American Beauty on Amazon
Angels & Demons – Hans ZimmerThis album starts off with one of the most in-your-face, exciting tracks Zimmer has composed since the Battle scene in Gladiator. My problem with the Da Vinci Code soundtrack was that it was too soft and generally took too long to build to those monumental moments that Zimmer is known to swat at you, but here, it starts right away, as it should. As for the rest of the score, it’s what it’s supposed to be… lots of violins and choral chanting, some softer tunes, with hints of Da Vinci’s riffs but solid and different enough to stand on its own. Angels & Demons on Amazon
Back to the Future – Alan SilvestriA brilliant score to a classic movie. The sequels, too, had great music, with change-ups in the sounds based on the era in which Marty and Doc were hangin’ in. Back to the Future on Amazon
A Beautiful Mind – James HornerAnother best picture winner, Horner delivers a whirlwind of music that captures the brilliant yet troubled mind of John Nash in a kaleidoscope of music with lovely soprano backings by Welsh singer Charlotte Church. A Beautiful Mind on Amazon
Bram Stoker’s Dracula – Wojciech KilarHere’s another snoozer, but I think it’s the best horror soundtrack, beginning to end, out there. It’s often slow and creepy, music that builds to neck-chomping climaxes with blood flowing everywhere. Bram Stoker’s Dracula on Amazon
Braveheart – James HornerAnother best picture winner scored by Horner, Braveheart’s music is the ultimate soundtrack for British-bashing Scots. I just want to point out that Iron Maiden’s “The Clansman” is also about William Wallace and gives a heavy metal twist to this period. If only Mel Gibson put that in the film… Braveheart on Amazon
| More Music From Braveheart on Amazon
Crocodile Dundee – Peter BestI can’t say that every track on this album is brilliant, considering many were made in the context of comedic incidents by the outback Aussie in New York, but the main theme and supporting themes are unique and memorable, far more serious than the movie turns out to be. Crocodile Dundee on Amazon
The Dark Crystal – Trevor JonesOne of my all-time favorites, Jones composes music that ultimately outlives the puppet-only film and cheesy 80s special effects. Decades after the film was released, a limited-edition CD came out for this film with the entire score on one CD and the limited, ‘best-of’ score on the other. Incidentally, I really wanted to add Labyrinth to this list, but the music in that isn’t for everyone. The Dark Crystal: 25th Anniversary on Amazon |
The Dark Crystal, limited-edition two-CD set on Amazon
E.T. – John Williams
At the time, this was the highest-grossing film ever, and the score is over-the-top wonderful, particularly the soothing Over the Moon.
While on the subject of Spielberg/Williams films, I’m leaving Jaws off of this list because the soundtrack as a whole was only okay. That classic, two-note theme is indeed good and memorable, but only fit those shark scenes. And lets be honest – upon repeat viewings of Jaws, those are the only scenes worth watching. E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial on Amazon
Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
Every track on this album is unique, beautiful, intense, and outright brilliant. Zimmer’s musicians were anxious to see this film as they composed this music, and the movie lived up to the score and won best picture. My favorite track isn’t even on the Gladiator soundtrack, which is available here on Amazon. It’s on the Gladiator: More Music From The Motion Picture soundtrack, called ‘Figurines.’ Check it out:
Glory – James HornerAnother memorable theme backed by the Boys Choir of Harlem, Horner’s Charging Fort Wagner track is the ultimate theme to any battle. Glory on Amazon
The Godfather – Nino RotaSurely, the theme of the best movie of all time belongs on here, right? While not every track is a solid winner, the main and supporting themes are fun to whistle. The Godfather on Amazon
(EDITOR’S NOTE: Nino Rota’s score was removed from the list of 1973 Academy Award nominees when it was discovered that he had used the theme in Eduardo De Filippo’s 1958 comedy Fortunella. Although in the earlier film the theme was played in a brisk, staccato and comedic style, the melody was the same as the love theme from The Godfather, and for that reason was deemed ineligible for an Oscar. Despite this, The Godfather Part II won a 1974 Oscar for best original score, although it featured the same love theme that made the 1972 score ineligible.)
Harry Potter – John Williams and othersI’ll admit that I’m not familiar with every track to every Potter film’s score, but familiar enough to know that Williams and composers such as Patrick Doyle, William Ross and Nicholas Hooper didn’t disappoint when delivering the themes to these films which will live in children’s memories for decades to come. Harry Potter soundtracks on Amazon
Home Alone – John WilliamsThe score to this film is yet another example of how great John Williams actually is. The music didn’t need to be good enough to make this list, but yet it was. Ultimately, it’s a silly film that became a huge hit, and it memorably captures the wackiness, loneliness, and spirit of Christmas that will forever be associated with Macaulay Culkin. Home Alone on Amazon
Hook – John WilliamsI wasn’t at all a fan of this Steven Spielberg-directed film but Williams didn’t phone in the music (available here on Amazon). Some of my favorite tunes on here aren’t even part of huge moments, particularly Captain Hook’s theme. It starts at about 1:20 of this track:
The Hulk – Danny ElfmanI couldn’t possibly make this list without a mention of Danny Elfman. His comic-book-to-life sounds, often tracked over Tim Burton/Johnny Depp flicks, are always great but seem to always lack that one element that puts it over the top into the greatest soundtracks ever category (which is why I believe he has yet to win an Oscar and rarely gets nominated despite the number of films he’s scored). These include scores such as Edward Scissorhands, Batman, Dick Tracy, Beetlejuice, Spider-man, and many others. But when I heard the Hulk theme (which wasn’t even a good movie), I found my favorite. The Hulk on Amazon
Indiana Jones – John WilliamsWilliams scored all four Indiana Jones films, but due to so many overlapping themes on each score it’s hard to put one on this list but not the others. However, my personal preference is for The Temple of Doom, which contains my favorite track the Slave Children’s Parade. Indiana Jones on Amazon
Interview With the Vampire – Elliot GoldenthalI rarely go a day without hearing a track from this film on my Ipod, another vampire score that sounds as if it’s being played by mad violinists. I even enjoy the last track on the album, which is a Guns N Roses version of the Rolling Stones’ Symphony for the Devil. Interview With The Vampire on Amazon
Jurassic Park – John WilliamsOkay, maybe I’m just a huge fan of John Williams, but if I can remember the score by heart, it likely means it’s good enough to be on here (BTW, despite owning Saving Private Ryan and several other Williams scores, not all of them make the cut). Jurassic Park on Amazon
The Last of the Mohicans – Trevor JonesEvery time I hear the track The Kiss I wanna grab the nearest chick, ugly or not, and make out with her. Oh, and unlike the soundtrack, which is in my top five favorites ever, I think this movie sucked. The Last Of The Mohicans on Amazon
. And if you can get it, buy the Mohicans Special Edition.
The Lord of the Rings – Howard ShoreExplain this to me… Shore won the Best Original Score Oscar for Part I and Part III, but not Part II. But you know what? The Two Towers was my favorite of the three, and a symphony is even playing it to the film on stage. So what gives? Regardless, Shore scored hours of brilliant music in these films and the best way to hear it is to buy the extended edition versions, which cost a lot of money but are an absolute must for true fans. In fact, they cost even more than the DVD movies themselves! Lord of the Rings Complete Recordings on Amazon
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein – Patrick DoyleThis movie fell flat at the box office but the themes and supporting music are excellent. There aren’t too many people on the same page as me on this because they dismissed the film, but give it a listen and you’ll see what I mean. Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein on Amazon
North by Northwest – Bernard HerrmannGotta get a Alfred Hitchcock score on here, right? Or, how about three, starting with what is often thought to be Hitchcock’s best film. Five minutes into watching this I already thought this was bound to be one of my favorite movies, and by the end, it was. North By Northwest: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
. For the best Hitchcock compilation, get Hitchcock: Master of Mayhem.
Pirates of the Caribbean – Hans Zimmer and Klaus BadeltEven though Part III of this film left a lot to be desired, the scores in each are pure swashbuckling adventure, particularly Zimmer’s Wheel of Fortune in Dead Man’s Chest. Pirates of the Caribbean on Amazon
Psycho – Bernard HerrmannShower scene. Best. Score. Ever. The rest of the film has okay music, nothing fascinating or even very memorable. But that shower scene… Psycho on Amazon
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves – Michael KamenAnother great score to a fun adventure movie, even if it was Kevin Costner, and it certainly helped to have Bryan Adams’ ‘Everything I do (I do it for you)’ as a base. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves on Amazon
Schindler’s List – John Williams, with Itzhak PerlmanThis score had to be good and that it was. This was Williams’ fifth (and so far, final) Oscar win and I remember when he went up there, he looked as if he expected it. My favorite tracks on this aren’t actually the main themes, but Oyf’n Pripetshok / Nacht Aktion (Ronit Shapira) and Yerushalaim Shel Zahav (Hana Tzur). Schindler’s List on Amazon
Shawshank Redemption – Thomas NewmanAside from the main theme, which in and of itself wonderful, try listening to ‘Compass and Guns’ without shedding a tear. I wouldn’t even be surprised if people have committed suicide to ‘Brooks Was Here,’ one of the most moving scenes in the film. The Shawshank Redemption on Amazon
Silence of the Lambs – Howard ShoreThe main theme here is good but no one can forget the shock of the police officers when they see what Lecter had done, and the overlaying track captures that intensity. The Silence Of The Lambs on Amazon
Star Wars – John WilliamsNow, I’ve gotta admit that not every track in every film is a winner, but many are, particularly the end theme of Episode IV, the Imperial March, and my personal favorites, the Arrival at Tatooine from Episode I, which doesn’t get good until 1:53 of the track. Star Wars on Amazon
| Special Edition Soundtracks on Amazon
And who can forget ‘Duel of the Fates’?
Vertigo – Bernard HerrmannMusic to get dizzy to. Vertigo on Amazon
Willow – James HornerYet another grand-scale epic adventure movie and a James Horner score that doesn’t disappoint. Forget Wicket the Ewok and the Leprechaun, Warrick Davis will forever be associated with Willow. Willow on Amazon
Other memorable themes:
The Fugitive – James Newton Howard
The Green Mile – Thomas Newman
Superman – John Williams
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly – Ennio Morricone
Alien – Jerry Goldsmith
Terminator 2: Judgement Day – Brad Fiedel
City Slickers – Marc Shaiman
Midnight Cowyboy – John Barry
Many, many more, but these all rise to the top.
Here’s another good list, though I don’t agree with all the choices:
http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/movie-pages/movie_filmscore.html
Check this out:
[...] The Best Original Film Scores Ever (Gunaxin) [...]
Ummm… Sunshine? Should definitely be on that list
What kind of list of the best original film scores ever is it that doesn’t have anything by Elmer Bernstein, Virgil Thompson, Aaron Copeland or Eric Korngold?
seriously? you just picked all the obvious names, like you haven’t watched a contemporary film with a score done by anyone other than hans zimmer or john williams. how about clint mansell for requiem? or any john murphy film (28 days/weeks later, sunshine, snatch, etc.) awful.
popurls.com // popular today…
story has entered the popular today section on popurls.com…
2001 space odyssey?
black hawk down scored by hans zimmer is fantastic as well
Argh! What about “O’brother Where Art Thou?” That soundtrack to that film was incredible!
Jaws
The very first Batman by Danny Elfman?
Wow. One of the best composers of all time Mozart and of the movie in which his music was used ‘Amadeus’ just missed the list. Hilarious. I doubt you have very little knowledge of musical scores and or music and this list was made on a whim. You left out a lot of goodies.
One more thing.. Hanz Zimmer does not write all of his own music. He egregiously steals from other composers and has a other composers working under him to finish his projects.
ROCKY?!?
What about Predator? It is the only movie where plot and soundtrack are in perfect snyc! Plus, it sounds realy scary… :)
Antarctica – Vangelis
Superman by John Williams should have made the list, Its easily Williams best work and I know Im not alone on my opinion.
Also, The Crow score should have made it as well. Not to mention the score of GhostBusters. One of the best. Again, just an opinion.
Nerdish correction: re ‘British-bashing Scots’ in your Braveheart comments. In modern usage Scots – along with Welsh, Northern Irish and English – are all ‘British’; I imagine you meant ‘English-bashing’ Scots. (The detail is complex. Early Brittanic tribes lived in southern Scotland and the Celtic fringes of the island that came to be called Britain. Some historians use ‘British’ to describe historical Picts and Gaels {as opposed to invading Anglo-Saxons, Jutes, Danes and others}, who are the precursors to modern Scots. So you’re kinda saying ‘Scots-bashing Scots’…)
Blade Runner – Vangelis
There are many great film scores that are among my favorites, including Farewell to Arms, The Barefoot Contessa, Gone With the Wind and one of the best — Mondo Cane. Has anyone out there heard them? Try to find out what you’ve missed!
Alexander Nievski – Prokofiev
Dave Grusin – The Firm
The Fountain – Clint Mansell
My two favorites
no donnie darko?
angels and demons is on this list but not the cliff martinez solaris score?
Blade Runner and Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
The Mission – Morricone
You missed the boat – BIG TIME!
Conan The Barbarian.
The problem with A Beautiful Mind is it’s a near dead copy of one of Horner’s earlier films Millennium Man
I think you mean ‘Bicentennial Man’ which was 2 years prior to ‘A Beautiful Mind’
but as most true lovers of film music know Horner has a history of ripping himself off.
Lawrence of Arabia, Dr. Zhivago.
Hello.
TAXI DRIVER
yes, another Bernard Herrmann score..Taxi Driver
Hatari – Henry Mancini
The soundtrack from The Hunt for Red October is another great one.
Shawshank Redemption!????
Ed Wood – Howard Shore
Mulholland Drive – Angelo Badalamenti
I Heart Huckabees – Jon Brion
Mysterious Skin – Robin Guthrie
Jaws
James Bond
Mission Impossible
Titanic
and they forgot Terminator…
Batty list, for adolescents. Best movie scores? Definitely LAWRENCE OF ARABIA and DR. ZHIVAGO and GONE WITH THE WIND . . .
There are 5 others who should have gotten mention at least once. Without them, this list is just too megaplex…John Williams is great, but it’s not all about the big themes.
Badalamenti – Mulholland Drive, City of Lost Children, Blue Velvet
Mansell – Requiem for a Dream
Martinez – Traffic
Burrell – Hudsucker Proxy
Julyan – Memento
and for legacy sake…Wendy Carlos – TRON
oh…and I’m sorry to keep going, but Danny Elfman for the HULK and not Nightmare Before Christmas or Beetlejuice? *sigh*
The Dark Knight
Conan the Barbarian
DUNE
Rocky I
Excalibur
Blade Runner
Bubba-Ho-Tep
Dude…Conan!
Total Recall
My Personal favourite (and listening to it right now) The Piano by Michael Nyman. Never saw the film and not too bothered about see it but the score is amazing, how did it not even get nominated for an oscar, in my view should have one!
Right…
Layer Cake with Lisa Gerrard’s beautiful voice.
The Rock. Hans Zimmer’s finest and has been copied many times in other films.
My favorite is an old, obscure (and VERY hard-to-find one):
“Straw Dogs” – by Jerry Fielding (1971).
Disturbing film (Peckinpah); amazingly innovative score. Was nominated for an Oscar for best score, but lost to “Summer of ‘42.”
The Third Man – Anton Karas
Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
CLINT MANSELL- THE FOUNTAIN
Hell, it WAS the damn movie!
Surprisingly, everyones forgotten Lalo Schifrin’s work on Enter The Dragon.
try Philip Glass, “the thin blue line”
Where is Fight Club? I can listen to that on repeat for days.
Two of my faves:
Brazil – Michael Kamen (I think?)
Who Framed Roger Rabbit – Alan Silvestri
there will be blood – johnny greenwood?
Local Hero by Mark Knopfler
Harold & Maude by Cat Stevens
[...] Best original film scores of all time — (Gunaxin) [...]
[...] Best original film scores of all time — (Gunaxin) [...]
The English Patient (Gabriel Yared). No matter what you think of the film, it needs to be on the list.
How on earth could you have left out Dead Man (Neil Young)?
Nice list!
Oh and…
Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure – Danny Elfman
[...] Best Original Film Scores Ever [...]
[...] Best Original Film Scores Ever [...]
[...] from Gunaxin: Not even bad movies can ruin an otherwise brilliant original score. With film scores, the [...]
Awesome list. If you’ve got a Facebook account, email me, I’d love to talk with you some time.
-Conan the Barbarian (Basil Poledouris, as others have mentioned)
-Magnificent Seven (Bernstein)
-The Boy Who Could Fly (Bruce Broughton)
-River’s Edge (Jurgen Knieper)
-Rocky (Bill Conti, as others have mentioned)
-The Goonies (Dave Grusin)
-Koyaanisqatsi (Philip Glass)
-Chariots of Fire (Evangelos Odysseas Papathanassiou, as others have mentioned)
Lord of the Rings. Is this not the only film franchise that won Best Original Score more than once? Isn’t it? And don’t forget Best Original Song 2004 for Into the West. Shore’s best work, and easily, beyond a shadow of a doubt, my favorite film score of all time.
I must agree with the Magnificent Seven, Chariots of Fire, and Jaws.
I would add the Sting, Easy Rider, and there was no music in movies before The Jazz Singer in 1927. Gotta always give props to the original. I’m sure you can take out Crocodile Dundee for that.
DO NOT POST YOUR TRUE FEELINGS ABOUT THIS IDIOTIC LIST
Your Comment will be deleted.
Let’s see how long this comment lasts here.
I posted a comment, a couple of weeks ago, about how I disagreed with much of this list and Interestingly it has magically disappeared……I thought this was a free country.
Once again your list is ignorant, naive and uneducated – you have no right to title this so called article “Best Original Film Scores Ever” to assume the ‘BEST EVER SCORES’ have only been produced in the last ‘40 years’ (it was originally written as scores from the last 20 years until this writer suspiciously since updated and edited his own article) is completely asinine. It totally eradicates an entire history of hugely respected and loved film composers.
As I said in my previous (disappearing comment)
Stick to flipping burgers and leave the “BEST OF” lists to the professionals.
AND STOP DELETING MY COMMENTS – It’s my Civil Right to Freedom of Speech
Zack,
First of all, you have no civil rights to Free Speech on a website forum. The only reason your comment would have been deleted is if it was excessively offensive (we let minor offensiveness get by) or if it were for some reason caught in the spam filter. We get hundreds of spam comments per day, so we don’t go through everything caught in the filter to find the good stuff. So I apologize if your comment was deleted, but nobody is trying to rob you of your non-existent rights.
Cool choices, but… I’m very disappointed that Steve Jablonsky isn’t on here.
Call me stupid, but his score for the first Transformers movie was exceptional, in my opinion. Sooo many people especially loved the “Arrival to Earth” theme – it’s brilliant.
But anyway, nice to see some people listening to scores.
‘Born on the Fourth of July’ has emerged as one of the most amazingly emotional and deeply moving scores in the last 25 years. It’s near the top of my list.
“nobody is trying to rob you of your non-existent rights.”
best line I’ve heard all week. Nice one Phil.
Please continue discussion on the forum: link