Best film soundtracks and scores

By Molly Richards (she/her)

Have you ever watched an old film with no scoring? Like one your grandparents forced you to endure. Just dialogue and the sounds of silence. Chilling. Soundtracks and scoring are the lovers you only miss when they’re gone. What I’m saying is it’s not something you really think about until it’s gone. Films today almost always have some form of scoring rolling through the speakers. It’s as much a part of the story as the characters on screen. From the early ‘60s, films would largely be accompanied by some impressive orchestral backing. This is still the case today but with some added spice. You have your big and building space opera masterpieces and pumped-up contemporary bangers. Think Guardians of the Galaxy. This week, I’ve decided to pluck out a variety of my favourite film scores and soundtracks in this hodgepodge list of cinematic masterpieces. You may disagree with my list but with my being the keyword, I’m not too sorry about it.

How to Train Your Dragon

How could I write this and not include this absolute banger of a score? 79 minutes of pure epic orchestral proficiency. DreamWorks and John Powell had no business producing this. Over 30 percussion instruments captured my braincells and heart with an iron fist and refused to let them go.

Guardians of the Galaxy

A shift in gears but still a certified bop of a soundtrack. Great to dance around to and fight off some aliens, who knew?

Star Wars and Lord of the rings

Circling back with some more epic scoring. In both these cult classics, the scoring plays a character that cannot be denied. I don’t know about you, but if you are in need of a tune to stomp down the halls at uni like a god, flood Darth Vader’s theme into your ears. In this vein, have you watched those music matters clips on Tik Tok or YouTube? The ones that show an iconic scene and then dub the original scoring with another. On topic, the scene where Darth Vader arrives back on the Death Star but rather than the iconic dundun dunda dun da da its swapped out with Spandau Ballet’s True. If you want to procrastinate some of that precious study time you had planned, I implore you to have a watch through these clips.

Spirit

Moving right along, if you remember this film, I thank you. Who knew a film about a wild and untameable mustang could have an opening song that goes so hard? If you feel like you want to simultaneously cry and run through a field, this is the film for you.

Pirates of the Caribbean

I pride myself on my Jack Sparrow run and the score for these films couldn’t be any more perfect.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Want to live your life in a Wes Anderson film? Romanticise your day with this soundtrack. Side note: If you see me and you’re listening to this please tell me, I love this film with my whole caffeine-fuelled heart.

The Lion King

Need I say more? Not only did this film open with a powerhouse tune but managed to keep up the energy throughout. You may find me randomly burst out singing The Circle of Life. It lives always rent free in my brain.

Burlesque, Grease, Hercules, Highschool Musical. How could I not include these absolute classics! I present you the musical greats from my list and coming from this musical pessimist, it’s quite a feat. Sure, they may not be the greatest films ever made but bloody hell you can have a good boogie to them.

Honourable Mentions.

Now, unfortunately, I don’t have the words to go through my full list so for the sake of space I have added some honourable mentions. Obviously, the classics brought to you by Pixar; are Cars, Monster’s Inc. and Toy Story Staples from my childhood and the soundtrack to every primary school movie night. That Monster’s Inc. theme tune, you know the one I’m talking about. In the floating doors opening scene.... well, that saxophone randomly pops into my head at unexpected times. If you see me staring off into space, likely that’s what’s playing as elevator music in my brain.