As a music enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in the symphonic universes of various film scores, I must say that each composer mentioned here has left an indelible mark on the industry and my personal collection.
Music plays a crucial role in all of our favorite movies and TV shows and most of that music has been written by incredible composers like John Williams, Hans Zimmer, Elmer Bernstein, and many, many more, even the ones not named Williams or Zimmer. But what is each composer’s best work? That’s hard to pin down and opinions will always vary, but here are a few choice examples of what is the best work by some of Hollywood’s best composers.
James Horner – Titanic
On a fateful June day in 2015, the unfortunate event occurred where composer James Horner lost his life when the aircraft he was piloting crashed. Fortunately, Horner had left behind an impressive body of work in the realm of soundtracks, which encompassed pieces like those for Aliens, Glory, Patriot Games, Braveheart, and other honored creations. Among these, his most renowned – for which he received an Academy Award – was undoubtedly Titanic.
Ramin Djawadi – Game Of Thrones
Right from the start of his professional journey, Ramin Djawadi was crafting grandiose scores. For instance, one of his earliest works was the score for the 2008 film, Iron Man. However, it was in 2011 when he truly excelled, composing both the theme song and score for Game Of Thrones. Few theme songs throughout history have been as epic, perfectly matching the grandeur of the show.
Bill Conti – Rocky
One of the most famous movie scores of all time has to be from Rocky. Admit it, you are singing it to yourself right now. Not only has it been used in many of the Rocky franchise movies, but it’s also been heard countless other times in other media. Nothing gets you psyched up quite like this great score by Bill Conti.
Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross – The Social Network
Trent Reznor, similar to other renowned film composers, initially made a name for himself in the rock ‘n’ roll scene. The band Nine Inch Nails achieved massive record sales before Reznor collaborated with Atticus Ross and ventured into film scoring. Notably, his debut (and arguably his finest, although all are exceptional) was on the movie The Social Network.
Ennio Morricone – The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly
Ennio Morricone is a composer who’s hard to match in terms of iconic status. Among his countless scores throughout his extensive career, the theme he created for “The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly” stands out particularly. While all his works are impressive, it’s this one that resonates not only because of its appearance in the film it was composed for, but also due to its reappearance in various other contexts we’ve encountered.
Henry Mancini – The Pink Panther
This was a tough one for me because Henry Mancini has a few bangers. The theme of the TV show Peter Gunn is one, and “Moon River” from Breakfast at Tiffany’s is another. When all is said and done though, it’s tough to argue that the theme to The Pink Panther isn’t the most iconic of all his wonder works.
John Carpenter – Halloween
John Carpenter didn’t just helm the iconic slasher movie “Halloween,” he also composed its chilling theme song, which has since become a timeless classic in its own right. Interestingly, he’s responsible for the music of most of his films, and while “Escape from New York” is another notable example, none have matched the cultural influence of “Halloween.
Elmer Bernstein – The Magnificent Seven
Few composers could craft an epic soundtrack as skillfully as Elmer Bernstein did. If you’re seeking a tune with a patriotic or triumphant feel, look no further than Bernstein. Whether it was a comedy like “Stripes,” a blockbuster like “The Great Escape,” or a Western such as the original “True Grit,” Bernstein had the versatility to excel in each genre. However, his most iconic work is arguably from one of the greatest Westerns ever made – “The Magnificent Seven” from 1960.
Hans Zimmer – Gladiator
Among the most renowned film composers of all time, Hans Zimmer stands out. Several of his works could be contenders for the top spot, but for me, there’s no debate – the score for “Gladiator” is unrivaled. The music aligns perfectly with every emotion the movie evokes.
John Williams – Star Wars
It can’t be denied that John Williams has a unique talent when it comes to creating moving, well-known, and iconic scores. Among his many masterpieces, one stands out as exceptional, even among the legendary compositions he has created. The Star Wars saga would lose its magic without its distinctive music, period.
Nino Rota – The Godfather
It’s not surprising that Francis Ford Coppola, inspired by the great Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini, would look to collaborate with Nino Rota, who composed many of Fellini’s iconic film scores. Although Rota’s work on numerous Italian films is renowned, his compositions for “The Godfather” and “The Godfather Part II” are arguably his most celebrated. These movies, which are widely regarded as among the greatest ever made, owe some of their acclaim to Rota’s exceptional music.
Max Steiner – Gone With The Wind
Being among the early prominent composers in Hollywood, Max Steiner was a contender for an astonishing 24 Oscars and took home three. Interestingly, the one he missed out on winning is now widely recognized as his most renowned, namely the soundtrack for Gone With The Wind.
Alan Silvestri – The Avengers
Among numerous options, my personal preference leans towards Alan Silvestri’s score from “Back To The Future” due to my Gen X nostalgia. While “Forrest Gump” and more contemporary work like “Ready Player One,” where he incorporated a nod to “Back To The Future” as one of its many Easter eggs, are commendable, the scores for some of the highest-grossing movies ever made, such as “The Avengers” films, take the lead in the ranking.
Wendy Carlos – The Shining
Despite having composed music for a relatively small number of films, avant-garde electronic artist Wendy Carlos has an unblemished track record, with “The Shining” being one of the three movies she’s worked on and my personal pick from among them.
Lalo Schifrin – Mission: Impossible
Lalo Schifrin, a composer from Argentina, is often referred to as Hollywood’s “most cool” musician due to his extensive work. His compositions for films like “Cool Hand Luke,” “Bullitt,” “Dirty Harry,” “Enter The Dragon,” and many more, have all helped shape this cool image. Moreover, his music has been widely sampled in hip-hop and trip-hop genres. Among his numerous award-winning scores, the theme for “Mission: Impossible” from the ’60s TV show stands out as it has permeated popular culture to such an extent that it’s now universally recognized.
Monty Norman – James Bond
John Berry is generally recognized for creating the music associated with James Bond movies, yet it was actually Monty Norman who initially composed the iconic theme. This groundbreaking melody was first heard in the film “Dr. No.” Although Berry later claimed credit for writing the theme that has been featured in every Bond movie since its debut, it was indeed Monty Norman who originally created it; Berry simply adapted it to fit subsequent films.
Howard Shore – The Lord of The Rings
Howard Shore initially made his mark in television, serving as the initial musical director for five seasons on ‘Saturday Night Live’. Subsequently, he transitioned to film scores, and although he’s produced many impressive ones, it was his work on the ‘Lord of the Rings’ series that garnered him three Academy Awards.
Thomas Newman – The Shawshank Redemption
Thomas Newman, a renowned composer, initially gained significant recognition in the film industry by collaborating with John Williams on the music for “Return Of The Jedi“. This collaboration undoubtedly provided him with valuable insights, leading to his continued popularity as a highly sought-after composer in Hollywood. One of his outstanding achievements is the poignant score for “The Shawshank Redemption“, which significantly contributes to the movie’s status as one of the most acclaimed films from the ’90s.
Morton Stevens – Hawaii Five-0
In the late 1960s, among the most trendy television series was Hawaii Five-0, a distinction largely earned through its incredibly stylish opening sequence and theme tune composed by Morton Stevens.
Mike Post – Law & Order
Hey there fellow gamer! Can’t deny it, I’ve got the classic “Law & Order” tune stuck in my head right now. We all do, no shame there. That iconic theme song was penned by none other than Mike Post, a legend who’s also responsible for some of the most recognizable themes like those from “Hill Street Blues”, “Magnum, P.I.”, and “LA Law”. But let’s face it, when it comes to unforgettable themes, this one takes the cake… or should I say gavel?
Danny Elfman – The Simpsons
Choosing one Danny Elfman score is quite challenging because each one is remarkable in its own way. However, when it comes to iconic TV themes, the choice becomes clear – The Simpsons theme song takes the lead. While his scores for Batman or Pee Wee’s Big Adventure are undeniably impressive, the connection with The Simpsons is simply unbeatable.
Bernard Herrmann – Psycho
If a piece like the score for “Citizen Kane” appears on your resume, but it’s not your most noted achievement, it indicates that you are indeed on the right track. Bernard Herrmann, a renowned figure in Hollywood’s Golden Era, built a remarkable collaboration history with some of the era’s top directors, particularly Alfred Hitchcock. Among his many notable works, the score for “Psycho” stands out as one of the most enduringly iconic ever incorporated into film.
Harold Faltermeyer – Top Gun
Ultimately, I had to pick between two iconic tunes: “Axel F,” the theme song from “Beverly Hills Cop,” and the opening theme of “Top Gun.” In the end, the powerful guitars and intense rhythm of “Top Gun” emerged as my preferred selection, credited to the talented Harold Faltermeyer. His score for “Fletch” is equally noteworthy.
Alfred Newman – How The West Was Won
To clarify, it’s important to note that Alfred Newman’s most recognizable composition is undeniably the theme played at the start of every 20th Century Fox film. Beyond this well-known fact, his second most celebrated work is arguably the soundtrack for How The West Was Won, a score that has been frequently referenced in popular culture for many years.
Maurice Jarre – Lawrence Of Arabia
Maurice Jarre’s most famous works probably depend on what generation is making the choice. Over his incredible career, which stretched out over five decades, he wrote the scores to movies as diverse as Doctor Zhivago, Ghost, and Dead Poet’s Society. However, his score for Lawrence of Arabia is the choice here, for obvious reasons. It’s as epic as the movie is.
Anne Dudley – The Full Monty
It’s undeniable that the world needs more music compositions from female artists, and Anne Dudley certainly makes a strong case for this. Her work, spanning from American History X to The Crying Game, has consistently been exceptional. Moreover, she is one of the rare women to have received an Oscar for her compositions, which was for The Full Monty in 1997.
Alexander Courage – Star Trek
Alexander Courage may not be a household name, but he’s the mastermind behind one of the most iconic and frequently played theme songs ever created. Courage, with various television and film compositions under his belt, was the one who crafted the theme song for the original Star Trek series in the 1960s. His composition has been adopted, to some extent, for almost all Star Trek movies and TV shows that followed.
James Newton Howard – The Hunger Games
In a more conversational style: James Newton Howard composed the movie score for David Lynch’s cult classic adaptation of “Dune” for his very first time. Since then, he’s penned numerous scores, but I must admit, I particularly enjoy his work on the “Hunger Games” series. With such a varied storyline, the music needed to be versatile, and it certainly delivers in every aspect.
Randy Newman – Toy Story
Everyone recognizes Randy Newman as a friend, although he initially gained recognition for his sarcastic singer-songwriter work during the 1970s. However, for a large number of people, he is primarily recognized for his contributions to the Toy Story series, such as the song “You’ve Got A Friend In Me” and the scores.
Quincy Jones – Sanford & Son
Quincy Jones is first and foremost known for his incredible music production for the likes of Michael Jackson and other pop stars in the ’70s and ’80s. But did you know he also wrote the theme song to Sanford & Son? It’s an all-time banger of a theme song that people still love to listen to 50 years after the show debuted.
A. R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire
When it comes to A. R. Rahman, who is highly acclaimed in India but not as recognized in the Western world, I find myself drawn to his works from Hollywood instead of those more cherished in his native country. The decision boils down to two options: the score for “Slumdog Millionaire” or that for “127 Hours.” Although “127 Hours” was nominated for an Oscar, “Slumdog Millionaire” ended up winning one, adding to the numerous Oscars it received that year.
Rachel Portman – Theme To Chocolat
In 1996, Rachel Portman made history as the first woman to receive an Oscar for Best Score for the film “Emma”. However, her most remarkable work was in 2000 with the score for “Chocolat”, starring Johnny Depp. Regrettably, she didn’t win that year, as the award went to composer Tan Dun for his work in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-10-22 23:37