The 40 Best Movie Soundtracks of All-Time (The Top 10)

Top Video game Soundtracks
Top Movie Soundtracks Part 1

This is a continuation of my list, as I am revealing my top 10 picks for the best movie soundtracks in the history of cinema. Enjoy!!!

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10) Toy Story
Standout Song: You've Got a Friend in Me
Randy Newman had been in the business for a very long time before striking eternal gold here. This soundtrack propelled the Pixar flick into new heights, as "You've Got a Friend" basically became the modern-day "Wish Upon a Star," that one song that defines, represents, and transports you to Disney. But it wasn't just the opening track that makes this soundtrack a masterpiece; there's the sad "I Will go Sailing No More" and the upbeat "Strange Things" to help propel this gem into a bonafide Disney staple. But none of these songs compare to the music playing when Buzz and Woody are "falling with style" towards the end of the movie.




9) For a Few Dollars More
Standout Song: Title Theme
Ennio Morricone had been around for a while before creating this masterpiece. Unlike most movies, when the music seems like was added post-production, it seems like this movie was created first and the filming went along with what they were listening (Which I believe became the strategy for later Morricone/Leone collaborations). Unlike the music of today, Ennio never used a heavy orchestra or a complicated set of instruments; he used a catchy whistling tune, a few Western sound effects, other miscellaneous instruments, and a Fender guitar. Yes folks, a Fender guitar. His music isn't used too much in the movie, but when you hear it, you'll become instantly hooked.



8) Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Standout Song: Jack Sparrow Suite
Of all the blockbuster films in recent memory, the music of the Pirates films stands out as the most memorable. When you can hum some of its music long after you saw the movie, you know the music is good. Now, while the music of the original movie was very good, its all about Hans Zimmer stepping in, improving to what was already there, taking cues from Ennio Morricone, and adding more variety. What we have now is a full-on orchestra as well as pipe organs and music boxes being used to compose songs. And who better to create a rousing number during a three-way sword fight (that eventually explodes into a massive action sequence involving unkillable pirates, a massive monster, and a very disgruntled captain) than Hans Zimmer? Of all the blockbuster soundtracks in recent years, this one stands out very far from the rest as the ultimate musical package.



7) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
Standout Song: Imperial March
Contrary to popular belief, the famous theme heard when Darth Vader shows up was not introduced in the original Star Wars, but actually in this one. That song alone places this movie high on the list. Now add the Battle of Hoth, the eerie music during the final battle, and the music that blasts when Han Solo becomes (Spoiler alert?) frozen solid. All of the great Star Wars themes from the original came back, and with some added material. John Williams did not just cut-and-paste, he created yet another amazingly epic assortment of music that will stand the test of time.



6) Beauty and the Beast
Standout Song: Be Our Guest
This was Disney Renaissance's defining moment. This animated film forever killed the notion that animated films were just for kids and kids-at-heart. This movie was very mature in its presentation, its delivery, and its music. From the great opening number lightly setting the tone to the hilarious "Gaston," to the charming "Something There" and "Beauty and the Beast" to the instant classic showstopper "Be Our Guest." Every song in this movie is wonderful, and the musical score that links the songs is just as impressive. And then there's the final five minutes, the famous "Transformation" scene (by Alan Menken).....very moving indeed. While Disney had always been in the frontrunning for best musicals in the history of film, Beauty and the Beast hit a level of quality that Disney animation before and since has rarely ever reached...and the same can be said for its soundtrack.




5) Psycho
Standout Song: Title Theme
The music here is so high on the list for one main reason: it literally scared people out of the theater. Any sort of soundtrack in which it invokes such emotion that you cannot get past the opening credits deserves the utmost praise. Bernard Hermann, a very underrated composer, was at the peak of his game by invoking a very scary sound to a scary movie. While the horror elements of Psycho didn't actually begin until halfway, the tension was quickly built with just the opening credits alone---and that is all thanks to the frightening sounds of the strings. And of course, I didn't even mention the eternally recognizable music that screams during the shower murder scene. That remains the scariest music ever composed. The entire soundtrack is scary, suspenseful, and totally rips at your soul.



4) Up
Standout Song: Married Life
There will be complaints about scoring this movie so high, but the fact remains that this music is among the best I've ever listened to. While it is not complex, it tugs at the heartstrings and doesn't let go. The music here is just as impressive as the best of classical music. Michael Giacchino has been composing excellent music for years (See: Lost) but went with a simpler approach with Up, and the result was fantastic. Up consisted of two main themes, playing constantly throughout the movie, and when the climax approaches, the musical themes literally blend together and clash. This kind of detail into music just isn't done enough, as most composers just tack on a score without truly studying the subject material. That is what separates good composers from bad composers, and what ultimately separates excellent music like Up from your typical soundtrack.



3) Pulp Fiction
Standout Song: Comanche
Very rarely will a soundtrack revive a dead (not dying, which eliminates Saturday Night Fever) genre of music and throw it into the mainstream for years upon years to come. Very rarely will you see a soundtrack flawlessly and perfectly fit the raw style and content in the movie. Very rarely will you see a soundtrack that is just too bad-ass for its own good. Take a lot of underrated and superb surf rock, mix it with some forgotten 70s hits, and top it off with some great covers of classic tunes, and you have yourselves the greatest collection of music ever constructed for a film. Where do I begin? Comanche? Jungle Boogie? Son of a Preacher Man? Bustin' Surfboards? Bullwinkle pt. II? Miserlou? The soundtrack here has it all, and succeeds on every level imaginable.



2) The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Standout Song: Opening Theme
You know the opening theme. Everybody knows the opening theme. Decades from now everyone will know the theme. This is the song that propelled Morricone, Leone, and Eastwood into new successful heights. While the movie was indeed epic from beginning to end, it was the soundtrack that made the film larger than life. Ennio Morricone went the whole nine yards by using great guitar work, great vocals, a great whistling tune, and excellent use of strings, excellent use of sound effects, and just an overall grand scale that has yet to be met by any movie (except for my #1 pick of course). Each of the three main characters have their own themes, and they were all excellent. But its towards the climax where the soundtrack really kicks into high gear. Whether its "The Ecstacy of Gold," "The Trio," or the final song leading into the credits, Morricone's music intensified the western, maximized the tension, and raised the bar for movie soundtracks to come. It doesn't get better than this....unless we are talking about....

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1) Star Wars: A New Hope
Standout Tracks:
Main Theme
Cantina Song
Battle Theme
Death Star Theme
Battle of Yavin
Throne Room and End Title

I honestly don't know what other soundtrack can be on top of this list. I am more than accepting of other people's opinions, but there is absolutely no convincing me that another movie has better music than the original Star Wars. There is no way you can possibly find a movie with a better opening, better battle theme, better climactic song, and better ending song than Star Wars. Does not exist, has not exist, and quite possibly for the longest time will not exist. John Williams was at his absolute best here, as he brought out all his tricks (and subtle references to 20th century classical music and music of earlier films) and developed music that will stand the test of time just as well as the best of Mozart, Beethoven, and Bach.

From the magnificent opening on, John Williams propelled Star Wars from a fantastic sci-fi flick into a downright guaranteed masterpiece that will influence the way movies are produced and musically scored. Few soundtracks tie as close together to the film as John Williams' score hugging the movie like mother and son. If you can find me a movie with convincingly better music than Star Wars then I will quit writing forever and always. Until then, Star Wars is #1, and second place isn't even close.

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So, what are your favorite soundtracks? And is there one that I obviously missed? Comment back, I'd love to hear from you all.

Special Thanks to: YouTube and all the uploaders of this wonderful music.