Top 10 Film Scores of All Time
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 29 พ.ค. 2024
- Our most requested Movie List to date, it's time to take a look at the best original scores ever. From setting the mood, to upping the tension, to telling the entire story, a good score can do a lot. So here are 10 of the best!
The Picks
10 - Mood - Elevator to the Gallows
9 - Tone - The Godfather
8 - An Idea - Dunkirk
7 - Psychological Manipulation - Psycho
6 - Scope - Ben Hur
5 - Conflict - Alexander Nevsky
4 - Tension - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
3 - Subtext - There Will Be Blood
2 - Theme pt 1 - The Empire Strikes Back
1 - Theme pt 2 - The Sea Hawk
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I think Howard Shore’s score for the Lord of the Rings trilogy is the most immersive, beautiful score I’ve ever heard. It crosses the boundary between the image and the music, in a sense that Middle-Earth could not exist without his work, it is shaped by it, brought to life. It is not just music, it’s something else, an experience.
I really like the fly.
I think I like it more than LOTR, I guess cause I can't really listen to LOTR, it is too overplayed to me
Yes it is very fitting to its movie
You are literally the reason I came to this video.
I don't think so. I KNOW SO!
Like Mike Tyson once said:
IT FITS on the movie
The Good the Bad and the Ugly is an incredible score, and portrays the western genre. But Ennio Morricone is a true genius
A lot of people accuse Morricone of ripping himself off repeatedly, but name me a composer who HASN'T done that. And as iconic as TGTBATU is as one of his touchstone scores, has anyone ever composed music for a period-piece gangster film better than his score for THE UNTOUCHABLES?
You mean An Ecstasy of Gold
The Mission is a masterpiece
Maestro Morricone
Man with a harmonica....love it! Clint Mansell who used to be in the band P.W.E.I. has done great stuff since he moved to Hollywood from the U.K. Requiem for a dream & movies like that. He has also done more stuff of course. I love it. I also love Neil Youngs OST for the movie Dead Man by Jim Jarmusch. Just Young & his guitar. OST's are great man.
Ennio Morricone was literally a genius, his scores are timeless
Morricone truly captures the true impact of Henry Fonda's character in "Once Upon a Time in the West," more than in anything else he did. You end up feeling so bad for Claudia Cardinale's character, you almost want to crawl into the screen and shoot the guy yourself.
But one conductor being overlooked is Fred Karlin. The man had a bouncy, retro-renaissance score for "Up the Down Staircase," that everybody tried to copy, including Karlin himself. After "The Sterile Cuckoo" and "Westworld," you wouldn't even believe it was the same conductor.
I watched the man with no name trilogy for the first time last month, and I love the score to A Fistful of Dollars. The whistling is so great. Also the random percussion instruments, like the crack of a belt and the bells.
And he got so overlooked for one of the scariest horror scores ever, John Carpenter's "The Thing". That quiet little heartbeat under everything.... and then, and the very end of the film, *just* when you're *supposed* to get resolution (damn you for a genius, Carpenter!), up it starts again....
Cinema Paradiso.
@@DTD110865 Loved Yul Brynner
As a composer , I just can’t get mY mind around how perfect the lord of the rings’s score is, because each tune is perfect for each ovation, the shire wouldn’t be the shire without the classic flute theme, the hope building winds in the pre helms deep battle sequence and before Gandalf arrives, and probably my favorite, when Sam is in osgiliath telling the stories that really matter, each composition is perfect for each moment. Howard shore is a genius
Big facts
💯x💯
I agree, I was sad when it didn’t get a spot here, at least it was mentioned.
@@joshuawhitaker2913 but to think that literally dozens of movies are mentioned,it doesn't not do lotr justice remotely.
Lord of The Rings score 👌👌👌
Can we all pause for a moment to appreciate the awesomeness of this channel? We're all used to compilations of short, rapid clips--we see that constantly online--but to take dozens of pieces of music and combine bits of them into a 20-minute essay is a huge task. To then have that new collage not only make sense but sound wonderful--complementing and appreciating every single part--is a serious wonder to behold. Most medleys sound awful, but this ode to music (see what I did there?) is a treat for the ears as well as a joy for the curious mind. Man, I just really love this channel, but this may be the best video they've ever made, because the quality of the clips and commentary is actually exceeded by the phenomenal achievement of the music editing. What a masterpiece. Thank you, Cinefix, thank you.
Gently Hew Stone best comment
Agreed! I love this channel. I don't always agree, but I appreciate the passion and time committed.
Amen!
Gently Hew Stone I know right!? I am shivering at its awesomeness.
Ironically after this video they started uploading IGN shit....
I must say, interstellar's theme is one of the best film scores ever made. The music strikes the viewer with the amazing sense of infinite space.
100% agree
Yes Stay is probably the best created music pieces in the 2010's.
@@SyedSaifAbbasNaqvi and inception's time, also made by hans zimmer.
It's the theme from Koyaanisqatsi by Philip Glass..
Boy am I glad to see I'm not the only one. I'm not even that much of a Zimmer fan, and that score is unbeatable.
For my money, "Lord of the Rings" is the finest score ever, hands down. Not to diminish anything else, but LOTR's soundtrack is filled with leitmotifs and beauty and fury that are without peer.
except in Star Wars
Facts
hell yeah
Except for Star Wars, Superman, Jurassic parc and jaws
@@astukokiotili5496 Eh start wars makes a bit sense but not the others lotr is much better. In fact I think its one of the best
My favorite score is Ennio Morricone's one for Once Upon a Time in America, I can never stop listening to it. I'm glad you mentioned it here.
You are 100% correct!
It's incedibly evocative.
It stayed with me for years!
I got chills throughout the entirety of the John Williams section. Truly a legend.
Same here. The power of an awesome theme!
And now imagine seeing Star Wars for the first time in cinema (Star Wars 7). As the main theme hitted the audience, I just got emotionally overwhelmed. Was worth it just for that.
@@LeonardGMN being a star wars fan all my life, I was hyped to see the trailer for ep. 7. It was the first sw film to be released in my lifetime (unless you count that 2008 clone wars film) and after rewatching the trailers hundreds of times, hearing the music as the star wars logo blasts into frame completely overwhelmed me
Star Wars is so ingrained into my DNA that I often forget how absurd it is that a human being composed all of its absurdly iconic themes.
You could play that theme to just about anyone on planet Earth and they would yell...STAR WARS!
Good list. But in my opinion you didn't give Howard Shore enough credit. The score for the LOTR trilogy it's something that i haven't experience since then. The fellowship of the rings has literally everything you want for an epic fantasy movie. The intro theme, The Hobbiton theme, The mines of moria+the bridge of Khazadum (i got goosebumps even writing) the nazgul theme, in the two towers you have that beautiful yet so sad theme for Rohan, the theme for the Ents, in The return of the king there´s that freaking epic theme for Minas Tirith or the final charge of the Rohirrim and so on.
Well, that's just my opinion xD
TO DEAAAAAATH!!!!
*cue epic Rohirrim charge*
In terms of recent movies about epicness and setting, especially in fantasy, LOTR always comes on top. But people tend to ignore older ones. But i think that in the category Cinefix proposed LOTR trumps Ben Hur.
Sharon Metro yes! I totally understand you, I'm always whistling the Rohan theme and others from this amazing ost.
Tlot Pwist ride! Ride to ruin! And the world's ending! Death! Death! DEATH!!!
FORTH, EORLINGAS!!!
Sharon Metro I read TLOTR for the first time back in '95. I fell in love with the work of professor Tolkien since then. And when I saw the first trailer for fellowship I cried. Fast forward until the premier and I heard the hobbits theme and immediately started to cry again. It was in that moment I thought to myself "they fucking did it". I love the books and the movies with all my heart and I will keep coming back to them until the day I die.
Any given tune from the LOTR soundtrack may not be as widely recognized as those from Star Wars, but, IMO, as a whole it accomplishes much more with its diversity and how it has different associations with each race and even in different realms within the same race (Rohan and Gondor, for example). The instrumentation and style between the 5/4, rhythmic and austere Uruk-hai theme and the melodic, familiar and full theme of that of the Shire are SO different its nuts.
I am biased though because they are my favorite movies lmao
Let’s be honest, John Williams could have his own list 😂
@Perhaps there should be "Top 10 best non-John Williams film scores". :p
He could have this whole list only full of his music and it would have been arguable.
No lol, some of Hans Zimmer and Morricone scores are definitely better than most John Williams scores
@@ericyoung1478 As funny as this is, It'd be like what about this movie... Oh John scored it too, How about... Oh he scored it too, Well this one movie called... Never mind this isn't fair
Jokes aside I believe that after Star Wars the best scored films are with no dbout LoTR trilogy, Although as the same case with Star Wars hate the prequals but their music slaps!!!
Yep
I watched “There Will Be Blood” for the first time a while ago and the score really stuck with me. Very glad to see it here
Rabid Squirrel agree 100%. Jonny Greenwood has already, in short time, made several superb scores. The Master, You were never really here and last year’s Oscar nominated Phantom Thread were inextricably linked to the greatness of the films themselves.
And Now da homie Thom will be composing the music for his first film, Suspiria..
VB MUTT that’s great news
Our fucking boys!!!! Thom's will have the electronic dread that will fuck us up.
The Ecstasy of Gold is the finest piece of music ever written for the screen.
Chadwick Worthingham Agreed!
I heard the music yesterday on a women's clothing commercial. I almost threw up
“The trio” is slightly better
Agree
Agreed. Brilliant composition and absolutely perfect for setting the mood/tone of the movie....one of the best films ever made, BTW.
One of my favorite parts of the Godfather score is how it incorporates traditional Italian folk music within the main theme. It's such a great nod to the sense tradition and family that are so central to the story.
I've been waiting for this list for so long! Thank you so much for finally making the step into the music world! I totally get why you were worried about it, music's complicated even if you know what you're listening for. But I love this list, thanks for posting!
Watched the DR koncerthuset performance of the entire godfather theme and just fell in love with it especially the mandolin.
Really made me watch the movie and honestly its really really good.Part 2 was the best one for me
Ennio Morricone's score for Cinema Paradiso is stunning. Put that together with the final scene, which I believe is the best slice of film, and it's just heartbreaking. No dialogue but I ugly cry every time it's so powerful.
Yes! I think it's Ennio's crowing achievement, though perhaps not as well known as some of his others. Absolutely a masterpiece- throughout the whole film. And one of the most incredible endings ever. I too, cry helplessly like a baby. And I'm a 65-year-old guy!
Watching the late Jacques Perrin watching Alfredo's priceless collection of splices, never fails to make me tear up.
I love Cinefix. They are easily in my top 5 favorite film related TH-cam channels. But I every time I watch one of there videos I feel overwhelmed. They hit you with so many recommendations it’s impossible to keep up. I have to take notes every time they name drop a word next to an enticing adjective. Just for this video I had to pause it every 10 seconds to open Spotify and search for the soundtrack in question.
That's a good problem to have!
Lee R: I don't know if I am too late to inform you that they do have a link in description for a Spotify list with all the scores they mentioned. It could save you the time for making a list of your own.
Miika Hakalahti oh I did not see that. That’s fantastic. But in general, it’s always difficult to keep up. I wish they could put a link that would add all the movies to my amazon wishlist or my Netflix queue
Lee R, same here, it *can* be overwhelming.
But I've never regretted watching a film due to a CineFix recommendation!
What are the other four?
anything ennio morricone has ever written.
For people who are knew to this please check out . Cinema Paradiso ending theme , Once upon a Time in America theme , OUAT in West theme too. Of course fistful of dollars , few more dollars , good bad and ugly soundtracks too.
And don't forget "The Mission."
Hateful eight soundtrack is also great!
My favourite OST is still The Legend of 1900.
I assume that means that you've heard Mondo Morricone from beginning to end.
Bernard Herrmann’s score for Taxi Driver is SO good.
Yes that is best
And yes there are so many Good music
SO there no best
Slept on like hell
And it was his last. He continued to improve with age right up to the end.
Um, Bernard Herrmann is SO good.
Once upon a time in the West is the best score ever. Very complicated with different music for the 5 Main characters and build Up for every scene to set the mood. Also incorporating the sounds of the environment in the score. A fly trapped or a gun shot or a squicky sign All fit perfectly together.
Agree completely.
This one is my number one. The most hauntingly beautiful main theme ever. And the whole OST is great, I love how each character has their own theme.
The score at the duel and flashback is my favorite of any movie
My favorite score when it comes to scope is Howard Shore's LOTR score
I disagree. Certainly when listening to it without the movie playing. Individual tracks gives setting, epicness, presence, some scope. not overall. Ben Hur does.
Howard Shore's score for LOTR deserves a top 5 place of overall score for me. But among any original score ever made THE best? That's too much. Sea Hawk wouldn't even get top 50 for me.
And categories of tone, gut feeling LOTR hasn't got any of those. Certainly not the mind thing they chose Dunkirk for. But hey, hardly ANY score does all of the categories. I certainly can't think of any.
@@embran8486 th-cam.com/video/e7BkmF8CJpQ/w-d-xo.html watch nerd writers take on LOTR shore I pretty much agree
I'm a little saddened by no mention of the work of Joe Hisaishi on the Hayao Miyazaki films.
Agreed, and also the works of Vangelis and Basil Poledouris not being picks, they really set the mood for the films (plus incredible orchestration by the latter).
Joe Hisaishi's music is so under-appreciated.
I was thinking the same thing. And spirited away's score is pretty well known, so I'm surprised
Yes. I saw Kiki for the first time a couple of days ago and I was thinking about the music all the way through.
I was gonna make this comment and thought no one would notice it but glad you did and I'm relived to see how many people reacted to it.
A massive oversight, yeah. Mononoke, Spirited Away, Totoro, Nausicaa, Princess Kaguya. All fantastic scores. I've probably forgotten quite a few too.
"The Good, The Bad & The Ugly" is my all time favourite score.
1982's Conan The Barbarian score by Basil Poledouris has a lot of beauty and sadness, but also a huge amount of violence and badassery!
Amazing score.. 1 of my tops
Was looking for this comment. Massively underrated soundtrack, one of my top 10 for sure. Everyone knows about Star Wars, LOTR, Hans Zimmer even Ennio Morricone but Basil Poledouris made a masterpiece with that soundtrack that few know anything about.
The opening line of the movie is one of the best ever!
Spirited Away
Schindler’s List
Interstellar
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
Road to Perdition
American Beauty
All have the greatest soundtracks I’ve ever heard.
Apocalypse now???
im back, not Headhunterx1 Apocalypse Now is without a doubt one of the best films of all time! But I’ve never found myself falling head over heels in love with the score, like I have with this list.
Ahhh American beauty! Thomas Newman is my favourite for setting the mood. Define Dancing just. Sounds like fuckimg dancing. No visuals needed
@@alioc3298 American Beauty is such a beautiful film. Sam Mendes is amazing.
Spirited away is just an incredible soundtrack
Knowing John Williams and Hans Zimmer would be here, I’m really happy that Korngold and Projofiev made the list, as well as mentioning Wagner and Richard Strauss’ writing styles. It really shows that Cinefix has or at least presents a more extensive knowledge instead of just what’s popular. These guys win.
Not even a mention of Howard Shores masterpiece of a score from The Silence of the Lambs. His score from this movie fit so perfectly you almost didn’t notice it, which was the point. But aside from being ominous and creepy, his score from this movie was so beautiful.
Great selections all. It's a difficult task when Morricone's scores for "For a Few Dollars More," "Good, the Bad and the Ugly," "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "Once Upon a Time in America" are all among the best scores ever written. As for John Williams, his main themes for "Superman" still give chills after 40 years.
John Williams’ score for “Superman” was the first movie that made me aware of how music helps tell stories: Right after I saw the movie, I started habitually whistling the main theme, and also whistling the music from key dramatic moments and leitmotifs before I had any idea what a leitmotif was. Then, Williams’ score for “Empire Strikes Back” did all that for me again.
Interstellar's score was one of Zimmer's best
Also tdk,rush,inception and way more
What a fucking genius
The whole score for that movie and the movie is pure genius. My favorites are “Cornfield Chase” and “Mountains.” But the scene on the water planet and the waves (“Mountains”) still gives me chills to this day. And then when they got back to the ship it had been 23 years. Lawd have mercy. I might just watch it tonight
tell that to Philip Glass
Ilia Tilev Philip Glass? Not familiar with him
@@MrTaylorIII listen to Philip Glass - Koyaanisqatsi..
I'm sure Zimmer heard of him 😜
Ennio's "The good, the bad and the ugly" is truly a masterpeace. You have to watch the music in it's various pieces, that match together, simply search for danish orchestra.
I miss the Bond theme. Even the music of all Bond movies is so different, when you here it, you know it's Bond: "Goldfinger", "Live and let die", "Skyfall" or even "Die another day". They all have Bond in common but can stand for it's own.
I was searching for this type of comment. The BGM of The Good the bad and the ugly is truly a masterpiece
The Danish National Symphony Orchestra is the best, they really replicate with minutest details.
I might be on my own but I think the score for for a few dollars more is even better than The GBU and the whole film just seems more whole
I think that the chord progression should be used in every tune :D
I rather think that Magnificent Seven is better than the excellent GBU
Maybe it's because I'm younger than the Star Wars and Jurassic Park movies (I'm 27) but, Hans Zimmer's scores are the most moving pieces of work I've ever come across. I literally cry listening to them at times.
Danny Elfman has created some of the most iconic compositions imo.
Batman is one of my favorites!
@@akeithing1841 absolutely!
Og Spider-Man>>>
10 scores impossible to ignore:
Star Wars // The Lord of the Rings // Vertigo // Inception // The Good the Bad and the Ugly // Lawrence of Arabia // Requiem for a Dream // Paris, Texas // The Last of the Mohicans // Psycho
Paris,Texas' cinematography with its music gives me a cinematic orgasm
Harrison Clark You forgot 2001 a space odyssey.
Harrison Clark Blade Runner?
CONAN!
Interstellar
As much as I love these scores, those with electronic elements do not get enough credit. It took The Social Network to break that, but Cliff Martinez’ works (particularly Drive and The Neon Demon) are also stunning accompaniments to Refn’s films.
Cliff Martinez’ score for Solaris is also incredible.
How do you feel about Steve Moore's score The Guest?
nofreebeer The Guest has many of the retro techno elements that Martinez used in The Neon Demon, and both are heavily influenced by the great Giorgio Moroder. Listen to, for example, the theme song from Midnight Express (1977) for more on this. Thx for your comment.
Teen Prez Agree on Solaris. First sleep from the Solaris score is a favorite of many, including Trentemoller, Denmark’s greatest music import imho. Martinez closest score to Solaris is My Life: Pan to Me, Breaking the Waves and Fireworks Went off have similar tonal elements.
The Guest score is fantastic, but that movie also makes really great use of sourced music. Both really make the atmosphere of the film for me!
Elmer Bernstein for "To Kill A Mockingbird" and Vangelis for "Blade Runner".
I'm pretty late, but I think John Powell's score for How to Train Your Dragon is pretty up there.
If the "Supermarine" theme in dunkirk doesn't give you anxiety then you're doing it wrong
Phạm Chung Hiếu doing it horribly horribly wrong...
For the it's The Tide. That track is a sonic portrait of futility and defeat. Very effective!
I wish I could do anxiety wrong. Apparently I'm highly proficient at it.
people always say that Dunkirk was a terrible movie and that it has no real soundtrack. i see imdb reviews that say “it’s just a bunch of random clock noises and loud notes that tried too hard to be suspenseful” like i don’t understand how someone can be so out of touch with reality
I think „the Oil” is the most uneasy
fantastic example, excites the audience and heaps on the anxiety. Hans Zimmer is a master at creating tense pieces. There is a name for the specific technique he uses that I can't remember
While every composer mentioned on this list is certainly praise worthy, I must admit dissapointment that Joe Hisaishi and his incredibile scores for Hayao Miyazaki/Studio Ghibli films didn't get even an honorary mention.
Looking at the Spotify playlist, it seems Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon was the only Asian film score even mentioned in the video.
*YES! My absolute favorite score of his and my all-time favorite score is Princess Mononoke. =D*
They might do a vid on music in animated films. Those seem distinct enough for a list all on its own
very good point
Don’t forget his phenomenal work with Takeshi Kitano
It almost hurts not to see Hermann's "Vertigo" in the top 3, but well... great list and even a greater, enjoyable video. Thank you.
Love the recognition for Ben Hur. Absolute definition of the word epic. Hollywood can't dream of making a movie of that scope today
Hanz Zimmer can take simple musical elements and by layering it can _make a complex yet equally brilliant masterpiece._
And do it the same way movie after movie.
hans zimmer is not writing his own music himself
You know how long I’ve been waiting for this list?
No
Elmer Bernstein's score for The Magnificent Seven is immortal. As for Ennio Morricone, a list of his masterpieces goes way beyond western music, remember the fabulous scores for The Mission and Le Professionnel.
Bernstein's Magnificent Seven is so well known by so many people that many of them are probably unaware it comes from a movie.
I’m so appreciative you have Korngold’s score for The Sea Hawk (1940) at number one - this has been a personal Top 10 film for me since my childhood - it was my father’s favourite film of all time
I just love this film and the score has always been a personal favourite of mine
The whole film is EPIC with a very underrated performance by Flynn - at the top of his game here
The thematic underpinning of this film - of not appeasing tyranny but standing up to it - is as relevant now as it was in 1940 when Britain still stood alone against Hitler’s attempted conquest of the world
I LOVE The Sea Hawk, film and score!
Best film score ever.
I feel like Harry Potter's Hedgwig's Theme is actually underrated. It's such a great part of the series that you wouldn't believe the books were written without them, and it sets the tone
beyond perfectly.
act95 Agreed!
Yes!!!
@@caseywlamb8066
The first three were Williams even if the second was a rehash of the first but the other three suffered by the loss of Williams, though would have been better even with another rehash of Williams. He is not my favorite film composer but those moves needed more of him.
Man, there are so many great ones--these are my faves:
Vangelis-- Chariots of Fire
Ennio Morricone--The Mission (that oboe!!)
James Horner--Field of Dreams
Bill Conti--Rocky
Alan Silvestri--Forrest Gump
John Williams--Schindler's List
Thomas Newman--Shawshank Redemption, Road to Perdition
Hans Zimmer--Inception, Interstellar
Elmer Bernstein--Magnificent Seven, Age of Innocence,
Randy Newman--The Natural
Nino Rota--Romeo and Juliet
Tan Dun--Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Howard Shore--The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Pippin's song alone, right?)
James Horner--Legends of the Fall
Bruce Rowland--Man From Snowy River
Ennio Morricone--Cinema Paradiso
Ernest Gold--Exodus
Dave Grusin--On Golden Pond, The Firm
Michael Nyman--The Piano
John Barry--Somewhere in Time
John Williams/Enya --Far and Away
Maurice Jarre--The Year of Living Dangerously
Jerry Goldsmith--Hoosiers
Bernard Hermann--North by Northwest
Max Steiner--Casablanca
James Newton Howard--The Fugitive
Michael Kamen--Mr. Holland's Opus, Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Highlander
Trevor Jones--The Last of the Mohicans, Cliffhanger, Mississippi Burning, Dark City, Notting Hill
Angelo Badalamenti--Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks (amazing work)
Jan A.P. Kaczmarek--Finding Neverland, Hachi: A Dog's Tale
I think these are the best, personally. There are so many great ones, though.
I'm glad you included Michael Nyman. I love his score for Gattaca.
Ennio Morricone did an amazing score for The Thing ('82).
How about the chap with a Greek name(I think he is now dead) who did the scores for the Conan the Barbarian movies -I was really impressed by the soundtrack of the first Conan movie.
Basil polidoris
You totally miss Basil Poledouris - Conan.
10 - Mood - Elevator to the Gallows
9 - Tone - Eliot Goldenthal "Alien 3"
8 - An Idea - Alexandre Desplat "Birth"
7 - Psychological Manipulation - John Williams "ET"
6 - Scope - James Newton Howard "King Kong"
5 - Conflict - Ennio Morricone " The Thing"
4 - Tension - Eliot Goldenthal "Heat"
3 - Subtext - Alexandre Desplat "The Painted Veil"
2 - Theme pt 1 - James Newton Howard "The Village"
1 - Theme pt 2 - Jerry Goldsmith "Chinatown"
You guys really put the time and effort into things like this to do it right; I always learn about things from your lists, which is why they are worth watching. THANK YOU!!
The scores for Studio Ghibli films also have such good musical tone to them
One of my favorites is Town with an Ocean View from Kiki
I can listen to hisaishi’s music all day
I dare anyone to watch Howl's Moving Castle and not be swooning at the score by the end, especially how it helps bring the exquisitely crafted landscapes and characters to life.
Those films have incredible music
Absolutely
Now, CineFix...What about Film Editors?
th-cam.com/video/bQtkbQkURCI/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/f78muH3MG7M/w-d-xo.html
Why Editors? I know they made Influential Directors as well but I think it would be weird to make another list where they rank people instead of movies
@@Coolbillion well editing has a huge role in movies.
kaiser der variante I didn‘t say otherwise
@@Coolbillion you seemingly implied that it doesn't matter who's the editor of a movie but that's just me. Let us not forget that star wars wouldn't be a classic if it weren't for the huge editing done before its release.
What a lovely and compelling essay with great picks! I was very pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of Alexander Nevsky, though I have to admit I feel the LOTR score deserved some more credit. I would also like to point anyone who enjoys a great movie score to the lesser-known works of Taro Iwashiro for the incredible Red Cliff and Krzesimir Debski for the Polish epic With Fire and Sword.
I LOVE that they recognized Korngold and the Sea Hawk as number one. Love that score! I don’t feel so bad about inflicting it on my different girlfriends over the years! He defined the exciting adventure movie sound. There would be no Star Wars without Korngold. Most scores are a photocopy of a photocopy of better scores like this and people don’t even realize. Cudos Cinefix!
YES!!
God, I absolutely Love Johnny Williams. That was amazing. Thank you for the amazing video.
Except.. his music is a little TOO familiar to other music people did prior. Compare King's Row to Star Wars for example.
@@Vicioussama
Except that doesn't make it bad. And will not change My outlook on his music.
But all his most iconic scores have been basically ripped from prior sources. People will say "oh he just borrows from them" but when you have the same harmony, melody, cord progression, etc? There's a point that "borrowing" or "homage" becomes just straight up "plagiarism" and I think it's kinda ridiculous how some people, just cause they are famous, get away with it. People's biases are lolz
Gave me chill after chill
try JFK.
I'm glad Sunshine got a mention even though it didn't make the list. The score made the film imo.
Absolutely. The score in combination with the visuals is amazing. Sunshine (the score as well as the movie) is definitely underrated in my opinion.
Tim Always found it puzzling as to why it didn’t get more buzz given Boyle was directing
Agreed. Pure genius. Danny Boyle always makes great decisions, helped by the fact that he typically enlists the help of my favourite electronica outfit of all time, ie Underworld.
LesaneM I think the third act is off-putting for some people, and I kind of understand it. It's definitely a tonal shift and probably not for everyone.
Totally agree, the scores perfectly conveyed this image of a buttery yellow star that is deadly, attractive and lulling all at the same time. Love this film!
One of my favourites is cornfield chase by Hans zimmer in interstellar. Something about it is so beautiful, it’s mysterious and almost nostalgic in a way, I’ve never heard anything like it
I can't believe John Barry was never even mentioned! His work is brilliant, and his exquisite score of Somewhere in Time is the most perfect interpretation of story through music in cinematic history. You really dropped the ball on this one.
I thought I heard him mentioned for Goldfinger.
Out of africa is way better
Yes, yes, YES!!
Interstellar is easily Zimmers best score and one of my favorite scores of all time. Would have easily preferred it over Dunkirk. His Blade Runner 2049 score is also amazing.
Me too!
Indeed. It truly is Hans Zimmer's masterpiece. But I get why Dunkirk got the pick, it's sets the tone of the scenes and the action.
I agree, but I think his score for Batman Begins is also an arguable contender.
Zimmer didn't score Blade Runner 2049
Tutankabron10 Yes he did, along with Benjamin Wallfisch
Blade Runner's score is one of the best scores of all time. It is completely inseperable from the film.
Vangelis and morricone are the best
@@gabrielegagliardi3956 Agree.
Link me some good tracks for bladerunner
@@SwerveNation just look up end titles from Blade Runner
Agree 100% Vangeles Blade Runner is Iconic
Inception is a freaking masterpiece. I still listen to the soundtrack to this day. It takes you to a different world.✨✨✨
Someone below suggests: "Ennio's "The good, the bad and the ugly" is truly a masterpeace. " ... That may be so, but it isn't Ennio's masterpiece, working with Leone. "Once Upon a Time In The West" is EASILY the magnum opus work for their collaborations! You guys had the right combo, but the wrong film. It's really not even close. I dare the coldest of hearts not to well up in tears throughout multiple moments of Morricone's soaring crescendos and intimate dirges. I DOUBLE DARE YA! Or to jump out of your seat if someone suddenly opens a door during one of Ennio's tension building standoffs that draw you into complete mesmerisation! Brilliant, unparalleled score writing. And it's a significant part of making this one of the greatest films of all time, period, and THE greatest Western.
As a composition, yes, but as a cultural iconic moment that transcends a film and enters the collective unconscious, GB&U wins. Nobody hums OUTW.
@@foujj A - The impact on the collective culture was not the criteria here; it was the impact of any particular movie score on THAT movie's audience. Otherwise, you would have seen more titles that you actually have seen yourself. B - I do (hum OUTW). Full disclosure: I whistle it. C - The GBU main theme you're referring to people 'humming" is also popular in the more general landscape, as that was actually a radio-played 'song', which allowed many more people to hear it, who'd never seen the film. So, I agree with you that more people might recognize that GBU theme, but again, that's not what this was about. (We all know MANY movie themes, that got air-play, like Exodus, The Way We Were, The Sting theme, Love Story theme, Dr. Zhivago theme, etc. I hope you see the difference.)
Very happy Jonny Greenwood got a spot. My favorite
I love how uneasy his scores make me feel. Definitely among the best director/composer pairings out there.
YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW HAPPY I WAS TO SEE KORNGOLD’S NAME HERE i always loved him as a classical composer but never knew his work in movies! love you cinefix!!!!!
John Williams’s Star Wars themes also draw from Gustav Holst’s The Planets.
I'm so glad that you included some of the "old school" geniuses, Bernard Hermann and Mills Rosza!
Wonderful!!! Now, please make an episode on the 10 best uses of music not written specifically for the screen in movies. Like, J Strauss II’s Blue Danube Waltz, and R. Strauss’ Also Sprach Zarathrustra uses in 2001 a Space Odyssey
Kevin McGlothlin ludwig van, symphony no9 p4 beats that imo
I feel that 2001 would top that list, the music enhances the film so much and it's an all-time classic
Viddy well, my brother, viddy well.
Wagner's Rid of the Valkry, and the Door's The End used in Apocalypse Now
Great idea! My vote (not including perhaps the most obvious 2001: A Space Odyssey's Also Sprach Zarathustra) would be Wagner's Prelude to Act I to Tristan & Isolde for the Lars Von Trier film 'Melancholia'. Epic and gorgeous. Another would be the 'Introitus' portion of Mozart's Requiem in the movie 'Lucy'.
Bernard Hermann's Vertigo score penatrates the mystery and romance. Absolutely sublime.
Such a profound influence on composers to this day. I hear echoes of it occasionally.
That Score Washes Over You! ....
Listen to the Wagner Opera “Tristan & Isolde” and you will hear who influenced Hermann’s Vertigo soundtrack.
Herrmann’s superb score for Vertigo is a prodigious achievement in film composition. It is woven so carefully into the film’s narrative to create a sublime dramatic counterpoint to the central mystery explored by Hitchcock.
What great movie would suffer the most if its score were replaced with a generic one? Vertigo.
The good, the bad and the ugly 🔥🔥 Mother of all character intro musics
When researching for my personal top 10 movie scores which is now on my TH-cam channel, this video helped me remember the ones I liked, it's funny how different people's tastes are in this type of music cuz I always prefer the hype/epic music. Great video tho
I could listen to Miles Davis' Elevator to the Gallows soundtrack forever.
You said themes and leitmotifs, and I said "this had better be John Williams."
And you did Howard Shore and LotR dirty by only mentioning it in passing.
The sheer number of brilliant film scores touched on here makes this a very worthy watch. Bravo!
Choosing the score of "STAR WARS Ep: V - The Empire Strikes Back" to be the 2nd on the list over any other Star Wars movie reflects how genius CineFix in analyzing movie scores.
Shore's score in LOTR is the only one that can be seen as a real symphony, 10 hours long, with such complexity, research, motives, themes and deepnees still unparalleled and unseen in music scoring. He belongs already to the great symphonic composers elite of the past, like Wagner, Beethoven, Bramhs and all the others. Williams may be the best film composer alive now, but Shore is already one of the best composers all around of all times.
Oh dear
Except Shore isn't as phenomenal outside of that franchise. Williams has a ton of masterpieces outside of the Star Wars saga. Hell, even outside of the film score genre itself (ex: Olympics).
@@shiranuiaensland1442 shore had a brilliant score in silence of the lambs too
@@MrCushcam Brilliant, but not phenomenal.
Alexander Forslund Have anything better to say?
Last of the Mohicans. Great themes throughout!
Thanks for always supporting classic movies and music scores.
This is the most comprehensive video about scoring I've ever seen. An amazing tribute to the artform
Thank you for recognizing the greatness inherent in The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly.
*FINALLY!*
My life is complete now
EDIT: After watching the video, I must confess that I'm pretty happy and impressed about the amount of effort and research put into this list, which is a terribly difficult one to do, even for the wonderful movie specialists in the Cinefix team. Music it's an immense world by itself and knowing a lot about movies doesn't guarantee you knowing about music scores. However they did an incredible work. I'm happy that Korngold got first place, he built the foundations of film scoring. I'm also happy that we got a vast representation of old film composers because people nowadays seem to praise and know mainly John Williams and Hans Zimmer. IMHO Bernard Herrmann is the best film composer ever, especially for the variety of the styles used during his career (Vertigo, Psycho and Taxi Driver are an example of how different yet so good a score can be). Film scoring is one of those things that I think have gone downhill lately. Nowadays directors (in general) think that they can substitute the emotions created by spectacular scores with special effects, in which they spend a lot of money, reducing the budget for the music. That results in, either hiring a mediocre composer, either putting most of the time sound effects over actual music or even substituting a real orchestra (which normally plays and record the film scores) with a computer program that "emulates" the sound of musical instruments. That last thing, especially for a music student like me, is unbearable.
Last thing I wanted to say is that, for all of you movie fans (that somehow have read this comment until now) I encourage you to listen to more classical music. It's a genre that a lot of people think it's dying or old. Well, let me say that film scores owes a lot to classical music, especially late 19th Century/early 20th Century. I recommend you the Planets by Holst, Wagner's operas, Scheherazade by Korsakov, Firebird by Stravinsky and also more "dissonant" (yet satisfactory) pieces by Prokofiev (the Alexander Nevsky guy), Shostakovich etc.
Some directors knew that and actually preferred to use music from the past rather than hiring a composer. The most important director that comes to my mind is Kubrick who borrowed a lot of music like Strauss' 'Also spracht Zarathustra', Beethoven 9th Symphony, Bartok's music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta, Ligeti's music, Shostakovich's waltz, Handel's Sarabande etc.
I have a theory that there is at least one piece of classical music waiting to find everyone. There will be at least one thing that when you hear it...the light will go on and you will get it. Many never bother to try and find it. And so it gets relegated to film scores or 'that boring stuff old people listen to'. It's funny, but what really propelled by love of classical music was started when radio host Casey Casum referenced an Eric Carmen song by noting that he had to pay ongoing royalties to the Sergei Rachmaninoff foundation for using the melodies to two of his most famous compositions. Then he played the Eric Carmen song followed by the portion of the Rachmaninoff piece that it was drawn from. I sought that out, listened to it, cried like a baby and so began my lifelong love of classical music and constant seeking of music that might move me like that. That led me to little known composers like Zdenek Fibich, whose 'Poeme' literally made me pull my car over to listen, again crying like a baby (I really hardly ever cry you big poopyheads making fun of me! ha). There's so much to listen to. And it's funny (to me), but if you like metal, you really should love classical music. There is a similar intensity to both. People who really know music and music theory will understand that, at the risk of sounding like Snootie McSnooterson!
The constant ticking clock trick in the Dunkirk score was flawlessly executed. Keeps you tense and on the edge of your seat the whole time. The scene in the train when the ticking finally stops and it’s finally calm and you can finally breathe is one of my favorite movies moments ever
Holy hell this has got to be the most exuberant yet exhausting analysis of music I've ever seen
VANGELIS, BLADE RUNNER?!?! HELLOOOO???
Jonathan Sköldmark Ikr!
Anything James Newton Howard composed? It is because of his score I still had hope in the art of cinema while watching The Last Airbender...
Both were mentioned. But should have been glossed over more. None wins in any category mentioned.
Jonathan Sköldmark one of the best!!!
I love this channel. But LOTR certainly deserves to be on this list. It is the best score of modern times in my book. And I know that’s a subjective opinion, but I have an hunch it’s not just mine. Like the call out to Under the Skin though
They have given way too much respect to old scores. There are 2 or 3 in this list that would sound nearly the same to a layman. There's nothing around that sounds quite like LOTR and there is no spot for something like a "most complete score".
He also forgot The Last of the Mohicans, the most impressive soundtrack the world has ever produced in a film.
yeah LOTR could have easily taken Star Wars' spot for Leit Motif
@@rushpan93 that's a good point actually
I definitely agree. There have been less epic movies with scores that are just better listening experiences too, such as "The Fountain". In terms of mood, I am glad they gave a nod to "Amelie" because that whole soundtrack just makes you melancholy and happy all at once, which makes no sense at all, but it works.
Once upon a time in the west is my favorite. I love how the music is part of the fictive story too.
That is UNREAL how much Williams sounds like Korngold. I've never even heard of Korngold before, or that Williams was very obviously heavily influenced by him. I don't know if it makes me think less of Williams (who i would always have considered the GOAT of film scores), but it makes me think Korngold is a super genius that non-movie-buffs are missing out on.
Williams sounds like a lot of composers, and not only movie composers: listen to Gustav Holst, in particular "Mars" from The Planets. But the goal, for a movie composer, is not necessary to compose the most original score, but to create the music for the movie, and I think we can't deny John Williams talent for that.
I love the ability of soundtracks to present themes and work with those themes for the characters and plot. Obviously Star Wars, LOTR, and the good the bad and the ugly do this, but The How to Train Your Dragon movies do this as well. One of my personal favorites and highly recommended to any fan of thematic writing
Ennio Moricone’s score for “Malèna” was my all time favorite. Also Jonny Greenwood’s for The Master
AMAZING video! Really interesting and bold choice for the first place.
As a musician, your pick of l'ascenseur is why I love your work! As a fil lecturer, yourb work has made mine so much easier. You are making a seminal contribution. Thank you!
Great list cinefix! Kinda sad that there is not place for Lord of the Rings, since I love that score but the list is still awesome :)
I vote for Joe Hisaishi.
I completely agree with you. Also, Danny Elfman deserved a mention.
Was hoping hisaishi would appear!
Agree! Hisaishi's scores are amazing and really capture the magic of Ghibli movies
Maybe another list for Animation scores?
WHERE TF IS HE??!!
This is your best list. hands down.
signed: someone who's guilty pleasure is getting stoned and watching and rewatching these vids.
I am late in following this channel, but it has brought me so much joy when I am so tired of the despair of the pandemic. Thank you!!
I have a soft spot in my heart for Horner's 'A Beautiful Mind' score. It's heartbreaking, romantic, hopeful, and it was one of my favorite films during my formative years.
Nice to see a "10 best list" actually take into consideration the "old masters", not just the new moneymakers.
I wasn't expecting this list.
It's so refreshing to have some far less obvious choices👍🏼
Top Ten Film Scores of All Time; Simply the one of the most intelligent, insightful, and illuminating discussions of any serious topic on the internet ever.
Where has the channel been in my life? Getting me to appreciate what needs to be appreciated.
Im so glad you mentioned Ben Hur, that score always amazed me. It's powerful and the melodies are memorable.
Thank you, for actually putting a real effort into a film score theme video. Even if I don't agree completely, still enjoyed it a lot.
Amazing analysis 👏👏👏 just incredible!!