The Best Film Scores Of All Time

Updated September 16, 2023 270.6K votes 25.7K voters 545.6K views

Over 25.7K Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Film Scores Of All Time

Voting Rules

Vote up your favorite film scores.

Latest additions: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, Chevalier

Most divisive: Forrest Gump

The best film scores are famous for their instrumental nuances and memorable sequences. The most popular film scores tend to come from some of your favorite movies. Now it is time to determine which movie has the best score. Vote up the titles of the films based solely on the strength of their musical scores.

This list contains the greatest movie themes and scores ever recorded, chosen by the Ranker community. This list is for film scores, the instrumental music from movies. We also have a list of The Greatest Movie Soundtracks, designed for collections of songs taken from films. These are the most iconic, memorable themes and collections of background music ever.

This means you should rank the film scores on how important you think they were in delivering the atmosphere the film was trying to achieve?

Ranked by

1
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
1,583 votes
- Released: 2001
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
In The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, a young hobbit, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood), is entrusted with an ancient ring. This ring, darkly powerful and coveted by the malevolent Dark Lord Sauron, must be destroyed to save Middle-earth. Guided by the wise wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and joined by a diverse group of companions, Frodo embarks on a perilous journey towards Mount Doom, the only place where the ring can be unmade. This epic fantasy film won four Academy Awards and launched one of cinema's most celebrated trilogies.
- #1 of 113
  The Best Movies Of 2001
- #5 of 80
  The Best Movies That Are Super Long
- #15 of 184
  The Greatest Movie Themes
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2
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
3,114 votes
- Released: 1980
- Directed by: Irvin Kershner
In Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, the saga continues as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) embarks on Jedi training with master Yoda, while his friends Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) are pursued by Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones). This 1980 space opera, directed by Irvin Kershner, is a sequel in the epic Star Wars franchise. Known for its iconic plot twist and special effects, the film won an Oscar for Best Sound. It's a thrilling mix of adventure, treachery, and revelation, set against the backdrop of an interstellar war.
3
Jurassic Park
Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum
5,175 votes
- Released: 1993
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
In the thrilling film, Jurassic Park, eccentric billionaire John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) invites a team of experts to visit an island theme park populated by dinosaurs created from prehistoric DNA. The team comprises of paleontologist Dr. Alan Grant (Sam Neill), paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern), and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum). When the park's security system fails, these prehistoric creatures start roaming free, causing chaos for the visitors. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this groundbreaking sci-fi adventure won three Academy Awards for its stunning visual effects and sound design.
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4
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler
1,875 votes
- Released: 2003
- Directed by: Peter Jackson
In The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Frodo Baggins (Elijah Wood) and Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) press on towards Mount Doom to destroy the One Ring. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), rightful heir to the throne, marshals the forces of good for an epic battle against Sauron's evil army at Minas Tirith. This third installment in the fantasy trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, won a record-breaking 11 Academy Awards including Best Picture. It's a tale of bravery, friendship, and the enduring struggle between good and evil.
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5
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
8,481 votes
- Released: 1977
- Directed by: George Lucas
In Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, a young farm boy, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), finds himself thrust into the heart of an intergalactic conflict. Guided by the wise Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), he embarks on a daring mission to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the clutches of the sinister Darth Vader (David Prowse). As space operas go, this one's a classic, brimming with enthralling battles, iconic characters, and a groundbreaking mix of practical effects and CGI. Winner of six Academy Awards, it's a pivotal entry in George Lucas's legendary Star Wars saga.
6
Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark
Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman
5,687 votes
- Released: 1981
- Directed by: Steven Spielberg
In the adventurous roller-coaster ride, Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, we follow Dr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), a renowned archaeologist and obtainer of rare antiquities. Set in 1936, Jones is thrust into a perilous mission to outwit his Nazi competitors who are bent on harnessing the power of the mystical Ark of the Covenant. Alongside former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), Jones navigates treacherous terrains and relentless enemies. Directed by Steven Spielberg, this movie bagged four Academy Awards, solidifying its status as a classic action-adventure film that combines history, mysticism, and heart-stopping sequences with aplomb.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

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Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

Jurassic Park

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The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

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Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope

Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark

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