The theme of a franchise can make or break it, and movie producers
will go to great lengths to find the right sound for their films. There have
been some truly legendary themes in the world of movie franchises which makes
picking only 10 so difficult! I've based my selection on how well it's
remembered by movie-goers, suitability for the franchise and it's legendary
status.
10. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Written by Ennio
Morricone for Sergio Leone's Fistful of Dollars trilogy (I'm starting to
understand why they're called spaghetti westerns now) this theme quickly grew
into it's own entity, and made it's way into pop culture.
9. He's a Pirate
The entire
soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean was written by Klaus Badelt and Hans
Zimmer, but the breakaway theme was titled "He's a Pirate" and can be
heard in some fashion in each of the 4 movies in the franchise. Over the years
this bombastic song has become instantly recognizable, even to those who haven't
seen the films.
8. Jurassic Park
Theme
Composed by John
Williams (who it's worth noting had a hand in a lot of the scores on this
list), the theme for Jurassic Park is meant to capture the beauty and awe of
seeing the majestic prehistoric creatures for the first time. A secondary score
called 'Journey to the Island' is equally well-known and captures the wild
excitement and danger of the film franchise.
7. Mission
Impossible
Written and
composed by Lalo Schifrin for the TV show, it is now the theme for one of the
best action movie franchises of all time. The theme to Mission Impossible fit
the intensity and the scale of the movies perfectly, going on to be as much of
a hit as the franchise itself (it topped the Billboard 100 at #7).
6. The
Fellowship, The Breaking of the Fellowship/The Shire (Concerning Hobbits)
Howard Shore wrote
and composed over 10 hours of music for the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, and
won multiple Grammys and Academy Awards for his efforts. So you may be asking, 'Why isn't LOTR higher on the
list?!' Because there's too
much damn music! While much of it is both popular and recognizable, there's
just too much music! Symphonies, orchestras and vocal performances make it
extremely hard to pick one particular track as the main theme for this film franchise.
5. The Raiders
March
The theme for
Indiana Jones was composed and conducted by John Williams and performed by the
London Symphony Orchestras (which, let's face it, is true for a bunch of songs
on this list). This music fits the Indiana Jones franchise like a glove, with
deep base and booming horns you can't help but visualize Indie off on an
adventure.
4. The Godfather
Waltz
Composed by Nino
Rota in 1972, this theme exudes classic Italy, fitting the various time periods
of the Godfather film franchise. The lone horn at the beginning reflects the
isolation and heaviness of the heads of the Corleone family, and the pace fits
well with these dialogue driven, often slow-moving films.
3. Hedwig's Theme
Composed by John
Williams (I told you!), this theme perfectly fit what would become the biggest
film franchise yet. It's soft notes and use of instruments not always heard
in scores such as these create the perfect atmosphere of mystery and
excitement. The constant juggling of the string, woodwind, percussion and brass
sections creates the sense of a bird in flight. If you've never given the full
theme a listen I highly suggest it, it really is a masterpiece!
2. James Bond
Theme
Is there any theme
better known around the world than the theme to the 007 franchise? Copyright
for this composition can be credited to both Monty Norman and John Barry, as
both have taken each other to court and are collecting royalties in some form
or another. The combination of jangling 1960's surfer guitar, thumping bass and
sly woodwind and string (depending on the version) create a sexy, stylish
atmosphere for this well-aged film franchise that has managed to span decades.
1. Star Wars
Theme
Composed by (you
guessed it) John Williams this is hands down the most recognizable theme in
film history. It has reproduced and parodied more than any other theme. The
opening crash of the base brings to mind the huge scale of the
Star Wars setting (fuckin' space dude) and creates an epicness that can't be
matched. Simply put, if I were the ruler of my own country I would make this my
national anthem. Copyrights be damned.
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