Film scores are the unsung heroes of cinema, working their magic beneath the surface of every great movie. While audiences often focus on actors, directors, and plot twists, it is the music that truly shapes emotional responses. According to audience writer Steve Charnock, 'It bypasses the logical bit of your brain and heads straight for the emotional part.'
The Hidden Power of Film Music
Millions of people who would never listen to a symphony spend hours each week enjoying orchestral music through film scores. This makes cinema the greatest success story for classical music in the past century. Before audio in 1924, even silent films by Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton were accompanied by live pianists. Without a score, iconic moments—running, kissing, or a shark attack—would be merely people doing things. The right music transforms them into edge-of-your-seat thrills.
Masterpieces and Modern Classics
Obvious masterpieces deserve acclaim: Lalo Schifrin's Mission: Impossible theme, Bernard Herrmann's screeching strings in Psycho, John Williams' sweeping brass in Star Wars and Jurassic Park, Hans Zimmer's electronic-infused walls of sound in Gladiator and Interstellar, and Danny Elfman's gothic melodies for Batman and Edward Scissorhands. Yet lesser-known scores also leave a mark. Jonny Greenwood's unsettling work on There Will Be Blood, Jóhann Jóhannsson's suffocating dread in Sicario and Arrival, and Cliff Martinez's hypnotic synths for Drive create moods that elevate the art.
Longevity in Cultural Memory
Great film scores have serious longevity. Rocky's theme, composed 50 years ago, is instantly hummed upon reading the title. Howard Shore's leitmotif-packed Lord of the Rings composition and Ennio Morricone's whistleable spaghetti western ditties linger in cultural consciousness. Charnock notes, 'It’s often the score that lingers longest in the mind.'
The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame
Each year, the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame sparks a cinematic conversation, asking fans: 'What’s the greatest film score ever written?' Established classics always feature, but every movie buff has a dark horse they'd love to see climb the rankings. Metro is partnering with Classic FM on the Movie Music Hall of Fame. The poll shuts at midnight on August 16, with the top 100 announced on Monday August 31. Fans are encouraged to browse and cast their vote.
