12 MOST Iconic Movie Themes You Should Know
Movie music is amazing.
Can we just take a moment to appreciate how beautiful & often under-appreciated film scores are? They create the entire setting and ambience of a movie, sometimes even the entire world or universe; they tell you how you're supposed to feel during a scene AND influence your emotions; they give you subtle hints about the plot/foreshadowing; they tell you a character's story; and they make GREAT study music 😜
Geek out with me as I share 12 of the MOST iconic movie themes (in my opinion) you should know. BUT before that, a bit of a music theory lesson on the use of leitmotifs: short, recurring musical themes that represent a place, a person, an important object, a feeling, an idea, or a situation. In history, leitmotifs have been used in various operas and symphonic poems, in particular Wagner’s ‘Der Ring des Nibelungen’. In the context of modern film, the first instance a musical theme is introduced, the audience associates it with whatever is being presented on the screen. It is then artfully and masterfully sprinkled throughout the film’s score and help guide the audience. The first on my list is a prime example of using recurring musical themes in film:
Also known as the leitmotif/theme for the Hobbits and the Shire. It starts off fairly wistful and almost dreamlike, emanating the feeling of ‘home’. The melody then transitions into a jovial, syncopated (“off-beat”) Celtic dance that represents the simplicity and fun of life in the Shire. FUN FACT: I actually visited the real Hobbiton a few years ago; you can join me on my adventure into the Shire here.
One of my favourites on this list - you can smell the ocean breeze (+ fish) and feel like you’re ready to sail off into the great unknown on a swashbuckling adventure of a lifetime with this track! It’s somewhat reminiscent of a sea/sailor shanty with its punchy beats and simple but strong melodic line.
John Williams is one of the most (if not THE most) legendary and iconic film composers of our time. Just take a look at the rest of this list (I’ll wait for you to come back 😜) and you’ll understand. Williams has been nominated and has won several Academy Awards for “Best Original Score” throughout the years (many of which are on this list too), including the soundtrack for Indiana Jones: Raiders of the Lost Ark (nominated, 1981).
Continuing with the musical genius of John Williams, the sound of 2 adjacent notes - semitones, which are great for adding feelings of anticipation, suspense and discomfort - played repeatedly surrounded by building harmonies and dissonances sends chills down our spines, because WE KNOW THERE’S DANGER LURKING IN THE WATERS! Just 2 notes can elicit such feelings. Genius.
Side note: If you haven’t seen Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous on Netflix yet, I highly recommend it! This theme is another of my favourites - you’ve got the mysterious introductory theme that makes you feel a little uncertain about bringing the prehistoric back to life, but then you’ve got the majestic, wondrous bit that plays as you stare in awe at the brachiosaurus grazing right in front of you. The theme is also featured in ‘Welcome To Jurassic Park’, which introduces us to the fanfare Jurassic Park theme, as I like to call it (IYKYK). And that lullaby bit at the beginning always melts my heart.
I don’t think there’s a single movie-watcher out there who cannot recognize this ICONIC ICONIC (double iconic because it’s just THAT iconic) theme. There are so many things about this theme that help create the magical Wizarding World that many have grown to love: Williams’ use of the celesta (those bell-like notes in the beginning), swirling and flurrying string motifs, slightly unconventional intervals and accidentals (sharps, flats, neutrals, etc.), deep brasses, and more!
For the Potterhead x music geek, I’ve broken down the themes of another track - ‘Harry’s Wondrous World’ - on my Instagram post here.
Today I learned that there is a colon between the words Mission: Impossible. I also learned that the ORIGINAL theme for the Mission: Impossible TV series (aired 1966-1973) was composed by Lalo Schifrin and later adapted by Giacchino for the film franchise. In his book Music Composition for Film and Television (Berklee Press, 2011), Schifrin shared that the inspiration behind the 5/4 (time signature - see notation example above) was from the Morse Code for the letters “M” and “I”: _ _ . . How cool and creative is that?
The further I go down this list, the more I find that many of these films have attractions at either Disney or Universal Studios, including the newly-opened Avengers Campus in California. Another fun fact from my personal life: my dad uses this theme as his cell ringtone 😆 The strength and the courage that this theme elicits, especially during that “Avengers, assemble!” scene when they form a power circle to fight off the Chitauri; still gives me chills~
Another one of Williams’ that I think the entire galaxy would recognize, paired with the yellow scrolling text. This and the other big Star Wars theme, ‘The Imperial March’ - one for Luke Skywalker and the other for Darth Vader.
Even though I’ve heard of it for a LONG time, I’d never seen Home Alone until only a few years ago. I remember hearing this theme and for some reason it struck feelings of nostalgia and familiarity. Maybe it’s the simplicity of the theme, or the instrumentation of tiny silver bells reminiscent of Christmas (I mean, it IS a Christmas movie). It’s not a tune that many would think of when asked about iconic movie themes, but when they remember it, it sticks.
SPOILER ALERT! This theme appears after a bike chase as E.T. lifts himself and the children (& their bikes) up into the night sky. The intense music is then replaced by this soaring, ascending theme filled with wonder and freedom. And when they land, the music reflects this with its descending notes.
Thought I would include at least one iconic movie theme that I, in fact, did not recognize. The Godfather is a cinematic masterpiece that I have yet to watch, and quite honestly know nothing about (other than mob bosses), so I unfortunately don’t have much to say about this theme. Other than the fact that it is beautiful but also a bit sad and sentimental, likely depicting a difficult kind of love - did I get it?
