Most people might not realize it, but a soundtrack has the power to make or break the film entirely. The visual medium can only convey the emotions and meanings behind the script so far, and thus, it is up to music to help implant the emotional resonance of the story into the hearts of the audience. Let’s take a look at the 7 best movie soundtracks of the 21st century in the list below.
7. Requiem for a Dream
Darren Aronofsky's ‘Requiem for a Dream’ is a haunting film about addiction and how it absolutely destroys the humanity within us. Composer Clint Mansell understood the assignment as he weaves a hauntingly powerful score, one that immortalizes the sheer powerlessness felt by the three characters as we see them descend into madness. Each piece hits harder than the last, with one particular track, Lux Aeterna, being so good that it became a part of the cultural zeitgeist.
Lux Aeterna is an orchestral composition by Mansell and acts as the leitmotif of the film. The piece hits you instantly when you first hear it and is so stunningly beautiful that one might be shocked to know that it represents a film about drug abuse. However, perhaps this is the real idea about how drugs feel absolutely fantastic when you first take them, but over time, the real damaging results of their destruction become apparent.
6. Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049 remains one of the few extremely rare sequels that is objectively better than the original. Thus, it was only logical that the soundtrack of Dennis Villeneuve's sequel would also rival the original’s, which was done by the maestro Vangelis.
Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Walfisch step up to the task here, delivering a haunting score that meditates on both the nature of humanity and our search for meaning in our collective lives. From ‘Joi’ to ‘Flight to LAPD’, each track knocks it out of the park as Zimmer and Walfisch create a stunningly memorable score that proudly stands shoulder to shoulder with what Vangelis did in 1982. The film, as a whole, remains one of the best audiovisual experiences of this century, partly due to its music alone.
5. Black Panther
Marvel movies' soundtracks have been quite mediocre since the MCU was born in 2008, but everything changed with the release of Black Panther in 2018. Director Ryan Coogler brought frequent collaborator Ludwig Göransson into the Marvel fold, and the result is, for the lack of a better word, marvelous.
With vocals from Kendrick Lamar and inspiration from a variety of authentic African instruments and chants, the Black Panther soundtrack is beautiful, stunning, and moving. The soundtrack not only amplifies the world of Wakanda but also gives an added layer of depth to T’Challa’s struggles throughout the film. Göransson’s score is not only the best Marvel movie score of all time, but it ends up becoming one of the best soundtracksof this century.
4. Mad Max: Fury Road
Mad Max: Fury Road might be in the running for the best action film of this decade, but what makes it even better (in addition to its insane editing and bombastic stunts) is the pulsating score that amplifies every hit, every escape, and every bullet. George Miller knew exactly what he wanted when he decided to return to the world of Mad Max after two decades. Composer Junkie XL pulled out all the stops to create an insane soundtrack for an insane film.
Best Movie Soundtracks
From fire-breathing guitar solos to subtle cues that highlight Max Rockatansky’s lingering traumas, the Fury Road soundtrack is something to behold. The Playlist accurately described it as a "sublime and energetic score" that "finds a delicate balance between percussion-driven action and a striking orchestral score that resembles old school Hollywood epics. We couldn't agree more.
3. Oppenheimer
For the story of the man who invented the atomic bomb, Christopher Nolan and Ludwig Göransson curated a soundtrack that depicts both the internal struggle within the man as well as the sheer volume of adversities he would face after he made the bomb. Göransson’s score is both heartfelt and gloomy, symbolizing the multifaceted struggles that Oppenheimer would face in both his work and his life.
Best Movie Soundtracks
The Oppenheimer soundtrack is thus a true marvel, mixing joy and sorrow to bring to life one of the most controversial figures in modern history. Nolan allows Göransson’s beats to shine during both the tense and the emotional beats, amplifying what is already a pretty fantastic film to new heights.
2. Avatar
The highest-grossing film of all time needs a soundtrack for the ages, and that is exactly what frequent James Cameron collaborator James Horner managed to do when he scored Avatar. From its first moments on board the space shuttle to the devastating final battle in the forests of Pandora, Horner’s work transforms Avatar into a monumental audiovisual experience.
Best Movie Soundtracks
Capturing the wonder and amazement of seeing the beautiful world of Pandora for the first time, Horner’s score works its magic slowly. As Cameron introduces the lush green planet to the audience, we see and feel through Jake Sully’s eyes as he falls in love with this alien world that he will later call home. Horner goes all in during the final battle, delivering pulse-pounding pieces that move us to tears effortlessly.
1. Man of Steel
Hans Zimmer had a monumental task ahead of him when he chose to do Man of Steel. John Williams’ original score for 1978’s Superman had not only been iconic; it had become associated with the character itself in the three decades since the film’s release. Like the film, Zimmer had a tall order of reinventing the iconic score, and he delivered flawlessly. Invoking hope, loneliness, and tragedy as seen through the eyes of Kal-El, Man of Steel’s bombastic yet heartfelt score hits it out of the park, elevating the film and Kal’s journey as he comes to unwittingly accept his role as the saviour of mankind.
Best Movie Soundtracks
Let us know in the comments below what your 7 favourite film soundtracks of the 21st century are. And make sure to follow us over on Facebook, Instagram, and Threads for additional movie news and content. Check out the articles below for more.
