The Music Behind the Movies

A well-crafted film score can heighten tension, evoke nostalgia or elicit joy, helping to convey the story's themes and characters' emotions. Iconic scores often become intertwined with a film's identity, leaving a lasting impact that resonates long after the credits roll. Here are some of the most iconic film scores of all time.

BY ANNIE LUST

BEN-HUR• MGM, 1959• Composer: Miklós RózsaGONE WITH THE WIND• MGM, 1939• Composer: Max Steiner

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY• Produzioni Europee Associati, 1966• Composer: Ennio Morricone

LAWRENCE OF ARABIA• Columbia, 1962• Composer: Maurice Jarre

THE LION KING• Disney, 1994• Composer: Hans Zimmer

THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING

• New Line Cinema, 2001• Composer: Howard Shore

NORTH BY NORTHWEST• MGM, 1959• Composer: Bernard Herrmann

ROCKY• United Artists, 1976• Composer: Bill Conti

SPIRITED AWAY• Studio Ghibli, 2001• Composer: Joe Hisaishi

STAR WARS• Twentieth Century Fox, 1977• Composer: John