10 Best Original Songs In The MCU That We Can’t Stop Listening To

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has some criminally underrated original songs, with many lauded artists crafting excellent themes for its characters, movies, and moments over the years. When most common audiences think of music in Marvel movies, the broadly-known licensed songs are usually the first thing to come to mind, such as the use of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song” or the The Marvels’ inclusion of the Beastie Boys’ “Intergalactic“. James Gunn even crafted an entire franchise’s identity around well-known anthems of the 70s in the Guardians of the Galaxy films. But the MCU has some great original tracks that are hot contenders in enhancing the moviegoing experience.

Many times, artists of the MCU work within a typical, but effective framework of bombastic orchestral pieces typical of blockbuster movies, making every entry into the cinematic universe feel like a true event. In some instances, artists brought into the fold of Marvel Studios add some interesting twists to the typical big-budget movie formula, incorporating surprising elements that accentuate the specific character traits or emotions their themes are meant to convey. Every Marvel film starts with the heroic, excitement-building notes that accompany their iconic page-turning logo, introducing audiences to some killer tracks that have stood the test of time.

10 Strange Days Ahead

Doctor Strange

If there’s one composer who definitively knows how to score a Marvel film, it’s Oscar-winning songwriter Michael Giacchino. Having a close relationship with the MCU, Giacchino has even directed Werewolf By Night, proving that he knows what it takes for a comic book movie to succeed. By the time of Doctor Strange, Giacchino was already a seasoned composer, made obvious with a single listen to “Strange Days Ahead“. The pensive introduction that slowly builds to a grand flourish is the perfect allegory for Stephen Strange’s character, the operatic choir and twangy harpsichord flavoring this piece with a magical flair.

9 Into Eternity

Thor: The Dark World

In the greater schema of Marvel movies, Thor: The Dark World is looked down on, with few fans fighting its accusations of being a forgettable dark fantasy film. That being said, multiple-time BAFTA and Emmy Award nominee Brian Tyler still held up his end by penning a masterful OST, particularly the track “Into Eternity“. The haunting vocals evoke Asgard’s ancient history, making Thor: The Dark World the most Norse-sounding movie of the entire Thor quadrilogy. While not as loud or thrilling as other standout MCU songs, “Into Eternity” holds a quiet reverence that suits its place in the film, proving the power of a subtle, but well-crafted soundtrack.

8 Planet Sakaar

Thor: Ragnarok

If Thor: The Dark World was Thor closest to his roots as a fantasy hero, Thor: Ragnarok is Thor at his most science fiction, catapulting the Asgardian into the chaotic melting pot of the galaxy that is the planet Sakaar. Fittingly enough, the track “Planet Sakaar” leans into this change with a driving, infectious beat and an explosion of an 80s synth soundscape. Expertly produced by Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO fame, this vibrant, upbeat track is enough to get anyone’s head bobbing, taking the listener on a journey through space just as chaotic and entertaining as Thor’s.

7 Driving With The Top Down

Iron Man

As the thesis statement that served as the foundation of the MCU, a lot was riding on Iron Man‘s soundtrack to really sell who was considered at the time a relatively obscure hero to audiences as an action star. Luckily, Marvel Studios brought in a heavy-hitter, with Ramin Djawadi, responsible for creating one of the most iconic TV themes of all time. Making the wise decision to lean into Iron Man’s rebellious nature with a rock-based soundtrack, “Driving With The Top Down” provides the perfect electric backdrop for Tony Stark to forge himself anew as Iron Man to, a pulse-pounding anthem to Iron Man‘s success.

6 Black Panther’s Theme

Black Panther

As one of the most iconic heroes the MCU had been missing at the time, Black Panther needed to introduce T’Challa with the sense of royalty and grandeur he deserved. Composer Ludwig Göransson certainly delivered, conjuring an awesome pan-African landscape with a combination of evocative brass, defiant vocals, and traditional African drums. When this song played alongside Black Panther’s appearance in Avengers: Infinity War, it was a goosebumps-giving portent of the heroics to come. The tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman has made this solemn theme all the more bittersweet, the actor having accomplished such an iconic portrayal of T’Challa.

5 It Ain’t Over Till The Wasp Lady Stings

Ant-Man and The Wasp

Ant-Man and the Wasp might not be the most fondly-remembered Marvel movie, but its soundtrack stands apart from the film’s many flaws as a true diamond in the rough. The jokey pun title betrays this track’s strength as a jazzy orchestral epic, evoking the series’ fundamental nature as heist films with a song that wouldn’t be out of place in the OST of a spy thriller. From creeping and contemplative to bombastic and powerful, this genius big band performance can shrink and grow alongside Ant-Man and The Wasp themselves, conveying a variety of moods.

4 Moon Knight’s Theme

Moon Knight

Hasham Nazih’s Moon Knight theme is one of the best original songs featured in a Marvel project in years, expertly blending the many facets of the character into a cohesive song. The Arabic instrumentation, vocals, and scales immediately place the listener in Moon Knight’s Egyptian roots, making it impossible to mistake as another by-the-numbers piece that could be applied to any hero. Moon Knight’s Theme has an incredibly menacing quality to it, the vicious vocal stings imitating his willingness to kill, while the truly epic choir betrays Khonshu’s lurking presence. All in all, Moon Knight’s theme is an unforgettable track that distinguishes him from his heroic peers.

3 Stern’s Lab

The Incredible Hulk

One of the most forgotten Marvel films, The Incredible Hulk has an OST that can still stand with the best of them, as much of a slept-on powerhouse as the movie itself. No song better encapsulates the storm of emotions that drives Bruce Banner better than the simply-titled “Stern’s Lab“. Echoing the profane experiments run in Dr. Samuel Stern’s lab, this track chronicles the birth of Abomination, with low, powerful brass notes that give the impression of a scientific endeavor that there’s no going back from. The immense sense of finality the song brings is bookended by the quiet, thoughtful string movements, rounding out the song as a standout entry in the MCU’s soundtrack.

2 Glorious Purpose

Loki Season 2

Season 2 of Loki continues the trend of excellent music being incorporated into the MCU’s episodic offerings, capping off Loki’s arc in the franchise with a beautifully poignant song. Beginning with a lone string that references Loki’s Norse origins, the discordant piano notes unearth themselves from a rumbling horn that mirrors Loki’s grander place in the Marvel Universe following the climax of the series, the title being a genius callback to Loki’s line way back in The Avengers. The theme manages to portray the immense sense of loneliness that Loki must confront to meet his ultimate fate, enhancing Season 2’s unforgettable ending.

1 Portals

Avengers: Endgame

The movie event of the decade, Avengers: Endgame needed a truly magnificent soundtrack to enhance its gravity as the culmination of a story ten years in the making. Luckily, the goosebumps-forming track “Portals” hits all the right notes, carefully building the anticipation before unleashing the triumphant Avengers theme in the most important context its ever held, though not without a generous pause first to allow Captain America to finish saying “Avengers, Assemble!“. It’s safe to say that without this genius track, this moment wouldn’t have had the same gravitas, making “Portals” one of the most important songs in the entire Marvel Cinematic Universe.