The 2000s brought some of the best movies of the 21st century, most notably the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy and many more. With these blockbusters came to their supporting scores that complemented the narrative of the story, amplifying the actions of what’s seen on screen.
Some of the most iconic soundtracks came from the 2000s, making them ever more nostalgic for viewers today. Who doesn’t put on the Pirates of the Caribean soundtrack from time to time? With that, here are Top Ten Musical Scores of the 2000s.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Everyone remembers Captain Jack Sparrow’s introduction from Disney’s classic, the iconic music that accompanied it all still gives people goosebumps today. Hans Zimmer is one of Hollywood’s greatest composers, and for good reason. It’s fun, fast, undeniably catchy, and fits perfectly into the time setting of the movie. The sequels brought even better songs, most notably Davy Jones’s theme, but this list highlighting the original soundtrack from The Curse of the Black Pearl.
Pride and Prejudice
What happens when you blend plateful Beethoven piano with the Regency Era of Britain? A romantic story of blossoming love against the odds of the class struggle of course. This flick is up there as a fan favorite of those who’ve read the books (and for those who haven’t).
Pride and Prejudice remains one of the most iconic love story’s in cinema history, who wasn’t in tears when Mr. Darcy confessed his love for Elizabeth. Italian composer Dario Marianelli employed a romantic era influence for a rather romantic story.
Gladiator
An epic story warrants an epic soundtrack, enough said. Ridley Scott called upon, wait for it, Hans Zimmer (what a surprise) to capture the raw power of the Roman Empire. However, one song stands above them all, being the most emotional of all the works. With Maximus dying and entering the afterlife, a gentle voice sings and carries him. The song, “Now We Are Free” is regarded as one of the best from this soundtrack. There’s a reason this movie won the Best Picture award, with the music playing a part in it all.
Pans Labyrinth
Del Toro is a master of the horror genre with Pans Labyrinth as one of his best works. The story is rather depressing and stands as an anti-war movie as it does horror. The General is one of the most terrifying villains of all time, both sadistic and remorseless.
However, looking at the soundtrack, which followed the horrible events that unfolded, was a melancholic symphony. Both beautiful and haunting at the same time, the soundtrack complemented the horrors of both the war and the alternate reality perfectly, creating one of the best horror movies of the decade.
Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
John Williams is regarded as one of the best composers in Hollywood history, whose known for creating the iconic soundtracks of Superman, Jaws, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Revenge of the Sith brought a beautiful ending to the prequel trilogy, orchestrating some of the saddest tracks while Order 66 was carried out. Furthermore, the Battle of the Heroes is regarded as one of the greatest tracks the master composer has written.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight brought one of the greatest performances of all time, Heath Ledger as the Joker. The laugh, the antics, the costumes, all of it was intensified with Hans Zimmer’s chaos-inspired soundtrack.
Christopher Nolan made sure his authentic approach to filmmaking was complemented by Zimmer’s unparalleled ability to create timeless tracks.
Requiem for a Dream
Requiem for a Dream is regarded as one of the darkest movies of the 2000s, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth once the ending concludes. Clint Mansell, the composer, combined electronic ambiance with a symphony, creating a hybrid of the two genres.
However, the experiment was rather fitting considering the chaos of the story with no guarantee of a happy ending for anyone. Buckle up for a rather somber movie but one complemented by a score that gives the audience no breaks.
Inception
The first time around, this movie is nothing short of confusing, but give a second try and you’ll see the method to the madness. Upon the second watch, listen. The tracks from this movie are timeless, some of the best ever created.
Hans Zimmer was inspired by the legendary Ennio Morricone, most notably on the track “Dream is Collapsing.” The entire soundtrack, like the movie, is a bit unnerving with no assurance of what is real and what isn’t.
Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Fun and quirky are the two words often associated with this movie, based on the beloved story. The soundtrack followed suit, adding a jovial mood to a rather grim storyline (when you step back and think about it). Though the movie doesn’t rank high amongst the others on this list, this entry proves that box office success isn’t everything. Movies with soundtracks like these are diamonds in the rough, waiting to be discovered by movie and music lovers alike.
Lord of the Rings
Some of the most recognizable music in Hollywood history, the Lord of the Rings soundtrack (from all three movies) is pure nostalgia. Howard Shore, the composer, made sure an epic tale (one comparable to Beowulf) had a score worthy of the adventures from the mind of J.R.R Tolkien.
Who didn’t love the slow walk scene from Fellowship of the Ring? By the time the credits rolled, everyone wanted to be a part of Middle Earth, no matter the chaos that was ensuing.
