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- Star Wars (1977)-One of the most instantly recognizable pieces of movie music ever. It's bombastic, majestic and transports you to a galaxy....well, you know. Just writing this makes me think of Jaws, droids and the Millennium Falcon. One of several John Williams orchestrations you'll find in this list
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- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) - Two musical themes are prominent in this film which was largely without dialogue. The opening scenes of the chimps and monolith are set to Richard Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra"...an ominous piece filled with portent. Later, we hear Johann Strauss's "the Blue Danube" as the space ship floats endlessly through time and space.
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- Jaws (1975) - John Willilams' groundbreaking score is what amps up the fear as we initially see very little of the actual shark.
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- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) - Impossible not to whistle this one for days after seeing any Indy film. Perhaps the most iconic theme music ever, or at least in the Top 3.
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- Rocky (1976) - Who hasn't hummed this while sprinting to the top of a particular nasty little hill? Utterly triumphant and glorious!
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- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) - Another Williams composition. If you grew up in the late 70s, then the five-note riff that was the alien mother ship’s signal is ingrained in your brain like the ABC's. Steven Spielberg wrote the script at the same time as Williams composed the score, an almost unheard-of collaborative move.
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- The Sting (1973) - The Ragtime score fit like a glove with the 1930s setting of the film and the con game atmosphere. Marvin Hamlisch's adaptation of Scott Joplin's "The Entertainer" is the film's theme, and will stay with you for days.
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- Heat (1995) - No filmmaker working today understands the impact music has on a film than Michael Mann. The music in his crime masterpiece, done by Elliott Goldenthal with help from Moby, U2 and Brian Eno, is a perfect example. Watch the scene when Amy Brennamen learns that De Niro's character isn't really in metals. Chills. And the last scene, with Pacino & De Niro? GIMME ALL YOU GOT!
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- Last of the Mohicans (1992) - All you need to know about the incredible power and passion of this score (from another Mann movie) is that Nike used its central theme - "Promentory" by Trevor Jones - for a football commercial last year.
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- The Big Country (1958) - Jeffrey calls this the best ever. Sweeping epic music. Can hear it 100 times.
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- The Godfather (1972) - Haunting and beautiful.
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- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) - Tells the story of the movie. Thrilling.
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- Now, Voyager (1942) - max steiner wrote the music. Schmaltzy, warner bros. "weepers.' hauntingly beautiful.
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- Dr. Zhivago (1965) - by Maurice Jarre. Perfect romantic epic score.
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- Love story (1970) - Bt francis lai. It just goes with the tear jerking story.
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- The Great Escape (1963) – Stirring and rousing adventure music.
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- Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) - 'Colonel Bogey' too racy to sing the lyrics in 1957.
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- The Vikings (1958) - Adventurous, stirring.
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- Gladiator (2000) - Hans Zimmer's muscular score sparked some controversy for similarities to Gustav Holtz but it remains a stirring, pulsating bit of music that helped make Ridley Scott's sword and sandal pic unforgettable.
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- Manhattan. Alison says this is easily one of the best pairing of music and cinematography ever. Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" as fireworks explode over the skyline of Manhattan and city scenes and presage a romantic love affair. Brilliant.
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- Brief Encounter (1946) - This David Lean weepie is inextricably linked with Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto no.2 which plays throughout. It illustrates the stifling home life of Celia Johnson and the doomed passion of her affair with suave doctor, Leslie Howard.
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- The Apartment. Our director, Susan McNeeley, says the music for this film is her all time favorite.
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- Chinatown (1974) - Jerry Goldsmith's score is as perfect as everything else in this utterly classic film noir.
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- A Man and a Woman (1966) - lovely, romantic score for an unabashed weeper.
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- Romeo and Juliet (1968) - Franco Zeffirelli's acclaimed adaptation of the Bard had a lot of help from Nino Rota's music.
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