The Top 10 Soul-Stirring Movie Soundtracks of All Time
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In need of a good cry? These are the top 10 movies with the most soul-stirring soundtracks of all time. From classics like The Titanic to modern movies like A Star is Born, these are the films that will make you feel all the feels.
The Shawshank Redemption
The Shawshank Redemption is a 1994 American drama film written and directed by Frank Darabont, based on the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. It tells the story of banker Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), who is sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary for the murder of his wife and her lover, despite his claims of innocence. Over the following two decades, he befriends a fellow prisoner, contraband smuggler Ellis “Red” Redding (Morgan Freeman), and becomes instrumental in a money-laundering operation led by the prison warden Samuel Norton (Bob Gunton).
The soundtrack was composed by Thomas Newman and released on September 13, 1994, through Columbia Records. It features 12 tracks of score music, as well as four songs recorded specifically for the film: “Shawshank Redemption” by Leona Lewis; “Beautiful Things” by Guster; Mой Билет на Поезд (“My Ticket to the Train”) by Ilya Lagutenko; and “Something Every Day” by Feist. The album was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score at the 67th Academy Awards.
Forrest Gump
1. Forrest Gump – “Feeling Good” by Nina Simone
2. The Shawshank Redemption – “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley
3. The Dark Knight – “A Dark Knight” by Hans Zimmer
4. The Godfather – “Speak Softly Love” by Andy Williams
5. Gladiator – “Now We Are Free” by Lisa Gerrard and Hans Zimmer
6. The Lion King – “Circle of Life” by Elton John
7. Titanic – “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion
8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – “The Good, the Bad and the Ugly” by Ennio Morricone
9. Lawrence of Arabia – “Lawrence of Arabia Theme” by Maurice Jarre
10. Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope – “Main Theme” by John Williams
Titanic
The Titanic soundtrack, composed and conducted by James Horner, with lyrics by Will Jennings, was released in 1997. It became the best-selling primarily orchestral soundtrack album in history, and remains one of the top-selling albums of all time. The film’s signature song “My Heart Will Go On”, performed by Celine Dion, became one of the best-selling singles of all time and won both the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Award for Record of the Year.
The Dark Knight
The Dark Knight is one of the most popular and well-reviewed films of all time, and its soundtrack is just as iconic. Featuring a mix of classic rock, hip-hop, and orchestral pieces, the music perfectly complements the film’s dark and brooding tone.
Other notable tracks on the album include “A Dark Knight” by Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard, “Why So Serious?” by The Joker (Heath Ledger), and “I’m Not a Hero” by Batman (Christian Bale).
The Godfather
The Godfather is a 1972 American crime film directed by Francis Ford Coppola and produced by Albert S. Ruddy, based on Mario Puzo’s best-selling novel of the same name. It stars Marlon Brando and Al Pacino as the leaders of a fictional New York crime family. The story spans 10 years (1945–1955) from 1945 to 1955 and chronicles the family under the patriarch Vito Corleone (Brando), focusing on the transformation of Michael Corleone (Pacino) from reluctant family outsider to ruthless mafia boss.
agging with 10 Academy Award nominations, The Godfather won three, including Best Picture. The Godfather’s soundtrack was as iconic as the film itself, featuring classics such as “Speak Softly Love” and “I Have but One Heart”.
The Silence of the Lambs
The Silence of the Lambs is a 1991 American horror-thriller film directed by Jonathan Demme and starring Jodie Foster, Anthony Hopkins, and Scott Glenn. Based on Thomas Harris’ 1988 novel of the same name, the film follows FBI trainee Clarice Starling as she seeks the advice of imprisoned cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter to catch another serial killer, known only as “Buffalo Bill”. The novel was originally adapted into a movie in 1986 by director Michael Mann, but Mann’s take was significantly different from what would eventually be made.
The movie was a critical and commercial success, grossing $272 million worldwide against its $19 million budget. It became only the third film, after It Happened One Night (1934) and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975), to win Academy Awards in all the top five categories: Best Picture, Best Actor (Hopkins), Best Actress (Foster), Best Director (Demme), and Best Adapted Screenplay (Ted Tally).
The Godfather Part II
It’s pretty much impossible to talk about great movie soundtracks without mentioning The Godfather Part II. The 1974 film is widely considered to be one of the greatest sequels of all time, and its soundtrack is nothing short of exceptional.
The Godfather Part II features a number of great tracks, but the standout is definitely “Speak Softly Love” by Andy Williams. The track perfectly captures the film’s mood of nostalgia and Regret, and it’s impossible to hear it without getting chills.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
It would be impossible to overstate the importance of music in movie history. Songs and scores have the power to elevate a scene, define a character, or simply create an unforgettable mood. They can make us laugh, cry, or even terrify us. For this list, we’ve chosen our favorite soundtracks that do all of those things and more. These are the 10 most soul-stirring movie soundtracks of all time.
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
One of the most sweeping and epic sagas ever committed to film deserves an equally epic score, and Howard Shore’s work on The Lord of the Rings trilogy is nothing short of a masterclass in film composition. From the grandiose “Concerning Hobbits” to the heart-wrenching “In Dreams,” Shore’s music is as integral to the films as any of the performances or special effects.
The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Released in December of 2002, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers was the second film in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy. Based on the novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, the movie follows the continuing journey of Frodo Baggins as he attempts to destroy the One Ring. While the first film in the series focused mainly on setting up the story, The Two Towers is where things really start to pick up steam.
The movie is filled with incredible action sequences, heart-wrenching drama, and some of the most breathtaking scenery ever put to film. It’s also home to one of the most soul-stirring soundtracks of all time.
Composed by Howard Shore, the score for The Two Towers is an absolute tour de force. Shore expertly weaves together themes from the first film with new material, creating a musical tapestry that perfectly complements the on-screen action. From triumphant anthems like “The Riders of Rohan” to more subdued pieces like “Gollum’s Song”, Shore’s score is nothing short of cinematic perfection.
If you’re a fan of movie soundtracks, or even just good music in general, then The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers should definitely be near the top of your list.
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King is widely considered to be one of the greatest movie soundtracks of all time. Released in 2003, it was composed by Howard Shore and featured an incredible array of world-renowned performers, including the London Symphony Orchestra, the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and the Players Orchestra of London. The music perfectly mirrors the emotional journey of the characters in the film, and has been known to bring audiences to tears.
