Hans Zimmer’s Best Movie Scores

Hans Zimmer is one of the greatest composers of the modern movie era, and it’s safe to say that anyone who’s seen a film from the 80s to the 2020s onwards has heard Hans Zimmer’s music in at least one movie. Hans Zimmer always has varied sounds in his compositions, and his talent far exceeds what a list of his greatest tracks can show.

Hans Zimmer is a brilliant talent who has composed some iconic pieces of music, and his work in these movies has highlighted his musical genius to elevate the movies audiences watch, and to please the ears of listeners who want to remember the beauty of his sound.

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Man of Steel

A Bold New Sound for a Superman Outside of John Williams’ Shadow

No one will deny the importance of John Williams’s sounds that he brought to the big screen, and none can deny that his Superman theme is entirely catchy and fits the character perfectly. Yet, Hans Zimmer did an equally impressive job with Superman during his time on Man of Steel, providing the character with depth through sound in both tragedy and heroism.

Zimmer’s work on Man of Steel is varied in tone, and Superman’s fare comes in the form of bustling trombones and swelling orchestral sounds that emit immense power that shows the tone of Man of Steel perfectly – that a god can be among us, and he can be all good. Man of Steel doesn’t need John Williams to be memorable, and Zimmer’s sound proves just that.

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The Last Samurai

A Gentle and Cultured Sound Deserving of Appreciation

Hans Zimmer’s work on The Last Samurai might not get the attention it deserves, and it’s the perfect tracklist to show how varied of a talent Hans Zimmer is when it comes to understanding the tone of instrumentals that would be perfect for the movie he is working on. The Last Samurai excels in bringing culture and a gentle nature to music which makes for the perfect soundtrack for the movie.

While most of The Last Samurai’s music has a somber approach, it’s impossible to deny that the sounds provided are integral to the story of the movie. The soundtrack never swells to bolstering heights, and that’s what makes the instruments work wonders because it follows the actions of the movie’s story.

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Inception

Creating a New Sound for a New Age of Cinema

While some might snicker at the BRAAAM sound of Inception, it just goes to show the varied cultural impact Hans Zimmer has on movie scores. Outside of the onomatopoeia, Hans Zimmer’s work on Inception is wonderfully curated and composed, with new heights of ascension provided to listeners with piano, brass instruments, and violins.

Inception highlights action and the frenzy of dreams within dreams within dreams with tracks like Mombasa, but the true height of potential for the soundtrack comes from Time, a track that has easily cemented itself as one of the best pieces from any composer thanks to its bolstering swell and engaging sound.

5

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End

Epic Sound to Highlight the Action and Romance of a Pirate’s Life

While Hans Zimmer’s sound for the Pirates of the Caribbean is immortalized in its theme, it’s his work on the final part of the trilogy, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, that truly cements him as an icon. The finale of a trilogy is always going to be big, and Zimmer excels at creating beautiful and triumphant sounds that mix emotion and action well.

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End might not be as hopeful and quirky as the previous musical entries in the Pirates of the Caribbean series, but that’s entirely what makes it great. The more serious tonal sound adds to the drama and tracks like One Day just highlight the epic nature of this grand sea-faring adventure.

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The Lion King

Orchestral Magic and Culture Rolled Into Wonderful Disney Movies

When The Lion King is so good, it’s no surprise that Hans Zimmer had to come back and do it again. Hans Zimmer is responsible for some truly beautiful sounds from The Lion King, in both the 1994 animated movie and the 2019 live-action remake. Aided by the talent of Lebo M. and other incredible artists, The Lion King provides authentic sounds of Africa that spark heroism, adventure, and culture.

While most will remember The Lion King for the incredible duet of Can You Feel the Love Tonight, Hans Zimmer’s work is incredibly important for the movie, whether that’s the transcendence of heartache from Reflections of Mufasa, or the brilliant celebration of life with Simba Is Alive!

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Gladiator

An Encapsulation of Grief, Violence, and Hope

Lightning strikes with the score to Gladiator, which blends the elements of orchestral sound to perfectly encapsulate the atmosphere and the tone of the movie itself. Much of the sound helps guide listeners through the emotional journey of a general, a grieving husband and father, and a hero, all tied together through brilliant composition and of course Lisa Gerrard’s vocals.

While the entire soundtrack is of brilliance, tracks like Now We Are Free and Honor Him highlight the immortality of the Gladiator soundtrack through their authentic sounds that take players on a journey as triumphant and memorable as the movie’s visuals and story.

2

Dune: Part Two

As Large and Thematic as the Movie Itself

While Hans Zimmer’s work on Dune (2021) is incredible, he builds upon the success of his creativity with Dune: Part Two, a movie that continues the tragedy of House Atreides. Plot aside, the sound encapsulated by Hans Zimmer is truly legendary, and the delicate play of instruments like the flute brings audiences to the warm sands and invites them truly into the love story of Paul and Chani.

Dune: Part Two’s music is arguably more metal than the first, but still leaves room for blossoming moments of romance. Woven into Hans Zimmer’s score is immense beauty and passion, but also equal amounts of danger from the boastful vocals of Loire Cotler.

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Interstellar

The Sounds of the Universe Encapsulated in a Symphony

Interstellar is easily one of Christopher Nolan’s greatest movies, and part of that comes from the riveting score by Hans Zimmer. Interstellar’s track list is incredible, and the emotions felt throughout each track range from heartbreaking, to anxiety-inducing, and utterly breathtaking in pure beauty.

There are so many elements to Interstellar’s score that complement its design, like the use of a church organ throughout much of its intensity. It’s hard to imagine the cold and empty reality of space without it being filled by the warm sounds of Hans Zimmer’s orchestral triumph.