Having a powerful soundtrack is integral to building the atmosphere of any film, and in the past 10 years, several films have provided musical scores that have since been overlooked. This comes even though these scores perfectly encapsulate the settings of their films, crafting important moments through sound and adding emotion to any scene. Given how musical movies sometimes dominate the Oscars and other awards when it comes to soundtrack recognition, films from other genres end up not getting as much love.

Some soundtracks were made iconic for being repeatable, often famous as jukebox soundtracks featuring iconic songs from across the ages. Others rely on orchestral power, building something from the heart rather than recognition of the songs included in the film. This careful balance has built the foundation for some of the best movies of all time, showing just how important choosing the right music can really be.

10

Suspiria (2018)

Thom Yorke

A good supernatural horror film is an atmospheric one, and Susperia not only meets that qualification, but exceeds it as well. Starring Dakota Johnson and Tilda Swinton, the film brings witches to the modern era set against the backdrop of a dance academy. The plot itself is tense, with the events of the story only made even more dire by an expertly crafted soundtrack.

The soundtrack for the film was created by Thom Yorke, the lead singer of the popular band Radiohead. Susperia‘s soundtrack was his first for a film, and yet the score manages to capture the raw emotion portrayed throughout the movie in broad strokes, accelerated by electronic melodies. Most importantly, this music never overshadows the plot unfolding before the viewer, inviting them in as opposed to drowning out the moment.

9

Sicario (2015)

Jóhann Jóhannsson

Jóhann Jóhannsson has created beautiful soundtracks for several movies, including Prisoners, Arrival, and even Mandy. However, the film Sicario, which tells the story of an FBI agent who works with a Sicario ᴀssᴀssin to take on a drug cartel, stands out among the rest. It is especially motivating, punctuating moments of terrifying revelation with a minimalism that maximizes the darkness lingering inside the movie’s characters.

The score of Sicario has the unique ability to strike at the hearts of the characters involved, creating a snapsH๏τ of each of them without using words. There is a fight against good and evil mixed into the soundtrack, mixing into a lingering world of gray. The score itself was nominated for an Academy Award for the year 2015, but it eventually lost to The Hateful Eight.

8

1917 (2019)

Thomas Newman

As a film, 1917 is a pinnacle achievement for a variety of reasons, including the fact that with hard work and clever filmmaking techniques, the entire film looks as though it was made in two continuous sH๏τs. It catalogs two soldiers’ journey to deliver a message in the hopes of calling off an attack, showing the horrors of World War I in the process. The powerful message of this war film is backed by perfectly thematic music, created by renowned composer Thomas Newman.

The director of 1917, Sam Mendes, is known for his collaborations with Newman in several different films. For a war movie, there is plenty of variety in 1917‘s soundtrack, something that sets it apart from other films that fit into a similar genre. It is also another film that was nominated for the Best Original Score Academy Award but also lost out when the awards were given.

7

Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (2023)

Daniel Pemberton

Unless they are categorically considered musicals, the musical scores of animated movies are often overlooked. However, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse has musical backing that cannot be understated, even surpᴀssing the creative stylings of the original film in the series. Continuing the journey of new Spider-Man Miles Morales, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse explodes with action and bright pops of color, something that the soundtrack also reflects.

Daniel Pemberton’s work on the sequel is simply outstanding, creating tracks that truly stand out for each of the iconic characters in the cast. Despite the fact they are all Spider-Man in some way, the music helps to set them apart. This is especially true in the case of Spider-Man 2099, Miguel O’Hara, whose theme is immediately recognizable from the bombastic introductory musical cue.

6

The Shape Of Water (2017)

Alexandre Desplat

At its core, The Shape of Water is a whimsical exploration of love in all its forms. Not only does it detail a woman who falls in love with what many would consider a monster, but it also features the two of them fighting back against powers greater than either of them. Combined, the two manage to outlast the odds in a film that is as unique as it is inherently beautiful.

There is something wistful about the soundtrack of The Shape of Water that is reminiscent of summer loves, of bittersweet memories, all wrapped together with a sense of emotion that transcends words. It matches perfectly with the watercolor painting style of Guillermo del Toro’s directing, making the film feel even more like a dream than it does based on appearance alone. It is beautiful and perfect for a listen on any rainy day.

5

Godzilla Minus One (2023)

Naoki Satō

The score of Godzilla Minus One is a fantastic entry in a long line of iconic films, creating something that transcends what has come before while honoring the franchise’s history. Created by Naoki Satō, the soundtrack for Godzilla Minus One accompanies a narrative that shows humanity’s desperate struggle against the kaiju monster Godzilla.

The soundtrack itself is an exercise in turning a monster into a legend, making Godzilla feel like an insurmountable threat. There is something intimate to the score as well, capable of moving with the swells of the plot and the explosive attacks from the monster itself. The score also pays homage to the original Godzilla film, taking that inspiration and turning it into something both loving and mythical.

4

Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)

Tom Holkenborg

Mad Max: Fury Road continues a longstanding tradition of post-apocalyptic Mad Max films, following the life of the тιтular Max as he jumps from one fight to another. Fueled by gasoline, the film’s most iconic battles take place on the road, with Max helping the “wives” of Immortan Joe and attempting to bring them back to their homes. The struggle is a desperate one, something that the music shows as well.

Built on a strong baseline of heart-pounding percussion, turning what should be a mess of noise into a raw example of the tension splitting the film. In each of the scenes, the mix of drums, guitars, and other loud musical additions mix and create something that leaves viewers on the edge of their seats. The soundtrack reflects older entries in the Mad Max series while creating something entirely new, amplifying the action to heights never thought possible.

3

The Green Knight (2021)

Daniel Hart

Written as a recreation of the original Arthurian tale, The Green Knight is a stylish film that takes the cinematography of its subject very seriously. Taking place on Christmas Day, would-be knight Gawain’s life is thrust into chaos when he takes up the challenge of the Green Knight. When asked to land a blow on the Green Knight, he lops off the man’s head, a blow that the Green Knight promises to return to Gawain in the next year.

Many medieval soundtracks take a more hopeful approach to their music, but The Green Knight couldn’t be further from the norm. More in line with the scores of psychological horror films, Daniel Hart instead chooses to set the viewer on edge with discordant harmonies and tense tones, only leaving the viewer wondering if Gawain really will die on his journey. There is a sense of uncertainty that permeates both the narrative and the music, adding a sort of resonance to the film as a whole.

2

Hereditary (2018)

Colin Stetson & Rob Kleiner

The horror film Hereditary sees one tragedy after another befall the Graham family, beginning with the death of the children’s grandmother and continuing when young Charlie Graham is accidentally beheaded while suffering from an allergic reaction. Things only become more dire as the mother of the family becomes obsessed with the spirit of Charlie and attempts to contact her in the afterlife. It is from there that the uncertainty of the supernatural haunts the narrative of the film, making for an interesting story about grief and familial suffering.

The soundtrack of Hereditary is surprisingly hopeful despite the terror lingering in the plot. This discordance is unsettling in its own way, throwing the viewer off in a way few films manage to achieve. There is no better example of this than the ending of the film, which shows a now-possessed Peter Graham ᴀssuming the place of the demon Paimon, a horrifying ending punctuated by triumphant trumpets and almost royal fanfare.

1

Blade Runner 2049 (2017)

Hans Zimmer & Benjamin Wallfisch

The eagerly anticipated sequel to the original Blade Runner film takes place thirty years after its predecessor, focusing on a Blade Runner named K, played by Ryan Gosling. Rick Deckard makes a reappearance in Blade Runner 2049 as well, directly linking the plots of both movies. Everything about the original Blade Runner directly inspired the sequel, from the cinematography to the musical score.

When it comes to the sound of the score, it is deeply atmospheric in a way that only Hans Zimmer’s best work really is. The sound is all-encompᴀssing, surrounding the viewer in a soundscape that teleports anyone listening to a rainy city somewhere in the far future. There is also an incredible song in the score тιтled “Tears in the Rain,” which is a direct callback to the iconic speech made by Rutger Hauer’s Roy Batty at the end of the first film.