The 15 Best Hans Zimmer Movie Scores, Ranked (2024)

With a career that has spanned more than four decades, Hans Zimmer has become one of the most iconic and prolific composers of all time. Thanks to his work in several well-known pictures, such as popular fantasy franchises like Pirates of the Caribbean and historical epics such as Gladiator, the German musician now has an impressive twelve Academy Award nominations (and two wins) under his belt.

However, with so many incredible scores that Zimmer put out, it can be difficult to pick which one stands out among the rest. To celebrate the remarkable composer's work, we look back at his most memorable anthems that evoke strong emotions in global audiences. As seen in movies like The Da Vinci Code and Interstellar, these are the best Hans Zimmer movie scores.

15 'Rain Man' (1988)

Directed by Barry Levinson

Tom Cruise takes the lead role in Barry Levinson’s Rain Man, which centers around a car dealer who discovers that his autistic brother (Dustin Hoffman) is getting his father’s multi-million dollar state. Charlie initially takes Raymond on a cross-country road trip to attempt and gain control of his inheritance. However, the two end up forming a deeper bond.

While the outstanding performances from both leads are an unforgettable element in Rain Man, helping audiences easily connect and care for its characters, and Levinson’s direction is nothing short of incredible, this compelling tale of family dynamics greatly benefits from Hans Zimmer’s incredible score, which enhances the movie’s emotional complexity and adds to the story’s impact. Rain Man is the perfect pick for those who enjoy dramedies and challenge misconceptions and stereotypes.

Rain Man

R

Comedy

Drama

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Release Date

December 16, 1988

Director

Barry Levinson

Cast

Tom Cruise , Dustin Hoffman , Valeria Golino

Runtime

134 Minutes

14 'The Last Samurai' (2003)

Directed by Edward Zwick

Edward Zwick’s The Last Samurai, also starring Cruise, sees an American military officer hired to train the Japanese army in modern warfare. However, when Captain Nathan Algren is captured by the last group of Samurai warriors and learns about Samurai life, seeing his respect for the Samurai and their traditions growing, he starts to rethink his quest.

The stunning cinematography that beautifully captures Japanese landscapes is undoubtedly a strong element of this beloved Edward Zwick movie; the action sequences featured are also nothing short of spectacular. Still, the storyline that reflects on honor and tradition as cultural clashes between Japanese ideals and Western ones, in addition to Zimmer’s emotionally profound score that perfectly blends the two cultures, are, too, aspects worth noting.

The Last Samurai

R

Action

Drama

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Release Date

December 5, 2003

Director

Edward Zwick

Cast

Ken Watanabe , Tom Cruise , William Atherton , Chad Lindberg , Ray Godshall Sr. , Billy Connolly

Runtime

154 minutes

13 'Man of Steel' (2013)

Directed by Zack Snyder

Illustrating the origin story of Clark Kent (Henry Cavill) as he discovers his extraterrestrial heritage and embraces his role as the iconic superhero Superman, Man of Steel is one of the most beloved entries in the DCEU so far — and it’s not difficult to see why.

Examining identity and purpose while depicting Kent’s self-growth and acceptance journey while also highlighting how great power comes with great responsibility, this Zack Snyder movie is an epic watch when it comes to superhero movies. Some believe it to be a compelling reimagining of the heroic character, which is partly what makes it an appealing watch. Hans Zimmer’s meticulously crafted and powerful soundtrack enhances Superman’s heroic journey and elevates every scene, whether emotional conflict or action-packed battles, to higher ground.

Man of Steel

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

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Release Date

June 12, 2013

Director

Zack Snyder

Cast

Henry Cavill , Amy Adams , Michael Shannon , Diane Lane , Russell Crowe , Antje Traue

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Runtime

148

12 'Blade Runner 2049' (2017)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

Flawlessly directed by Denis Villeneuve, Blade Runner 2049 stars Ryan Gosling in one of his most memorable roles so far. It sees a replicant who works as a Blade Runner for the LAPD who uncovers a long-buried secret that could unravel society while on a mission. Throughout the movie, he eventually finds his way to Harrison Ford’s iconic character, Rick Deckard, who appeared in the original Blade Runner film.

Identity and alienation are key themes in this thought-provoking Villeneuve movie, which also benefits from a genuinely absorbing worldbuilding. It is worth noting that while Blade Runner 2049 excels visually, it probably wouldn’t be as impactful without Hans Zimmer and Benjamin Wallfisch’s astounding score, which is an integral part of the movie’s mood, adding emotional weight to crucial scenes and deepening the meaning of the narrative.

Blade Runner 2049

R

Sci-Fi

Action

Drama

Mystery

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Release Date

October 6, 2017

Director

Denis Villeneuve

Cast

Ryan Gosling , Ana De Armas , Dave Bautista , Harrison Ford , Robin Wright , Sylvia Hoeks

Runtime

164 minutes

11 'The Da Vinci Code' (2006)

Directed by Ron Howard

The first in the RobertLangdon film series, The Da Vinci Code is a RonHoward mystery thriller starring TomHanks in the lead role and based on Dan Brown's iconic bestselling 2003 novel of the same name. The plot illustrates the aftermath of a murder inside the Louvre and the clues left in Da Vinci's paintings, which leads to the uncovering of a religious mystery protected by a secret society.

Despite its poor reviews, The Da Vinci Code was a commercial success and the second highest-grossing movie of 2006. While Horwad's feature may not be at the top of its category, it is nonetheless an enjoyable watch that will appeal to mystery enthusiasts. Part of what makes the Langdon film so appealing and immersive has to do with Zimmer's incredible Golden Globe-nominatedscore, on top of the great lead performance from the talented Hanks.

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10 'The Prince of Egypt' (1998)

Directed by Brenda Chapman, Simon Wells, and Steve Hickner

An oftentimes overlooked feature, the musical drama The Prince of Egypt takes audiences back to Ancient Egypt and illustrates the intriguing story of Prince Moses, voiced by Val Kilmer, who was once an innocent baby hidden in a wicker basket. Throughout the movie, Moses embarks on a self-discovery journey, eventually embracing his identity as a Hebrew and his destiny to become the deliverer of his people.

With an astounding Hans Zimmer score to match its incredible visuals, The Prince of Egypt is certainly worthwhile. While it may not be the best animation film out there (though some believe it to be the best DreamWorks feature), it is quite a decent effort and an enjoyable viewing experience, especially for fans of the genre. Recorded entirely in London, Zimmer's impeccable score successfully helped bring this enchanting tale to life.

The Prince of Egypt

PG

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Release Date

December 16, 1998

Director

Brenda Chapman , Steve Hickner , Simon Wells

Cast

Val Kilmer , Ralph Fiennes , Michelle Pfeiffer , Sandra Bullock , Jeff Goldblum , Danny Glover

Runtime

99

Main Genre

Animation

9 The 'Sherlock Holmes' Franchise

Directed by Guy Ritchie

Robert Downey Jr. may be best known for his role as Marvel's Tony Stark. However, his efforts as the iconic Sherlock Holmes are also notable (though, say, Benedict Cumberbatch's take on the character is surely a fan favorite). In the Sherlock Holmes film franchise, Downey steps foot on screen as the iconic detective, often engaging in battles of witts with his partner Watson (Jude Law).

Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes movie series is far from being the best adaptation of Conan Doyle's works. Still, it is deserving of audiences' attention thanks to Downey's efforts, which were good enough to earn him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy. Zimmer's incredible work in the Sherlock Holmes saga was not short of praise, too: the composer was Academy Award-nominated for Best Original Score for the first film.

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8 ‘Dunkirk’ (2017)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Taking audiences back to World War II, Dunkirk stars Fionn Whitehead as a young British soldier, following his experiences trying to escape from Dunkirk. Meanwhile, Mr. Dawson (Mark Rylance) sails his boat to assist in the evacuation. The movie also depicts the aerial efforts of RAF pilot Farrier (Tom Glynn-Carney) and his fellow team to support and protect those on the ground.

Christopher Nolan’s incredibly well-crafted and profound movie is a fascinating watch, not only because it presents the story through three interwoven timelines with excellent results, but also for the other elements such as the cinematography and incredible score. Hans Zimmer’s efforts in Dunkirk are often regarded as some of his best, with the ticking clock motif effectively evoking a high sense of pressure and urgency that compliments its narrative quite well.

Dunkirk

PG-13

Drama

Action

History

Thriller

War

Where to Watch

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Release Date

July 19, 2017

Director

Christopher Nolan

Cast

Tom Hardy , Cillian Murphy , Kenneth Branagh , Mark Rylance , Harry Styles , James D'Arcy

Runtime

107 minutes

7 'The Dark Knight' (2008)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Among Christopher Nolan's most noteworthy films is the incredible superhero flick The Dark Knight, for which the late Heath Ledger earned an Academy Award. The second film in the "Nolanverse," The Dark Knight introduces audiences to the menace known as Joker, who causes chaos for the city and people of Gotham who rely on Christian Bale's Batman (Christian Bale) to fight injustice.

Zimmer is well-known for his partnerships with Nolan and this epic collaboration is no exception. The composer managed to deliver yet another awe-inspiring score thanks to his undeniable talents, which ultimately resulted in elevating this already flawless film to even higher grounds. With a thoroughly entertaining narrative, action-packed scenes, and memorable characters to match, The Dark Knight is easily among the best films of its genre.

The Dark Knight

PG-13

Action

Crime

Thriller

Superhero

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Release Date

July 18, 2008

Director

Christopher Nolan

Cast

Christian Bale , Heath Ledger , Aaron Eckhart , Michael Caine , Maggie Gyllenhaal , Gary Oldman

Runtime

152 minutes

6 'Inception' (2010)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

Up next is Nolan's Inception, which remains a puzzling watch to some even today. While not as complicated as some make it to be, Inception's narrative is far from simplistic and that is exactly what makes it stand out. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio in the lead role, this mind-bending science fiction flick follows Dominick Cobb on a quest to infiltrate the subconscious mind of his target and extract information through shared dreaming.

Zimmer's track "Time," beautifully featured in Nolan's film, is one of the most influential movie scores ever made, which is why it rightfully earned two very deserved Oscar noms: Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures and Original Score. Through Zimmer's talents, this unconventional heist film's extraordinary worldbuilding and edge-of-your-seat, but touching premise is elevated to even higher grounds.

Inception

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Mystery

Sci-Fi

Thriller

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Release Date

July 15, 2010

Director

Christopher Nolan

Cast

Leonardo DiCaprio , Ken Watanabe , Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Marion Cotillard , elliot page , Tom Hardy

Runtime

148

5 'Dune' (2021)

Directed by Denis Villeneuve

With a very successful new installment now in theaters, Dune has proven to be among the most promising movie franchises ever made. Starring Timothée Chalamet in the lead role and based on the 1965 book of the same name by FrankHerbert, Denis Villeneuve's action-adventure drama follows the noble family Atreides, who becomes embroiled in a war for control over the galaxy's most valuable asset.

It is evident that the Dune's visuals and acting performances are otherworldly, but Zimmer's masterful score certainly helps complement it and stand out even more, bringing audiences to the heart of the movie and fully involving viewers in its unforgettable story. In addition to being faithful to its source material and an overall undeniably well-crafted feature, Dune is the perfect pick for those into absorbing cinematic universes.

Dune

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Adventure

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Release Date

October 22, 2021

Director

Denis Villeneuve

Cast

Rebecca Ferguson , Zendaya Coleman , Jason Momoa , Timothée Chalamet , Josh Brolin , David Dastmalchian

Runtime

155 Minutes

4 'Gladiator' (2000)

Directed by Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott's Gladiator stands tall among other historical epics, and for good reason. With top-notch direction and an unforgettable main character, the Russell Crowe-led flick — which endures one of his most remarkable movie roles — centers around a former Roman General who sets out to exact vengeance against the corrupt emperor (Joaquin Phoenix) who exiled his family and eventually sent him into slavery.

Tackling themes of duty, loyalty, and family, this high-grossing Ridley Scott must-see endures a true delight — part of that has to do with its astounding music. While it is a slightly different score than the ones other composers usually attributed to the "sword-and-sandals" genre back in the 1950s and 1960s, Zimmer's efforts in Gladiator are certainly memorable and deserve a spot among his best. The album was nominated for the Best Score Oscar and took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Score.

Gladiator

R

Action

Adventure

Drama

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Release Date

May 5, 2000

Director

Ridley Scott

Cast

Russell Crowe , Joaquin Phoenix , Connie Nielsen , Oliver Reed , Richard Harris , Derek Jacobi

Runtime

155 minutes

3 The 'Pirates of the Caribbean' Franchise

Directed by Espen Sandberg, Gore Verbinski, Joachim Rønning, and Rob Marshall

It's impossible to talk about Hans Zimmer and not immediately think about Pirate of the Caribbean's "I Am a Pirate," as it has become one of the quintessential tracks by the renowned composer. While several different events take place throughout the saga, the first installment, The Curse of the Black Pearl, follows the eccentric Captain Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) on a quest to recover his long-lost ship. In the meantime, Will Turner (Orlando Bloom) teams up to save his love (Keira Knightley) from Jack's former pirate allies.

Many things make Pirates of the Caribbean a great franchise — well, the first three films essentially — and Zimmer's remarkable efforts are at the top of the list; it is extremely difficult to picture the franchise achieving the same critical and commercial success without its trademark scores. While it has seen better days, Pirates of the Caribbean remains a beloved movie series that conquered the hearts of many.

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

PG-13

Action

Adventure

Fantasy

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Release Date

July 9, 2003

Director

Gore Verbinski

Cast

Johnny Depp , Geoffrey Rush , Orlando Bloom , Keira Knightley , Jack Davenport , Jonathan Pryce

Runtime

143 minutes

2 'The Lion King' (1994)

Directed by Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff

After all these years, the legacy of the internationally beloved Disney flick The Lion King remains unchanged. Centering around the young lion Simba (Matthew Broderick), the rightful prince of the African Savanna, the Roger Allers and Rob Minkoff tearjerker feature provides audiences with poignant messages about grief and loss after Simba's father (James Earl Jones) dies in an accident staged by his uncle, Scar (Jeremy Irons). Simba is forced to take charge as the rightful heir to the throne.

Moving and extraordinarily affecting, leaving a huge imprint on both animated cinema and pop culture, The Lion King is now considered one of the best animated movies ever made. As such, it only makes sense that Hans Zimmer's fantastic work in the Disney film is given the due recognition, especially considering how the composer traveled to Africa to use African choirs and drums in the recording of the score and the way it ultimately helped shape the story.

The Lion King (1994)

G

Animation

Adventure

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date

June 24, 1994

Director

Rob Minkoff , Roger Allers

Cast

Matthew Broderick , Jeremy Irons , James Earl Jones

Runtime

88 minutes

1 'Interstellar' (2014)

Directed by Christopher Nolan

At the top of this list is, of course, Nolan's Interstellar. Set in the near future, the sci-fi epic features a tour de force by Matthew McConaughey as an ex-NASA pilot who is tasked with a seemingly impossible mission to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans after the Earth becomes uninhabitable.

It would be impossible not to rank Interstellar this high with tracks like the beautiful, helpless, and somehow equal amounts hopeful "Cornfield Chase." The Christopher Nolan flick is an incredible achievement on its own, but Hans Zimmer's powerful tracks undeniably manage to make it an even more enjoyable and heart-wrenching watch, poignantly tackling time and space and meditating about how love is the only thing that transcends them.

Interstellar

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Adventure

Drama

Where to Watch

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Release Date

November 7, 2014

Director

Christopher Nolan

Cast

Matthew McConaughey , Anne Hathaway , Jessica Chastain , Michael Caine , Bill Irwin , Casey Affleck

Runtime

169 minutes

NEXT: The Best Movies Scored by Ennio Morricone, According to IMDb