Puffculture: The 10 Best Movie Franchise Theme Songs

The theme of a franchise can make or break it, and movie producers will go to great lengths to find the right sound for their films. There have been some truly legendary themes in the world of movie franchises which makes picking only 10 so difficult! I've based my selection on how well it's remembered by movie-goers, suitability for the franchise and it's legendary status.

10. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly
Written by Ennio Morricone for Sergio Leone's Fistful of Dollars trilogy (I'm starting to understand why they're called spaghetti westerns now) this theme quickly grew into it's own entity, and made it's way into pop culture.

9. He's a Pirate
The entire soundtrack for Pirates of the Caribbean was written by Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer, but the breakaway theme was titled "He's a Pirate" and can be heard in some fashion in each of the 4 movies in the franchise. Over the years this bombastic song has become instantly recognizable, even to those who haven't seen the films.

8. Jurassic Park Theme
Composed by John Williams (who it's worth noting had a hand in a lot of the scores on this list), the theme for Jurassic Park is meant to capture the beauty and awe of seeing the majestic prehistoric creatures for the first time. A secondary score called 'Journey to the Island' is equally well-known and captures the wild excitement and danger of the film franchise.

7. Mission Impossible
Written and composed by Lalo Schifrin for the TV show, it is now the them for one of the best action movie franchises of all time. The theme to Mission Impossible fit the intensity and the scale of the movies perfectly, going on to be as much of a hit as the franchise itself (it toped the Billboard 100 at #7).

6. The Fellowship, The Breaking of the Fellowship/The Shire (Concerning Hobbits)
Howard Shore wrote and composed over 10 hours of music for the Lord of the Rings soundtrack, and won multiple Grammys and Academy Awards for his efforts. So you may be asking, 'Why isn't LOTR higher on the list?!' Because there's too much damn music! While much of it is both popular and recognizable, there's just too much damn music! Symphonies, orchestras and vocal performances make it extremely hard to pick one particular track as the main theme for this film franchise.

5. The Raiders March
The theme for Indiana Jones was composed and conducted by John Williams and performed by the London Symphony Orchestras (which, let's face it, is true for a bunch of songs on this list). This music fits the Indiana Jones franchise like a glove, with deep base and booming horns you can't help but visualize Indie off on an adventure.

4. The Godfather Waltz
Composed by Nino Rota in 1972, this theme exudes classic Italy, fitting the various time periods of the Godfather film franchise. The lone horn at the beginning reflects the isolation and heaviness of the heads of the Corleone family, and the pace fits well with these dialogue driven, often slow-moving films.

3. Hedwig's Theme
Composed by John Williams (I told you!), this theme perfectly fit what would become the biggest film franchise yet. It's soft and notes and use of instruments not always heard in scores such as these create the perfect atmosphere of mystery and excitement. The constant juggling of the string, woodwind, percussion and brass sections creates the sense of a bird in flight. If you've never given the full theme a listen I highly suggest it, it really is a masterpiece!

2. James Bond Theme
Is there any theme better known around the world than the theme to the 007 franchise? Copyright for this composition can be credited to both Monty Norman and John Barry, as both have taken each other to court and are collecting royalties in some form or another. The combination of jangling 1960's surfer guitar, thumping bass and sly woodwind and string (depending on the version) create a sexy, stylish atmosphere for this well-aged film franchise that has managed to span decades.

1. Star Wars Theme
Composed by (you guessed it) John Williams this is hands down the most recognizable theme in film history. It has reproduced and parodied more than any other theme. The opening crash of song right of the base brings to mind the huge scale of the Star Wars setting (fuckin space dude) and creates an epicness that can't be matched. Simply put, if I were the ruler of my own country I would make this my national anthem. Copyrights be damned.