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Hans Zimmer Shares His 10 Favorite Film Scores He's Composed

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Ignacio Weil

Entertainment - May 9th 2025, 19:08 GMT+2

Cropped Portada — About This Gallery:

For this list, we took a popular TikTok video where Hans Zimmer mentions his favorite compositions that he’s created. Thanks to the annoying format where he has to pick between two options like it’s a musical elimination bracket, this ranking is more of a rough guide than something you should take too seriously (I also thought *Interstellar* would be in first place, to be honest). So yes, some scores might seem out of order—but as silly as it sounds, this is more or less how his preferences stacked up. | © Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

Cropped Thelma and Louise — 10. Thelma & Louise (1991)

Before the pirates, the lions, and the gladiators, there were two women in a Thunderbird racing toward cinematic legend. *Thelma & Louise* gave Zimmer the chance to flex his musical muscles in the American South, where slide guitars met a sense of wild freedom. It’s moody, it’s twangy, it’s got attitude—kind of like the title characters. This was one of his earlier Hollywood entries, and it helped establish his now-signature blend of emotion and edge. Zimmer has often said the score wasn’t just background—it was a voice in the car with them. And you can bet it was wearing sunglasses and had a great sense of timing. | © Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Cropped Kung Fu Panda — 9. Kung Fu Panda (2008)

Yes, he did *Kung Fu Panda*. And yes, he’s *very* proud of it. Zimmer teamed up with John Powell to craft a score that somehow combines epic martial arts grandeur with noodle-slurping charm. From powerful orchestral hits to delicate Eastern motifs, the music kicks high and lands every punch—just like Po (eventually). It’s not every day a composer gets to go full wuxia *and* full comedy in the same breath. But Zimmer’s versatility shines here, and it’s no wonder this cuddly warrior made the list. Inner peace has never sounded so good. | © DreamWorks Animation

Cropped Pirates of the Caribbean — 8. Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl (2003)

Yo ho, yo ho, a composer’s life for me! Zimmer didn’t officially score the first *Pirates* film (that was Klaus Badelt, his protégé), but let’s be honest—his fingerprints (and themes) are all over it. From the iconic “He’s a Pirate” to the swashbuckling energy that defined a generation of movie trailers, this score is Zimmer’s musical high-seas swagger at its peak. It’s equal parts adventure and anarchy, much like Jack Sparrow himself. The music practically smells of saltwater and rum—though the orchestral kind, not the bottle kind. Few scores have inspired more Halloween costumes. | © Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped Gladiator — 7. Gladiator (2000)

Are you not entertained? Because Hans Zimmer *definitely* was while scoring this one. *Gladiator* marked the birth of Zimmer’s thunderous Roman-era sound: haunting vocals, pounding drums, and melodies that feel like they were carved in marble. His collaboration with Lisa Gerrard added an ethereal, almost spiritual quality that elevated this sword-and-sandal epic to a full-on operatic experience. Every note feels like a call to arms—or at least a very dramatic walk through a wheat field. The music doesn’t just underscore the story; it *commands* it. | © DreamWorks Pictures

Cropped The Lion King — 6. The Lion King (1994)

This one’s not just majestic—it’s personal. Zimmer has said he composed *The Lion King* for his daughter, and you can feel that emotional heartbeat in every soaring theme. With its sweeping melodies, African rhythms, and that tearjerker of a stampede cue, this score roars with heart and legacy. It earned him an Oscar, countless imitators, and maybe a few spontaneous singalongs in traffic. Zimmer transformed a tale about talking animals into a symphonic rite of passage. And yes, even he cries during “This Land.” | © Walt Disney Pictures

Cropped Inception — 5. Inception (2010)

BWAAAM. That’s it. That one sound redefined trailers for a decade—and yes, Hans Zimmer *invented* that bass drop moment that shook movie theaters and spawned a thousand memes. But *Inception* is much more than its foghorn legacy. With ticking clocks, dreamlike layering, and a slowed-down Édith Piaf woven right into the score’s DNA, Zimmer created music that folds in on itself just like the city streets on screen. It’s equal parts head trip and heartache. “Time” alone deserves its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Interstellar — 4. Interstellar (2014)

Nothing says “space exploration” like a church organ, right? Well, it does if you’re Hans Zimmer. For *Interstellar*, he went full cosmic cathedral—blending traditional instrumentation with deep emotional resonance and a surprising amount of pipe organ drama. The result? A score that feels both intimate and infinite, like a lullaby sung by the universe. Also, fun fact: Zimmer wrote much of it *without knowing the film was about space*. Just vibes. Literal star-powered vibes. | © Paramount Pictures / Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Sherlock Holmes — 3. Sherlock Holmes (2009)

You could say this one was a bit of a musical experiment—with broken pianos, banjos, and pub fiddles all tossed into the mix. Zimmer embraced the chaotic charm of Guy Ritchie’s *Sherlock Holmes* by writing a score that sounds like it stumbled out of a 19th-century back alley and into a bar fight, in the best way possible. It’s quirky, mischievous, and just barely held together—kind of like Holmes himself. This one proves that Hans doesn’t just do *epic*—he can also do *eccentric*. And he makes it sing (or at least stomp). | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped The Dark Knight — 2. The Dark Knight (2008)

Welcome to the sound of a city on the brink. Collaborating with James Newton Howard, Zimmer delivered a score that’s as moody, intense, and morally ambiguous as Batman himself. For the Joker’s theme, he used a single, distorted note stretched to nerve-shredding limits—basically the audio equivalent of a ticking bomb. But it’s not all chaos: the heroic cues are restrained and noble, like the Caped Crusader holding back just enough. This music doesn’t just accompany the film—it broods right alongside it. | © Warner Bros. Pictures

Cropped Dune — 1. Dune (2021) (Maybe?)

Okay, so here’s the twist: we don’t *actually* know where *Dune* ranks in Zimmer’s personal list—because according to him, “he’s not done with it yet.” That’s right, the sands of Arrakis are still shifting under his feet. But even if the saga’s incomplete, the music already feels mythic. From throat singers to war drums to sounds that feel like they were recorded on another planet (and maybe were?), *Dune* pushes the boundaries of what a film score can be. It’s less a soundtrack and more a sonic world-builder—and Zimmer is still playing god. | © Warner Bros. Pictures / Legendary Pictures

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Hans Zimmer, the legendary composer behind some of the most iconic film scores in cinematic history, has finally revealed his personal top 10 favorite works from his vast and award-winning career. Known for masterpieces like Inception, The Lion King, and Interstellar, Zimmer’s choices offer a rare glimpse into the musical moments he holds closest to his heart. Whether you're a soundtrack enthusiast or a devoted Zimmer fan, this curated list showcases the compositions that defined his journey and continue to inspire audiences worldwide.

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Hans Zimmer, the legendary composer behind some of the most iconic film scores in cinematic history, has finally revealed his personal top 10 favorite works from his vast and award-winning career. Known for masterpieces like Inception, The Lion King, and Interstellar, Zimmer’s choices offer a rare glimpse into the musical moments he holds closest to his heart. Whether you're a soundtrack enthusiast or a devoted Zimmer fan, this curated list showcases the compositions that defined his journey and continue to inspire audiences worldwide.