movies/tv

Superheroes, Indie Films, & Drama: The Versatility of 2010s Movie Soundtracks & Film Scores

Musicnotes

Aug 28, 2023 • 4 min read

Since the origination of movies in the days of the silent film, music has played a critical role. Originally played on a phonograph or performed by live musicians in the theatre, music has always been a key element in the cinematic experience. With changes to technology that elevated the importance of dialogue and cinematography to deliver a film's narrative, music often took a backseat. However, by the 21st century, many filmmakers began to understand the power of integrating an original score or incorporating an outstanding soundtrack to complement the other cinematic elements. The most memorable movies in the early part of this century owe much to the power of their scores and 2010s movie soundtracks.

'Black Panther'

The cinematic phenomenon of Black Panther had to be accompanied by a power-hitter of a soundtrack. To ensure the score sounded authentic and captured the spirit of the movie, composer Ludwig Göransson traveled to West Africa. The soundtrack also features original songs curated or performed by Kendrick Lamar. All the music in the film weaves together a tapestry of both futurism and tradition.

'Drive'

The atmospheric, electronic soundtrack is the star of this indie thriller, setting the bar high for electronic composers in the ensuing decade of cinema. "Nightcall" provides an effective opener to the movie and "A Real Hero" provides a memorable closing salvo.

'Frozen'

Parents all over the world have a love/hate relationship with Disney's Frozen. Little girls have spent the past decade belting out the iconic "Let It Go," originally performed by the incomparable Idina Menzel. One of the best 2010s movie soundtracks, Frozen includes other memorable hits as well, including "Do You Wanna Build a Snowman" and "For the First Time In Forever."

'The Greatest Showman'

This sweeping tale of P.T. Barnum, beautifully portrayed by Hugh Jackman, also features the talents of Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, and Zendaya. While the acting is impressive, it is the music by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul that created a cultural sensation surrounding the film. From spectacular anthemic numbers like "This Is Me" and "The Greatest Show" to the romantic duet "Rewrite the Stars," the soundtrack of The Greatest Showman is truly one of the most memorable 2010s movie soundtracks.

'Guardians of the Galaxy' Vols. 1 & 2

This humorous action movie is elevated by its exquisite soundtrack, and the music in the sequel is equally impressive. With the mixtape playing an integral role in the movie, the classic Mix Vol. 1 includes favorites from the 60s and 70s, including "Come and Get Your Love" and "Escape (The Piña Colada Song)," while Awesome Mix Vol. 2 showcased "Come a Little Bit Closer" and "Mr. Blue Sky."

'How to Train Your Dragon'

The epic theme music for How to Train Your Dragon was created by John Powell. The soaring musical score is both dangerous and heart-warming, echoing and complementing the positive, compassionate tone of the animated series.

'Inception'

Hanz Zimmer is a master of the movie score, and his work on Inception is indicative of his best art. "Time" is an unforgettable composition that emotes a feeling of regret, while "Mombasa" builds excitement and anticipation.

'La La Land'

This feel-good contemporary movie musical relies heavily on its music, and the soundtrack is strong enough to make a big impact. "City of Stars" won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, but La La Land is full of other amazing tunes as well, including the opening number "Another Day of Sun" and "Audition (The Fools Who Dream)," which Emma Stone performed to perfection.

'Moana'

Disney's Moana set a record for 2010s movie soundtracks with most weeks at number one on Billboard's Soundtracks chart. Harnessing the cultural heartbeat of traditional Polynesian music and pairing it with his signature genius for lyrics, award-winning composer Lin-Manuel Miranda crafted a masterpiece with such memorable songs as "How Far I'll Go" performed by Ali'i Cravalho and "You're Welcome" by superstar Dwayne Johnson.

'The Perks of Being a Wallflower'

Despite the popularity of the book on which it was based and the star power of Emma Watson, the movie The Perks of Being a Wallflower was not successful in the theater. However, its soundtrack with songs from Sonic Youth and Galaxie 500 is a winner. It also includes 80s hit "Come On, Eileen" by Dexy's Midnight Runners, which is a universal crowd favorite.

The techno-inspired soundtrack to The Social Network won an Oscar for Best Original Score for composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails. The innovative score relies on electronic sound with a darker undertone that perfectly complements the storyline of the movie.

'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse'

This animated feature film was a big surprise to most theater-goers, with vibrant animation and one of the best 2010s movie soundtracks. With an original score by Daniel Pemberton, the soundtrack also included hit songs by heavy hitters Post Malone, DJ Khalil, and Vince Staples.

'A Star Is Born'

This gritty Hollywood drama is so popular it hit the silver screen with four different versions spanning nearly a century between 1937 and 2018. The most recent version of A Star is Born with Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga is arguably the best, with its powerful soundtrack at the core of its success. While "Shallow" won an Academy Award for Best Original Song, the soundtrack also won four of its seven Grammy Award nominations.

Learn to Play

Harness the power of these iconic scores and 2010s movie soundtracks by learning to play them on your instrument. Check out Musicnotes for the best selection of sheet music.

Sources:

https://www.yardbarker.com/entertainment/articles/the_best_movie_soundtracks_of_the_2010s/s1__38606475#slide_16
https://entertainment.ie/movies/movie-news/best-movie-soundtracks-2010s-430461/
https://collider.com/best-film-scores-of-the-decade-2010s/#how-to-train-your-dragon-john-powell
https://www.dazeddigital.com/music/article/26737/1/ten-greatest-indie-movie-soundtracks-of-all-time
https://movieweb.com/2010s-movies-film-scores/
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https://screenrant.com/greatest-showman-movie-songs-soundtrack-ranked-worst-best/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2021/08/17/moana-breaks-record-for-most-weeks-at-no-1-on-billboard-soundtracks-chart/?sh=77e31c0d39ff