Top 10 Best Comic Book Movie Soundtracks/Scores

Top 10 Best Comic Book Movie Soundtracks/Scores

Soundtracks can mean almost everything to a movie. They help set the tone, atmosphere, and identity of a film. Some go on to be iconic and are often imitated, others simply go unnoticed. Here are what I consider to be the Top 10 Best Comic Book Movie Soundtracks/Scores.

Editorial Opinion
By Mercurius - Apr 15, 2013 01:04 PM EST
Filed Under: Other

You should keep in mind that I made these choices based on the films' COMPLETE soundtracks & scores, not just on the main themes.

10. Hulk


Although the film might not have received wide critical acclaim, it's safe to say that Danny Elfman's haunting and mysterious Hulk soundtrack helped establish how music is used in today's modern superhero movies.

9. Daredevil

With a soundtrack mixed with many of the early 2000's popular rock bands such as Evanescence, Nickleback, & Hoobastank; combined with a dark & somber score, this soundtrack more than met many expectations.

8. Avengers

Containing one of the best superhero themes of all time, the Avengers soundtrack matched the many epic moments of the film and it invites you to cheer on throughout.

7. Iron Man

Many believe Iron Man helped revive the comic book genre in movies, and it's due in part by it's heavy Rock n Roll soundtrack making a point that superhero's can be bad-ass.

6. Spider-Man 1 & 2

Sounding very similar in comparison, both Spider-Man 1 & 2's soundtracks embody what a true heroic film should sound like. The chills one gets when Peter Parker first puts on the Spidey costume, while Danny Elfman's Spider-Man theme blared throughout is unforgettable.

5. Kick-Ass

In what is surely the most surprising comic book movie hit, Kick-Ass had it's own unique visuals and style accompanied by a soundtrack that hit the right notes in every scene. It's almost impossible not to feel hyped, sad, and happy when listening to this inspired soundtrack.

4. Watchmen

What Watchmen's soundtrack did is nothing short of a miracle, it transported us back to the 60's with many of that times classics. The score and the movie also compliment each other so well by setting us in an extraordinary immersive atmosphere.

3. Batman (1989)

Your'e not a real comic book movie fan if you haven't heard the original Batman (1989) theme by Danny Elfman. It's whole soundtrack even went on to be almost replicated onto other Batman movies that followed in the 90's, although not quite matching the original's greatness.


2. The Crow

It's rare when a soundtrack enhances the movie experience, but The Crow's soundtrack does exactly that and more. In a sense, this soundtrack could be considered an alt-rock masterpiece as it's filled with classic's like, The Cure's "Burn", Nine Inch Nails cover of "Dead Souls", and "After The Flesh" from My Life With The Thrill Kill Cult.


1. The Dark Knight

Dark. Twisted. Tense. Wonderful. Bold. James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer's soundtrack to The Dark Knight is something to behold. Not only have they given us a Batman theme that will be hard to surpass, but they deliver a Joker theme that will be remembered for years to come. Not to mention, a soundtrack so captivating that it gives new meaning to the word "epic". One of the best soundtracks to a comic book movie, and perhaps any movie, ever.


Honorable Mentions: Wanted, Spawn, The Punisher, Batman Begins, Batman Forever, Superman (1978), Scott Pilgrim.

Note: I only chose from movies that were derived from comic books. That means no Tron: Legacy, Star Wars, etc, although I really love those.

What do you think? See your favorite soundtrack? Should one be higher or lower? Sound off in the comments!
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marvel72
marvel72 - 4/15/2013, 1:39 PM
i agree with some of these the others i can't remember.

-watchmen
-kick ass
-the dark knight trilogy
-the crow

i would also add the following

-x-men first class
-scott pilgrim vs the world
Mercurius
Mercurius - 4/15/2013, 1:43 PM
First Class was good but it didn't stand out as much to me as the ones I chose.
SomTingWong
SomTingWong - 4/15/2013, 1:47 PM
Where's thor? Haven't seen a few of them but I agree with the avengers,iron man, spiderman 2, and most of all tdk
tonytony
tonytony - 4/15/2013, 1:51 PM
great list
TDK score was epic
GoodGuy
GoodGuy - 4/15/2013, 3:12 PM
Don't know if it counts as comic-book related or anything but...


I'd like to argue that you left out STAR WARS from this list. We always talk about SW related stuff on this website so I thought that I'd be seeing it fit here in some form. Cool picks though.
jessepostal
jessepostal - 4/15/2013, 3:44 PM
Id say the Demon knight soundtrack is the best, ever. The Crow has some good tunes too, but also some bad ones. Daredevil had some huge hits on it, as well as some great new tracks, and even the FF soundtrack had some great tracks.

As far as scores, Cap tfa is fantastic, Gi joe the rise of cobra had a great mix of styles, Avengers feels like a classic piece, which is great! With the batman scores, idk, its the same concept through out all three movies, it fits but its very repetitive and very hitchcocky. The styles been done to death but the fanboys seem to think its the best piece of music ever composed
RobGrizzly
RobGrizzly - 4/15/2013, 4:05 PM
Not bad. Great subject for an article! Should divide it into two categories: the Various Artists, and then the Composed Scores, because comparing them with each other is very 'apples/oranges' to me.

Anyway, I like most of the picks. Daredevil and Iron Man had decent compilations, so good picks there. Definately agree that The Crow has the best collection of bands and songs.

Composer/Theme-wise, as much as I love Zimmer's work, (I still think the Bane chant in TDKR deserved an 'Original Score' oscar nomination) Danny Elfman's more iconic theme takes the slightest of wins in my book. Anyone knows that batman tune.

10. Various Artists (The Punisher)
If you like you some hard rock and metal, in some ways the soundtrack is a better bet than the movie itself.

9. The Rocketeer.
Really captures the vibe of the era. A great underrated, adventure score.

8. Watchmen.
For all the flack, I give this movie, I can't fault the music. Even going back the the haunting Smashing Pumpkins arrangement in that first trailer, it's gold.

7. John Ottman, X2: X-Men United.
The closest X-Men will get to getting a proper theme song is this great number for the opening credits.

6. Tyler Bates, 300.
"Returns a King." Go to iTunes. Sample this track right now. Then...PREPARE FOR GLORY

5. Michael Giacchino, The Incredibles.
Does it count? No? Well, it should. It's fantastic.

4. Alan Silvestri, The Avengers
That sweeping shot that pans across the team, while the music rises- amazing. Every time.

3. Hans Zimmer, TDK Trilogy.
It's so good, everyone is copying his style these days. I swear I can hear the same tunes in like-minded TV and videogames as well. Everything sounds like Batman!

2. Danny Elfman, Batman/Batman Returns/Spiderman Trilogy
I'm cheating because he takes #2 for more of a body of work. (including Dick Tracy, and TV show The Flash) But for double-duty, he's created 2 rousing themes for two amazing heroes.

1.John Williams, Superman.
Come on now, John Williams is unbeatable.
Mercurius
Mercurius - 4/15/2013, 4:51 PM
@GoodGuy I mentioned at the bottom of the article why I didn't include Star Wars. I just don't think it belongs in the 'comic book movie' sub genre. I would have to include Matrix, Tron etc and its not fair to the others lol.

@RobGrizzly Believe me I went back and forth on whether I should make separate lists but decided to do it as a whole. That is a really good list by the way! I have some of your picks in my honorable mentions as well, I guess it depends on what kinda music one prefers.
EdgyOutsider
EdgyOutsider - 4/15/2013, 6:13 PM
DareDevil has the best various artists soundtrack. Avengers and The Punisher are both really good though too. James Horner's score for The Amazing Spider-Man is my personal favorite as far as the scores though. Danny Elfman is good but, didn't feel like Spider-Man. Hulk was pretty forgettable. Same with all the Batman movies. Superman has always had the iconic score. First Class was also really good. Shit, I find myself humming The Avengers theme pretty often. Same with The Amazing Spider-Man, and TASM isn't even my favorite cbm. Some scores stick, some don't. For me, a lot of them don't stick. Especially Hans Zimmer. He's really good but, he's pretty over rated to me cause I've never found a wow factor in his music. Steve Jablonsky is superior to him. John Williams is god though for film scoring. Superman, Star Wars, Jurassic Park (my all time favorite movie). You name an iconic movie, chances are he made the score for it.
GoodGuy
GoodGuy - 4/15/2013, 6:21 PM
@Mercurius

Sorry. I swear i read the whole thing, I just didn't catch it I guess :P

Again, cool list.
leftcoastpunk
leftcoastpunk - 4/15/2013, 10:42 PM
never written an article myself, but was thinking of doing this topic the other day...you bastard! eh, i snooze i loose d;-)
Nice choices, daredevil is my fave, love watchmen's as well d;-)
leftcoastpunk
leftcoastpunk - 4/15/2013, 10:49 PM
@jessepostal- i thought the FF tracks were badass too, reminded me alot of the tone of the DD tunes. Plus, it it had a killer VR song that i can't friggin' find anywhere else. d;-)
Benjamitesandwich
Benjamitesandwich - 4/17/2013, 6:38 AM
You left out the Rocketeer. It has the best score IMO.

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