he is composed some of the most iconic
orchestral movie scores ever welcome to
watchmojo.com and today we're counting
down our picks for the top ten film
scores by John Williams
for this list we're looking at John
Williams career as a Hollywood film
composer and are choosing the scores we
feel are the most iconic memorable and
which add to the film's in which they
appear
however we have decided to exclude films
like fiddler on the roof because
although he won an Oscar for it
Williams was the arranger and not the
composer of that score Fiddler on the
Roof
number 10 Empire of the Sun
if the first-century on our list is of
such admirable quality you know that
this is a list filled with serious
contenders Empire of the Sun follows a
young Christian Bale on his journey from
rich expat the Japanese prisoner of war
during the Second World War
Williams score creates an aural
landscape that matches the horrors of
war and captivity in a way that no
listener can ever forget the brilliant
score earned him not only a well
deserved Oscar Golden Globe and Grammy
nominations but also won him the BAFTA
just one in a long list of awards
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number nine Close Encounters of the
Third Kind on the heels of his Grammy
and Academy Award winning work on jaws
and Star Wars Williams was tapped by
Steven Spielberg once again to bring to
screen a sense of mystery and wonderment
associated with the unknown similar to
his work on jaws Williams focused on a
five tone theme that ran throughout even
functioning as a plot point within the
movie itself
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not only did these notes communicate
with alien life-forms
they became ingrained in popular
consciousness as well as seems to be a
running theme on this list
Williams earned yet another Academy
Award nomination for Close Encounters
but unfortunately he lost to himself in
Star Wars
number eight Harry Potter and the
Philosopher's Stone
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after a relative dry spell Williams was
able to stretch his fantasies core
muscles once again for our next entry
this boy will be famous there won't be a
child in that photo - doesn't know his
name given the opportunity to take the
music in any direction he wished
Williams crafted a score that set off
the characters quests and Quidditch
perfectly
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and his magnificently eerie piece
referred to as Hedwig's theme became
synonymous with the entire Harry Potter
universe books and films alike
critics seem to think so too as it was
also nominated for an Oscar think about
it who else could have crafted a fantasy
score that would include the perfect
theme for the entire Harry Potter
franchise number seven Superman who do
you call when you need a monumental
score filled with heroism do you even
have to ask
[Applause]
Williams take on our favorite Kryptonian
matched the mood of the film conveying
the theatrical and in some ways
cartoonish feel of heroic deeds instead
of being too serious who's got you
fun fact veteran Hollywood composer
Jerry Goldsmith was originally in charge
of the score but Williams took the
position due to scheduling conflicts
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that worked out well for everyone as
Williams nabbed another Oscar nomination
for his work number six Schindler's List
what I'm a musician
what did get home your name goes on
limit I hear your name goes on at least
in the future [ __ ] have your tissues
ready this time around with the help of
director Steven Spielberg Williams uses
his music to depict the sheer tragedy
and loss suffered during the Holocaust
some days this is all going to end
unlike the majority of his other works
Schindler's List is a much more intimate
score with famed violinist Itzhak
Perlman performing some of the
melancholy music Williams delicate work
on the soundtrack adds to the feeling of
dread that accompanies one of the
world's darkest periods in history
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this emotion invoking score allowed
Williams to bring home his fifth Oscar
because let's face it Williams is a
magician with music
number five Raiders of the Lost Ark
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our next entry is arguably the mother of
all adventure film themes
this score provides another example of
Williams expertise in invoking
excitement most notably through his
Raiders March which would eventually
become synonymous with all of Indies
adventures beyond that Williams is also
able to add just the right amount of
horror when needed
later be regarded as one of Williams
masterpieces this scores snagged the
composer another Oscar nomination now
it's time to go on an adventure with dr.
Jones
number four ET the extra-terrestrial for
his next trick williams will warm your
hearts with this marvelously uplifting
score with his work on ET he wanted to
portray a sense of innocence showcasing
audiences exactly how wide his ranges
and the results blew everyone away
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he also proved he has a sense of humor
by including a snippet of Yodas theme
from The Empire Strikes Back in the film
when et runs into a child dressed as the
green Jedi rightfully earning its place
as a John Williams concert staple this
is by far the most enchanting of his
scores so much so that et obtained
Williams his fourth Oscar win he just
can't stop winning Oscars canny
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number three Jurassic Park there's a
reason Williams as the go-to guy when it
comes to fantastical and magical themes
he inspires us and makes us feel awe and
excitement through his music which is
exactly what he accomplishes in Jurassic
Park
dr. grant my idea dr. Satcher
welcome to Jurassic Park Williams music
increases the sense of amazement we feel
when traveling to Isla Nublar and when
we first see the dinosaurs on screen
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at the same time he doesn't neglect to
amp up the intensity and fear when the
Tyrannosaurus Rex attacks
William knows exactly what we were
supposed to feel and we happily follow
along
number two jaws
quiet we hear an Oscar went coming
widely considered by fans and critics
alike to be one of Williams most
impressive pieces Williams to know to
bethey made multitudes of people scared
to venture back into the water again
the score as a whole is incredibly well
done moving the plot along with mounting
tension and primordial dread as
evidenced by such tracks as out to sea
and sea attack number one but it's the
main theme that proved exactly what
Williams is capable of over there
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need to build some suspense take note
from John Williams before we orchestrate
our final pic here are a few honorable
mentions
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number one Star Wars Episode four a new
hope
this shouldn't have been a surprise
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the combined talents of composer John
Williams and director George Lucas take
us to worlds we couldn't possibly dream
up
Williams blows us right out of the gate
with the epic opening theme but all of
it from lurching around to the seedy Mos
Eisley cantina to the ending ceremony is
amazing
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throughout Williams portrays a sense of
familiarity while exposing us to new
lands and this isn't just our ruling as
many critics list the Star Wars score as
the best score ever composed
so do you agree with our list your
meddlin and things that ought not to be
meddled in what's your choice for John
Williams best score
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