Summary

• Strong soundtracks are crucial for fantasy productions, as they can enhance the emotional weight of scenes and create epic spectacles.
• Iconic soundtracks like "Lord of the Rings," "Game of Thrones," and "Harry Potter" have defined some of the greatest moments in fantasy history and are essential to their success.
• Composers like Howard Shore, Ramin Djawadi, and John Williams have created unforgettable themes that elevate the audience's experience and give these fantasy franchises their magical feel.

The fantasy genre of movies and television has given the world some of the best soundtracks ever, with some in particular standing out as the best in the genre. Soundtracks are a critical part of any production in film or television, and they have the ability to make or break a project. A strong soundtrack can enhance the audience's experience by elevating the emotional weight of scenes, but it can also ruin a story if the music feels out of place or distracting.

The fantasy genre is particularly reliant on strong scores because fantasy productions are often driven by their ability to create epic spectacles, and it's hard for a moment to feel epic without the right music playing. Sometimes that means a simple noise in the background that keeps the audience stimulated, other times it can be a truly epic track that steals the show. The best soundtracks are able to fit into the background when the moment requires, and they are an essential part of some of the best movies and TV shows of all time.

10 Lord Of The Rings

Howard Shore's Lord of the Rings soundtrack is easily one of the most iconic scores in the history of film. Lord of the Rings' most epic musical moments are some of the greatest scenes in fantasy history, thanks in large part to Shore's score. This soundtrack is enough to give the audience goosebumps as the music loudly announces every important moment, creating extra emphasis to let viewers know that this is a big moment. "The Lighting of the Beacons" in particular is an incredible theme that defines one of the biggest moments in the entire series.

9 Game Of Thrones

Game of Thrones' enthralling soundtracks are composed by Ramin Djawadi, who has solidified his place as one of the most distinguished composers in the world. While Game of Thrones' cast, directors, and writers all play a huge role in the show's incredible success, it's difficult to imagine the show without Djawadi's brilliant tracks and iconic theme song. One moment in particular, Cersei's destruction of the Sept of Baelor, stands out in this regard. Without Djawadi's "Light of the Seven" playing in the background, this haunting scene would not be nearly as tense and memorable.

8 Pirates Of The Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is another big fantasy franchise that benefits hugely from its outstanding scores. Composers Klaus Badelt and Hans Zimmer created the majority of the tracks for these films, imbuing them with a sense of majesty and purpose. The theme for Jack Sparrow seems to define his character, conveying his wonkiness and devious nature in equal parts. Moreover, the thrilling main theme elevates every scene it appears in with a feeling of epic momentousness.

7 Harry Potter

The unforgettable Harry Potter theme song created by John Williams, one of the greatest score composers ever, is now inextricable from the franchise. If HBO's Harry Potter remake is going to hold a candle to the original films, it will need to capture the same magical feel in its score. That giddy feeling fans have when the Warner Bros. logo appears and "Hedwig's Theme" comes through the speakers is irreplaceable, and it sets the audience up to enjoy the rest of the film. Moreover, the moments of action or drama are elevated by the chilling tracks that accompany them, making this one of the best fantasy soundtracks.

6 The Chronicles Of Narnia

Harry Gregson-Williams crafts an outstanding soundtrack for The Chronicles of Narnia that provides feelings of wonder and impending heroism in equal parts. The series' main theme is excellent, and the music in big battle scenes is as good as the little moments of curiosity that make the Narnia movies feel so majestic. It's hard to imagine these movies with a different soundtrack, which is always a good sign of a well-composed score. With all that in mind, the Narnia movies owe much of their success to Harry Gregson-Williams.

5 How To Train Your Dragon

The How to Train Your Dragon movies are also elevated significantly by their scores. Composed by John Powell, the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack was nominated for an Academy Award, proving its musical value. How to Train Your Dragon's musical themes elevate good moments with upbeat heroic sounds, while deepening emotional moments with thoughtful, stirring compositions. Powell also creates a memorable theme song that helps give the film series a firm artistic identity.

4 The Witcher

Netflix's The Witcher also has a fantastic soundtrack that helps craft the aesthetic identity of the series. The Witcher's musical themes, composed by Sonya Belousova, Joseph Trapanese, and Giona Ostinelli, fit perfectly with its dark camera lenses and dim lighting, helping it achieve an overall feeling of foreboding. The Witcher also has some great songs sung in the show by Jaskier, such as "Toss A Coin to Your Witcher". Between the character themes, Jaskier's songs, and the main show theme, The Witcher is saturated with top-notch tracks that elevate the show's overall quality.

3 The Rings Of Power

While The Rings of Power's soundtrack, composed by Bear McCreary, may not be on the same level as Peter Jackson's original trilogy, the music is still expertly composed to complement the writing and directing. The "Nori Brandyfoot" theme in particular is excellent, as is the show's main theme song. The music in Rings of Power manages to capture the majesty of J.R.R. Tolkien's vast world, and its variety of themes allows it to make villains seem more intimidating and heroes more heroic.

2 Outlander

Outlander is another fantasy show with a fantastic soundtrack that elevates the series. Composed by Bear McCreary, Outlander's themes manage to show up at the right times, taking over in big moments that lack dialogue and taking a back seat when the situation requires it. Outlander is a great example of a show that has quiet moments in need of subtle tracks and big moments that need loud heroic themes blasting through the speakers. McCreary achieves that while making music that's good enough to listen to on its own as well.

1 Avatar: The Last Airbender

Jeremy Zuckerman's soundtrack for Avatar: The Last Airbender is nothing short of mastery. His main theme imbues the series' biggest moments with an unforgettable sense of awe and importance that makes the fantasy series feel more epic. He is also capable of reaching into people's hearts with stirring songs like "Leaves From the Vine", a gripping song that is fully capable of inducing a river of tears. It's hard to imagine Avatar: The Last Airbender achieving such a strong emotional connection with audiences without Zuckerman's incredible music.