Summary

• 1980s movie scores were a mix of contemporary synth and experimentation.
• The best scores enhanced the aesthetic and impact of the movies.
• Synth soundtracks from the 1980s were the pinnacle of that era's movie scores.

The 1980s were truly a fantastic time for movie scores as a contemporary synth style began to take hold and film composers experimented with new styles of music-making. While the synth-based style of so many 1980s classics can often date a movie to a particular time or place, this was also part of their charm and an enjoyable aspect of rewatching old movies. Although synth soundtracks have remained popular in recent releases, there was just something so infectiously 1980s about the greatest scores produced during this era.

The best scores of all time have something in common: They perfectly encapsulated the aesthetic of the movie they accompanied and added to the overall impact of the narrative. Although much of this music can be enjoyed on its own merits, its role as part of a larger creative project influences the viewers' perception of the tracks as the composer created the work to be used in the film. Taking all these aspects into , these synth soundtracks represented the very best of movie scores during the 1980s.

15 Videodrome (1987)

Composed by Howard Shore

Howard Shore's synth-heavy score perfectly captured the dark and ominous nature of David Cronenberg's body horror classic Videodrome. As the unnerving and hallucinatory feeling of its narrative was carried forward by the eerie nature of this score, the soundtrack for Videodrome was one of the most underappreciated synth scores of the 1980s, and it long remained out of print until it was finally reissued in 2022. This was the third score Shore had done for Cronenberg after previously making the music for The Brood and Scanners.

14 Legend (1985)

Composed by Tangerine Dream

The German electronic band Tangerine Dream was responsible for one of the greatest synth scores ever made, and one of their best achievements was for Ridley Scott’s epic fantasy adventure Legend. However, some viewers were not privy to the powerful atmospheric soundscapes of this score as Legend featured two soundtracks, one by Tangerine Dream for the US release and another, more orchestral-based one by Jerry Goldsmith for the European release. Sadly, European viewers missed out on a haunting and dark score that saw Tangerine Dream pushing their soundtracking skills into new, uncharted territory.

Tangerine Dream was formed in 1967, and the have since made a name for themselves as notable movie soundtrack composers. While Tangerine Dream produced some of the greatest synth soundtracks of the 1980s, their accomplishments didn't end there. They helped create the music for everything from Grand Theft Auto 5 to recent releases like the theme tune for Stranger Things.

13 Ghostbusters (1984)

Composed by Elmer Bernstein

Of course, most viewers will be well aware of the iconic theme song from Ghostbuster, but this has overshadowed the excellent 1980s synth work by Elmer Bernstein heard throughout the film. Although Ghostbusters also featured pop artists like the Alessi Brothers and Air Supply, Bernstein offered an appropriately otherworldly, eerie feeling to his synth-heavy contributions. With a perfect balance between Ghostbusters' comedic and serious tones, Bernstein utilized the ondes Martenot, an electronic keyboard-like instrument, to capture the ghostly atmosphere of his score.

12 The Lost Boys (1987)

Composed by Thomas Newman

Joel Schumacher captured the stylish rebellion of subcultures in the 1980s with the vampire classic The Lost Boys, and this eerie supernatural story was propped by an original score by Thomas Newman. Through a blend of orchestra and organ arrangements as well as synth contributions, Newman brought out the darker and more sinister aspects of this unique coming-of-age horror. Newman’s score, when paired with other musical contributions from Echo & the Bunnymen, Roger Daltrey, and INSX, made The Lost Boys soundtrack a true 1980s classic.

11 Thief (1981)

Composed by Tangerine Dream

Having already proved movie score composers of serious talent, Tangerine Dream returned for their second major movie score on the neo-noir crime film Thief. The contribution of Tangerine Dream was essential to the unique feeling of this Michael Mann film, and the soundtrack even charted in the UK album charts at the time of its release. This quintessentially 1980s score was packed with fast-paced synths, high-octane energy, and experimental ambient sounds.

10 Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Composed by Harold Faltermeyer

The German composer Harold Faltermeyer produced some of the best synth scores of the 1980s and was known for his work on movies like The Running Man and Top Gun. However, his greatest achievement came with Beverly Hills Cop in 1984, which boasted his biggest hit, “Alex F,” which reached number one around the world. As a catchy and memorable track, “Alex F” signaled the entire feel of the Beverly Hills Cop score, which was full of straight-up 1980s fun.

9 Manhunter (1986)

Composed by The Reds

Bruce Cohen and guitarist Rich Shaffer produced much of the music for Michael Mann’s Manhunter under the name The Reds. Their effective contributions were paired with songs by the likes of The Prime Movers, Shriekback, and Iron Butterfly to create a soundtrack that was paired perfectly with the intense thrills of this story based on the novel Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. As the first movie to feature Dr. Hannibal Lecter, it was appropriate that the music in Manhunter was so intensely eerie.

8 Risky Business (1983)

Composed by Tangerine Dream

While the music in Tom Cruise’s Risky Business will forever be associated with Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll,” as the star famously mimed it in his underwear, the majority of the music featured was actually by Tangerine Dream. The German group's synth style paired perfectly with the blues, rock, and pop music littered throughout the film to create a cohesive whole that felt totally of the 1980s. Risky Business had a classic score that will be well-known to lovers of synth-based soundtracks.

7 Akira (1988)

Composed by Geinoh Yamashirogumi

Through a combination of Indonesian gamelan music, Japanese noh, and synth, the score of Akira was a truly unique release that has been continually sampled by subsequent hip-hop and electronica artists. As a perfect representation of how a film score can contribute to the unique feeling of a film, the collective known as Geinoh Yamashirogumi captured the intense nature of this anime cult classic. With a memorable theme and some truly insane moments, the score for Akira can be fully enjoyed as incredible experimental music outside of the context of the film.

6 The Fog (1980)

Composed by John Carpenter

The legend of horror John Carpenter has famously composed many of his own film scores and produced iconic tracks such as the theme to Halloween. Carpenter’s incredible skill in creating the perfect atmosphere his movies required was also powerfully seen in his score for The Fog. With slow-building and unnerving tension, this ambient, electronic, and synth score ranked among the best music Carpenter ever made, as he used drone sounds to effectively capture the feeling of a town overtaken by a mysterious glowing fog.