We’re (naturally) pretty big fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but while the directors and writers get a lot of love, we think the composers could use a shoutout every now and then, too! So we set out to rank the best five Marvel musical scores, with one caveat: no repeated composers. We wanted to share the love!
5: Iron Man 3 (Brian Tyler)
Iron Man 3 is a departure from the first two Jon Favreau–directed installments. The new director, Shane Black, wanted a composer who could bring out a classic sound that was different than either of the themes from the previous films. Brian Tyler delivered the most memorable Iron Man theme to date— “Can You Dig It” is perhaps the greatest single track from any Marvel film!
4: Ant-Man (Christophe Beck)
The score of Ant-Man lifts so much of the movie to another level. Christophe Beck was able to simultaneously express a recognizably heist-y theme while suggesting the teeny-tiny scale of the titular hero. During the transitions from quiet, staccato moments to big brass ones, the audience can hear the shrinking and growing that they see on screen.
3: Captain America: The First Avenger (Alan Silvestri)
Alan Silvestri may deserve to be on our top-five list a few more times, but we could only choose one! His Avengers theme is undeniably great, but there’s something even more endearing about his score for The First Avenger. The combination of Silvestri and director Joe Johnston is a match made in heaven, as Silvestri can transition from beautifully haunting moments to huge, triumphant ones without missing a beat. Seriously, go listen to “Triumphant Return” and try not to be inspired.
2: Doctor Strange (Michael Giacchino)
We’re not usually a fan of the harpsichord, but it’s perfect for the Master of the Mystic Arts. Michael Giacchino, who has worked on everything from Lost to The Incredibles, has firmly established himself as one of the next great composers, and his Doctor Strange theme proves that point. It’s whimsical, fascinating, and, yes, magical.
1: Thor (Patrick Doyle)
You weren’t expecting to see this at the number one spot, were you? The entire score of Thor is a masterpiece, with so many layers and leitmotifs making their ways back into the score throughout the film. This movie may not be our favorite interpretation of Thor’s character, but it’s our favorite Thor music by far.
Now that you’ve read our rankings of the best five Marvel musical scores, we hope you’re feeling inspired to try your hand at creating incredible music yourself! Never underestimate the importance of creative spaces for musicians—find a quiet place to work and throw something at the wall to see what sticks.
