Over 10,000 Brits have been polled to determine the UK’s most popular film music.
For the second consecutive year, Howard Shore’s epic score for The Lord of the Rings trilogy has topped the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame.
The top 100 pieces of film music were played on the radio station this Bank Holiday Monday before Jonathan Ross revealed that No 1 was the music for JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
Shore has won three Academy Awards, four Grammys and two Golden Gloves for his Lord of the Rings score.
Most recently, he composed the main title theme for the blockbuster TV series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which returns for a second series on Prime Video this Thursday.
Topping the new UK poll, Shore managed to beat John Williams, who has six entries in the Top 10 from Schindler’s List and Star Wars to Jurassic Park, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones and Saving Private Ryan.
Following the news he said: “I’m proud and delighted to have maintained my crown at the top of the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame. Thank you so much to the many Classic FM listeners who voted. I’m very happy that film fans are still connecting to my music and the journey to JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth.”
Jonathan Ross, who presents the twice weekly film music programme Classic FM at the Movies said: The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame is one of my favourite days of the year, celebrating the very best film scores from across the decades. Howard Shore’s incredible music is so integral to The Lord of the Rings films, bringing to life the beautiful, spectacular stories. I’m thrilled to see his music sticking in the hearts – and ears – of Classic FM listeners.” Check out the full top below.
The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2024 – top 20:
1. The Lord of the Rings – Howard Shore
2. Schindler’s List – John Williams
3. Star Wars – John Williams
4. Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
5. Dances with Wolves – John Barry
6. Out of Africa – John Barry
7. Jurassic Park – John Williams
8. The Mission – Ennio Morricone
9. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Ennio Morricone
10. Chariots of Fire – Vangelis
11. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone – John Williams
12. Doctor Zhivago – Maurice Jarre
13. Wilde – Debbie Wiseman
14. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl – Klaus Bedelt
15. The Godfather – Nino Rota
16. Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
17. Indiana Jones – John Williams
18. Ladies in Lavender – Nigel Hess
19. Saving Private Ryan – John Williams
20. Titanic – James Horner
Classic FM is available across the UK on Global Player, 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, and ClassicFM.com.