The Lord of the Rings by Howard Shore
voted the number one film score
- In its 50th anniversary year, Jaws is the chart’s highest climber
- John Williams and Hans Zimmer are in joint first place as the nation’s favourite film music composers
Howard Shore’s blockbuster score to The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been voted the nation’s most popular film music, according to the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame, in partnership with Radio Times.
Classic FM devoted an entire day of programmes to count down the nation’s 100 favourite film scores (on Monday 25th August), featuring nine hours of epic music which captured the memories and emotions of cinema’s best loved movies. More than 10,000 votes were cast by Classic FM listeners and Radio Times readers in this year’s chart, and the number one was revealed just before 7pm by Classic FM presenter Jonathan Ross. The full countdown is available to listen to on Global Player, the official Classic FM app and was simulcast on both Classic FM and Classic FM Movies.
Since its release in 2001, The Lord of the Rings trilogy has enjoyed phenomenal worldwide success, becoming one of the highest grossing film series ever and winning the hearts of Middle-earth fans across the world. This is the third consecutive year that Shore’s multi award-winning score has been voted the nation’s favourite.
“It’s an honour that The Lord of the Rings has topped the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame for the third year running. I’m deeply grateful to all the Classic FM listeners who voted. It is wonderful that audiences continue to enjoy this musical journey through J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, and I am thrilled the music resonates so strongly today.”
Howard Shore, Composer
The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2025 has also revealed the chart’s most dramatic climb. John Williams’ iconic score for the film Jaws, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, has jumped 27 places to number 13, making it the joint highest climber alongside Michael Giacchino’s much-loved score for Up. When it was released in 1975, Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking film won three Academy Awards, including one for Williams’ score. To mark the movie’s monumental milestone, the original blockbuster has been re-released in cinemas, including IMAX.
Although John Williams narrowly missed out on the chart’s number one, he took both second and third places with his seminal themes for Schindler’s List and Star Wars respectively. Jurassic Park – another legendary score from John Williams – is at number five. The latest film in the franchise, Jurassic World: Rebirth, was released last month, featuring a score that pays homage to Williams’ original theme.
This year, both Hans Zimmer and John Williams celebrate joint first place as the nation’s favourite film music composers, with 11 entries each in the countdown. Williams has three entries in the top 10 alone, and Hans Zimmer has two, with Interstellar up seven places to number nine. The launch of his new orchestral tour The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension next month is testament to the growing popularity of his music.
The top 10 also features acclaimed composers John Barry (Dances with Wolves, Out of Africa) and Ennio Morricone (The Good, the Bad and the Ugly) and Classic FM’s Composer in Residence Debbie Wiseman, who re-enters the top 10 with her music to Wilde.
New entries for 2025 include Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked, fresh from its big-screen adaptation, entering the chart at number 55. Mission: Impossible has also made its first ever chart entry in the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame, boosted by the release of Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, which was billed as the franchise’s finale.
“The Lord of the Rings is legendary in every sense, the storytelling, the world-building, and of course, Howard Shore’s unforgettable music. It’s a score that sweeps you away to another world, and I’m not surprised that our listeners have crowned it number one again.
It was a joy to countdown some of the greatest film music ever created and share it with our listeners who seem to love it just as much as me.”
Jonathan Ross, host of twice weekly film music programme Classic FM at the Movies
Classic FM is available across the UK on Global Player, 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, and ClassicFM.com.
Movie music fans can also listen to the biggest and best film scores 24/7 on the dedicated station Classic FM Movies, available across the UK on Global Player and in London on DAB digital radio.
