Previously, we have talked about the best Marvel movie soundtracks and since DC is their biggest competitor, it is only logical that we have created a list of DC movies as well. DC also has various good superhero movies and they all have a fitting song playing the background.
You can check out our other article about Marvel soundtracks HERE.
This is exactly why this list was created; in order to familiarize you with some of the greatest songs that can be heard in DC movies! Not only that the soundtracks are amazing, but some of their movies can easily compete with other masterpieces created by Marvel. This means that you will not only hear amazing scores, but the cinematic experience is also fantastic!
We all know that Suicide Squad had a unique soundtrack, but this feature-length movie was already mentioned on another list.
If you want to see some additional films with extraordinary soundtracks, be sure to check out this list.
Following the theme of movie soundtracks, today we are discussing the best of the best that DC Comics movies have to offer. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into the list with our number 6 spot:
6. Green Lantern, 2011
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Music composed by: James Newton Howard
To start the list off, we have considered many movies, but ultimately, we decided to feature the 2011 superhero movie, Green Lantern. Before you start rioting, hear me out. We all know that the movie itself wasn’t good at all. The storyline is bearable, but the full CGI costume that Hal Jordan (played by Ryan Reynolds) is wearing is abysmal.
Not only that it looked odd, but it also grabbed the audience right out of the movie watching experience. The costume was so bad that Ryan Reynolds even made jokes about it in the Deadpool movie, saying “Just don’t make the super-suit green… or animated!”
But anyway, it’s definitely worth watching it for the sake of the story. You can start it even now by clicking this link!
Now that we have the movie out of the way, we can safely talk about the soundtrack. The songs are all composed by James Newton Howard (read more about him here) and they are extremely epic! If anything, the music saved the movie from being totally disastrous. Even Prologue/Parallax Unbound, the first song that you hear brings you on an emotional journey and all of the songs that follow do the exact same thing.
Some might even prefer closing their eyes and simply listening to the soundtrack whilst they are watching the film. This is a true testament to James Newton Howard’s talent and this is the main reason why he was invited back to work on other DC properties too.
If you are interested why people dislike the movie or you simply want to hear the soundtrack, go ahead and order the movie for a low price from Amazon, the best place for movies and literally everything else!
5. Watchmen, 2009
- Genre: Action, Drama, Mystery
- Music composed by: Tyler Bates
The Watchmen comics were very popular when they came out and as soon as people heard that they are making a movie, the masses freaked out! Being able to see some of your favorite characters in cinemas is a huge thing, especially for those who have spent their childhood with these comic books.
Once the movie hit the theaters, viewers were given a unique experience, as the three-hour movie truly stays faithful to the source material. There were a few things that got changed in the movie, such as the ending, but overall this is a great homage to the comic books and the characters that you met there.
The music composed by Tyler Bates in this film is thrilling and it builds on each scene perfectly. Having amazing bands perform some of the scores is also a huge thing, as you can easily find the songs and listen to them on their own.
For more masterpieces by Tyler Bates, visit his Wikipedia page and read further!
The soundtrack consists of songs, such as Desolation Row by My Chemical Romance, The Times They Are a-Changin by Bob Dylan and even a score performed by the Budapest Symphony Orchestra, entitled Ride of the Valkyries. Additionally, there are many other songs that you can listen to and the whole soundtrack is quite amazing.
Sitting down and watching a three-hour movie is not a simple task for many, but you won’t even notice how much time has passed, as the great storyline of the movie as well as the songs that you can hear in the background will immerse you into the film completely. Pick up the movie now from Amazon for a reasonable price.
4. Man of Steel, 2013
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Fantasy
- Music composed by: Hans Zimmer
Man of Steel really started off the DC cinematic universe, especially if we look at the typical Justice League format. Henry Cavill’s Clark Kent, aka Superman, is something new that we have not seen before. He shows us the true intention of this alien and the movie explains the backstory of Superman as well as how he became one of the biggest heroes of the DC universe.
The film is quite enjoyable even if you are not familiar with the story and it is especially great as you can finally learn about the origin story of Superman. As always, Hans Zimmer delivers a marvelous score for the movie and it satisfies us in every aspect. If anybody, he truly knows how to compose amazing songs that fit superhero movie scenes in general.
If you want to hear his most popular classics, choose an audio format HERE and get the soundtracks now!
We have seen him done this hundreds of times before and we are amazed each time. Having such a legendary composer work his magic on movies is fantastic and we can only hope that he is going to continue his legacy for many years to come.
Every song that you hear on this soundtrack adds something new to the film and enhances the viewing experience by tenfold. Seeing these scenes without Hans Zimmer’s music would be bland and not very enjoyable at all. Just listen to Look to the Stars, Goodbye My Son, Terraforming or Flight and you will know exactly what I am talking about.
The reason behind this is that they are trying to familiarize viewers with the DC characters, as the Justice League movie is just around the corner. Get ready for the team to assemble by watching Man of Steel!
Man of Steel can be ordered from Amazon for quite a low price, you should definitely check it out HERE.
3. Batman, 1989
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Music composed by: Danny Elfman
The 1989 Batman movie was nothing similar to today’s superhero movies and Tim Burton showed the character in a more comical manner. Michael Keaton did not play the Dark Knight role perfectly at all and the movie itself was kind of a box office flop. Regardless, there were two additional movies that came out later as sequels and they were not great either.
Unfortunately, there were many bad Batman movies that made people question this character on the big screen (I’m looking at you Batman & Robin!) Thankfully, the score of the music is nothing like the movie itself, as Danny Elfman (read more about him here) composed some fantastic music to go along with the movie.
You are immediately going to know what I’m talking about when you hear the Batman theme song in this film! In addition, there are many other songs that deserve a mention, such as Descent Into Mystery, Attack Of The Batwing and Finale. These are all great songs on their own, but in the context of the movie, they are even better.
Batdance, performed by Prince is also a memorable song from the film. There are a few songs that Prince has contributed and they are just as fitting as the orchestra scores.
If you are interested in watching this 1989 movie, as always, Amazon is a great place to pick it up. Since the movie is older, you can get it now for an extremely low price!
2. Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 2016
- Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
- Music composed by: Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL
DC fans were very excited when plans of this project first surfaced. Seeing two of their favorite superheroes battle it out on the big screen is something that many awaited for years. In 2016, their dreams come true, as they could finally see what it would look like if Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne battled it out.
Hans Zimmer and Junkie XL did a fine job with the soundtrack and they composed songs that elevated the scenes and gave audiences the boost they needed. Having a heroic score play in the background of any scene can make it a whole lot better.
This is exactly what happened with this movie too and we are very thankful for it. Songs such as Beautiful Lie, the two character’s individual themes, Their War Here, Day of The Dead and many others are a perfect fit for the scenes that they are in.
Even though Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice wasn’t the best DC movie ever, the soundtrack came close to perfection!
You can order the movie below, but if you are not interested in the film, you can also choose to simply download the soundtrack individually by clicking here.
1. The Dark Knight Trilogy, 2005, 2008, 2012
- Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
- Music composed by: Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
Putting a whole trilogy on the number one spot might be considered cheating, but choosing between these three movies is nearly impossible. The Christopher Nolan Batman movies have shown the character in a whole new way; dark and gritty. This was a much-needed breath of fresh air and it revivified the character and the whole DC cinematic universe.
Since the release of the first Dark Knight movie, all of the following DC films were very similar in their tone. This is a great choice for DC, as they can distinguish themselves from Marvel and offer viewers a different kind of superhero movies. Having Christian Bale in the main role ensures that the Dark Knight is truly the hero that Gotham deserves.
Check out The Machinist, another great movie starring Christian Bale which shows hows his amazing acting talent in many different roles. Click here and watch it now!
He flawlessly executes the role and undergoes a stunning physical transformation, as he needed to bulk up for the part. When you see Bale’s Batman on the big screen, you do not doubt his authority for one second. In addition to an amazing Batman, we also got three great villains. Liam Neeson’s Ducard/ Ra’s Al Ghul and Tom Hardy’s Bane are both great characters.
Of course, The Dark Knight movie had the best villain with Heath Ledger’s Joker. This flawless performance cemented the Joker as one of the best villains in superhero movies. Let’s not forget that we are here to talk about the soundtracks of the movies.
The reason why this trilogy deserves the top spot is that the movies are filled with fitting and heroic songs choreographed by James Newton Howard and the fantastic composer Hans Zimmer. When you see Hans Zimmer’s name on a project, you know that you are not going to be disappointed!
Not only that the scores are great in the context of the movies and their individual scenes, but they are also amazing on their own! Listing all of the songs would take up a lot of time, so I will only highlight a few of the best. Like a Dog Chasing Cars, Molossus, the Main Theme of The Dark Knight Rises, Necessary Evil, Why So Serious?, I’m Not a Hero and the list goes on.
Regardless if you are a superhero / Batman fan, the Christopher Nolan The Dark Knight trilogy is a fun viewing experience. You will get familiarized with the character throughout the movies and you will learn why and how Batman became the Dark Knight of Gotham. If you are a true fan, you can start with the Dark Knight Rises by clicking the button below!
Summary
These are some of the movies of the DC cinematic universe that have astonishing soundtracks. Of course, there might be other films with great songs in them, but we have chosen to feature these films and their songs. If you have missed out on any of the films that we have mentioned, feel free to follow the links that are supplied in order to get your hands on the movies.
Additionally, you are also able to purchase the “Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection” album that has some of the best songs of the DC universe by clicking here!
The album features 31 songs, all from different DC properties. There are even some songs that we have mentioned on the list! Be sure to check out this deal, as it is truly something that you won’t want to miss out on, especially if you are a DC fan!
Check back next time, when we take a closer look at some of the best video game soundtracks!