John Williams is as much a cornerstone of the Star Wars franchise as George Lucas himself. Music is an integral part of any cinematic experience – it has the power to create tension where there is none, cultivate a sense of wonder and joy, and thematically connect characters across installments. A scene as simple as a young farm boy looking out at two setting suns can suddenly become one of the most iconic moments in all of movie history because of the brilliance of the score that accompanies it. That is the power of music.
There are dozens of iconic musical themes across all the Star Wars movies, and it’s certainly tough to choose just 10. Some of the ones that didn’t make it on this list, like Princess Leia’s gorgeous theme (used to great emotional effect in the first Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker teaser trailer) or “The Throne Room” music from the end of the original Star Wars movie deserve to be highlighted, too. The following list, however, looks at Williams’ iconic scores across all three Star Wars trilogies and tries to capture the decades-long influence that the composer has had on one of the most successful and enduring stories of all time.
10 March of the Resistance
Plenty of criticism has been lobbed at the Star Wars sequel trilogy over the years; either the movies were too reliant on nostalgia, or the new characters never got to realize their full potential. Williams’ return to the franchise, however, was a triumph, imbuing the Disney Star Wars movies with the same energy and emotion he had always managed to deliver before. “March of the Resistance” perfectly captures the spirit of the new Rebellion, a soaring fanfare that makes it even easier to root for Leia’s band of resistance fighters than usual. This might just be one of the most recognizable marches Williams has ever produced, and that’s saying something.
9 Yoda’s Theme
Yoda is one of Star Wars’ most fantastical characters, and the theme Williams wrote for him is wholly reflective of that. Capturing Yoda’s playful, yet wise temperament, “Yoda’s Theme” is one of the most memorable pieces of music in a movie that is chock-full of them already. Since its introduction in The Empire Strikes Back, “Yoda’s Theme” has been used to great effect in six of the nine Skywalker saga movies, but never manages to stir as much emotion as it did during Yoda’s death scene in Return of the Jedi.
8 Rey’s Theme
Like the Star Wars legacy characters that came before her, Rey deserved a theme all her own, and Williams delivered in spades. “Rey’s Theme” encapsulates the journey she would embark on in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, starting as a lonely, yet kind scavenger on Jakku to become one of Star Wars’ most prolific and important heroes. “Rey’s Theme” captures the character’s empathy and curiosity as well as her determination and courage as she becomes the new hope of the Jedi.
7 Han Solo and the Princess
Star Wars isn’t Star Wars without the occasional love story, and the romance between Han Solo and Princess Leia is one of the franchise’s most iconic and crucial relationships of all time. “Han Solo and the Princess” summarizes the charisma and chemistry between these two headstrong characters and how all their defenses fade away as they learn to trust one another and fall deeper in love. The return of this gorgeous theme in The Force Awakens was certainly an emotional moment, as Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher reunited on screen for the first time in over three decades.
6 Across the Stars
“Across the Stars” is another one of Williams’ triumphant Star Wars love themes, and perhaps one of his most beautiful compositions for the entirety of the franchise. Whatever audiences may feel about Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones, there’s no denying that “Across the Stars” lends serious weight to the awkward and stilted romance between Anakin Skywalker and Pé Amidala. This theme recognizes the ion and tragedy of their relationship in equal measure and brilliantly foreshadows the hurt that is still to come.
5 The Jedi Steps and Finale
No list of John Williams’ best Star Wars compositions would be complete without including the instantly recognizable finale music that always plays over the start of the credits, but “The Jedi Steps” prelude that accompanies it in The Force Awakens is so powerful that it needed to be included, too. As Rey ascends the ancient steps on Ahch-To, Williams’ music imbues the stunning vistas and emotional moment in which Rey and Luke finally meet with an incredible sense of history and importance. The way this musical sequence uses another one of Star Wars’ most iconic soundtrack themes to lead into the “Finale” music is undeniably effective, as well as the reprisal of “Rey’s Theme” during the rest of the credits.
4 Star Wars - Main Title
There’s no feeling quite like it, is there? Sitting in the cinema to watch the latest Star Wars movie and that opening crawl begins, accompanied by Williams’ unforgettable and timeless Star Wars theme. “Star Wars - Main Title” speaks to everything that is Star Wars at its core; that sense of adventure, danger, hope, and joy that permeates the entirety of the franchise, all rolled into one instantly recognizable composition (which is actually Luke's theme, according to Williams). Star Wars wouldn’t be the same without it.
3 The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)
Even people who have never watched a single Star Wars movie in their lives recognize “The Imperial March.” Darth Vader on his own is already one of the most iconic and compelling villains of all time, thanks to his terrifying and mysterious mask and the deep, commanding voice of James Earl Jones. But, Williams’ theme for Darth Vader elevates the villain’s imposing presence in the movies and highlights the darkness and power of the Empire that he serves, too. “The Imperial March” is a grand, bombastic piece of music, perfectly suited to the character it was written for.
2 Duel of the Fates
Perhaps there is plenty to criticize in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, but “Duel of the Fates” will forever remain one of Star Wars’ most intense and impressive pieces of music. The stirring and frantic musical theme perfectly underscores the duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi, Qui-Gon Jinn, and Darth Maul. Qui-Gon’s death is the moment the galaxy and Anakin Skywalker’s fates were sealed, and “Duel of the Fates” captures that sense of importance and the lives that are at stake, even if the duelists themselves weren’t aware of the future that lay ahead.
1 The Force Theme (Binary Sunset)
No matter how many times it’s been used in Star Wars, across the movies, the animated and live-action shows, and even some of the Star Wars games, Williams’ theme for the Force is brilliantly evocative. It is hope and beauty and mystery all rolled into one, and the franchise wouldn’t be the same without it. “The Force Theme” and every other musical theme listed here, as well as the ones that aren’t, are undeniable proof that Williams’ Star Wars compositions are a central pillar of the franchise's storytelling. They elevate the characters, the narrative, and the emotional aspects of each and every Star Wars installment.
