Top 10 Scores Turning 10 in 2024

It's time to enter the musical score time machine! For this edition, we're looking back to 2014! (Did Desplat sleep at all that year??!) Here's a look back at the scores of the year with my list of the 10 Best Scores Turning 10!

Let's start the ranking!

10. The Imitation Game (Alexandre Desplat)

Desplat sounds like Desplat with the lush strings and woodwinds and heavy piano usage. Like other scores, piano arpeggios represents Alan Turing's machine thinking. The lovely main rising theme appears a few times in the album as does the rhythmic ostinatos for the decrypting sequences. 

9. A Million Ways to Die in the West (Joel McNeely)

Film score fan Seth MacFarlane thankfully turned to collaborator McNeely for this Western sendup. McNeely uses all the usual Western tropes, but has his own thrilling and catchy main theme.  A comedy score works best when it takes itself seriously, and this is a pastiche done with love and a twinkle in its eye.  

8. The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies (Howard Shore)

It's incredible that Shore managed to continue the leitmotif style of The Lord of the Rings trilogy with this big undertaking for The Hobbit. Here he continues the past themes, weaving them into some haunting moments, overlapping thematic statements and crafted battle sequences. 

7. Under the Skin (Mica Levi)

A totally unique ambient, modern minimalist score. The distorted recordings are upsetting (as is the film itself). I wouldn't listen to it much outside of the movie, but its a cold and tension filled score.  

6. The Monuments Men (Alexandre Desplat)

Desplat's throwback score has some upbeat militaristic flair, along with scenes that showcase his comedy and thriller writing. He gives the film some of his usual charm starting with the delightful main theme march.

5. Maleficent (James Newton Howard)

For this darker Disney live-action tale, we get a darkly magical score. Sweeping strings give way to gentle instrumental solos. The Maleficent Suite is a great introduction to his main themes and motifs as he expands on each throughout the score. 

4. The Monkey King (Christopher Young)

Christopher Young pulled out all the stops for this epic Chinese fantasy film. He uses a massive orchestra and choir with the appropriate Asian instrumentation. The album has suites of the main characters, with some tranquil beauty, soaring melodies and thrilling action sequences. 

3. The Grand Budapest Hotel (Alexandre Desplat)

An original score finally stands out in this Wes Anderson film. Desplat was able to create a few themes that go through tons of variations with the kitchen sink of instruments. The score is meticulously detailed, even when the quirky sounds seem repetitive.

2. Interstellar (Hans Zimmer)

One of his most thrilling works - it captures Christopher Nolan's vision of the vastness of space and the intimacy of the family story. Zimmer likes to find a hook for each film - in this one we get the epic church organ. The main theme building through the score is a reliable standard for Zimmer and the main theme has had life outside the score for a while now. 

1. How to Train Your Dragon 2 (John Powell)

The film's characters have matured since the first film, and so has the score. Powell expands on the joyous score with new material that blends seamlessly into the first film's score. The themes seem bigger, with bolder action, more choir, and certainly more Celtic instruments highlighted. It's a masterclass in animated scoring and sequel scoring. 

Honorable Mentions:
Godzilla (Alexandre Desplat), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (James Newton Howard), Need for Speed (Nathan Furst), Rio 2 (John Powell), The Theory of Everything (Jóhann Jóhannsson)

Any personal favorites of yours from 2014 that I didn't include?