What makes a movie great is based on a number of factors, including its ensemble of actors, the cinematography and the script. These components of film tend to get the most attention from critics and viewers alike, who find these areas to be crucial to the quality of the movie. However, the soundtrack of a movie also plays a vital role in the quality of the film.

The soundtrack of a film can add to the emotional component, or add a comedic, creepy or suspenseful layer to the film, depending on how the music is composed.

When we take into consideration classic movies, not only does the great acting and wonderful storytelling come to mind, but either consciously or subconsciously, so does the music of the movie.

When we think of Steven Spielberg’s film “Jaws,” the suspenseful theme music of the shark comes to mind, and is responsible for that intense buildup before the shark is about to strike. The music contributes to the anxiety that we feel at that moment, and adds to the overall terror that the shark conjures.

Another memorable film is Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park,” a  movie that virtually all of us have seen and a timeless piece that has stuck with us throughout the decades. Not only are the realistic looking dinosaurs mesmerizing, but the soundtrack plays a huge role in the emotional grip that the film holds over its audience. When I, and many others, think of “Jurassic Park,” the main theme track of the film automatically comes to mind. We associate the song with the film.

But Spielberg’s films are not the only films that have memorable soundtracks. George Lucas’ “Star Wars” movies and Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Godfather” have cinematic soundtracks that have stood the test of time. “Indiana Jones” also has a soundtrack that is automatically recognizable when heard. The soundtracks to these films are masterpieces and have mesmerized audiences. And, they create a wave of nostalgia when heard by many of us.

Featured Image: retrieved from here.