Masterpieces of film music: from Hollywood classics to Japanese cinema
“I’ve heard it somewhere but can’t remember!” “I forgot the song title or the artist’s name!” A special feature of famous film music for those in exactly that situation!
From themes of blockbuster films to the latest buzzworthy hits.
We’ve carefully selected a wide range—from nostalgic classics to fairly recent works!
In the first half, we’ll focus mainly on relatively new pieces; in the second half, we’ll introduce popular tracks, including hall-of-fame classics.
We hope you find the one song you’ve been looking for!
Please enjoy!
- [Film Music] Theme songs from Western movies: those unforgettable classics and popular tunes
- [Western Films] Moving Movie Theme Songs: A Compilation of Tear-Jerking Theme Tracks
- Theme and insert songs from Japanese films. Masterpieces and popular tracks of Japanese movie music.
- 【2026】A Roundup of the Latest Masterpieces and Popular Tracks in Film Music
- [2026] Relive those iconic moments… Recommended theme songs and insert songs from Western films
- Most popular songs from the Pirates of the Caribbean series
- [90s Western Films] Theme Songs & Insert Songs: Nostalgic Classics
- A compilation of film music played on the piano / that I want to play on the piano
- Main Themes and Theme Songs Throughout the Harry Potter Series
- The theme song of a romantic film that gives you a heart-fluttering, moving feeling.
- Popular songs from the Fast & Furious series
- Star Wars Music: All-Time Theme Songs and Popular BGM [2026]
- Theme and insert songs from dramas and films that color the story
Masterpieces of Film Music: From Hollywood Classics to Japanese Cinema (41–50)
Beauty and the BeastAriana Grande、John Legend
“Beauty and the Beast,” a French folktale that has been adapted into films many times.
The most famous versions are likely Disney’s 1991 animated film and the 2017 live-action film.
In the 2017 version, the theme song from the Disney adaptation was sung as a duet by Ariana Grande and John Legend.
The song describes how the relationship between the two, initially at odds, gradually begins to change.
Tonight Is What It Means To Be YoungFire Inc.
The theme song from the 1984 rock film “Streets of Fire” starring Diane Lane.
It’s an incredibly cool track! Every song on the soundtrack is fantastic, and the album is considered a classic among soundtracks.
The music hasn’t aged a bit.
Highly recommended—rock fans should give it a listen at least once.
Stand By MeBen E. King
Stand by Me is a 1986 film based on a novella by Stephen King.
It portrays a small adventure in which four boys, each carrying emotional scars, set out along the railroad tracks on a curious quest to find a dead body.
Along with the film, the theme song enjoyed a revival hit.
DeparturesHisaishi Joe
This is the main theme of the masterpiece film Departures, which swept the major categories at the Japan Academy Film Prize and also won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.
The composer is Joe Hisaishi.
A quiet, gentle melody carries a sense of poignant sorrow.
It also has an elegant, distinctly Japanese atmosphere, making it a fascinating piece to listen to.
LuminanceHara Marihiko feat. Iguchi Satoru
This is the theme song that closes the film “Kokuhō” (National Treasure), starring Ryo Yoshizawa and co-starring Ryusei Yokohama.
The music is by composer Marihiko Hara, who explores “strength within stillness,” and the vocals are by Satoru Iguchi of King Gnu.
The piece is a minimal, elegant ballad woven from piano and electronic sounds, with Iguchi’s breath-like singing creating a mystical atmosphere.
Its poetic worldview—depicting the protagonist’s life, its radiance, and the cleansing of the soul—may move you to tears when you listen after watching the film.
It’s the perfect track for lingering in the afterglow of an epic story and experiencing a sense of emotional purification.
BatdancePrince
Film adaptations of hit American comics have mostly become major successes and turned into series.
Superman, Spider-Man, and Batman are good examples.
Among them, Batman is the most avant-garde film, and its music, handled by Prince, generated significant buzz.
Men in BlackWill Smith
Men in Black is an American film released in 1997.
It’s a comedy-leaning sci-fi action movie that posits many American urban legends as alien-related facts, and it won the Academy Award for Best Makeup at the 70th Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture (Comedy/Musical) at the 55th Golden Globes.