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)
Theme From Jurassic ParkJohn Williams
When it comes to the music from Jurassic Park, this is the one! The moment that grand fanfare starts, your heart races with the feeling that an adventure is about to begin.
John Williams’s hopeful orchestral sound vividly brings back the awe and wonder of seeing dinosaurs for the first time.
The piece shifts masterfully to suit each scene, capturing not only the dinosaurs’ grandeur but also their mysterious beauty.
Featured in the 1993 film, the soundtrack was released in May of the same year.
It’s a timeless classic loved around the world—one you’ll want to listen to whenever you want to relive the excitement of watching the movie.
VidaHara Morihiko
It bears a title that means “life” in Latin.
The delicate melody spun by the piano is truly breathtaking.
The powerful resonance dwelling in the silence seems to express the taut atmosphere of the characters becoming consumed by their art, and the cry of the soul that lies beneath it.
It’s a moving masterpiece that gently seeps into the heart—perfect for anyone who wants to relive the film’s emotion on a deeper level.
In addition to being included on the film’s soundtrack, this piece also has a video on YouTube showing the recording session.
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.
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.
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.
Ask me why (A Mother’s Thoughts)Hisaishi Joe
This is the theme song from Studio Ghibli’s feature-length animated film The Boy and the Heron, which can be called the culmination of director Hayao Miyazaki’s work.
It is performed tenderly on a solo piano only three times during important scenes, from the opening to the late stages of the film, with no arrangements or variations for other instruments, making it clear how deeply composer Joe Hisaishi cherishes this piece.
If you listen closely, one note in the chorus melody differs from Ask Me Why (Mahito’s Resolve).
Just as Mahito returns with the stone and retains his memories of the experience, he has indeed changed from before to now.
It feels like a deliberate, meaningful misalignment.
The characters’ emotions are conveyed through live performance, as if opening the door to the heart.
Haru’s MemoriesYuji Nomi
From the film The Cat Returns, this is “Haru’s Memories.” The Cat Returns is framed as a story written by Shizuku Tsukishima from Whisper of the Heart, and the tale begins when the heroine, Haru, saves a cat that is about to have an accident.
Both The Cat Returns and Whisper of the Heart were scored by Yuji Nomi, whose works are known for their gentle warmth.
In the film, the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra—familiar from game and anime music concerts—performs the score, and on the soundtrack a bonus track features the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, resulting in a work of high caliber even as a listening experience.
In the video, a Korean orchestra performs it in concert, showing its popularity abroad as well.
The flute, harp, and tender strings are truly soothing.