John Williams Popular Song Rankings [2026]

Star Wars ThemeJohn Williams8rank/position

Tokyo Disneyland Star Tours commercial

This is the theme song of the blockbuster Star Wars series, which even had a recent film release.

It’s frequently played in commercials and on TV shows, so I’m sure even people who haven’t seen the movies have heard it at least once.

At Tokyo Disneyland, this song is also played in the Star Tours attraction.

Hedwig’s Theme: Harry Potter and the Chamber of SecretsJohn Williams9rank/position

Harry Potter – Hedwig’s Theme – John Williams | WDR Funkhausorchester

When you think of the Harry Potter films, this is the song that surely makes everyone nod in agreement.

Composed by John Williams, this piece brims with a mysterious allure that whisks listeners into a magical world in an instant.

The melody, opening with the sparkling timbre of the celesta, is perfect for heightening Halloween’s spooky-yet-festive mood.

It first debuted on the album Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and went on to color the story in the soundtrack for the sequel, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (released in November 2002).

Incidentally, it’s such an emblematic piece of the series that it’s even quoted in the spin-offs.

Play it on Halloween night, and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped right into a school of witchcraft and wizardry!

Theme From Jurassic ParkJohn Williams10rank/position

Theme From Jurassic Park

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.

Battle of DestinyJohn Williams11rank/position

STAR WARS Duel of the Fates

Since 2014, pop music has also been permitted for figure skating programs, but it still feels like classical music predominates, image-wise.

Even those who aren’t very interested in classical music often find themselves suddenly captivated when a familiar piece or a pop song comes on.

Many of you have probably heard the piece Duel of the Fates.

It’s one of the famous tracks from the movie Star Wars.

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, France’s Adam Siao Him Fa used a remix of this piece together with the well-known Darth Vader theme, The Imperial March, for his short program.

The tense atmosphere that plays during battle scenes—those edge-of-your-seat moments—really makes your palms sweat, doesn’t it?

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utatane

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Anakin vs. Obi-WanJohn Williams12rank/position

Star Wars Revenge of the Sith Soundtrack : Anakin vs Obi-Wan, the great duel

When you think of the climax of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, this is the track that comes to mind! It heightens the life-or-death duel between former master and apprentice on a lava planet with a sweeping orchestral sound.

Created by John Williams, the piece is striking for its atmosphere of heartrending tragedy that grips the listener’s chest.

The key feature of this composition is, above all, the intricate interweaving of the story’s iconic motifs.

It feels as if waves of Anakin’s anger and anguish are crashing over you, leaving you breathless.

The track is included on the acclaimed album Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, released in May 2005.

If you want to immerse yourself in the story’s climax, listening to it might just lift your spirits.

Double TroubleJohn Williams13rank/position

Double Trouble

What is this song that gives off nothing but ominous vibes…? This piece was also used in the trailer when the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in theaters.

The school choir sings it at the start of the new term, but with all the “Double, double, toil and trouble,” it’s like—where did the celebratory new-term mood go? I’ve heard the lyrics riff on the spell muttered by the three witches in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

No wonder it sounds so foreboding—keep that in mind as you listen.

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Housui Sachiyo

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Main TitleJohn Williams14rank/position

John Williams – Main Title and The Attack on the Jakku Village (Audio Only)

Sometimes a movie soundtrack is just right for a drive, don’t you think? Here’s the main theme from the film “Star Wars: The Force Awakens.” Just hearing this theme is sure to get you excited! Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, it’ll make for a fun drive.

(Maybe that’s just for men, though.)