Hans Zimmer is today’s most succesful film composer on the planet, with soundtracks to the biggest blockbusters out there coming out from his pen more than once a year

Zimmer started composing after being inspired by Ennio Morricone‘s soundtrack for The Mission & blends Morricone‘s epic themes & grace with a pounding power & electronically processed strings that are unique to his music

Here are 7 scores by Hans Zimmer, starting with the Oscar winner score for The Lion King, passing through the giant success of Gladiator & ending with the latest greatest score he penned

Heart Stopping Hans Zimmer Scored Films | 7

The Lion King

Directors: Roger Allers, Rob Minkoff
Cast: Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones, Jeremy Irons, Moira Kelly, Nathan Lane, Niketa Calame, Ernie Sabella, Robert Guillaume, Rowan Atkinson, Madge Sinclair, Whoopi Goldberg, Cheech Marin, Jim Cummings, Frank Welker
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Genre: Animation, Adventure, Family, Comedy, Drama
Year: 1994

This was the first time that a Disney animation film got real music in it. Not only the great Elton John was hired to write the songs – and boy were they fun!! – but a relatively young & unknown Hans Zimmer was hired to score The Lion King. Choirs echo throughout every single scene, in the quiet prairie pauses & in the action sequences. Did you get your bones rattled while Mufasa gave his life to save the life of his son SImba in the spectacular stampede scene orchestrated by the twisted Scar? Did the rioting choirs, strings & horns orchestrated by Zimmer contribute to your inner pathos? I bet they did

One more thing: remember the classic opening scene, accompanied by Elton John‘s Circle of Life? Remember the stunning African chants in the intro? These chants were written by longtime Zimmer collaborator & traditional African singer Lebo Morake, who was called in by Zimmer and wowed everybody at Disney with an improvised chant which made it in the intro sequence of The Lion King and became an instant classic

Heart Stopping Hans Zimmer Scored Films | 6

Crimson Tide

Director: Tony Scott
Cast: Denzel Washington, Gene Hackman, Matt Craven, George Dzundza, Viggo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Rocky Carroll, Jaime Gomez, Michael Milhoan, Scott Burkholder, Danny Nucci, Lillo Brancato, Eric Bruskotter, Ricky Schroder, Steve Zahn
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Year: 1995

The score for Crimson Tide -  a 1995 Tony Scott directed submarine drama  – redefined the way we listen to film music today. The incredible mixture of electronically processed string sections & raging electric guitars rocked the world & we were since granted the pleasure to listen to them in many action films to come. Gene Hackman‘s speech to the Navy soldiers, under hammering rain, just before embarking in the submarine & starting their mission is just breathtaking. Lots of credit goes to the amazing Hackman, but what would that scene be without Hans Zimmer‘s glorious theme?

The Ennio Morricone inspiration clearly surfaces in the quiet opening notes of Roll Tide, which in themselves belong in a Sergio Leone western. Then the same theme is played with the heaviest strings/guitars mix… & that’s where the action takes off!

Heart Stopping Hans Zimmer Scored Films | 5

The Rock

Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Sean Connery, Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris, John Spencer, David Morse, William Forsythe, Michael Biehn, Vanessa Marcil, John C. McGinley, Gregory Sporleder, Tony Todd, Bokeem Woodbine, Jim Maniaci, Greg Collins, Brendan Kelly
Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
Genre: Action, Adventure, Drama, War
Year: 1996

The Rock is a great action film filled with stylish visuals & a gritty core. The story follows FBI agent & chemistry freak Stanley Goodspeed as he strives to save San Francisco from the revenge of rogue general John Hummel, who plans to strike the city with a chemical attack. Goodspeed is aided by captured British intelligence agent John Mason, who agreed to join a deadly mission to Alcatraz – also known as The Rock – in exchange for a pardon against all crimes committed. The action is spectacular & heavy-paced. But what would those scenes be without the mesmerizing soundtrack? When Nicolas Cage launches green flares & desperately screams to sky, just before the thermite plasma bombs hit The Rock, didn’t your heart beat a lot stronger because of Zimmer‘s theme Rocket Away?

And the capture of the VX gas missiles takes power while scored by the distorted guitars & hammering strings in Hummel Gets the Rockets. Finally, what would the reunion of John Mason with his daughter Jade without the beautiful, suspended, Morricone inspired pan flute of Jade?

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