Top 10 Greatest Movie Soundtracks of All Time — From Blade Runner to Spirited Away

What is the difference between a film score and a movie soundtrack? A film score is original music composed specifically for a movie — like Hans Zimmer's organ-driven score for Interstellar or Ennio Morricone's iconic three-note theme for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. A movie soundtrack can also include pre-existing licensed songs curated for the film, like Quentin Tarantino's surf rock and soul compilation for Pulp Fiction.

Which movie soundtracks have won the most awards? Ennio Morricone received an honorary Oscar in 2007 and a competitive Oscar for The Hateful Eight (2016). Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross won the Academy Award for Best Original Score for The Social Network (2010). Joe Hisaishi's score for Spirited Away won a Japan Academy Prize.

What makes a movie soundtrack truly great? The best movie soundtracks work on two levels: they serve the film perfectly in context, and they stand alone as rewarding listening experiences. The titles on this list — from Blade Runner to Spirited Away — achieve both, which is why audiences still seek them out decades after release. Cast your vote above to weigh in on which belongs at #1.