Inception. The Thin Red Line. Driving Miss Daisy. Gladiator. Dune. These cinematic masterpieces, among countless others, have earned Hans Zimmer a reputation as one of the greatest film composers of our time. But when it comes to his own work, which score does Zimmer consider to be his ultimate achievement?
Enter Guy with a Movie Camera, known as Reece Feldman, who recently nudged Zimmer into a fascinating showdown of his scores. Kicking off this intriguing single-elimination tournament, the competition featured Pirates of the Caribbean facing off against The Lion King—the very film that earned Zimmer his first Oscar. In a heartfelt moment, Zimmer favored the 1994 animated hit, revealing, “Lion King is written for my daughter. I didn’t really want to do the movie. I didn’t really want to do animation. But the story just struck a chord with me, dealing with the theme of loss, which resonated deeply as my own father passed when I was six. It forced me to confront those feelings.”
However, when The Lion King went up against the mind-bending Inception, Zimmer didn’t hesitate in choosing the latter. After all, his collaborations with visionary director Christopher Nolan have produced some unforgettable cinematic experiences. Following that choice, Inception faced off against Interstellar, which eventually came up against Dune. Yet, Zimmer pointed out that his work on Dune was still evolving, leading to an unexpected match against Thelma & Louise, a choice that seemed out of place in the illustrious context of Zimmer’s career. What about classics like Rain Man? Regardless, he reflected on Inception, saying, “It’s one of the few films where I think to myself, ‘Yeah, I nailed it.’” How humble can you get, Hans?
In a surprising twist that has film enthusiasts buzzing, Sherlock Holmes triumphed over Inception. Talk about a plot twist! Ultimately, the crown for this particular tournament went to The Dark Knight, which outperformed Kung Fu Panda in a gripping finale.
If I had to weigh in, my personal favorite would be the hauntingly beautiful score of The Thin Red Line. The intensity of that music was so moving that director Terence Malick used it on set to evoke emotion in the actors.
Now it’s your turn! What’s your all-time favorite Hans Zimmer score? Share your picks and let the debate ignite in the comments below.
