The 10 Best Star Wars Themes (with Sheet Music!)
Ever since the opening fanfare rang out from theaters alongside that epic opening crawl all the way back in 1977, Star Wars has provided us with some of the most recognizable movie themes ever written. To prepare for this article, we've gone through the 60-plus themes John Williams has written for the Star Wars universe—specifically, the nine films referred to collectively as The Skywalker Saga—and embarked on the nearly-impossible task of narrowing them down to a list of our picks for The 10 Best Star Wars Themes of All Time.
And as we all have our own favorites, oftentimes influenced by our personal best-loved films from the franchise (though we challenge anyone who doesn't say The Empire Strikes Back is best), for this breakdown we've done our best to feature themes from all three trilogies. And as these are themes, several show up throughout the series – in particular, that immortal main title theme (did we just spoil our #1?), so the music we've selected here is what we consider the most memorable, but also most iconic of the saga.
So, without further ado, we present to you our picks for The 10 Best Star Wars Themes – along with links to Star Wars sheet music for each so you can truly immerse yourself in the music of "a galaxy far, far away."
#10 - Rey's Theme
First introduced in Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Rey became one of, if not the most important new character for the final trilogy of The Skywalker Saga. As such, it was only fitting that she be given a remarkable theme of her own. Light and airy to begin, matching her home world of Jakku, it proceeds to build to a majesty befitting that of the hero she will one day become.Get the sheet music for "Rey's Theme"
#9 - Across the Stars
From Attack of the Clones, the second film of the divisive "prequel trilogy," "Across the Stars" sets the backdrop behind the love blossoming between a young Anakin Skywalker and ex-queen, current senator, Padme Amidala. Arguably the series' most iconic "love theme," (though my son would argue that would actually be "Han and the Princess") the flowing "Across the Stars" bookends a tumultuous middle, perfectly foretelling the rocky road this ultimately tragic love will travel.#8 - Jedi Steps / Finale
A theme that first debuted The Force Awakens, "Jedi Steps / Finale" soon became a major theme moving throughout the "sequel trilogy." Those mournful horns and majestic soaring strings … they're almost enough to bring a tear to any Jedi's eye. As for the "Finale"? Well, other than the main theme, you'd be hard-pressed to find anything more unabashedly "Star Wars" than this.#7 - March of the Resistance
While "Rey's Theme" sets up the hero's journey Rey is about to embark upon, "March of the Resistance" sets the tone for the larger political climate and new rebellion that underlies the events of the final three episodes of The Skywalker Saga. With the horn fanfare and soaring strings, this theme is "Star Wars" through-and-through, and one of the best marches Williams has ever put to paper.#6 - May the Force Be With You
Other than the main theme, this is a piece you'll find in pretty much every Star Wars movie. Like the force itself, this theme flows throughout all the movies, binding them together into one mystical and magical work.Get the sheet music for "May the Force Be With You"
#5 - Yoda's Theme
Yoda … how we all loved that green little guy that taught us that "size matters not." First introduced in the greatest of all Star Wars films, The Empire Strikes Back, it was later used in six of the nine other films – most heartbreakingly of all, during Yoda's heartbreaking death in The Return of the Jedi.#4 - Cantina Band
Perhaps the least similar to any other major Star Wars themes, "Cantina Band" is a little number performed by the band of alien musicians at the cantina in Mos Eisley. It's ours and Luke's first introduction to a much more colorful world outside the moisture farms of Tatooine or the drab and stark world of The Empire. It's a piece that will forever be immediately identifiable as "Star Wars" – even though it only shows up in the very first of the Star Wars films, A New Hope.#3 - The Imperial March
#2 - Duel of the Fates
If we were to be completely honest, this is probably the best of all the themes ever written for the Star Wars universe. Played against the battle between Qui-Gon Jinn and Darth Maul (arguably the best lightsaber battle in all of Star Wars), this is Williams at his absolute best. He utilizes the magic of music to set the stage for what is to come throughout the entire arc of The Skywalker Saga, as a master of the light battles a master of the dark in what will ultimately be one of the key deciding factors in the fate that will one day befall Anakin Skywalker.#1 - Star Wars (Main Theme)
It's the Star Wars Theme. What more can we say? It elicits cheers from the audience and was used as the opening theme for every film in The Skywalker Saga. Harkening all the way back to those first notes blaring out in theaters all the way back in 1977 through the saga's closer, The Rise of Skywalker, nothing screams "Star Wars," nor will forever tear at our nostalgic heartstrings like the one and only main theme.Get sheet music for "Star Wars (Main Theme)"
And so concludes our breakdown of what we at Sheet Music Direct personally pick as our 10 Best Star Wars Themes of All Time. Of course, there are literally dozens more songs that while not making our cut, are still absolutely legendary (we really wish there had been room to throw in "Luke and Leia" … and "Scherzo for X-Wings" … and "Battle of the Heroes" … and we could go on forever).
And like that galaxy, far far away, there are plenty of remarkable Star Wars themes from outside The Skywalker Saga, including John Powell's work on Solo: A Star Wars Story, Michael Giacchino's work on Rogue One, and Ludwig Göransson recent work on The Book of Boba Fett and The Mandalorian.
But regardless of which ones are your favorites, and regardless of how our list matches up with yours, the one thing we can all agree on is that the music of Star Wars has taken up residence in our souls.
As for the best way to let it out? Browse our selection of Star Wars sheet music, find your favorite, and play on.
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