Can You Name These Iconic Movie Soundtracks? Expert Trivia Quiz Challenge

Answers Below – No Peeking!

Think you know your movie soundtracks inside out? Test your expertise with this ultimate quiz on legendary scores from Hollywood classics to modern masterpieces. Questions range from easy warm-ups to fiendishly tricky ones for true cinephiles!

20 Trivia Questions on Movie Soundtracks

Question 1: Who composed the legendary orchestral score for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)?

A. Hans Zimmer
B. Howard Shore
C. John Williams
D. Ennio Morricone

Question 2: Which film features John Williams’ iconic two-note “duh-dum” shark motif in its soundtrack?

A. Deep Blue Sea (1999)
B. The Meg (2018)
C. Open Water (2004)
D. Jaws (1975)

Question 3: Ennio Morricone’s score with the famous coyote howl whistle is from which 1966 spaghetti western?

A. A Fistful of Dollars
B. For a Few Dollars More
C. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
D. Once Upon a Time in the West

Question 4: Bernard Herrmann’s screeching string score is synonymous with which Alfred Hitchcock horror classic?

A. Vertigo (1958)
B. Rear Window (1954)
C. Psycho (1960)
D. The Birds (1963)

Question 5: Who composed the magical, soaring score for E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)?

A. James Horner
B. Alan Silvestri
C. John Williams
D. Jerry Goldsmith

Question 6: The triumphant theme accompanying the T-Rex reveal in Jurassic Park (1993) was composed by?

A. Hans Zimmer
B. Howard Shore
C. John Williams
D. James Newton Howard

Question 7: Hans Zimmer’s mind-bending score with booming horns is from which Christopher Nolan film?

A. The Dark Knight (2008)
B. Dunkirk (2017)
C. Interstellar (2014)
D. Inception (2010)

Question 8: Which epic film’s soundtrack includes the haunting vocal piece “Now We Are Free” by Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard?

A. Troy (2004)
B. Kingdom of Heaven (2005)
C. Gladiator (2000)
D. 300 (2006)

Question 9: Howard Shore composed the sprawling score for which fantasy trilogy starting in 2001?

A. The Hobbit
B. The Chronicles of Narnia
C. Harry Potter
D. The Lord of the Rings

Question 10: James Horner’s lush romantic score, including elements in “My Heart Will Go On”, is from which 1997 blockbuster?

A. The Mask of Zorro
B. Braveheart
C. Titanic
D. Apollo 13

Question 11: Who composed the wistful, trumpet-led main theme for The Godfather (1972)?

A. Ennio Morricone
B. Nino Rota
C. Henry Mancini
D. Lalo Schifrin

Question 12: “Tubular Bells” by Mike Oldfield famously opens which 1973 horror film’s soundtrack?

A. The Omen (1976)
B. Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
C. The Exorcist (1973)
D. Poltergeist (1982)

Question 13: Which sci-fi noir film’s atmospheric synth score was composed by Vangelis?

A. Tron (1982)
B. Blade Runner (1982)
C. Escape from New York (1981)
D. Outland (1981)

Question 14: John Carpenter composed the eerie piano theme for which 1978 slasher classic?

A. Friday the 13th
B. Halloween
C. When a Stranger Calls
D. Prom Night

Question 15: Jerry Goldsmith’s avant-garde score with eerie gongs is from which 1979 sci-fi horror?

A. Star Trek: The Motion Picture
B. Prometheus
C. Alien
D. Event Horizon

Question 16: Danny Elfman’s gothic orchestral score debuted in Tim Burton’s which superhero film?

A. Batman Returns
B. Batman (1989)
C. Spider-Man
D. Edward Scissorhands

Question 17: Who composed the minimalist, synth-heavy score for Chariots of Fire (1981)?

A. Tangerine Dream
B. Giorgio Moroder
C. Vangelis
D. Jean-Michel Jarre

Question 18: Ennio Morricone’s harmonica-driven score with “The Man with the Harmonica” is from which film?

A. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
B. Once Upon a Time in the West
C. A Fistful of Dollars
D. Two Mules for Sister Sara

Question 19: Hans Zimmer’s thunderous score for Denis Villeneuve’s 2021 adaptation is for which film?

A. Dune
B. Blade Runner 2049
C. Sicario
D. Arrival

Question 20: Who composed the soaring fanfare for Superman (1978)?

A. Jerry Goldsmith
B. John Williams
C. Lalo Schifrin
D. Bill Conti

Answers

  1. C. John Williams – His score defined modern blockbuster music with themes like the Force Theme; Zimmer, Shore, and Morricone scored later epics like Dune, Lord of the Rings, and westerns.
  2. D. Jaws (1975) – Williams’ motif masterfully evokes dread; the others have shark themes but lack this exact iconic sound.
  3. C. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly – Morricone’s whistle signals Tuco; the others are Morricone or similar westerns without it.
  4. C. Psycho (1960) – Herrmann’s all-strings score amplifies the shower scene; he scored others but this is uniquely shrieking.
  5. C. John Williams – Features the “Flying Theme”; Horner did Cocoon, Silvestri Back to the Future.
  6. C. John Williams – The theme swells majestically; Zimmer scored The Lion King, Shore fantasy.
  7. D. Inception (2010) – Zimmer’s slowed “Non, je ne regrette rien” and horns; he scored the others too but this is signature.
  8. C. Gladiator (2000) – End-credits vocal epic; Gerrard/Zimmer also did Black Hawk Down.
  9. D. The Lord of the Rings – Shore won Oscars for the trilogy; others have different composers.
  10. C. Titanic – Horner’s score complements Celine Dion’s hit; he scored the others but this is the romance epic.
  11. B. Nino Rota – Iconic for Coppola’s mafia saga; Morricone did westerns, Mancini Peter Gunn.
  12. C. The Exorcist (1973) – Oldfield’s prog-rock track sets demonic tone; others use different eerie cues.
  13. B. Blade Runner (1982) – Vangelis’ synths evoke dystopia; others have electronic scores but not this.
  14. B. Halloween – Carpenter’s 5/4 piano riff chases Laurie; others have different slasher composers.
  15. C. Alien – Goldsmith’s atonal horror fits xenomorph; he scored Star Trek too.
  16. B. Batman (1989) – Elfman’s marchy theme; he returned for sequels, did Spider-Man.
  17. C. Vangelis – Piano melody won Oscar; others are synth contemporaries.
  18. B. Once Upon a Time in the West – Morricone’s cue for Charles Bronson; others Leone films have different motifs.
  19. A. Dune – Zimmer’s Oscar-winning industrial sound; he scored Blade Runner 2049 too.
  20. B. John Williams – Heroic brass for Reeve’s Man of Steel; Goldsmith did Star Trek.

How did you score? Drop your results in the comments below and challenge your film buff friends to top it!