Soundtrack vs. Score: Learn About the Two Types of Film Music

A film soundtrack is a selection of recorded songs that accompany a film. Also known as an original soundtrack (OST), this musical selection can include original songs or pre-existing songs that played during the film or were specifically recorded for the film. A soundtrack is also known as an original soundtrack (OST).

Unlike film scores, the soundtrack may feature music that was not recorded for the film but fits its overall mood and tone. Soundtracks may also feature vocal snippets of dialogue from specific moments in the film. For example, the Pulp Fiction soundtrack features Samuel L. Jackson’s famous “Ezekiel 25:17” monologue.

A film score refers to the original music that accompanies a film. In most cases, movie music is written by a film composer hired for the production. The movie score heightens the film’s emotion, creating an aural mood for each scene, along with sound effects and dialogue. The film's composer writes the original score, often with the help of an orchestrator. After the composition is written, the composer will work with instrumentalists or use digital composition software to record the final product. A film score is part of a film’s soundtrack and can refer to any musical composition ranging from climactic moments to the background music.

A score is the specific musical piece or incidental music that accompanies a scene or moment in the film, and a soundtrack is the compilation of songs and sounds that comprise all of the film’s music. Scores are usually created by one or more composers, while soundtracks typically feature songs by different bands, artists, or musicians. Soundtracks typically feature vocal music, whereas film scores traditionally consist of instrumental music written by a composer and performed by an orchestra or group of musicians.

Some notable examples of soundtracks and scores include:

1. 1. Psycho (1960): Composer Bernard Herrmann created the original, dissonant sound score for Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960). The scores in this film, particularly the second movement, are considered some of the most famous in film history. The film’s full original soundtrack is unreleased, but many later soundtracks contained re-performed versions of the scores by other orchestras.
2. 2. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966): Ennio Morricone was an Italian composer responsible for scoring The Good, the Bad and the Ugly (1966). The motion picture soundtrack album was released alongside this western film and contained 11 original music scores. Morricone also scored Once Upon a Time in the West (1972), tailoring each scene’s music to include a particular film theme, mood, or character.
3. 3. Star Wars (1977): John Williams composed the score for the iconic science-fiction saga, which is one of the most memorable soundtracks in film history. He also wrote the scores to Steven Spielberg’s iconic Hollywood blockbuster, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982), which won him two Grammy awards and a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for Best Original Score. The soundtrack would undergo several re-releases over the years, adding more never-before-heard scores to the lineup.
4. 4. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993): Danny Elfman is a successful composer known for his high energy classical music and iconic themes. He’s created notable soundtracks like Tim Burton’s 1993 animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas. In this Walt Disney release, Danny Elfman composed each of the scores and used his own singing voice for tracks like “What’s This?” and “Jack’s Lament,” creating a catchy yet morose album full of iconic scores.
5. 5. Pulp Fiction (1994): The movie soundtrack for this cult classic from director Quentin Tarantino features an exciting mix of vintage pop songs from artists like Al Green, Neil Diamond, and Dusty Springfield, alongside dialogue snippets from the film’s most quotable moments.
6. 6. Titanic (1997): James Horner composed the music for this soundtrack, which features one of the best-selling singles of all time: Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On.” Dion’s signature song from the blockbuster movie won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1998.
7. 7. The Dark Knight (2008): In 2009, Hans Zimmer and James Howard Newton won a Grammy for composing the score for this blockbuster Batman film. Hans Zimmer is one of the most prolific film score composers in cinema’s history, writing over a hundred original scores in his storied career. With notable credits like Inception (2010), he is most famously known for his composing work in The Lion King (1994), which earned him the Oscar for Best Original Score. Learn more about film composers in our quick guide that features tips from Hans Zimmer.

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