Howard Shore’s score to The Lord of the Rings trilogy has been voted Number One in the Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2025, held in partnership with Radio Times.
The result was revealed after a day-long countdown on the station, which featured nine hours of film music chosen by over 10,000 listeners and readers. Jonathan Ross made the announcement just before 7pm.
This is the third year running that Shore’s soundtrack has secured the top spot, and in response, Shore said he was “thrilled the music resonates so strongly today” and thanked listeners for their continued support.
The countdown also highlighted notable shifts in the chart. John Williams’ score for Jaws climbed 27 places to number 13, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Steven Spielberg’s film, which has been re-released in cinemas, including IMAX. Michael Giacchino’s Up matched that leap, making it another joint highest climber.
John Williams dominated the upper rankings with Schindler’s List at number two, Star Wars at number three, and Jurassic Park at number five.
Both Williams and Hans Zimmer tied as the nation’s favourite film music composers, each securing 11 entries in the chart. Zimmer’s Interstellar also rose seven places into the top 10, ahead of his forthcoming world tour The World of Hans Zimmer – A New Dimension.
Other top 10 names included John Barry, Ennio Morricone and Classic FM’s Composer in Residence Debbie Wiseman, whose music for Wilde re-entered the top 10.
New entries this year included Stephen Schwartz’s Wicked, following its film adaptation, and Mission: Impossible, which debuted in the chart boosted by the release of The Final Reckoning.
Jonathan Ross said: “The Lord of the Rings is legendary in every sense, the storytelling, the world-building, and of course, Howard Shore’s unforgettable music. It’s a score that sweeps you away to another world, and I’m not surprised that our listeners have crowned it number one again.”
The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame 2025 – top 10:
1. The Lord of the Rings – Howard Shore
2. Schindler’s List – John Williams
3. Star Wars – John Williams
4. Gladiator – Hans Zimmer
5. Jurassic Park – John Williams
6. Out of Africa – John Barry
7. Dances with Wolves – John Barry
8. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly – Ennio Morricone
9. Interstellar – Hans Zimmer
10. Wilde – Debbie Wiseman