Star Trek: Music of the Frontier

While we all have our differences in this franchise. Some of you might think me craft for liking things like Voyager, Generations, or the reboot films. We all have our differences in this franchise, but one thing I think we can all agree on in this particular franchise, is that the music is absolutely incredible. Whether you're sporting the old school original series, or lost in the Delta Quadrant with Voyager, the Maddux of this franchise has almost never disappointed me. And I won't lie, I kinda pride myself in knowing when I hear a good soundtrack. A few exceptions withstanding (said as I eyeball that bad pop rock theme to Enterprise), this music has always been on target from the very start. It's some of the most iconic music of science fiction. But I'm gonna focus particularly on the music scores of the films. Unlike a TV series, a film is much more dependent on a good film score. Nothing against the Star Trek music of the series, but in the shows, it can take a back seat to the actual story a lot of the time. That's not to say that it can't be great, the flute theme from Inner Light remains one of my favorite things in this franchise's music, but unlike the films, it can suffer one it two bad episodes with little fear. A movie doesn't get that luxury if you ask me. But something strange that I see is that even in this franchise's WORST movies, the musical score can be absolutely phenomenal. It can really help carry the film when everything else is failing to do so. And the scores of these films can vary so incredibly well. So I'm looking at all 13 movies again, and I'm ranking them by how memorable their soundtracks are.

Please note, that story, characters, and other things are not the focus here. This is focused entirely on music. It also needs to be said, that I in no way consist any of these soundtracks, bad. Each are incredibly memorable in their own ways. So don't think of this so much as a worst to best, as it is a good to greatest. So sit back, and enjoy how I rank the 13 Best Musical Scores of the Star Trek films. Click the links for standout tangs from each score.

13. Star Trek: The Voyage Home (Leonard Roseman)
https://youtu.be/mMbLDQVrd5A (Main Title)
https://youtu.be/PjDXz4bWqTY (Crash-Whale Fugue)
https://youtu.be/siD30IEz6LU (Hospital Chase)

Whenever I hear the main title of this film, my pulse begins racing.  It's one of the most triumphant pieces I know that on its own, carries the entire soundtrack. It's not often I'll give so much credit to one piece of music.  The film's soundtrack unfortunately doesn't compare as much to this one piece alone, at times taking a backseat to the hilarious story, at times getting a bit goofy for a Trek soundtrack, which is why I'll say it's probably among the weaker scores of the franchise, but it's still a good score altogether. 

12. Star Trek: Nemesis (Jerry Goldsmith)
https://youtu.be/wwI-88jfEw0 (The Knife)
https://youtu.be/wMOLH7gke5w (The Scorpion)
https://youtu.be/1b1AnNuCtrY (A New Friend)

Nemesis has a very intense score, which is kinda unique for most Star Trek scores, aside from one we'll get to shortly. But it certainly fits this movie which features one of my favorite space battles of the entire franchise. It can be intimidating, tense, and at times a real treat to listen to, even if there are times it doesn't take a break from the tension. But whether it's calm or tense, it stands out more than simple background music.  The music gives Shinzon an intimidating presence on screen in ways that aren't shown with other villains.  Not even Khan. 

11. Star Trek Into Darkness (Michael Giacchino)
https://youtu.be/mu6xJsHKw58 (London Calling)
https://youtu.be/DwlFeVttLMg (The Kronos Wartet)
https://youtu.be/Y2xalm5xvDk (Brigadoom)

You can say what you want about the reboots as far as story or setting. But if you even think of saying that their music is bad around me, you will get a fucking lecture about music appreciation, because I thoroughly believe that the scores to EACH reboot film are absolutely incredible. Again, remember that this list isn't so much a worst to best list.  I love each and every one of these scores. And this is that other really intense score. If you'll remember, of the reboots, this is the one I like the least as the action at times doesn't fit, but at least the music is a treat to listen to. From the softer piano melodies, top the intense music played during the chase scene with the Klingons, this score is a testament to the intimidation that is throughout this film. It may be a weaker film of Star Trek, but the soundtrack isn't one I'd call weak.

10. Star Trek: Insurrection (Jerry Goldsmith)
https://youtu.be/poOdzrYzLpQ (Ba'ku Village - Visual Contact)
https://youtu.be/xKSOUBcsxSQ (Underwater Search - The Hollowship)
https://youtu.be/5vgejKmGJhQ (The Riker Maneuver)

Despite my disliking of Insurrection, it does have a wonderful score. I love the calmer theme of this score, which perfectly portrays "Paradise". The score provides an excellent atmosphere at times, which brings out the film's absolutely gorgeous scenery, from space to the landscape. Even when the action comes into play, the music can keep up, and it does make for one of the film's stronger suites thankfully. Good thing too because that's all I can really say about the movie itself. 

9. Star Trek: The Final Frontier (Jerry Goldsmith)
https://youtu.be/EBWKRp-4zEM (The Mountain)
https://youtu.be/0WaOYxxTGJg (A Busy Man)
https://youtu.be/GZDnzlCNYIU (Free Minds)

Even the film which most will call the worst of Star Trek has a good score. Jerry Goldsmith brings back more of the classic themes you're so used to, some bringing in a rather majestic atmosphere which can fit the mood perfectly. From their entrance into the Center of the Galaxy, to them landing on the planet, and finding..."God", the music doesn't fail this film in ways that everything else kinda...well, does. Credit where credit is due.

8. Star Trek: The Search for Spock (James Horner)
https://youtu.be/dMy1zZ6VGMk (Prologue and Main Title) 
https://youtu.be/aEmAi8Yp-A0 (Stealing the Enterprise)
https://youtu.be/_D9SteuGn3I (The Katra Ritual)

Honestly, as good as the score is, this score doesn't do too much to make itself unique. It's not bad persay, but nothing really stands out at me when I watch it. It doesn't have as memorable a theme as Wrath of Khan, or as triumphant a feel as Voyage Home. To me, the score is just kinda...there. But that's nothing against it. It just didn't make that big an impact on me personally. Despite some wonderful melodies, I personally feel that at times, it leaned a little too much on its predecessor's score, and didn't make too much out of itself. That might be because James Horner once again was behind this score. But none the less, it does have some great music.  A particular favorite comes during the stealing of the Enterprise from Starfleet.

7. Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country (Cliff Eidelman)
https://youtu.be/GT-wunjnEXA (Overture)
https://youtu.be/0YN5Gy1URlk (The Battle for Peace)
https://youtu.be/g9jpAV3G5rY (Sign Off)

The final film of the original crew is my favorite film of the franchise, though its soundtrack isn't exactly its strongsuit.  The doesn't mean it's not a good soundtrack at all, because it has a lot of very strong moments, particularly at the very end.  The sign off track can bring a tear to my eye, and it's for more reasons than simply watching all the signatures of the original bridge crew cast display themselves on the screen.  It's just the perfect sendoff for this crew, and the perfect music to have played for it. 

6. Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Jerry Goldsmith)
https://youtu.be/Nt9dOIdGIeM (Ilia's Theme)
https://youtu.be/ARcgqTx3NOg (The Enterprise)
https://youtu.be/kPQjYQZ7wW0 (V'Ger Flyover)

How ironic is it that the film I will call the absolute worst of Star Trek, has some of the most beautiful, and most iconic music in the entire franchise? Let me just put it this way, if the entire film were meant to be just a big mega suite of Star Trek music, set to nothing but the opening sequence of stars at the beginning of the movie, I'd totally put it on for background music. Jerry Goldsmith was probably one of the best things that happened to Star Trek music. He'd compose countless scores, and many themes. He composed Voyager, and The Next Generation took its theme straight from this film. The film may be boring as hell, but this music is far from that.

5. Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan (James Horner)
https://youtu.be/TDW5-VczFHo (Main Title)
https://youtu.be/eoit0OdKt-I (Surprise Attack)
https://youtu.be/xh0dEIb8enY (Buried Alive)

Horner gets a lot of praise for this soundtrack for good reason. From a memorable theme, to intense battle music, to unsettling tension, or somber sadness.  It's a real testament to the late Horner's career, which if you ask me, stands unmatched in his entire career. I may not give Wrath of Khan the most credit when it comes to it as a film on a whole. I still think that the middle of the film seems kinda nonexistent, but you'll never hear me declare this soundtrack to be uninteresting. It's amongst the best for a reason.

4. Star Trek: Generations (Dennis McCarthy)
https://youtu.be/FBdmVGGaJEE (Generations Overture)
https://youtu.be/uN8H3RhqaUk (Out of Control/The Crash)
https://youtu.be/75Y6-6_kr24 (The Nexus/A Christmas Hug)

Say what you want about Generations, it has one of the best soundtracks of the franchise.  The overture alone could go as a theme for any future series to come out of this franchise. And I do have to say that the atmosphere of the Nexus, and battle music of this film can be outright gorgeous. I love this score so much, that I often listen to it when writing up Star Trek projects of my own.  From start to finish, it's got a lot of oomf. Dennis McCarthy doesn't get enough credit for his musical contributions to Star Trek, well this is a great monument to that if you ask me.

3. Star Trek (Michael Giacchino)
https://youtu.be/UkijbBY1QUA (Enterprising Young Men)
https://youtu.be/zpnaRE1vEb8 (Nero Death Experience)
https://youtu.be/4WZblBDaorU (End Credits)

From the time we see the shuttles fleeing the destruction of the USS Kelvin at the beginning of this film, and we hear the soft beginning of an incoming theme growing louder and louder, to the time we see the films title amidst a barrage of timpani (being a former percussionist, and having played timpani myself, I have a soft spot for them), I knew I was listening to one of the best scores of the franchise, if not one of the best scores I've ever heard, period. It's the perfect score to introduce this darker timeline of the franchise, in more ways than one.  If it's not that awesome theme, you got some really cool Vulcan themed music that can get to you each and every time. And of course, the rendition of the classic original theme is absolutely priceless.

2. Star Trek: First Contact (Jerry & Joel Goldsmith)
https://youtu.be/K0BC4YoBKa4 (Red Alert)
https://youtu.be/f7Dy5F6hLfM (The Dish)
https://youtu.be/X9rtsG21ncg (First Contact)

For the longest time, this was my favorite score, mainly because of the music that plays during the landing of the Vulcans. It's perfect. But it goes beyond that.  The combat music, the music when the Borg invades Earth Space...screw it. EVERYTHING in this score is absolutely brilliant, but damn it if that music when First Contact officially happens doesn't bring a tear to the eye each and every time.  I love the movie, I love the soundtrack...but there is one film I feel with the superior soundtrack, and it just came out.

1. Star Trek Beyond (Michael Giacchino)
https://youtu.be/XPvPp6dOjf0 (Thank Your Lucky Star Date)
https://youtu.be/BZpXNZXLoDU (Night on the Yorktown)
https://youtu.be/EgLPN06E6j0 (Hitting the Saucer a Little Hard)

The newest film's soundtrack takes first place in my book easily. Why? Because it's the one soundtrack that I honestly believe is as close to perfection as you can get. It's emotional, it's intense, it sets the right mood almost each and every time.  I will say that for a film marking the 50th Anniversary of the franchise, "Night on the Yorktown" IS perfection. The music during the destruction of the Enterprise.  Perfection. One of the things going in to see this movie that I made sure to pay attention to was the soundtrack, because of how great the other two reboot soundtracks were.  I wasn't disappointed one bit. I really do believe that it will be hard to top this soundtrack in the future.  But you never know I guess.

And there you have it, my rankings of the Trek films by their soundtrack.  Agree?  Disagree? Let me know what you believe is the best Star Trek soundtrack down below, and as always, thanks for reading.