Collage of movie soundtracks and vinyl records

No double duty winners this year—though Hans Zimmer came close while we argued it out.
From Wes Anderson’s latest to the sounds of an alien desert and a western like you’ve never heard,
here are our picks for the Best Original Movie Soundtracks of 2021.

    1. 5) The French Dispatch — Alexandre Desplat

      The Wes Anderson / Alexandre Desplat partnership continues to sparkle. Desplat’s jaunty piano,
      lyrical strings, and occasional tuba feel like music you’d hear while leafing through the magazine
      in a French café. Distinct sections mirror the film’s anthology structure yet fit together beautifully.

      — Ashley Hobley

    1. 4) The Harder They Fall — Jeymes Samuel

      Director Jeymes Samuel (a musician himself) bakes music into the film’s DNA.
      A swaggering, modern western palette and a star-studded companion soundtrack—featuring
      Seal, JAY-Z, and Kid Cudi—layer even more cool onto one of 2021’s slickest movies.

      — Ashley Hobley

    1. 3) The Power of the Dog — Jonny Greenwood

      Jonny Greenwood threads tension like a hidden wire—restless strings and guitar motifs haunt the film’s
      quiet spaces while those mournful horns on “Best Friends” signal a truth you only fully grasp as the credits roll.

      — Dylan Blight

    1. 2) Dune — Hans Zimmer

      Zimmer’s self-described “spiritual without being religious” soundscape masks familiar instruments with synthesis and voice,
      crafting something truly otherworldly. From tectonic pulses to the piercing vocals of “Gom Jabbar,” the score alone
      transports you to Arrakis.

      — Dylan Blight

  1. 1) Bo Burnham: Inside — Bo Burnham

    A one-man musical tour de force that captured the internet—and the moment. The slide from bouncy satire
    (“Comedy,” “White Woman’s Instagram”) to aching introspection (“Funny Feeling,” “All Eyes on Me”) is deft and devastating.
    Burnham earned every accolade.

    — Ashley Hobley