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Howard Shores Lord of the Rings Score Tops Classic FMs 2026 Movie Music Hall of Fame
When the sun slipped behind the hills of the UK’s countryside on 31 August, Classic FM turned the dial to the soundtracks that have defined generations. In a listener‑voted ranking of the United Kingdom’s 100 favourite film scores, Howard Shore’s music for Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy reclaimed the No. 1 spot for a fourth straight year.
The poll, which attracted thousands of votes, was announced by Classic FM and its partner Metro in a joint press release. The countdown, broadcast on both Classic FM and Classic FM Movies, featured nine hours of music that spanned the history of cinema—from early silent‑film cues to contemporary blockbusters. Presenter Jonathan Ross revealed the winner on air just before 7 p.m., and the full programme is available for seven days on the Global Player catch‑up service.
Shore’s score, which earned him three Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards for the trilogy, has become synonymous with the epic fantasy world of Middle‑earth. 2026 marks the composer’s 80th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the first film’s release. In a statement to Classic FM, Shore said he was “very honored” to see the score voted favourite for a fourth year and thanked the musicians who performed the work.
The Hall of Fame also highlighted significant movements in the chart. Rachel Portman’s score for Chocolat rose 40 places to No. 47, while Patrick Doyle’s Sense and Sensibility moved up 34 places to No. 48. Shore’s The Hobbit climbed 29 places to No. 56. In contrast, John Williams’ iconic two‑note theme for Jaws fell 59 places to No. 72, and the scores for Titanic and Love Actually each dropped 40 places to Nos. 57 and 83.
New entries spanned 85 years of film music. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 1941 score for 49th Parallel made its chart debut at No. 66, and Ludwig Göransson’s The Odyssey, released a month earlier, entered at No. 95. Max Richter’s Hamnet, a score for the 2023 biopic about Shakespeare’s family, achieved the highest new placement at No. 28, partly due to the popularity of its opening theme “On The Nature of Daylight.”
John Williams remains the most represented composer in the 2026 list, with 11 scores, including the second‑place Schindler’s List and the sixth‑place Star Wars. His other entries include Jurassic Park (No. 5), Out of Africa, and several Harry Potter titles. Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator holds the fourth‑place position and is his only Top‑10 entry; Zimmer also has 11 scores in the chart, including the Dark Knight trilogy.
Jonathan Ross, who presented the final segment, praised Shore’s work as “the gold standard for film scores,” noting its epic, emotional, and instantly transporting qualities. He added that the score’s continued popularity reflects its ability to convey the scale and drama of Tolkien’s world.
The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame is run by a poll that allows listeners to rank their three favourite scores. Classic FM estimates that around 90,000 voters participate each year. The 2026 edition was broadcast on 31 August, with the countdown available for seven days on Global Player. The poll is part of Classic FM’s broader effort to celebrate music from cinema and to engage its audience through interactive programming.
For fans of film music, the 2026 Hall of Fame confirms the enduring appeal of Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings score and highlights the shifting fortunes of other iconic composers. The results also underscore the continued relevance of film scores in the modern music landscape, where streaming platforms and live broadcasts keep classic and contemporary music in the public eye.
The poll, which attracted thousands of votes, was announced by Classic FM and its partner Metro in a joint press release. The countdown, broadcast on both Classic FM and Classic FM Movies, featured nine hours of music that spanned the history of cinema—from early silent‑film cues to contemporary blockbusters. Presenter Jonathan Ross revealed the winner on air just before 7 p.m., and the full programme is available for seven days on the Global Player catch‑up service.
Shore’s score, which earned him three Academy Awards and three Golden Globe Awards for the trilogy, has become synonymous with the epic fantasy world of Middle‑earth. 2026 marks the composer’s 80th birthday and the 25th anniversary of the first film’s release. In a statement to Classic FM, Shore said he was “very honored” to see the score voted favourite for a fourth year and thanked the musicians who performed the work.
The Hall of Fame also highlighted significant movements in the chart. Rachel Portman’s score for Chocolat rose 40 places to No. 47, while Patrick Doyle’s Sense and Sensibility moved up 34 places to No. 48. Shore’s The Hobbit climbed 29 places to No. 56. In contrast, John Williams’ iconic two‑note theme for Jaws fell 59 places to No. 72, and the scores for Titanic and Love Actually each dropped 40 places to Nos. 57 and 83.
New entries spanned 85 years of film music. Ralph Vaughan Williams’ 1941 score for 49th Parallel made its chart debut at No. 66, and Ludwig Göransson’s The Odyssey, released a month earlier, entered at No. 95. Max Richter’s Hamnet, a score for the 2023 biopic about Shakespeare’s family, achieved the highest new placement at No. 28, partly due to the popularity of its opening theme “On The Nature of Daylight.”
John Williams remains the most represented composer in the 2026 list, with 11 scores, including the second‑place Schindler’s List and the sixth‑place Star Wars. His other entries include Jurassic Park (No. 5), Out of Africa, and several Harry Potter titles. Hans Zimmer’s Gladiator holds the fourth‑place position and is his only Top‑10 entry; Zimmer also has 11 scores in the chart, including the Dark Knight trilogy.
Jonathan Ross, who presented the final segment, praised Shore’s work as “the gold standard for film scores,” noting its epic, emotional, and instantly transporting qualities. He added that the score’s continued popularity reflects its ability to convey the scale and drama of Tolkien’s world.
The Classic FM Movie Music Hall of Fame is run by a poll that allows listeners to rank their three favourite scores. Classic FM estimates that around 90,000 voters participate each year. The 2026 edition was broadcast on 31 August, with the countdown available for seven days on Global Player. The poll is part of Classic FM’s broader effort to celebrate music from cinema and to engage its audience through interactive programming.
For fans of film music, the 2026 Hall of Fame confirms the enduring appeal of Howard Shore’s The Lord of the Rings score and highlights the shifting fortunes of other iconic composers. The results also underscore the continued relevance of film scores in the modern music landscape, where streaming platforms and live broadcasts keep classic and contemporary music in the public eye.
