In case you haven’t noticed, my favorite thing to write is lists of my favorites. This week, I’m doing some of my favorite movie soundtracks of all time.

I have some that are instrumental and some that are not, but all of these soundtracks are good additions to your musical library. There’s a wide variety here, too, so it can help you broaden your musical horizons.

1. Moulin Rouge

The movie itself is not one of my favorites because I’m not a fan of surreal films, but the soundtrack redeems it. My favorite song on the soundtrack is “Come What May,” performed by Ewan McGregor and Nicole Kidman. McGregor is a fantastic singer, and I was very impressed with his performance in this movie.

Another great song is “We Should Be Lovers,” performed by the same stars. It starts with a medley of classic love songs and ends with epic violin and drums. All the songs are great, because they’re new spins on classic songs.

2. Pirates of the Caribbean

This reminds me of high school. Pirates of the Caribbean has one of the most recognizable soundtracks out there, but it’s not cheesy or over-the-top. Who doesn’t love the swashbuckling orchestra in “He’s a Pirate” or “Black Pearl”? Klaus Badelt perfectly describes pirates, skeletons, and love through this music, which is no small feat.

3. (500) Days of Summer

(500) Days of Summer is different from most chick flicks, so the soundtrack is a little bit different too. The music is fun and fanciful. There are a few Regina Spektor songs on this album, which I really like. “Us” is one of them that’s particularly good. Another fun song is “She’s Got You High” by Mumm-ra, with plucky electric guitar and upbeat drums.

4. Inception

I had to include the Inception soundtrack because it’s the most epic soundtrack I’ve heard. It’s all by Hans Zimmer, who has made other fantastic soundtracks like Pirates of the Caribbean and Gladiator. Inception is one of my favorite movies of all time, and the soundtrack is absolutely perfect. The best song is the main theme, “Dream is Collapsing,” with its loud, dramatic trumpets and intense bass. “Waiting for a Train” is also excellent. It’s slower, but equally dramatic.

5. Pride and Prejudice

I will admit that it’s one of my life goals to be able to play a whole song from Pride and Prejudice on the piano from memory. Sadly, I don’t have a piano in my house at college, so I never get to practice. However, this might possibly be my favorite soundtrack out of all the ones listed here. It’s mostly piano and violin music, and it’s all absolutely fabulous. Jean Yves-Thibaudet is an excellent musician, and he shines here, especially in songs like “Liz On Top of the World.” You could say “Dawn” is the theme of the movie, and it’s peaceful and perfectly embodies – what else? – the dawning of a new day.

6. Juno

The Juno soundtrack is similar to (500) Days of Summer because it’s also fanciful, but it’s even more fun and unique. My favorite song by far is “All I Want is You” by Barry Louis Polisar with its whimsical acoustic guitar and harmonica and cute, creative lyrics. “Tire Swing” by Kimya Dawson has the same feel, but it also makes unique use of whistles and piano.

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