The following is a sortable list of cinema films which have music by Richard Wagner in their soundtracks (other than films of Wagner's operas themselves). Casual references (and use of the Bridal Chorus from Lohengrin) are not included.
Wagner music in films Film Year Director Music used from:Ref.The Birth of a Nation1915 D. W. Griffith"Ride of the Valkyries" Sameer Rahim, "Wagner in film", The Daily Telegraph, 22 July 2013, accessed 15 August 2018.The Viking1928Roy William NeillParsifal, Flying Dutchman, Die WalküreRoss (2020) p. 574.Un Chien Andalou1929Luis BuñuelTristan und IsoldeSangild (2015).L'Age d'Or1930Murder!Alfred HitchcockCity Streets1931Rouben MamoulianDie Meistersinger von NürnbergA Farewell to Arms1932Frank BorzageTristan und IsoldeRoss (2020) pp. 574, 593.The Scarlet Empress1934Josef von Sternberg"Ride of the Valkyries"R.A.F.1935John BettsTriumph of the WillLeni RiefenstahlDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg, "Wach' auf" chorus, (act 3, scene 5)Strötgen (2008)The Right to LiveWilliam KeighleyTristan und IsoldeThe Lion Man1936John P. McCarthy"Ride of the Valkyries"One Hundred Men and a Girl1937Henry KosterLohengrin, prelude to act 3Joe and Gilman (2010), p. 442.The Big Broadcast of 19381938Mitchell Leisen"Ride of the Valkyries (Brunnhilde's Battle Cry)"Film clipFlash Gordon's Trip to Mars1938Frederick StephaniParsifalEscape1940Mervyn LeRoyTristan und Isolde ("Liebestod")Ross (2020) p. 582.The Great DictatorCharlie ChaplinLohengrin, preludeRed River Valley1941Joseph Kane"Ride of the Valkyries", RienziSullivan’s TravelsPreston Sturges"Ride of the Valkyries"Secret Mission1942Harold FrenchDie Meistersinger von NürnbergChristmas Holiday1944Robert SiodmakTristan und Isolde (Liebestod)Ross (2020), pp. 591–93.Humoresque1946Jean NegulescoTristan und Isolde, arranged by Franz Waxman.Jon Burlingame, "10 films that utilize Wagner's music", Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2010, accessed 17 August 2017.A Foreign Affair1948Billy WilderLohengrin, overtureRoss (2020) p. 590.Unfaithfully YoursPreston SturgesTannhäuserThe Blue Gardenia1953Fritz Lang"Tristan und Isolde"Abismos de pasión1954Luis BuñuelTristan und IsoldeRoss (2020) p. 596.Magic Fire1955William DieterleRing CycleLove in the Afternoon1957Billy WilderTristan und IsoldeWhat's Opera, Doc?Chuck JonesRing Cycle, Tannhäuser, The Flying Dutchman8½1963Federico Fellini"Ride of the Valkyries"Sedmikrásky (Daisies)1966Věra ChytilováGötterdämmerung Clouzot (1968), p. 36PatriotismYukio MishimaTristan und IsoldeRoss (2020) pp. 598–601.The Hawks and the SparrowsPier Paolo PasoliniSiegfriedMondo Trasho1969John Waters"Ride of the Valkyries"Ross (2020) p. 598.Ludwig: Requiem for a Virgin King1972Hans-Jürgen SyberbergRing Cycle, Tristan und Isolde, LohengrinJoe and Gilman (2010), p. 258.Ludwig (film)1973Luchino ViscontiTannhäuser, Tristan und Isolde, LohengrinJoe and Gilman (2010), p. 258.Lisztomania1975Ken RussellRienzi, Ring CycleCare (1978)Winifred Wagner und die Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried 1914–1975Hans-Jürgen SyberbergRing CycleWinifred Wagner und die Geschichte des Hauses Wahnfried 1914 - 1975, filmportal.de website (in German), accessed 26.5.2020Hitler: A Film from Germany1977Joe and Gilman (2010), pp. 254–8.That Obscure Object of DesireLuis Buñuel"Ride of the Valkyries"Ross (2020) pp. 594, 596.The Boys from Brazil1978Franklin SchaffnerSiegfried IdyllRoss (2020), pp. 587–88.Seven Beauties1975Lina Wertmüller"Ride of the Valkyries""Wagner in film", The Cinema Archives, accessed 21 June 2023.Apocalypse Now1979Francis Ford CoppolaNosferatu the VampyreWerner HerzogDas RheingoldThe Blues Brothers1980John Landis"Ride of the Valkyries"Excalibur1981John BoormanParsifal, Tristan und Isolde, GötterdämmerungWagner1983Tony Palmer SiegfriedDétective1985Jean-Luc GodardRienzi"Détective (1985)|Soundtracks", IMDB. Retrieved 15 August 2017.Come and See1985Elem KlimovRide of the Valkyries name="Come and See IMDb">The Running Man 1987Paul Michael Glaser"Ride of the Valkyries" Romeo + Juliet1996Baz LuhrmannTristan und Isolde (Liebestod)Scream (1996 film)Wes CravenRide of the Valkyries24 Hour Party People2002Michael Winterbottom"Ride of the Valkyries" Birth2004Jonathan GlazerDie WalküreJarhead2005Sam Mendes"Ride of the Valkyries"Ross (2020) p. 607.The New World2006Terrence MalickDas RheingoldNorbit2007Brian Robbins"Ride of the Valkyries"WaitressAdrienne ShellyBronson 2008Nicolas Winding RefnGötterdämmerung, Das Rheingold The Curious Case of Benjamin ButtonDavid FincherTannhäuser, aria "Dich, teure Halle""The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008)|Soundtracks", IMDB. Retrieved 15 August 2017.ValkyrieBryan Singer"Ride of the Valkyries"IMDB, accessed 8 May 2019Watchmen 2009Zack SnyderA Dangerous Method2011David CronenbergSiegfried, Die WalküreMelancholiaLars von TrierTristan und IsoldeRango Gore Verbinski"Ride of the Valkyries" To the Wonder2012Terrence MalickParsifal, prelude"To the Wonder (2012)|Soundtracks", IMDB. Retrieved 15 August 2017.Nymphomaniac2013Lars von TrierDas RheingoldFlorence Foster Jenkins2016Stephen Frears"Ride of the Valkyries""Florence Foster Jenkins (2016)|Soundtracks", IMDB. Retrieved 15 August 2017.Alien: Covenant2017Ridley ScottDas Rheingold, Entrance of the Gods into ValhallaPromising Young Woman2020Emerald FennellTristan und IsoldeSonic the HedgehogJeff Fowler"Ride of the Valkyries"Army of the Dead 2021Zack SnyderGötterdämmerung Wrath of Man Guy Ritchie"Ride of the Valkyries" Army of Thieves Matthias SchweighöferGötterdämmerung, Das Rheingold, Ride of the Valkyries, SiegfriedFor All Mankind (Season 2 Episode 7) Ronald D. Moore"Ride of the Valkyries" Tár 2022Todd Field Tannhäuser, overture The Substance2024Coralie FargeatTristan und IsoldeMaria (2024 film)Pablo LarraínParsifal, prelude
References Notes
Sources Care, Ross (1978). "Ken Russell: Lisztomania", in Film Quarterly, Vol XXXI, No. 3, Spring 1978. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
Joe, Jeongwon and Sander L. Gilman (eds.) (2010). Wagner and Cinema. Indiana University Press. Ross, Alex (2020). Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Sangild, Torben (2015). "Buñuel's Liebestod – Wagner's Tristan in Luis Buñuel's early films: Un Chien Andalou and L'Âge d'Or", in JMM: The Journal of Music and Meaning, vol. 13, 2014/2015, pp. 20–59. Retrieved 16 August 2017. Strötgen, Stephan (2008). ""I compose the Party Rally...": The Role of Music in Leni Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will", in Music & Politics, vol. 2 issue 1. Retrieved 16 August 2017.