The music of the Star Wars franchise is composed and produced in conjunction with the development of the feature films, television series, and other merchandise within the epic space opera multimedia franchise created by George Lucas. The music for the primary feature films (which serves as the basis for the rest of the related media) was written by John Williams. Williams' work on the series included the scores of nine feature films, a suite and several cues of thematic material for Solo: A Star Wars Story and the theme music for the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge theme parks at Disneyland and Walt Disney World. These count among the most widely known and popular contributions to modern film music, and utilize a symphony orchestra and features an assortment of about fifty recurring musical themes to represent characters and other plot elements: one of the largest caches of themes in the history of film music.
Released between 1977 and 2019, the music for the primary feature films was, in the case of the first two trilogies, performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and, in select passages, by the London Voices chorus. The sequel trilogy was largely conducted by Williams and William Ross, and performed by the Hollywood Freelance Studio Symphony and (in a few passages) by the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Additional composers have since contributed music to other movies and media within the Star Wars universe. The music for several animated and live-action television series spin-offs has been written by Kevin Kiner, Ludwig Göransson, Natalie Holt, Nicholas Britell, and Ryan Shore. Music for the spin-off films, other television programs, and video games, as well as the trailers of the various installments, were created by various other composers, with this material occasionally revisiting some of Williams' principal themes (and, with one spin-off film, with Williams actually writing a new theme for the composer to use).
The scores are primarily performed by a symphony orchestra of varying size joined, in several sections, by a choir of varying size. They each make extensive use of the leitmotif, or a series of musical themes that represents the various characters, objects and events in the films. Throughout all of the franchise, which consists of a total of over 18 hours of music, Williams has written approximately sixty or seventy themes, in one of the largest, richest collection of themes in the history of film music.
Overview
Films Year Title Composer Conductor Orchestrator/Arranger OrchestraChoir Saga films 1977 Star Wars John Williams John Williams Herbert W. Spencer London Symphony Orchestra 1980 The Empire Strikes BackLondon Voices (women) 1983 Return of the JediLondon Voices (men) 1999 The Phantom Menace Conrad PopeJohn NeufeldLondon Voices (SATB) New London Children's Choir 2002 Attack of the Clones Conrad PopeEddie KaramLondon Voices (SATB) Boy choir (synth) 2005 Revenge of the SithLondon Voices (SATB) Boy choir (synth) 2015 The Force Awakens John WilliamsWilliam RossGustavo Dudamel John WilliamsWilliam Ross Hollywood Freelance Studio SymphonyHollywood Film Chorale (bass)2017The Last Jedi John WilliamsWilliam Ross Los Angeles Master Chorale (SATB, bass)2019The Rise of Skywalker John Williams Anthology films1978The Star Wars Holiday SpecialIan FraserJohn Williams (Original Themes)Ian Fraser1984Caravan of Courage: An Ewok AdventurePeter BernsteinJohn Williams (Original Themes)Peter Bernstein1985Ewoks: The Battle for Endor 2016 Rogue One Michael GiacchinoJohn Williams (Original Themes) Tim Simonec William RossTim SimonecBrad DechterJeff KrykaChris TiltonHerbert W. Spenceraccording to the closing credit roll Hollywood Freelance Studio Symphony Los Angeles Master Chorale 2018 Solo John PowellJohn Williams (Han Solo Theme, Original Themes)Gavin Greenaway(additional music and arrangements) Batu SenerAnthony WillisPaul Mounsey The London Session OrchestraRecording Arts Orchestra of Los Angeles (Han Solo Theme)2026The Mandalorian and GroguLudwig Göransson Animated films 2008 The Clone Wars Kevin KinerJohn Williams (Original Themes) Kevin KinerNic Raine Kevin KinerNic RaineTakeshi Furukawa City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra
Television
Animation series Kevin Kiner composed the score to the film Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008), the predecessor to the animated TV series of the same name. Both properties loosely use some of the original themes and music by John Williams. Kiner's own material for the film includes a theme for Anakin Skywalker's Padawan learner, Ahsoka Tano, as well as a theme for Jabba the Hutt's uncle Ziro. Kiner went on to score the TV series' entire seven seasons, which concluded in 2020. A soundtrack album for the first six seasons was released in 2014 by Walt Disney Records and three soundtrack albums for the final season were released in 2020.
Kiner continued his work with the franchise for the animated series Star Wars Rebels (2014–2018), which also incorporates Williams' themes. He had later made the score for Star Wars: The Bad Batch (2021–2024) and Star Wars: Tales (2022–), spin-offs of The Clone Wars.
James L. Venable and Paul Dinletir composed the music of Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003–2005) 2D animated series, Ryan Shore serves as the composer for Star Wars: Forces of Destiny (2017–2018) and Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures (2018–2020), and Michael Tavera composes the score to Star Wars Resistance (2018–2020).
Matthew Margeson produced the soundtrack for Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures in 2023.
Year Title Composer Additional composers2003–2005Star Wars: Clone Wars: Seasons 1-3James L. VenablePaul Dinletir 2008–2014 Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Seasons 1-6 Kevin Kiner Takeshi FurukawaDavid G. RussellMatthew St. LaurentReuven HermanRuss Howard III 2014–2015 Star Wars Rebels: Season 1 Matthew St. LaurentJared FormanDavid G. RussellSean KinerDeana KinerJulian CisnerosReuven Herman2015–2016Star Wars Rebels: Season 22016–2017Star Wars Rebels: Season 32017–2018Star Wars Rebels: Season 4Star Wars: Forces of Destiny: Seasons 1-2Ryan Shore2018–2020Star Wars: Galaxy of Adventures: Seasons 1-2Star Wars Resistance: Seasons 1-2Michael Tavera2020Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 7 (Episodes 1-4)Kevin KinerSean KinerDeana KinerStar Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 7 (Episodes 5-8)Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Season 7 (Episodes 9-12)2021Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 1 (Episodes 1-8)Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 1 (Episodes 9-16)2022Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi2023Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 2 (Episodes 1-8)Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 2 (Episodes 9-16)2023–2024Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 1Matthew Margeson2024Star Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 3 (Episodes 1-8)Kevin KinerSean KinerDeana KinerStar Wars: The Bad Batch: Season 3 (Episodes 9-15)Star Wars: Tales of the Empire2024–2025Star Wars: Young Jedi Adventures: Season 2Matthew Margeson2025Star Wars: Tales of the UnderworldKevin KinerSean KinerDeana Kiner2026Star Wars: Maul: Shadow LordSean KinerDeana Kiner
Star Wars: Visions Various composers worked on the animated anthology series Star Wars: Visions. YearTitleComposer(s)2021Star Wars: Visions: Season 1 (The Duel)Keiji InaiStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (Tatooine Rhapsody)Yoshiaki DewaStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (The Twins)Michiru OshimaStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (The Village Bride)Kevin PenkinStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (The Ninth Jedi)Nobuko TodaKazuma JinnouchiStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (T0-B1)A-BeeKeiichiro ShibuyaStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (The Elder)Michiru OshimaStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (Lop & Ocho)Yoshiaki DewaStar Wars: Visions: Season 1 (Akakiri)U-Zhaan2023Star Wars: Visions: Season 2 (Sith)Dan LevyStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (Screecher's Reach)Leo PearsonStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (In the Stars)Andrés WalkerPatricio PortiusStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (I Am Your Mother)Jean-Marc PetsasStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (Journey to the Dark Head)Jang Young GyuLee Byung-HoonStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (The Spy Dancer)Olivier DeriviereStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (The Bandits of Golak)Sneha KhanwalkarStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (The Pit)Daniel LopatinStar Wars: Visions: Season 2 (Aau's Song)Markus Wormstorm20252026Star Wars: Visions Presents - The Ninth Jedi
LEGO Star Wars A list of LEGO Star Wars animated TV series & specials and their score composers: YearTitleComposer2002LEGO Star Wars: The Han Solo AffairJason GravesJohn Williams 2005LEGO Star Wars: Revenge of the BrickKostia EfimovJohn Williams 2009LEGO Star Wars: The Quest for R2-D2Anthony LledoJohn Williams 2010LEGO Star Wars: Bombad Bounty2011LEGO Star Wars: The Padawan MenaceJohn Williams2012LEGO Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Out2013–2014LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles2015LEGO Star Wars: Droid Tales2016–2017LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker AdventuresMichael KramerJohn Williams 2018LEGO Star Wars: All-Stars2020The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special2021LEGO Star Wars: Terrifying Tales2022LEGO Star Wars: Summer Vacation2024–2025LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the GalaxyMichael KramerRoberto PradoJohn Williams (themes)
Zen: Grogu and Dust Bunnies For the hand drawn anime short by Studio Ghibli Grogu and Dust Bunnies, Ludwig Göransson composes the score. YearTitleComposer2022Zen - Grogu and Dust BunniesLudwig Göransson
Live-action series
The Mandalorian For the Disney+ series The Mandalorian, Oscar-winner Ludwig Göransson composes the score. For the third season of the series, Joseph Shirley was revealed to be composing the score for the season, replacing Ludwig Göransson. Shirley previously provided additional music for the first two seasons and used Göransson's themes to compose the score for The Book of Boba Fett. Year Title Composer(s) 2019 The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 1)Ludwig Göransson The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 2) The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 3) The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 4) The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 5) The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 6) The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 7) The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Chapter 8) 2020 The Mandalorian: Season 2 (Chapters 9-12) The Mandalorian: Season 2 (Chapters 13-16)2023The Mandalorian: Season 3 (Chapters 17-20)Joseph ShirleyLudwig Göransson (themes)The Mandalorian: Season 3 (Chapters 21-24)
The Book of Boba Fett For the Disney+ series The Book of Boba Fett, Ludwig Göransson composes the main theme, while Joseph Shirley composes the score. Year Title Composer(s) 2021–2022 The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1 (Chapters 1-4)Ludwig GöranssonJoseph Shirley The Book of Boba Fett: Season 1 (Chapters 5-7)
Obi-Wan Kenobi For the Disney+ series Obi-Wan Kenobi, John Williams returned to write the main theme. Natalie Holt composed the rest of the score, making her the first woman to score a live-action Star Wars project. YearTitleComposer(s)2022Obi-Wan Kenobi: Season 1John WilliamsNatalie HoltWilliam Ross
Andor For the Disney+ series Andor, Nicholas Britell composes the score. For the second season Brandon Roberts composes the main score along with Britell composing additional scores. YearTitleComposer(s)2022Andor: Season 1 (Episodes 1-4)Nicholas BritellAndor: Season 1 (Episodes 5-8)Andor: Season 1 (Episodes 9-12)2025Andor: Season 2 (Episodes 1-3)Brandon RobertsNicholas Britell (themes)Andor: Season 2 (Episodes 4-6)Andor: Season 2 (Episodes 7-9)Andor: Season 2 (Episodes 10-12)
Ahsoka In April 2023, during Star Wars Celebration London, it was revealed that Kevin Kiner would compose the score for Ahsoka, after previously composing the music for the animated series The Clone Wars, Rebels, The Bad Batch, and Tales. Year Title Composer(s) 2023 Ahsoka: Season 1 (Episodes 1-4)Kevin Kiner Ahsoka: Season 1 (Episodes 5-8)2027
The Acolyte In February 2024 it was revealed that Michael Abels had been tapped to compose the score for Star Wars: The Acolyte. YearTitleComposer(s)2024The Acolyte: Season 1 (Episodes 1-4)Michael AbelsThe Acolyte: Season 1 (Episodes 5-8)
Skeleton Crew