10 Greatest Danny Elfman Scores From Tim Burton Films.

Tim Burton is a director who is unquestionably known more for his sights than his sounds, but it’s those sounds, the music, and the way he uses music, that help to define and give shape to his many wondrous sights.

1. Batman

The dark mood of the movie was underscored wonderfully by Elfman's music. His champion theme is particularly memorable.

2. Alice in Wonderland

The soundtrack captured many character stories, using soft strings for the White Queen's themes to high-pitched choral singing in Alice's theme.

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas

What a delightful and underrated masterpiece of animation and music this is! Danny Elfman provide fun, scary, and touching songs for this dark film.

4. Edward Scissorhands

If you're a fan of this tender, thoughtful film, you will most certainly enjoy the soundtrack.

The entire soundtrack of Edward Scissorhands, released in 1990, is a wander through the moods and mind of Edward.

5. Batman Returns

Danny Elfman's music made use of the champion theme, but added strings and screeches for suspense and overall eeriness.

6. Beetlejuice

Burton created a gothic, Dali-esque world and Elfman provided a musical backdrop, with zig-zaggy piano melodies and plenty of bass horns.

7. Mars Attacks!

The scores spans everything from patriotic music to action cues, but it is the eerie sci-fi element that makes this score so unmistakable.

8. Pee-wee's Big Adventure

Pee-Wee wouldn’t be Pee-Wee without Elfman’s music accompanying him, and this goofy, stupid, wonderful film pedals along on the some of the most joyous cues ever committed to film.

9. Sleepy Hollow

Danny finally gets a chance to flex his horror muscles, and its done so brilliantly here.

10. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

Elfman provides a dreamy, zany auditory component to Burton's surreal visual universe and--as one might expect--Elfman's score to this paragon of fantastic films is dreamier, zanier, and bursting with more ideas than nearly any score in his oeuvre.