Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, Batman Begins (2005)

After Batman and Robin wrecked the Caped Crusader’s initial film franchise, the character needed a facelift, and director Christopher Nolan needed the perfect composer to craft the film’s music. After all, Danny Elfman’s iconic theme from the 1989 film still reigned supreme despite not appearing in a film since 1992 release Batman Returns. Nolan turned to acclaimed composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard to craft a heroic theme for Batman Begins, and the music wisely takes a very different approach to the material than Elfman’s version. Bombastic and bold, it lends the adventure an epic quality that only intensified in the 2008 sequel, a little film called The Dark Knight.

What’s your favorite superhero movie theme? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.