George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise, famously said, “Sound is fifty percent of the movie experience.” He reasoned that audiences are just as excited by what they hear in movies, which is one of the reasons why Lucas’ franchise blended vision with sound. The risk paid off, as the Star Wars title theme is one of the most recognizable in the world today. The directors that followed in Lucas’ footsteps, such as Edgar Wright, have also taken a page from his book. In what Wright lacks in narrative, the English filmmaker makes up for through his utilization of popular music, as demonstrated in films like 2017’s Baby Driver and Last Night in Soho (2021), a psychological drama that featured artists like The Who and Dusty Springfield.

Television producers are also aware of the influence that soundtracks and main title songs can have on the viewing experience. In fact, there is an entire Primetime Emmy Awards category dedicated to the outstanding original main title theme music. Here is a list of some standout examples.

The Most Iconic Main Title Theme Music In Television

Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

Even people who haven’t watched the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air can recite the show’s iconic theme song “Yo Home to Bel-Air,” performed by Will Smith. While legendary on its own, the way the title song came about is even more iconic, with Smith writing the lyrics after reading the script for the pilot episode. Smith, who was only 22 when the series aired in 1990, then presented the song to industry tycoon Quincy Jones, who produced the NBC sitcom. In 1992, Jive Records released the title song in the Netherlands and Spain, and it became an instant hit in these countries, peaking at No. 3 and No. 2, respectively. “Yo Home to Bel-Air” even re-entered the mainstream in August 2021, when the song became a TikTok dance challenge. To date, there are over 50,000 videos on TikTok using the title song from the show.

Cheers

Again, like Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, you don’t have to be a fan of Cheers to know its heartwarming theme written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name.” The song encapsulates the show and the friendships and relationships viewers watch from within the four walls of Sam’s bar. “Where Everybody Knows Your Name” was nominated for an Emmy in 1983 for Outstanding Achievement in Music and Lyrics, and in 2006, British hip hop collective D-Block sampled the song in their classic hit “Everything Ya Got.”

Narcos

Crime drama Narcos has also received accolades for its original main title song. In 2015, Narcos won the Guilt of Music Supervisors Awards for Best Music Supervision in a Television Drama. In 2016, the show received an Emmy Awards nomination for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music. Even though Narcos ended in 2017, the popularity of its theme song is still present in the media, much like The Fresh Prince’s. For instance, the show’s spin-off, Narcos: Mexico, is streaming on Netflix and uses the same song as the original. Additionally, the music used in the slots and games based on Narcos and Narcos: Mexico has a similar style and feel. Of course, that’s not surprising. Music is one of the primary attractions of games like video slots, as, like what George Lucas said about movies, sound plays a defining role in the iGaming experience.

When we think of what makes movies and television successful, people often think about the actors, the dialogue, and the costumes. While these aspects can determine the success of a franchise, music also plays a role in elevating the viewing experience.

Some franchises, such as Star Wars, are remembered most for blending vision with sound. However, many other movies and shows do this well too. In fact, it’s not surprising the films and shows that do incorporate unique theme songs are the ones that have transitioned into other forms of entertainment, such as social media challenges and video and casino games.