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Yeah, I'd say that's it, too.
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BATMAN by Danny Elfman. No doubt.
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I agree with these posts!! Superman followed really close by Batman.
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Yeah, I just looked for a definition to "superhero" to see if there is a more precise overall meaning, and based upon what I found, I think "Willow" would just get in and qualify as a superhero film, so I'd also nominate that.
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I'd probably posit one of Korngold's epic scores for Errol Flynn -- the original swashbuckling superhero!
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I would define a "superhero" score as a score that belongs to the genre of "superhero" movies, which are movies more or less based on classic comic book "superheros". Superman was really the first "superhero", the archetype from which the other superheroes stem. And they usually share several (though not necessarily all) of these traits: superpowers of some sort, two identities (as a "superhero" and as a "normal" human being), an identifiable costume (often but not always with a mask as "disguise"), arch-enemies (who are often costumed as well), and so on. They usually take place in the "present" (the time the stories are written/drawn/filmed etc.). And so on, there is a collection of traits in what is commonly referred to as a "superhero". So personally, I would not put WILLOW or THE LORD OF THE RINGS or STAR WARS or ROBIN HOOD etc. into the "Superhero" genre. Likewise I would put Batman into the superhero genre, because he fits all the traits, except he is the superhero whose "superpowers" are gadgets and money. But he clearly comes from the superhero "tradition", in fact, from the same stable as Superman (and is part of the same "Universe"). Superman established the classical superhero, and the superheroes that followed him are usually some sort of "variation".
As far as film scores go, personally I would say that SUPERMAN by John Williams is the "greatest" superhero score; it's one of Williams' finest scores, has almost "movements" like a symphony and is fully in the spirit of the classic superman comics.
It would be more difficult for me to name the second greatest superhero score. I think my second favorite would be THE DARK KNIGHT by Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard.
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Not generally a superhero movie/score consumer, but . . .
the Richard Donner initial Superman film was wonderful and the score is, too. So many varied themes: title march, flying/love motif, the Krypton music, the Smallville Americana, the buffoonish villain's theme, and so on.
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But you really can't go wrong with "Superman" - Williams.
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Batfink.
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If we're going to include BATMAN as a superhero, the list should likely include James Bond since his powers are basically from the same source (gadgets, smarts, etc.).
Zimmer's BOND and BAT scores left me cold, as do pretty much all of his work.
My money is on JW's SUPERMAN or Elfman's BATMAN, though the latter seems to have fallen out of favor in recent years given Zim's popularity. The detail of the composition in Elfman is just infinitely more fascinating and enjoyable imo.
I always go back to the OLD GRAY WHISTLE TEST--is there something in there that you can hum and remember? Both of those scores have it!
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Sticking to American superhero movies, which I assume is what Henry meant, I am happy to go along with Superman and Batman. Though I think Elfman's Batman is actually more important to its movie than William's Superman is to its.
Williams hits all the marks brilliantly, but it's pretty obvious stuff - which is what it should be.
Elfman adds new layers to Burton's vision (could I count Returns along with the first as one big score, because it is even more so in the second film?). I think it's more distinctive and manages to be both dark and stirring at once, a tough feat.
As an honorable mention, and for one of the best orchestral scores in the past 30 years, I'd pick X2 X-Men United. I think it is just a brilliant score by Ottman, and a perfect original album. I love the expansion, but have to keep both versions in Apple Music because the album presentation is sharp as a knife.
There are a couple of moments in X2 - especially Magneto's escape from his plastic/glass prison - that for this life long comic book fan just nailed it.
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John Williams Superman
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