As a somewhat recent historical development, film, and its many cousins in the visual arts has a considerable and mature music style surrounding it. Drawing from the power of hundreds of years of music development, Film Music is often used to convey drama, drive emotions and give important clues to the thoughts and atmosphere of the characters. Such conventions as leitmotifs, 'stingers' (sudden loud bursts that startle the audience) and the ubiquitous sounds of high-pitched violins are used functionally in film, video, and television to enhance feeling and signify ideas in the visual narrative. Considered by some to be ultimate form of classical and by others to be tertiary, Film Music has brought some of the most memorable, recognizable sounds to the ears of popular culture over the last century and remains very much on the rise.

Notable Artists: John Williams, Danny Elfman, Bernhard Herrmann, Ennio Morricone, Hans Zimmer