Captain Marvel Soundtrack Review

Captain Marvel takes the best of MCU origin stories like Iron Man and Thor, and wraps it in Brie Larson’s charming lead performance. Its greatest strength is in not trying to reinvent the wheel. The movie plays with ’90s tropes in a way that doesn’t feel tired or on-the-nose, allowing Carol Danvers to gleefully occupy spaces previously reserved exclusively for male superheroes. This is evident in the soundtrack, which weaponizes hits from R.E.M, Nine Inch Nails, and TLC to create an evocative soundscape.

The film’s biggest achievement, though, is that it captures the spirit of ’90s pop music without making it frivolous nostalgia. From the opening cue to the main theme, the score combines retro synths and orchestral instruments to create an intriguing and cohesive whole. Its percussion is especially good, featuring electric guitars and lots of hi-hats and ride cymbals. It also makes heavy use of classic tension-building techniques, with tremolos and discords adding dramatic weight to the action.

It’s all in service of a big, bold main theme that is instantly recognizable. It is often accompanied by the 8-note flourish of resounding brass that serves as a fanfare heralding Captain Marvel’s heroic actions.

Pinar Toprak’s work as a composer spans from the jazz inspired score for a Pixar SparkShort to the epic orchestral scores for blockbuster superhero movies. With Captain Marvel, she became the first woman to score a major studio action film since Shirley Walker scored Memoirs of an Invisible Man in 1992. This is a monumental achievement, and should not be overlooked. It would be a shame if it were to be undermined by a shoddy soundtrack.