Pacific Rim (soundtrack)

Lore & Background

Director Guillermo del Toro selected Ramin Djawadi to compose the score based on his work on Prison Break, Iron Man, and Game of Thrones, stating: 'His scores have a grandeur, but they have also an incredible sort of human soul.' Del Toro also stated that some Russian rap would be featured in the film. The soundtrack's instrumentation included 38 violins, 13 violas, 16 cellos, 10 double basses, 1 harp, 1 flute, 17 French horns, 5 trumpets, 10 trombones, 4 tubas, 4 percussion players, and 22 members on male choir.

Reader's Guide

The soundtrack was met with mostly positive reviews. Danny Graydon of Empire rated it four out of five stars, noting Djawadi's 'muscular stylings' from his Iron Man score. Sherman Yang of MSN Entertainment gave it four out of five, praising the mix of orchestral and electronic elements. Filmtracks also gave four out of five, comparing it to Klaus Badelt's Catwoman score. James Southall of Movie Wave gave three-and-a-half out of five, commenting on the familiar elements pulled together effectively. Robert T. Trate of Mania.com gave an A grade, calling it 'a complete kick-ass thrill ride.' The Action Elite gave a perfect five stars, describing it as 'a pulse pounding adrenaline rush of music.' The soundtrack's significance lies in its large orchestral and choral forces, guest contributions from notable musicians, and its role in supporting the film's epic scale.

Did You Know?

• The physical version of the soundtrack was released on July 9, 2013, three days before the film's theatrical release.
• The orchestra included over 100 musicians, with a Russian choir.
• Tom Morello played guitar on tracks 1, 9, 18, and 21.
• Priscilla Ahn provided vocals on track 7.