PARIS – A new survey reveals the profound impact of sound on the french cinematic experience, with 86% of moviegoers stating a good soundtrack considerably enhances their enjoyment. The study, conducted in May 2025 among 2,000 adults in France, also found nearly a third consider sound immersion essential.
The research highlights a deep connection between music and film legacy, with 74% believing memorable music increases a film’s chances of becoming a classic. Titanic topped a list of films with iconic soundtracks, followed by The Lion King and Les Choristes (The Chorus).The Bodyguard and Top Gun rounded out the top five, with The Godfather and Bohemian Rhapsody securing sixth and seventh places respectively. The Harry Potter saga landed in eighth, while Rocky and Intouchable completed the top ten.
Beyond musical scores, specific sound effects also resonate strongly with French audiences.The whistling from The Good, the Bad and the Ugly was the most striking, cited by 21%, followed by the “dun-dun” from Jaws (18%) and the buzzing of Star Wars (13%).
The survey also recognized the composers behind these memorable soundscapes, with Ennio Morricone leading the pack, ahead of Hans Zimmer and James Horner. John Williams and Alan Silvestri completed the top five.
“Sound has always been the invisible thread that links the emotion, tension and excitement of a film,” explains Nick Watson, Technical Director at Dolby. “Some sounds and soundtracks are just as emblematic as images.”