Listen to Alan Silvestri’s title theme from Spielberg’s Ready Player One

Last Updated on August 2, 2021

While so much of the promotional campaign for Steven Speilberg's adaptation of Ernest Cline's READY PLAYER ONE has been focused on impressive visuals and nostalgia-driven cameos by pop culture icons of the '80s, it's easy to forget that the film will also hope to present an epic score as well. After all, big moments in film are often accompanied by a memorable tune, and READY PLAYER ONE looks to be packing jaw-dropping instances like they're going out of style.

Today, in an effort to get people even more excited for the film, EW has shared the title theme to the movie. Composed by Alan Silvestri, who in the past has collaborated with Spielberg on the films BACK TO THE FUTURE and WHO FRAMED ROGER RABBIT, the song is a sweeping orchestral piece complete with emotive peaks and soothing comedowns. You can listen to the arrangement for yourself below:

Here is the film's official synopsis:

The film is set in 2045, with the world on the brink of chaos and collapse. But the people have found salvation in the OASIS, an expansive virtual reality universe created by the brilliant and eccentric James Halliday (Mark Rylance). When Halliday dies, he leaves his immense fortune to the first person to find a digital Easter egg he has hidden somewhere in the OASIS, sparking a contest that grips the entire world. When an unlikely young hero named Wade Watts (Tye Sheridan) decides to join the contest, he is hurled into a breakneck, reality-bending treasure hunt through a fantastical universe of mystery, discovery and danger.

With READY PLAYER ONE being chock-full of '80s references, one can't help but wonder if the era of spandex and neon will serve as a direct influence on Silvestri's work for the film? Surely he'd find a clever way of weaving elements from Charles Bernstein's Nightmare on Elm Street theme into the mix, no? Alas, according to Spielberg himself, “While all sorts of culturally iconic references populate Ready Player One, the score that Alan Silvestri composed is completely and intoxicatingly original,” the JAWS director said in a statement. “It’s bound together by multiple themes that identify plot and character and is infused by such percussive adrenaline and soaring strings that Alan has made Ready Player One appear to fly.”

Silvestri then added his input to the conversation by saying, “An invitation to travel arrived just about a year ago, not just to a place, but to a time. Actually, to a number of times — primarily the year 2045, along with a few stops in the ’80s. A rather detailed map had been drawn by Ernest Cline and the Captain of the voyage, none other than Mr. Spielberg himself. What could one possibly do or say? Pencil in hand, one firmly fastens one’s seatbelt, says ‘Sir, Yes, Sir,’ and prepares for the trip of a lifetime.”

WaterTower Music will distribute the soundtrack for streaming and download on March 30, with a two-CD version hitting shelves on April 6 and a double vinyl available July 19.

Here's a list of all the songs included on the READY PLAYER ONE soundtrack:

The Oasis

“Hello, I’m James Halliday”

“Why Can’t We Go Backwards?”

An Orb Meeting

Real World Consequences

Sorrento Makes An Offer

Welcome To The Rebellion

High 5 Assembles

Orb of Osuvox

Sorrento Punked

Wade’s Broadcast

–

Arty On The “Inside”

Looking For A Truck

She Never Left

Last Chance

“Get Me Out Of This”

“Hold On To Something”

“This Is Wrong”

“What Are You?”

“There’s Something I Need To Do”

Ready Player One – Main Title

Ready Player One – End Credits

READY PLAYER ONE, which is already receiving rave reviews from those who've already seen the film, will boot-up in theaters on March 29th.