So, you’ve written a chase scene into your script. There’s running, there’s near-misses, but it feels a bit flat. Whether or not you write to music, it can sometimes help to work out the pacing and levels in your scenes. To help, I’ve put together a playlist of 15 tracks that I think would go great accompanying chase scenes of different types. There’s spies, pandas, video games, and more.
No two chase scenes are the same, so I’ve tried to pick a variety of tracks to suit different styles of chase scenes. Some tracks are an unrelenting powerhouse, while others rise and fall in-line with their onscreen action.
This playlist is also not comprehensive! I’ve avoided most of the MCU, for example, and tried to limit myself to one track per franchise where appropriate. This is a jumping off point to explore your scene and hopefully help you to find new angles and inspiration!
East River Mayhem
Video Games are a great source of inspiration when it comes to writing chase scenes. Governed by what the player is doing, chase scenes can go on for a long time, and the soundtrack needs to follow them. East River Mayhem is just one of many great tracks from Marvel’s: Spider-Man 2 that would go great alongside writing a chase scene.
Escape Through Paris
Picking just one Mission Impossible track for this playlist was almost impossible. That said, Escape Through Paris really does have it all. Kicking right off with the main theme, then barrelling into the peaks and troughs that get the blood pumping, keeping the audience on their toes before resting at the end, for just a moment, keeping the audience in suspense of the chases outcome before finally blasting that theme one more time.
World's Worst Babysitters
Technically this track doesn’t play over a chase scene, but the vibe suits it perfectly. It’s fast, high stakes, and the hero is on the back foot until… backed into a corner, they’re out! The track never lets the hero believe they’re winning, but the theme sits just under the surface, willing them on. It’s quick, punchy, and knows exactly where to stop.
Guggenheim Assemble
A heroic chase. The heroes have the upper hand, things are well, but then the villain arrives. Given the pursuit, there’s never a great risk the heroes will be caught, but this is a chase that gives the heroes an opportunity to have fun! Of course they could be caught, but they’re escaping with style!
They take a breather in the middle, before once again bursting forth with heroic vigour! The antagonist takes a turn to claim the upper hand, and they unleash some new trick to capture the hero. A moment of consequence, but it’s not over yet. The hero breaks free, and the hero escapes the clutches of the antagonist.
Brother's In Arms
Nothing needs to be said here, one of the most iconic, bombastic chase tracks in modern cinema. If your hero needs to run, drive, or get away with any urgency, this track will make sure it’s the most difficult thing they’ve ever had to do.
Cuba Chase
Much like Mission Impossible, the James Bond franchise is littered with fantastic chase tracks, but the variation in Hans Zimmer’s Cuba Chase brought it to this list. It starts ambiguous, somewhat messy, and then bursts out with urgency. The Cuban flare gives it a different, distinct style as the action persists. There’s probably bullets flying, bright colours, and a sense that all could be lost if the hero doesn’t escape this.
But then, in comes some levity as the main theme is summoned, with stylistic joy, to showcase some real deus-ex-machina hero energy.
After some more running, the deep, powerful theme returns. The hero facing a distinctly difficult moment in the chase. The two themes mix, a moment, then the chase continues.
Another track that ends with a narrow escape, almost too close to call.
Rickshaw Chase
I couldn’t not include Kung Fu Panda in this list, and Rickshaw Chase is a brilliantly silly chase. Being animation, the themes of the movie are peppered throughout. It jumps, it drops, it moves through environments like no other track on this list but never loses its tempo unless gearing up for another bombastic, fast paced moment.
The Kyln Escape
One of two MCU inclusions in this list. The Kyln Escape wasn’t so much a chase in Guardians of the Galaxy, but it does maintain the fast pace of most chase tracks. Initially splinters of a track, it builds on a few occasions to a united theme. This is perhaps a good track to include for multi-protagonist chases, where the audiences eye shifts from character to character throughout.
Escape From East Berlin
One of my favourite soundtracks, Daniel Pemberton killed it with The Man From Uncle, and Escape From East Berlin is a brilliantly quirky track. Relatively small in scale compared to others on the list, Escape From East Berlin is a great track to accompany a lighter, more witty script. Much like the film itself, the soundtrack always has its tongue in its cheek. This track at times feels less like a chase, and more like a game of hide-and-seek-tag.
Motorcycles of Relief
Some artists will appear a lot on these lists, and with good reason. Michael Giacchino understands theme variation unlike any other composer. If you’re writing a hero-focused chase scene, perhaps where the hero is trying to save someone from an escaping antagonist, Motorcycles of Relief is a great track. The main theme is peppered throughout, each highlighting varying states of the hero’s progress. It has peaks, it has valleys, but unfortunately lacks a crescendo. Don’t let that put you off, though, it’s a great track,
I Shrink, Therefore I Am
The only other MCU track, and I deliberately picked a less renowned instalment. Don’t let prejudice against a certain movie distract from good work that was done. I Shrink, Therefore I Am is ridiculous. It moves style, environment, and character on a dime, but always maintains a level of momentum perfect for a high-stakes chase scene.
The Forest River - Extended Version
Again, keeping an open mind, there are of course great tracks in the core Lord of the Rings soundtracks, however this chase from essentially the midpoint of the whole Hobbit franchise does a wonderful job of showcasing character in motion.
It has bursts of individual character themes that break through the tight, high stakes momentum of the track. It builds to a point, drops, and jumps straight back into motion, creating a real sense of constraint for the chasing / escaping protagonist.
Truck Chase
Even comedies can have great soundtracks, and I’ve always loved the Johnny English franchise. If only they’d make a third! I’m sure it wouldn’t be dreadful! Truck Chase exemplifies what Johnny English is, a character so sure of himself that the theme doesn’t need to stop playing for a moment, he’s got this. The only times we truly stray from the main theme is to focus on other characters, be they sidekick or antagonist. So, if you have a character that can do no wrong chasing a bad guy, this is the track for you! (See also: Wheelchair Escape fromJohnny English: Reborn)
Highway to the Anger Zone
A chase scene doesn’t necessarily mean the protagonist is the one being chased. And the hero isn’t always a bright and sunny Luke Skywalker type. Highway To the Anger Zone is a typically witty titled track from The Batman. It starts with a strange vibe, a slow yet heroic dread. But when it bursts, it builds and builds. Whoever is chasing who, they’re getting closer and closer. This is a claustrophobic chase scene if ever there were one.
Cut to the Chase
Rounding out with another video game soundtrack. The Uncharted soundtracks are, by their very nature, cinematic. Unlike other video game soundtracks, however, they follow a tighter structure. If your chase scene travels large vistas where the environment is as much a character as your fleeing protagonist / antagonist, you can’t go wrong with a bit of Uncharted.
Don't forget, this list is not meant to be comprehensive. There are so many brilliant tracks out there that I simply couldn't cram into this list of 15. This is merely a jumping off point to get the creative juices flowing!
Listen to the Full Playlist Below!
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