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I see what people are saying about the opening to films meaning we get less of a theme song. The opening of Superman is a great example of the theme song over a title sequence, but if the music is iconic enough it can still be pretty memorable. I think this is a bit of a loss for cinema to be honest, but there are still some examples of iconic movie music out there from the last couple of decades.

LOTR for example has a fairly recognisable main theme without the title sequence. And Dual of the Fates from episode 1 is pretty iconic too. Maybe not on the same scale as others with title sequences though.

As was pointed out, this isn’t an avatar thing, but I can’t help but wonder if Avatar had a title sequence and iconic title music if it would have left a more lasting impression on popular culture.

The Marvel logo has a very iconic theme as do the Avengers. Generally speaking though film scores are more built around dynamic arrangements than recognizable themes. There's some really great material out there from some major sound designers that go over things like this and why so many things these days demand subtitles.

Disagree about the Avatar soundtrack. The movie may be boring but the soundtrack is still amazing.

 Overread wrote:
It's not just an Avatar thing, I'd argue its a cinema thing in general right now.

I'd also say there's a touch of magic in it too and also in how music is blended into the film. I think some music stands out as music with the film whilst others blends right into the background and is part of the scene but isn't telling the story of the scene, its just noise. Esp in action films.

The current mode of movie music is Hans Zimmer's OMINOUS CHORD. It just gets louder and louder as the film progresses.

This another deficiency of Avatar in the cultural sphere. As already noted, Star Wars actually got a disco version of its main title. Imperial March is iconic. It is now the go-to theme for a villain coming on stage.

Music composition has really taken a beating of late. The emphasis is on remixes and covers or mash-ups, including outright samples of the source material.

There are no heirs to Williams, Goldsmith, Barry, and Horner. Even the Avengers theme is just busy brass building, it doesn't have a real leitmotif as Horner's flailing horns did in Wrath of Khan.

Heck, 80s TV shows had better music than movies today.

I do wish the "fog horn" could be dropped from music too. They utterly freaking love that huge blaring foghorn sound. It was ok a few times, but these days it seems every time there's the big bad appearing everyone wants to reach for the foghorn.

We still have themes out there - Pirates of the Caribbean had quite an iconic theme and style.

But yes there's a lot of "busy" music in modern films that fills a moment; sometimes even dominating it. Whilst it works with the film and its emotions; we do have a lot less where you can then identify it after watching; or where its an epic bit of music in its own right.

Heck Starwars almost every other bit of music hits as heavily iconic to specific scenes, not just the Imperial March or intro

 Overread wrote:
Heck Starwars almost every other bit of music hits as heavily iconic to specific scenes, not just the Imperial March or intro

These are leitmotifs and Star Wars is a great example. If you have time, read this article which has a link to a document with all the leitmotifs. As bad as the last three films are, and to a lesser extent as poor as the prequels were, the music is outstanding. Phantom Menace's Duel of the Fates is solidly baked into our modern culture.

 Overread wrote:
I do wish the "fog horn" could be dropped from music too. They utterly freaking love that huge blaring foghorn sound. It was ok a few times, but these days it seems every time there's the big bad appearing everyone wants to reach for the foghorn.

We still have themes out there - Pirates of the Caribbean had quite an iconic theme and style.

Hah! Funny you should mention that, because Hans Zimmer scored it and it uses almost the same music as the opening scene in Gladiator. Drove me nuts after I saw the first Pirates movie.

Zimmer gets way too much work. He's just not that good.

And yes, one can listen to the Star Wars soundtracks (especially Empire and Jedi) and essentially watch the film with your ears. The prequels have some moments, but their soundtrack isn't as expressive (probably due to the weakness of the films).

Huh, I see Horner did Avatar's score. Well, even the good ones have a dud now and then. Not his best work.