Most Nostalgic/Satisfying Musical Callbacks

[CompleteRecordingSessions 61]

Hello everyone. I don't know if a similar topic has been posted before, and if so, sorry for posting a similar one. However, I was wondering what some of your favorite/favourite musical callbacks are in sequels, prequels, or spin-offs. These are typically reprisals of themes that are just so satisfying, feel inevitable, and elicit nostalgia. To get the ball rolling, I've included some of my favourites below: 

 

Leia's theme, and Luke's theme, are arranged and performed in such satisfying ways. It's nice to see all the pieces come together as the baton is passed from Revenge of the Sith to A New Hope, and that is certainly aided by the wonderful music.

 

I still find it surprising yet fitting that the Luke and Leia theme is reprised. It's certainly one of the most underrated themes in the saga, and it's great to hear it again. Not only that, it seamlessly transitions into a rendition of Han and Leia's theme, making everything all the more satisfying and nostalgic. 

 

I think musical reprisals are all the more nostalgic and satisfying if they are unexpected. I think the reprisal of the Dr. Henry Jones Sr. was unexpected because it's unfortunately not the most well-known theme, but it was great to hear it again. It's performed in such a bittersweet way (especially at 0:24), that really makes you stop and remember the fun that was The Last Crusade. 

 

Okay, so I think An Unexpected Journey is one of the most underrated films of all time: it's such a fun and charming film with beautiful scenery, great performances and character realization, and I think it captures the spirit of the book best compared to the subsequent two. Other than that, I also think its score is so warm and relaxing to listen to. I love the reprisal of the Rivendell theme, especially because the fluttering string build-up makes the actual reprisal all the more rewarding. 

 

So, those are just a few of my favorite/favourite musical callbacks. I am excited to see what you all will bring to the list!

[bored 564]

HTTYD 3 has easily some of my favorite callbacks of any series of scores. Lost and Found and remastered "Coming Back Around" version of Hiccup and Toothless back to back: 

 

Winds of Change nostalgic piano reprise after being absent for the whole movie at 1:48, brief hint of the Viking theme at 2:33, dark Hiccup and Toothless in the style of the first movie at 2:57, "Forbidden Friendship", happier than ever at 3:11, then new "Test Drive" in new keys interweaving with the Lightfury love theme.

 

There's so many more great film score theme callbacks, but one of the best is easily the hint of "Breaking of the Fellowship" to the triumphant Shire (Hymn Setting):

 

Honorable mention, two nostalgic callbacks from previous versions:

 

[Meredith McKay 7,843]

Big string Force Theme in the film version  home for the Twins.

 

The end titles from Search For Spock

 

The first appearance of the TMP theme in the second  cue of TFF.

 

[Chen G. 5,124]

First, to name the prototype, the next to last bit in Siegfried's narration when he remembers waking up Brunnhilde (and in so doing revisits much of act three of Siegfried), is beyond amazing. Especially "schlafend - ein wonniges Weib" ("my guerdon was found; sleeping, a woman sublime").

 

It's often hampered by a hoarse tenor, which is thankfully not the case here. Wonderful.

 

 

An even earlier repertoire example, "ich ahne Ema" from Euryanthe, which resolves the "ghost" music from the middle of the overture. It's what's sometimes called an Erolsungschloss: a "harmonic redemption."

 

 

The climactic statements of Ben's theme both in the trench run and the march-like statement at the very end of Star Wars are both superb. Like the Euryanthe example, the latter case is the the one place where the unabridged theme ends on a full cadence.

 

The big statement of the Fellowship theme in the black gate, when it hits that high A resolves and the theme reverts to its definitive D-F-D pitch level. The theme had been gathering itself back up gradually ever since Moria, and here it has the same effect as a recapitulation in a symphony. Shivers down the spine.

[Jim Ware 586]

13 hours ago, CompleteRecordingSessions said:

Okay, so I think An Unexpected Journey is one of the most underrated films of all time: it's such a fun and charming film with beautiful scenery, great performances and character realization, and I think it captures the spirit of the book best compared to the subsequent two. Other than that, I also think its score is so warm and relaxing to listen to. I love the reprisal of the Rivendell theme, especially because the fluttering string build-up makes the actual reprisal all the more rewarding. 

 

So, those are just a few of my favorite/favourite musical callbacks. I am excited to see what you all will bring to the list!

 

On the subject of The Hobbit, the third film has one of my favourite callbacks as Bilbo and Gandalf reach the edge of the Shire. 

 

A wistful statement of Gandalf's material, hints of the History of the Ring and the Heirs of Durin/Istari hybrid material that opens An Unexpected Journey.

[Gabriel Bezerra 628]

Already picked the first ones I could remember

 

[Director of Poltergeist 8,048]

The Force Theme in The Phantom Menace. It was more satisfying than the main title and like 5 minutes into the movie when Qui-Gon cuts through the door it really felt like Star Wars was back.

 

 

[CompleteRecordingSessions 61]

On 17/06/2025 at 9:55 PM, Meredith McKay said:

The end titles from Search For Spock

 

The first appearance of the TMP theme in the second  cue of TFF.

 

On the topic of Star Trek, I haven't seen the films or TV series in a while, but I have started listening to the amazing music again recently. The combination of the 'Generations' theme and the original theme in the track below is so nostalgic, reminding us of all the great adventures we had with Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise. 

 

I also really love the musical reprise here. Specifically, the 'contemporary' piano lead-up only makes the reprise of the old theme all the more satisfying in comparison, and I love that it is performed by solo trumpet.

 

Also, to celebrate a new Pixar movie being released, I love the reprise of 'You've Got a Friend in Me' here (and clearly the Pixar team did too, based on how many times the same arrangement was reprised in Toy Story 3):

 

Furthermore, to celebrate a new Jurassic movie being released soon, here's a great reprise of the original Jurassic Park theme in Jurassic Park 3. I love the musical segue from the 'moody' underscore to the original theme, making it all the more satisfying.

 

Lastly, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Jaws:

 

I can't wait to hear what other thematic reprises you list!

[mrbellamy 7,278]

Beginning of Return of the King, the reprisal of "The Journey There" as Doug Adams refers to it has always been a heart-stirring one for me. A weary rendition that somehow captures a feeling of dread and hope in equal parts and completely sets the tone for the last leg of their journey, calling back to the start and Sam's first furthest steps from home. 

 

 

[Bellosh 4,223]

the raiders march coda in Germany, 1944

 

 

tie fighter attack in TLJ

 

 

[CT-7567 166]

I love how Armstrong uses the Lonely Man theme from the 70s Hulk show here 

 

[Edmilson 10,434]

Yoda's Theme in TLJ:

 

 

Silvestri reprising This is My Choice from The First Avenger during Steve's final scene in Avengers: Endgame.

 

 

[Meredith McKay 7,843]

3:15 - 3:25 of Kessel Run in Less than Twelve Parsecs

[Edmilson 10,434]

4 hours ago, Bellosh said:

the raiders march coda in Germany, 1944

One of my favorite renditions of the March on that score.

[tomsmoviemadness 4,234]

6 hours ago, Bellosh said:

 

tie fighter attack in TLJ

 

 

 

I remember hearing this in the cinema for the first time. I lost my mind, it was sooo cool!!!

[1977 1,806]

I know this is unpopular to say, but I love the arrival at Yavin 4 from Rogue One and how the Hope Theme segues into a brief statement of the Rebel Fanfare as Cassian's ship lands. I'm also quite fond of the use of the ANH Imperial Motif and how it's combined with Vader's Theme in the scene where Krennic meets the Dark Lord at his fortress on Mustafar.

[Gabriel Bezerra 628]

11 hours ago, Edmilson said:

Silvestri reprising This is My Choice from The First Avenger during Steve's final scene in Avengers: Endgame.

Endgame has several moments like this, One Way Trip in The One, Motorcycle Mayhem in Worthy, it's a bonanza.