‘Star Wars' Music Dominates The Billboard Charts
May 4 is internationally recognized as Star Wars Day, as the date is a play on the iconic phrase "May the force be with you," which is a hallmark saying of the hugely successful franchise. Each year, fans honor the vision of George Lucas vision by rewatching the many films — and, apparently, by returning to the music that accompanied them. This renewed interest is reflected on the Billboard charts this week, as several collections from the brand become hits again.
As Star Wars surges in popularity again, multiple albums have returned to various charts — and there's even a new arrival. John Williams: The Star Wars Trilogy debuts on two Billboard rankings this frame. The full-length, credited to Varujan Kojian and the Utah Symphony Orchestra, opens at No. 4 on both the Classical Albums and Classical Crossover Albums charts. It's the second-highest rising new title this frame, landing just behind Gems by Josh Groban, which leads both lists.
Several other projects from the Star Wars universe return to both tallies this frame. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back reappears at No. 11 on the Classical Crossover Albums list and No. 12 on the Classical Albums chart. Star Wars: A New Hope is only a few spaces further down, landing once again at No. 13 on the Classical Crossover Albums ranking and No. 16 on the all-encompassing Classical Albums roster.
In total, Star Wars music fills four spaces on both Classical Albums charts this frame. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith dips slightly from where it stood last time. That film — and its accompanying score — has returned to the spotlight following a theatrical re-release in celebration of its twentieth anniversary. While fans continue to support the score, there's more competition now as Star Wars becomes a trending topic all over again.
Except for the brand new arrival, all three albums are credited to both John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra. Star Wars Episode III also credits a group called London Voices. Though Williams doesn't earn a new win on the charts with the debut, his name remains front and center in the album title, as it's his music that fuels this lasting success.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Tom's Guide
34 minutes ago
- Tom's Guide
Netflix's new crime thriller movie is now streaming — and it's a compelling look at psychological turmoil
Netflix keeps proving it knows how to serve up a solid thriller, and 'An Honest Life' is another slow-burn entry to add to the list. The premise is what drew me to this new Swedish original: A law student who's eager to start fresh gets pulled into a violent protest where he meets a magnetic and fiercely rebellious woman. It's a story that explores how easily someone can lose themselves chasing purpose in all the wrong places. While 'An Honest Life' might not come with big-name stars, it's backed by strong direction and a compelling narrative that feels both timely and emotionally resonant. The movie teases a sharp look at political unrest and the price of idealism without feeling preachy. So, if you want a thriller that's more about mood and tension than non-stop action, this is one to watch. Here's everything to know about 'An Honest Life' now that it's streaming on Netflix. 'An Honest Life' follows Simon (Simon Lööf), a young law student who moves to the city of Lund with high hopes for the future. But as he grows disillusioned with his studies, he finds himself drawn to Max (Nora Rios), a bold and rebellious activist he meets during a violent protest. Captivated by her charisma and radical worldview, Simon is slowly pulled into her world of protest, secrecy, and underground movements. Their bond, once thrilling and rebellious, begins to twist into something far more destructive. As Simon becomes more deeply involved, he's forced to confront dangerous truths and make choices that threaten to destroy everything he thought he stood for. 'An Honest Life' is more of a character-driven drama than a traditional thriller. While there are plenty of thriller elements like violent protests erupting in the streets and the protagonist's growing psychological conflict, the story stays tightly focused on a small group of characters. At the center is Simon, who, in the movie's opening moments, is hit with his first 'test' when someone on the phone instructs him to steal a set of expensive watches. We learn that Simon once aspired to be a writer but chose law instead, mainly because he felt he didn't have anything real to say. But on his way to begin law school, he stumbles into the chaos of a protest and is mistakenly identified as someone who threw an explosive. He's chased by police and only escapes thanks to Max, a mysterious woman in a gas mask, introduced with heavy breathing that gives off serious Darth Vader vibes. If you closed your eyes and just listened, I guarantee you'd think a 'Star Wars' movie was playing. 'An Honest Life' has many themes woven throughout, but two of the main ones are class disparity and exploitation. Simon lives with a group of wealthy, privileged housemates who treat him more like hired help than an equal, asking him to set the table, serve starters, and clean up while they go out drinking. It's a quiet but telling dynamic that shows the class divide between them and Simon's role as the outsider. It's the kind of environment that makes him especially vulnerable to someone like Max. This is where 'An Honest Life' slowly shifts into thriller territory, as Simon begins to fall under the influence of Max and her group of rebellious friends. His path as a law student grows increasingly uncertain, and the deeper he gets, the more blurred his sense of direction becomes. It's a slow, unsettling descent into psychological manipulation. Some viewers may not find 'An Honest Life' as immediately appealing as other Netflix originals. It's a slow burn that leans heavily into character drama, without relying on action or mystery to propel things forward. It takes a while to fully settle into the story, and its two-hour runtime might be off-putting for anyone after a quick, high-stakes thriller. But 'An Honest Life' stands out in Netflix's ever-growing thriller library. It trades fast-paced twists and explosive moments for a quieter, more psychological kind of tension. If you're into serious, character-driven storytelling, this one should hold your attention, especially if you're willing to let it take its time. If you're into stories about youthful idealism clashing with harsh realities and how that collision can spiral out of control, this Swedish movie is definitely worth a look. Anchored by a strong lead performance and grounded direction from Mikael Marcimain, 'An Honest Life' rewards patience with a story that makes an impact. Sadly, I don't think it will make much of an impact on Netflix, considering it's a different kind of thriller, but I'm hoping it will get some recognition, at least. You can stream 'An Honest Life' on Netflix now. For more streaming recommendations, see what's new on Netflix in August 2025.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Post Malone's Ex Drops California Custody Case Over 3-Year-Old Daughter
Post Malone's ex has dropped a court petition that sought to move their three-year-old daughter from Utah to California after intense opposition from the singer. The star (Austin Post) and his ex-girlfriend, Hee Sung 'Jamie' Park, who had a daughter together in 2022, have been fighting over custody arrangements since April. The child is anonymous in court papers. More from Billboard Post Malone Fights Ex's Custody Petition, Says Daughter Belongs in Utah Billboard Live Music Summit & Awards 2025 Date Announced U.S. Government Reveals Seven-Figure Price Tag for Sale of One-Off Wu-Tang Clan Album: Report Park had been seeking through a California court petition to take primary custody of the child in Los Angeles, where she moved after splitting from Post this past fall. Post, however, brought his own custody case in Utah, where he says their daughter has lived most of her life and should remain. The singer's lawyers filed a motion in May to dismiss Park's California petition as unfair 'gamesmanship,' and the matter was scheduled for a hearing next week. But Park has apparently relented, dropping her California case on Monday (July 21). Park dismissed the California case with prejudice, meaning it can't be re-filed. A source familiar with the situation tells Billboard that Park agreed to drop the California case as part of a temporary custody settlement that she and Post have amicably agreed upon, although they will continue to litigate final custody arrangements in the Utah court. It's a win for Post, who wrote in the May court filing that Park 'intentionally' hid from the court that their child — referred to by the initials 'DDP' — has been a Utah resident since birth. 'I do intend to work cooperatively with Jamie to ensure that DDP has frequent and equal custodial time with her mother,' Post wrote. 'However, I do not consent to Jamie's back door attempt to change DDP's residence from Utah to California.' Reps for Post and Park did not return requests for comment on Wednesday (July 23). This story was updated on July 24 at 12:39 p.m. ET to add details about Post and Park's temporary settlement. Best of Billboard Diddy Judge Rejects Claim That Prosecutors Leaked Surveillance Tape of Cassie Assault Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100 Solve the daily Crossword
San Francisco Chronicle
6 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Harrison Ford endorsed Kamala Harris. Now he says the country is ‘on a healthy swing to the right'
Despite endorsing Kamala Harris for president during the runup to the 2024 election, movie legend Harrison Ford seems to be OK with Donald Trump in the White House, saying the country is 'on a healthy swing to the right at the moment.' In a wide-ranging interview with Variety published Wednesday, July 30, the actor famous for playing Han Solo and Indiana Jones said, 'The pendulum doth swing in both directions. … And, as nature dictates, it will swing back.' Ford, who has openly leaned liberal over the years, recorded a video last year for the Harris campaign, in which he said Trump spent his first term 'turning people against each other.' Six months into Trump's second term, though, Ford was more philosophical. 'In politics and in life, you don't always get what you want, but you get what you get and you don't get upset,' Ford told Variety. 'They teach us that in kindergarten, but they also teach you to fight for what you think is right.' He also seemed to suggest that the country needs to move toward the center politically. 'Currently the issue is not who we are, but that we're not who we used to be because we've been purposefully disaggregated into serviceable political units,' Ford observed. 'And that has caused the middle to become frayed and tenuous, and the middle is where we belong. Not because it's banal and safe, but because it's fair. Compromise is fair and honest. 'Now, because we've been disaggregated in this way, we're having a hard time finding commonality. But if you look at the economy, you'll figure out where the commonality is — it's where it always was: Rich get richer, and poor get poorer. And that ain't exactly right.' Ford also talked in the interview about the beginning of his long friendship with George Lucas, which happened during the filming of 'American Graffiti' (1973) in San Rafael, and continued through the ' Star Wars ' and 'Indiana Jones' films. 'I didn't think he could speak. He never spoke,' Ford recalled. 'I remember there was an interview for the part that I was eventually given, and he was the only guy in the room that didn't talk. I later realized he didn't like to talk very much, but he did when necessary.' Ford played bully Bob Falfa in the smash-hit movie about a last night out among car cruising high school seniors in 1962 Modesto. The film was made on a very low budget.
