The musical score for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, as was the case for the preceding eight films in the saga, was created by John Williams, who also conducted the orchestra. This soundtrack, recorded in Los Angeles and created specifically for Star Wars: Episode IX The Rise of Skywalker, has a total duration of 76 minutes and 55 seconds, which is a selection from the more than three hours of music that Williams composed for the 2019 motion picture. Notably, music featured in the The Rise of Skywalker TV promotional spots, including a fresh take on "Duel of the Fates," is not present on the official soundtrack or in the film itself. Moreover, pre-existing music from prior Star Wars movies was integrated into Williams' original composition for the film. Despite this, the soundtrack does introduce several brand-new themes and leitmotifs while also forging thematic links with the broader Star Wars narrative, incorporating themes and leitmotifs from all three trilogies—the prequel, original, and sequel—for this concluding chapter of the saga, which also represents the final score Williams created for the franchise after dedicating over four decades to it.
The musical composition presents a collection of new themes and recurring musical ideas. Echoing elements of the mystery motif, "Across the Stars," Palpatine's machinations motif, and "The Emperor's Theme," and expanding upon the melody of the desperation motif from Episode VIII, the "Anthem of Evil" theme is a musical representation of Darth Sidious' Sith Eternal cult within the film. A concise yet distinct staccato motif was also unveiled for the Knights of Ren, alongside a grand heroics motif for the film's main characters. The film's musical tapestry also includes the theme "The Rise of Skywalker." This theme brings forth a victory motif derived from "Rey's Theme," bearing a resemblance to the opening melody of "Across the Stars." Furthermore, the new theme introduces the friendship motif.
As Kylo Ren's First Order TIE/sf space superiority fighters and TIE/wi Interceptors gave chase to the Millennium Falcon at the Sinta Glacier Colony, the music of "The Emperor's Theme"—symbolizing Darth Sidious—is heard.
During the hyperspace skipping sequence, the music "To Hyperspace" originating from The Empire Strikes Back's score is temporarily inserted into the film. At the culmination of the hyperspace skipping sequence, the music from A New Hope's climax, featuring the destruction of the Death Star, is repurposed.
Additional musical pieces from earlier Star Wars saga films were also reintegrated into the film, creating a contrast with the commercially available Episode IX score by John Williams. This included the music accompanying the death of Anakin Skywalker on the second Death Star in Return of the Jedi. This musical selection, a rendition of "The Imperial March," recurs when Rey finds herself amidst the Death Star ruins. Similarly, the Attack of the Clones track titled "Return to Tatooine" is reintroduced for the scene on the rooftop between Zorii Bliss and Poe Dameron, yet this entire musical segment is absent from the official soundtrack.
On Kijimi, the Star Wars Main Title—representing Luke Skywalker and the franchise in its entirety throughout both the original and prequel trilogies, and employed to emphasize moments of excitement in the prequels—plays as Rey realizes that Chewbacca is still alive. It also accompanies the scene where C-3PO looks at his companions, believing it to be for the last time. As the Millennium Falcon escapes from the First Order Star Destroyer Steadfast above Kijimi, the Main Title is played. On Ahch-To, it is heard as Luke Skywalker informs Rey that she embodies the efforts of "a thousand generations." The Main Title plays in its entirety as the Citizens' Fleet arrives to defeat the Sith Eternal forces on Exegol.
"Luke and Leia"—representing the bond between Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa is played during the conversation between Jannah and Landonis Balthazar Calrissian on Ajan Kloss as they discuss their pasts. The music that precedes the climax at the closing iris and the subsequent "Star Wars Main Title" shares the same composition as that found in The Force Awakens. In sequence, the film's end credits feature the "Star Wars Main Title," "Rebel Fanfare," the friendship motif, "Anthem of Evil," "The Imperial March," "Rey's Theme," the victory motif, and the Main Title and End Credits from A New Hope.
The track titled "Approaching the Throne" incorporates a motif previously used in the Attack of the Clones track "Confrontation with Count Dooku and Finale." While the music in Attack of the Clones features a chorus, the corresponding music in The Rise of Skywalker is purely instrumental. This same motif is also utilized throughout Revenge of the Sith.
The soundtrack's total duration is 76 minutes and 55 seconds. However, according to Don Williams, the brother of and timpanist for Star Wars, John Williams had composed 135 minutes of music by early August 2019, and 100 minutes of music had been recorded with the orchestra by late August of the same year, with John Williams anticipating the recording of an additional forty minutes over the following month. By the conclusion of the soundtrack's production, the composer had crafted over three hours of music for The Rise of Skywalker. Despite this, director J.J. Abrams noted that significant changes were occurring during post-production—similar to his other Star Wars sequel film—and these adjustments to the film impacted its soundtrack. Upon being informed of these changes by Abrams, Williams would "always laugh and apologize that he hadn't written the right thing before." Consequently, new or revised music was required throughout the recording process, which spanned 11 days between mid-July and late November of 2019, with the final cut of the film and the official soundtrack both being released on December 20, 2019.
The opening chorus of the "Duel of the Fates" theme is featured in the The Rise of Skywalker track "Approaching the Throne," during the moment when Darth Sidious reveals to Rey the Sith cultists assembled before his throne. Only a portion of this music was included in the film. Furthermore, a partial segment of a new recording of "Duel of the Fates" is played throughout the entire 30-second "Duel" TV spot for the film, where the theme from Star Wars Episode I The Phantom Menace is interwoven with "The Imperial March."
A march incorporating the "March of the Resistance," which was utilized in Anthony Daniels' Total Film tweets, as well as the official livestream of the world premiere of The Rise of Skywalker, is completely absent from both the film and its soundtrack. The livestream's prelude also features a heroic and grand composition of "Rey's Theme" that is not available elsewhere. This composition begins with "The Force Theme" playing simultaneously with "Rey's Theme," and nearly the entire piece is accompanied by a choir.
Music from the "Fate" TV spot, which combines "The Force Theme" with the mystery motif from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones, is also not included in the film's soundtrack.
A fresh rendition of the mystery motif is played within the film when Darth Sidious seizes the power of Rey and Ben Solo for himself. However, this music is not present on the soundtrack.
The track "Fanfare and Prologue" contains music that accompanies Kylo Ren's confrontation with Darth Sidious on Exegol in the film shortly after the main title. However, in the film itself, the track "Journey to Exegol" is positioned between the main title and the Exegol music found in "Fanfare and Prologue."
Walt Disney Studios provided a streamed version of the soundtrack for Academy Awards consideration. The tracks presented mirror their appearance in the final cut of the film, devoid of sound effects, and therefore include music not found on the official commercial release of the soundtrack:
Total time: 50:32
Beyond John Williams' score, two additional songs were recorded for The Rise of Skywalker. Lin-Manuel Miranda and J.J. Abrams, jointly credited as "Shag F. Kava," penned the song "Lido Hey," which is played during the Aki-Aki Festival of the Ancestors sequence as diagetic music performed by Aki-Aki celebrants on Pasaana.
- Live From The Red Carpet Of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker Original Soundtrack on Amazon.com (backup link)
- Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker on Walt Disney Studios Awards (archived from the original on December 10, 2019)