"The Emperor's Theme" is a piece of music that recurs throughout the Star Wars film saga. This theme was created by John Williams, debuting in the movie Return of the Jedi.
The initial appearance of the theme occurs when Darth Sidious makes his entrance onto the second Death Star. Subsequently, it can be heard in multiple scenes set within the Emperor's throne room. This musical piece is a strikingly somber vocal arrangement, featuring a menacing male choir, and it serves to musically embody the sheer malevolence of Sidious. Segments of it were also used as background music while he was subjecting Luke Skywalker to torture, just before Anakin Skywalker's redemption led to Sidious's downfall.
In The Phantom Menace, one can hear "The Emperor's Theme" whenever Darth Sidious is in communication with either Nute Gunray or Darth Maul. Additionally, a major key adaptation of the theme, known as Symponik Nabooalla, is featured during the parade sequence in Theed.
Within Attack of the Clones, "The Emperor's Theme" is present in the Lars' garage scene, where Anakin shares his confession with Padmé regarding his massacre of the Tusken Raiders. It also features towards the movie's conclusion when Darth Tyranus arrives at the Works on Coruscant for his meeting with Sidious.
The presence of the theme is most notable in Revenge of the Sith. It is audible when Yoda, Mace Windu, and Obi-Wan Kenobi are in discussion about Palpatine's intentions, prior to Yoda's departure for Kashyyyk. It's also played after Sidious bestows upon Anakin the title of Darth Vader, and when the Emperor saves Vader from Mustafar. In 1999, "The Emperor's Theme" served as the musical backdrop for the television commercials promoting The New Jedi Order: Vector Prime.
A musical segment in Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, which is played across several levels, integrates a faster-paced rendition of the Emperor's theme as its bridge. The original version of the theme is also present, heard on the 'Game Over' screen.
In Star Wars: X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, a portion of "The Emperor's Theme" is played after a mission has failed.
A more prominent iteration of the theme is featured throughout the final level of Star Wars: Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast, titled "Yavin–Final Showdown," and it is consistently present during the duel against Desann.
A variation of "The Emperor's Theme" provides the background music for both the main screen and the Korriban areas in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Furthermore, it serves as the background music aboard the Ravager in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords. In the latter game, a segment of "The Emperor's Theme" is played each time the player earns a dark side point. "The Emperor's Theme" can also be heard during the mission briefing screens in Star Wars: Republic Commando.
The theme is featured in Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 5 Episode 16, "The Lawless," when Darth Sidious instructs Mas Amedda to prepare his ship, and again when he confronts Darth Maul and Savage Opress on Mandalore. It is also present in Season 6 Episode 4, "Orders," during the conversation between Darth Tyranus and Darth Sidious regarding Order 66.
In the Star Wars Rebels Season 4 Episode 12 episode, Wolves and a Door, a modified version of the theme can be heard when Minister Hydan is in discussion with the Emperor concerning the Jedi Temple on Lothal. The theme reappears in episode 16 when Darth Sidious' Hologram shows his true form to Ezra Bridger.
Leading up to the DVD re-release of the films in 2004, speculation arose regarding the potential inclusion of "The Emperor's Theme" in Darth Sidious's scene within The Empire Strikes Back.
In the trailer for Angry Birds Star Wars 2, "Join the Pork Side", a brief excerpt from the theme is played at the video's conclusion.
In The Last Jedi, "The Emperor's Theme" plays when Luke Skywalker explains to Rey how the Jedi's actions allowed Darth Sidious to rise to power, establish the Empire, and ultimately annihilate the Jedi Order. It is later heard as Snoke uses the dark side of the Force to torture Rey in his throne room.
Throughout The Rise of Skywalker, the theme is heard whenever Darth Sidious makes an appearance or is mentioned by other characters, including the film's opening, when the Resistance becomes aware of his survival, and throughout the Battle of Exegol. Its use in the scene immediately following the Destruction of Kijimi appears to be directly sourced from a track within Revenge of the Sith. The final instance of the theme's use in the saga occurs during the ultimate confrontation between Rey and Sidious, just before his final demise.