How the musical landscape of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" redefines superhero film scoring with its blend of hip-hop innovation and orchestral depth
Just as "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" reinvented superhero animation through its revolutionary visual approach, the film's sonic landscape establishes an equally innovative musical blueprint. The soundtrack and score work in perfect harmony to create a sonic identity that's inseparable from the film's success, reflecting Miles Morales's character development, Brooklyn setting, and the multiversal concept at the story's core.
The film's musical approach mirrors its visual philosophy—rather than adhering to established superhero film score conventions, it combines traditions in unexpected ways while centering hip-hop as the dominant musical language. This choice brilliantly grounds the soundtrack in Miles's cultural background and perspective, making the music an extension of the character rather than mere accompaniment.
The complete musical experience of "Spider-Verse" comes through the interplay of two distinct but complementary elements:
British composer Daniel Pemberton created the orchestral score that forms the backbone of the film's musical architecture. Rather than producing a traditional superhero score, Pemberton developed a multifaceted approach that shifts between orchestral grandeur, electronics, hip-hop beats, and experimental techniques. Each character and dimension receives distinct musical motifs and instrumentation, creating a score that supports the multiverse concept through musical diversity.
Produced by Spring Aspers and featuring original songs created specifically for the film, the soundtrack album was conceived as more than a collection of loosely related tracks. The producers worked with artists including Post Malone, Swae Lee, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj, and Jaden Smith to create music that functions as an extension of the storytelling. These songs were intentionally designed to advance character development and theme while standing as legitimate hip-hop tracks in their own right.
Unlike many film soundtracks where music feels supplementary or commercially motivated, "Spider-Verse" integrates these two musical elements into a cohesive whole. The score and songs flow into each other organically, with Pemberton's orchestral and electronic elements sometimes directly incorporating or responding to the soundtrack's hip-hop tracks.
The soundtrack's most impressive achievement is how it charts Miles's character development through musical progression. His evolution from uncertain teenager to confident Spider-Man is mirrored in the film's musical journey:
The film opens with Post Malone and Swae Lee's "Sunflower"—a melodic, understated track that captures Miles's initial vulnerability and introspection. As a laid-back R&B/hip-hop hybrid, the song establishes Miles's musical taste while its lyrics about devotion foreshadow his commitment to becoming Spider-Man. Its repetition throughout the film marks moments of reflection and connection, particularly with his universe's Peter Parker.
As Miles struggles with his powers, Pemberton's score incorporates elements of tension and occasional discord, mixed with hip-hop beats that stutter and falter. Vince Staples and Richie Kohan's "Home" plays during his early attempts at web-swinging, its driving beat and determined lyrics underlining his persistence despite repeated failures.
Miles's lowest moment—when he's tied up and doubting himself after failing to control his powers—is scored with minimalist, subdued music that reflects his feelings of inadequacy. The subsequent "Leap of Faith" sequence, where he embraces his identity as Spider-Man, is accompanied by a dramatic build in Pemberton's score that incorporates hip-hop elements with triumphant orchestral instruments, signifying Miles's self-acceptance and growing confidence.
The film's climactic battle features Blackway & Black Caviar's "What's Up Danger"—an aggressive, empowering hip-hop track with booming bass and defiant lyrics that perfectly capture Miles's complete transformation. As he swings through the city in his self-designed suit, the music's confidence and energy reflect his fully realized Spider-Man identity.
This musical progression doesn't just accompany Miles's journey—it helps tell his story. The emotional weight of key moments like the "Leap of Faith" sequence derives as much from the musical crescendo as from the visuals themselves, demonstrating how integral the soundtrack is to the film's storytelling.
How the original score creates distinct musical identities across dimensions
Composer Daniel Pemberton faced a unique challenge: creating a score that could encompass multiple animation styles, character backgrounds, and parallel universes while maintaining coherence. His solution was to develop a multifaceted approach where instrumentation, technique, and style shift based on which character is featured and which universe is being depicted.
For the film's protagonist, Pemberton created a musical signature that blends hip-hop beats with orchestral elements. Miles's theme evolves throughout the film, beginning with simpler arrangements featuring turntable scratches, drum machines, and synthesizers that reflect his Brooklyn roots and teenage identity. As Miles grows into his Spider-Man role, his music incorporates more traditional heroic elements—brass flourishes and string sections that suggest the epic scale of his journey—while maintaining its hip-hop foundation.
This musical evolution is particularly evident in the "Leap of Faith" sequence, where Pemberton builds from minimal percussion to a full orchestra with electronic elements, mirroring Miles's transformation from hesitant teenager to confident hero. The score never abandons its hip-hop identity but expands it to incorporate more traditional superhero musical motifs, just as Miles never abandons his personal identity while taking on the Spider-Man mantle.
For the older, jaded Peter B. Parker, Pemberton cleverly references established Spider-Man musical traditions (including subtle nods to scores from previous Spider-Man films) but adds elements that suggest wear and fatigue. His theme includes more traditional orchestral superhero motifs but often presents them with minor key variations or slightly disconnected timing that reflects his disheveled state.
As Peter reconnects with his purpose through mentoring Miles, his musical cues gradually become more aligned and coherent, suggesting his own redemptive arc. The music never becomes as fresh as Miles's theme—maintaining a nostalgic quality that reflects Peter's generational difference—but it regains some of its heroic luster by the film's conclusion.
Pemberton's most innovative work comes in his musical characterization of the various Spider-People from alternate dimensions. Each character receives distinctive musical treatment that reflects their universe of origin:
When these characters appear together, Pemberton skillfully blends their musical signatures, sometimes switching between styles within a single cue as the camera focuses on different characters. This approach reinforces the film's visual differentiation between Spider-People while maintaining overall musical coherence.
For the film's antagonists, particularly Wilson Fisk/Kingpin, Pemberton develops darker, more industrial soundscapes. Harsh synthesizers, distorted percussion, and aggressive brass create a sense of mechanical menace that reflects both Kingpin's physical imposingness and the technological threat of the particle accelerator.
The Prowler (Uncle Aaron) receives particularly distinctive treatment with a recurring four-note motif performed on processed synthesizer that serves as an audio warning of his approach. This signature becomes a crucial storytelling element, building tension and signaling danger before the character even appears on screen. The motif undergoes a significant transformation during the character's death scene, where Pemberton strips away the electronic processing to reveal its vulnerable musical core—a perfect aural representation of the moment when Aaron removes his mask and reconnects with his nephew.
Just as the film's animation breaks visual rules, Pemberton's score incorporates experimental techniques that push beyond traditional film scoring approaches. During the psychedelic sequences when Miles first receives his powers or when the multiverse glitches, Pemberton employs techniques like:
These experimental approaches don't just showcase technical virtuosity—they directly support the film's narrative by aurally representing the instability of the multiverse and the characters' disorientation when experiencing dimensional shifts.
Pemberton's score succeeds because it parallels the film's visual philosophy—it respects established traditions while confidently breaking rules, creates distinct identities for different elements while maintaining overall coherence, and balances experimental techniques with emotional accessibility. Like the animation itself, the score finds innovative ways to express character and advance storytelling rather than employing innovation purely for its own sake.
How specific songs advance character development and thematic depth
The curated soundtrack album for "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" stands apart from typical superhero film compilations through its organic integration with the narrative. Rather than simply providing background accompaniment or credits music, these songs function as storytelling tools that directly advance character development and reinforce thematic elements.
Key Scenes: Miles's introduction; bedroom singing; shared moment with deceased Peter Parker
Serving as Miles's personal theme, "Sunflower" establishes his character before he gains powers. The song's relaxed R&B/hip-hop hybrid style reflects Miles's musical taste while its lyrics about devotion and care foreshadow his responsibility journey. The song appears multiple times, creating continuity across Miles's transformation. When he sings it while getting ready for school, it humanizes him through a relatable teenage moment; when it plays during his interaction with his universe's Peter Parker, it creates an emotional connection between them. The track's gentle, introspective quality contrasts with the more aggressive hip-hop tracks that accompany his later heroic moments, charting his emotional evolution through musical style.
Key Scene: Miles's leap of faith and full transformation into Spider-Man
The film's most powerful musical moment accompanies Miles's definitive transformation into Spider-Man. The track's opening builds tension with ominous synthesizers before exploding into aggressive hip-hop as Miles takes his literal leap of faith from the skyscraper. Lyrics directly reflect Miles's character development with lines like "I like tall buildings so I can leap off them" and "I think about my fear, then I face it" explicitly addressing his journey. The song's confrontational chorus—"What's up danger?"—becomes Miles's declaration of readiness to face threats. Blackway's rap delivery exudes confidence and defiance, matching Miles's newfound self-assurance. The production combines traditional hip-hop elements with cinematic orchestral touches that blend seamlessly with Pemberton's score, creating a perfect synthesis of soundtrack and score at the film's emotional climax.
Key Scene: Collaborative battle against Kingpin's henchmen
This collaboration between three distinct artists mirrors the film's multiverse concept, with each performer bringing a different style to create a cohesive whole—just like the various Spider-People. The song explores themes of overcoming fear and finding inner strength, directly relating to Miles's emotional journey. Its placement during a sequence where all Spider-People fight together highlights the film's emphasis on collaboration across differences. Lyrically, the track addresses moving beyond fear toward heroism with lines like "I'm not scared of the dark" serving as a metaphor for facing uncertainty. The production blends contemporary trap elements with melodic sections that allow for emotional resonance during character moments within the action sequence.
Key Scene: Miles's early attempts at using his powers
Vince Staples's rapid-fire delivery and the track's driving electronic production provide energy for Miles's early training montage as he attempts to master web-swinging. The song's lyrics about finding direction and purpose directly parallel Miles's struggle to control his new abilities. The repeated line "I'm trying to find my way home" works on multiple levels—literally referencing Miles's attempts to navigate using his powers, but also metaphorically addressing his search for identity and belonging. The collaboration between rapper Staples and composer Kohan creates a seamless bridge between hip-hop elements and traditional score, exemplifying the film's overall approach to music that blends seemingly disparate styles into a cohesive whole.
Beyond individual tracks, the soundtrack album maintains consistent lyrical themes that reinforce the film's central messages:
Multiple tracks address finding your true self and embracing personal uniqueness. Songs like Jaden Smith's "Way Up" with lyrics about rising above expectations and Aminé's "Invincible" focusing on inner strength directly connect to Miles's journey of self-discovery. This lyrical focus on authenticity reinforces the film's central theme that heroism comes from embracing what makes you different rather than conforming to expectations.
Several tracks emphasize community support and finding strength in connection, mirroring the film's focus on collaboration across the multiverse. Nicki Minaj and Anuel AA's "Familia" explicitly addresses this with its title and lyrics about standing together. These songs reinforce that Miles succeeds not through solitary heroism but by embracing support from mentors, family, and his multiversal counterparts.
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of "Spider-Verse's" musical approach is how it occasionally breaks the fourth wall between diegetic and non-diegetic music (music that exists within the world of the film versus soundtrack music only the audience hears). Several key moments deliberately blur this line:
These moments of integration between the film's world and its soundtrack create a uniquely immersive experience where music isn't simply accompanying the narrative but is woven into the fabric of the storytelling itself. This approach parallels how the film integrates comic book visual elements directly into its animation rather than merely adapting comic stories into conventional cinematic language.
The result is a soundtrack that functions as much more than a collection of songs—it becomes an essential narrative component that advances character development, reinforces themes, and enhances emotional impact. Like every aspect of "Spider-Verse," the music demonstrates how thoughtful innovation can deepen storytelling rather than simply showcasing technical possibilities.
How Spider-Verse's soundtrack influenced film music and resonated with audiences
The "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" soundtrack achieved significant commercial success, debuting at number 5 on the Billboard 200 chart and reaching number 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. "Sunflower" became the breakout hit, reaching number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually being certified Diamond (10× Platinum) by the RIAA—making it one of the best-selling singles of all time. The song's success extended far beyond the film's release window, remaining on charts for over a year and becoming a cultural phenomenon in its own right.
Beyond raw commercial metrics, the soundtrack resonated culturally by authentically incorporating hip-hop not as a marketing tool but as an integral storytelling element. By centering Black musical traditions in a major superhero film—particularly one featuring an Afro-Latino protagonist—the soundtrack contributed to broader representation in mainstream cinema. The music became inseparable from the film's identity in popular culture, with tracks like "What's Up Danger" becoming instantly recognizable signifiers of the Spider-Verse brand.
The innovative approach of "Spider-Verse" has influenced film music in several significant ways:
Subsequent superhero films have shown greater willingness to incorporate genre-specific music that reflects character identity rather than relying solely on traditional orchestral scoring. Films like "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" with its Mesoamerican and African musical elements and "The Batman" with its darker alternative rock influences demonstrate this trend toward more distinctive musical identities in superhero cinema.
The success of "Spider-Verse" has encouraged animated features to develop more distinctive musical identities rather than mimicking live-action scoring conventions. Films like "The Mitchells vs. The Machines" (also produced by Lord and Miller) and "Puss in Boots: The Last Wish" have employed similar approaches where musical style directly reflects visual style and character identity.
The model of developing original songs specifically for narrative purposes rather than simply licensing existing tracks has gained traction in major studio productions. The close collaboration between composer Daniel Pemberton and the soundtrack producers to create a unified musical experience has influenced how film music is conceptualized, encouraging greater integration between score and songs.
Daniel Pemberton's score received significant critical acclaim and industry recognition, earning nominations for:
While the score was notably absent from the Academy Award nominations (a common oversight for innovative animation scoring), its influence within the film music community has been substantial. Pemberton's willingness to transcend traditional scoring approaches in favor of a more integrated, character-driven musical identity has been widely praised by composers and music supervisors as representing the future of animation scoring.
The musical blueprint established in "Spider-Verse" has become fundamental to the franchise's identity. The sequel, "Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse" (2023), builds upon this foundation with both returning and new artists, maintaining hip-hop as the central musical language while expanding to incorporate musical styles that reflect the wider multiverse. Composer Daniel Pemberton returned to further develop his multiversal approach to scoring, creating even more distinct musical identities for new dimensions introduced in the sequel.
The success of the "Spider-Verse" musical approach has established a distinctive sonic identity that differentiates the animated franchise from live-action Spider-Man films and the broader Marvel Cinematic Universe. This musical distinctiveness has become as much a part of the franchise's brand as its revolutionary visual style, demonstrating how thoughtful musical choices can contribute to a film's unique position in a crowded media landscape.
Beyond its direct influence on film music, the "Spider-Verse" soundtrack has contributed to broader cultural conversations about representation in mainstream cinema. By authentically centering hip-hop—a genre with deep roots in Black and Latino communities—the film validated these musical traditions as worthy of major studio investment and artistic respect. For many young viewers, particularly those who share Miles Morales's cultural background, seeing their musical preferences and traditions normalized in a major superhero film provided meaningful representation.
The soundtrack's approach also challenged assumptions about animation as a form primarily for children by incorporating sophisticated musical elements that appeal to adult audiences without compromising accessibility for younger viewers. This aligns with the film's overall approach of respecting audience intelligence across age demographics rather than targeting the lowest common denominator.
Perhaps most significantly, the "Spider-Verse" soundtrack demonstrated how thoughtful musical choices can contribute to a film's artistic cohesion rather than serving solely commercial or marketing purposes. By treating music as an integral storytelling component—one that advances character, reinforces theme, and enhances emotional resonance—the film established a model for how contemporary blockbusters can achieve both artistic excellence and commercial success through their musical approach.
How the film's musical approach diverges from and evolves beyond standard superhero film scoring
To fully appreciate the innovations of the "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" soundtrack, it's valuable to consider how it differs from established superhero film music traditions. This comparison illuminates not just what makes the Spider-Verse approach distinctive but how it represents an evolution of the form rather than a complete rejection of what came before.
Since John Williams's iconic "Superman" theme in 1978, superhero film scoring has generally followed recognizable conventions:
Notable examples of this approach include Danny Elfman's "Batman" theme, Alan Silvestri's "Captain America" score, and Hans Zimmer's work on "Man of Steel." While these scores vary in specific style, they generally operate within the orchestral tradition and aim for a certain timelessness by avoiding strong connections to specific musical genres or periods.
The "Spider-Verse" soundtrack diverges from these conventions in several significant ways while still acknowledging the established superhero musical language:
Rather than aiming for cultural "neutrality," Spider-Verse embraces Miles's specific cultural background by centering hip-hop as the dominant musical language. This approach grounds the character in a particular time, place, and cultural tradition rather than abstracting him into a universal heroic archetype. When orchestral elements appear, they integrate with rather than replace the hip-hop foundation, suggesting that heroism can emerge from specific cultural contexts rather than transcending them.
Unlike traditional superhero films where popular songs typically appear only in isolated scenes (often montages) or credits sequences, Spider-Verse blurs the line between score and songs. Daniel Pemberton's orchestral elements weave seamlessly into and out of hip-hop tracks, while many songs incorporate orchestral elements that maintain continuity with the score. This integration creates a cohesive musical landscape rather than toggling between separate musical worlds.
Traditional superhero scores typically maintain stylistic consistency throughout the film, with variations in theme but consistency in orchestration and approach. Spider-Verse deliberately fractures its musical landscape to reflect the multiverse concept, with dramatically different musical styles for different characters and dimensions. This approach prioritizes character-specific expression over stylistic unity, though Pemberton skillfully maintains enough connective tissue to prevent musical chaos.
Where traditional superhero scores often aim for a timeless quality that will age well, Spider-Verse embraces contemporary musical language that specifically places the film in the late 2010s hip-hop landscape. This approach risks potential dating but gains authenticity and immediate cultural resonance, particularly with younger audiences who share Miles's musical preferences. The soundtrack treats hip-hop not as a trendy marketing choice but as a legitimate artistic tradition worthy of the same respect traditionally accorded to orchestral scoring.
Examining specific comparable moments across different Spider-Man films highlights Spider-Verse's distinctive approach:
Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" (2002): Danny Elfman's orchestral theme builds gradually with strings and then triumphant brass as Peter Parker swings confidently through New York, establishing traditional heroic musical language.
"The Amazing Spider-Man" (2012): James Horner's score uses hopeful strings and woodwinds with modern electronic elements as Andrew Garfield's Peter experiences the joy of his abilities.
"Spider-Man: Homecoming" (2017): Michael Giacchino incorporates the classic 1960s Spider-Man theme with modern orchestral elements, creating nostalgic connection during Tom Holland's neighborhood swinging montage.
"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018): Blackway & Black Caviar's "What's Up Danger" hip-hop track with defiant lyrics accompanies Miles's leap of faith, using contemporary musical language that directly reflects the character's cultural background and personal taste.
Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man" (2002): Elfman uses dissonant brass and strings with Gothic choir elements to create ominous atmosphere during the Green Goblin confrontation, drawing from classical villain scoring traditions.
"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" (2014): Hans Zimmer's Electro theme uses electronic distortion and processed sounds to represent the villain's electrical nature, innovating within primarily orchestral framework.
"Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018): The Prowler's appearances feature a distinctive four-note synthesizer motif processed through distortion and filtering effects, creating a musical signature that functions as both leitmotif and sound design element. The music becomes inseparable from the character's identity, with its transformation during the unmasking scene directly paralleling the character's revealed humanity.
What makes the "Spider-Verse" soundtrack particularly successful is that it doesn't entirely abandon superhero music traditions but evolves them for a new context. Pemberton's score still incorporates heroic motifs, orchestral climaxes, and character themes—traditional elements of superhero scoring—but integrates them with hip-hop production, character-specific genre references, and experimental techniques.
This approach mirrors the film's overall relationship to Spider-Man as a character: it doesn't reject the essential aspects of Spider-Man's identity but recontextualizes them through Miles Morales's specific perspective and experience. Just as the film argues that anyone can wear the mask, its soundtrack suggests that heroic musical language can emerge from diverse musical traditions beyond the standard orchestral approach.
The soundtrack's success demonstrates that innovation in film music doesn't require abandoning established traditions entirely but can involve thoughtfully evolving those traditions to reflect changing cultural contexts and specific character identities. By balancing respect for superhero musical heritage with bold exploration of new possibilities, the "Spider-Verse" soundtrack created a new template for how superhero films—and animated features more broadly—can approach their musical identity.
Release Date: December 14, 2018
Label: Republic Records
| # | Title | Artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "What's Up Danger" | Blackway & Black Caviar | 3:45 |
| 2 | "Sunflower" | Post Malone & Swae Lee | 2:38 |
| 3 | "Way Up" | Jaden Smith | 2:56 |
| 4 | "Familia" | Nicki Minaj & Anuel AA (feat. Bantu) | 3:32 |
| 5 | "Invincible" | Aminé | 3:18 |
| 6 | "Start a Riot" | Duckwrth & Shaboozey | 3:06 |
| 7 | "Scared of the Dark" | Lil Wayne & Ty Dolla $ign (feat. XXXTENTACION) | 3:12 |
| 8 | "Memories" | Thutmose | 2:56 |
| 9 | "Save the Day" | Ski Mask the Slump God & Jacquees (feat. Coi Leray & LouGotCash) | 3:20 |
| 10 | "Let Go" | Beau Young Prince | 3:16 |
| 11 | "Elevate" | DJ Khalil (feat. Denzel Curry, YBN Cordae, SwaVay & Trevor Rich) | 4:10 |
| 12 | "Home" | Vince Staples (feat. Richie Kohan) | 3:01 |
| 13 | "Hide" | Juice WRLD (feat. Seezyn) | 3:10 |
While not included on the soundtrack album, Daniel Pemberton's score was released separately. Notable tracks include:
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