The Lego Batman Movie (soundtrack)
| Company type | Soundtrack album |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | February 3, 2017 |
| Founder | Lorne Balfe |
| Products | Film score and songs |
| Parent | WaterTower Music |
The Lego Batman Movie (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) accompanies the 2017 animated feature The Lego Batman Movie, which serves as the second entry in the The Lego Movie franchise. This film draws inspiration from the DC Comics superhero Batman along with various prominent supporting figures from the DC Universe and the Lego DC Super Heroes' Batman toy collection. In contrast to other scores within the franchise composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, this particular soundtrack was crafted by Lorne Balfe. Released by WaterTower Music on February 3, 2017—one week prior to the movie’s premiere—it was made available as a two-disc CD set and digital download, with a vinyl edition arriving later on May 19, 2017.
The Japanese edition includes an exclusive theme track titled "Let's Go," performed by the group Kis My Ft2.
Background
In June 2016, Lorne Balfe was brought on board to compose the film’s score. He had previously collaborated with Hans Zimmer on scoring The Dark Knight trilogy, based on the DC Comics character Batman. Director Chris McKay characterized the project as "a blend of how About a Boy meets director Michael Bay" and agreed to participate under that vision. Balfe approached the composition as if scoring a serious live-action movie featuring Lego characters rather than typical animated fare. He deliberately avoided referencing musical motifs from earlier Batman adaptations, instead selecting Neal Hefti's original theme from the 1960s television series, considering it a fitting match for this film.
A significant element of Balfe’s work was developing a main theme for Robin, who previously lacked a defining leitmotif; he also composed the song "I Found You" specifically for Robin. For other characters such as Joker, Balfe fashioned unique themes—Joker’s theme incorporates sitars, harpsichords, and rock guitar, evoking the spirit of a traveling band reminiscent of Henry VIII’s lute players. Drummer Chad Smith from Red Hot Chili Peppers contributed to the score, injecting vitality and edge, especially noticeable in the film’s opening sequence.
Originally, McKay imagined The Lego Batman Movie as a musical but ultimately chose to limit the number of songs to leave audiences feeling inspired after witnessing Batman’s journey toward embracing others.
In addition to scoring, Balfe penned several songs including "Who's The (Bat) Man" and "I Found You". The track "Who's The (Bat)Man" draws inspiration from Hefti's TV series theme and is performed by Fall Out Boy's lead singer Patrick Stump. McKay desired an original standalone song that reflected Batman’s persona as a dark, industrial-rap warrior poet. An initial idea to include "Bodies" was vetoed by Warner Bros. for its unsuitability for children, prompting McKay to commission new compositions; he particularly appreciated a humorous and stylistic demo submitted by DJ Cheapshot.
Other songs featured on the soundtrack comprise Glen Ballard's "Man in the Mirror", an Alesso remix of "Heroes (We Could Be)", Harry Nilsson's "One", and Cutting Crew's "(I Just) Died in Your Arms". Additionally, "Everything Is Awesome" from The Lego Movie appears on this soundtrack version performed by Richard Cheese & Lounge Against the Machine but is not included within the film itself.
Reception
James Whitbrook of Gizmodo observed that although it is challenging to replicate the catchy charm of The Lego Movie’’’s hit 'Everything is Awesome,' the songs from The Lego Batman Movie endeavor to achieve a comparable level of appeal. Johnny Brayson from Bustle praised the soundtrack as "one of the finest movie soundtracks this year" and described it as "an ideal match for the film’s blend of action, humor, and emotion," underscoring the franchise’s reliable quality. Mark Harrison at Film Stories emphasized how the music effectively conveys Batman’s dual nature, merging both serious and playful tones alongside pop influences. Meanwhile, Screen Rant complimented the soundtrack for enhancing the film’s allure and granting it an advantage over the Adam West adaptation, despite that version’s legendary ’60s theme.
James Southall from Movie Wave characterized the score as lively and enjoyable, noting its rapid shifts in style that maintain listener interest. Filmtracks.com lauded composer Lorne Balfe as a skilled architect of sophisticated genre compositions, pointing out that his work here frequently surpasses Hans Zimmer’s more solemn interpretation of the same universe. Sci-fi Bulletin referred to the score as a "magpie" creation that borrows and reinvents elements while adding a distinct contribution to Batman’s musical heritage, delivering a gratifying experience beyond the movie’s dynamic visuals.
Standard edition
Released by WaterTower Music on February 3, 2017—one week prior to the movie’s debut—the soundtrack included the lead single "Who's the (Bat) Man" performed by Patrick Stump, which was launched simultaneously. The album was available both digitally and as a two-disc CD set: disc one featured original and selected songs, while disc two contained Lorne Balfe’s film score compositions.
Vinyl release
The vinyl edition of the soundtrack was issued on May 19, 2017, by WaterTower Music, containing only the album’s songs. United Record Pressing produced four distinct vinyl variants: "Batman Edition" with black and yellow split coloring, "Robin Red," "Joker Edition" in purple and green split vinyl, and "Batgirl," presented on lavender vinyl.
Film music not included in the album
| # | Title | Performer(s)/Writer(s) | Key Scenes/Notes | Template:Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Man In The Mirror" | Will Arnett | During opening credits, Batman references a Michael Jackson track. | [1] |
| 2 | "Batman Theme" | Will Arnett | Batman sings while rejecting Alfred’s suggestion. | |
| 3 | "Girls Know How" | Al Jarreau | A tuxedo-themed party hosted by Batman and Alfred. | |
| 4 | "Bad Boys" | Will Arnett | Bruce quotes this song outside a gala event. | |
| 5 | "Pop Goes The Weasel" | Traditional | Villains led by The Joker attack during the gala. | |
| 6 | "We Are Family" | Michael Cera | Alfred displays surveillance footage of Dick at Wayne Manor. | |
| 7 | "Bumper Batman Theme" | Neal Hefti | Batman and Robin rush towards the Batmobile. | |
| 8 | "It's Raining Men" | Michael Cera | Robin sings while traveling to the Fortress of Solitude. | |
| 9 | "The Fortress of Solitude" | John Williams | Arrival scene of Batman and Robin at the Fortress. | |
| 10 | "Theme from Superman (Concert Version)" | John Williams | Sound effect resembling Superman’s doorbell. | |
| 11 | "Planet Rock" | Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force | Batman discovers Superman's Justice League anniversary celebration. | |
| 12 | "Fly, Robin, Fly" | Michael Cera | Robin sings about his code name near an atomic cauldron. | |
| 13 | "I'm Batman" | Lil Dicky | Plays after Joker is banished to the Phantom Zone. | |
| 14 | "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" | Johann Sebastian Bach | Joker encounters Phantom Zone inhabitants. | |
| 15 | "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" | Wham! | First track on Robin's boombox playlist. | |
| 16 | "Never Gonna Give You Up" | Rick Astley | Second track on Robin's boombox playlist. | |
| 17 | "Fly, Robin, Fly" | Silver Convention | Third track on Robin's boombox playlist. |
Chart positions
| Chart (2017) | Highest ranking |
|---|---|
| UK Soundtrack Albums (Official Charts Company) | 27 |
| US Billboard 200 | 187 |
| US Soundtrack Albums (Billboard) | 14 |
- ↑ "Music from The LEGO Batman Movie". Tunefind. Retrieved 2022-07-01.