You know the sound. It’s that explosive, brassy fanfare that makes you sit up a little straighter in your theater seat. The searchlights start swinging across the sky. The big "20th" looms over you in gold. Honestly, the 20th Century Fox theme—officially known as the "Fanfare"—is probably the most recognizable 20 seconds of music in cinematic history. Even if you aren't a film buff, those drums are hardwired into your brain.
It’s loud. It’s triumphant. It’s basically the sound of "the movies" with a capital M.
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But here’s the thing: most people don't realize how close we came to losing it. Or that for about twenty years, it was basically considered "old fashioned" and dumped in a drawer. It took a guy named George Lucas and a little space movie to save it from the scrap heap of history.
The Man Behind the Horns
Alfred Newman wrote it. If that name doesn't ring a bell, it should. He was the head of the music department at Fox for decades and basically invented the "Hollywood Sound." He composed the original fanfare in 1933 back when the company was just Twentieth Century Pictures. When they merged with Fox Film Corporation in 1935, the music stayed.
Newman wasn't just some guy with a baton. He was a powerhouse. He won nine Oscars. Nine. He understood that a movie studio needed a "calling card." Something that felt expensive. Something that felt permanent.
The 1935 version is what we generally think of as the "classic" take. It’s got that staccato drum roll at the beginning. Then those blaring trumpets. It’s regal. But by the late 1960s, Hollywood was changing. Everything was getting gritty. The "Old Hollywood" glitz felt out of touch. New studio heads started cutting the fanfare or using stripped-down versions. For a while, the 20th Century Fox theme was practically an endangered species.
How Star Wars Saved the Song
In 1977, George Lucas was getting ready to release Star Wars. He wanted his movie to feel like an old-school serial—something grand and timeless. He insisted on using the full Newman fanfare. But he didn't just want the short version. He used the "Extended CinemaScope" version Newman had recorded in 1954.
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John Williams, the legendary composer, actually wrote the Star Wars Main Title in the same key (B-flat major) as the Fox fanfare. He did this on purpose. He wanted the fanfare to feel like the first movement of his own score. When the Fox music ends and that silence hits for a split second before the "Star Wars" logo explodes onto the screen? That’s intentional. It’s musical continuity.
Because Star Wars became the biggest thing on the planet, the fanfare was suddenly cool again. It wasn't just a logo; it was the preamble to adventure. Fox realized they had a goldmine. From that point on, the 20th Century Fox theme was untouchable.
Variations on a Theme
Studios love to play with their logos now, but Fox was one of the first to really lean into it. Remember The Rocky Horror Picture Show? The lips on screen singing over a distorted version? Or The Simpsons Movie, where Ralph Wiggum sings along with the horns?
- Alien 3 used a dissonant, creeping version that dies out into a low, haunting note. It sets the tone for a very bleak movie.
- Moulin Rouge! had a version that sounds like it's being played by a frantic Parisian pit orchestra.
- The Peanuts Movie let Schroeder play the theme on his toy piano.
These aren't just jokes. They're proof of how much the 20th Century Fox theme is part of the cultural shorthand. You can break it, slow it down, or play it on a kazoo, and everyone still knows exactly what it is.
The Disney Takeover and the Name Change
Things got weird in 2019. Disney bought 20th Century Fox. A lot of people worried. Would Mickey Mouse kill the fanfare? Would they replace it with the Disney castle?
Thankfully, no. Disney kept the music, but they changed the name. The studio is now officially "20th Century Studios." If you watch a movie today—like Avatar: The Way of Water or Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes—the logo says "20th Century Studios," but that Newman fanfare is still there, sounding as crisp as ever.
It’s a bit surreal to see the "Fox" name scrubbed away while the music remains. It’s like a ghost of the old studio system is still haunting the theater. But honestly, it’s probably the best outcome we could have hoped for. The brand might change, but the sound is permanent.
Why It Works (The Music Theory Bit)
You don't need a PhD in music to get why this works. It’s the "anamestic" quality. The drums create tension. The first three notes of the brass are an ascending motif. It’s literally "pointing up." It tells your brain that something big is happening.
Technically, the "long" version of the fanfare is actually a 12-bar phrase. It’s short, punchy, and uses a very specific arrangement of trombones and trumpets to get that "wall of sound" effect. It was recorded originally on 35mm magnetic film, which gave it a warmth that digital recreations sometimes struggle to mimic.
Actionable Takeaways for Film Fans
If you’re a fan of film history or just appreciate the craft behind the screen, there are a few ways to dive deeper into this specific piece of history:
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- Listen to the 1935 vs. 1954 versions. You can find these on YouTube easily. The 1954 "CinemaScope" version is much richer and has that extended tail that John Williams loved so much.
- Watch the "Logo Gags." Look up a compilation of Fox logo variations. It’s a masterclass in how a brand can stay consistent while being flexible.
- Check out the Newman Dynasty. Alfred Newman’s family is still the royalty of film music. His son Thomas Newman (American Beauty, Skyfall) and his nephew Randy Newman (Toy Story) are still carrying the torch.
- Pay attention to the key. Next time you watch a movie with the 20th Century Fox theme, see if the opening music of the film matches the key of the fanfare. Many composers still follow the John Williams rule of "musical handshakes."
The 20th Century Fox theme isn't just a jingle. It’s a survivor. It survived the end of the Golden Age, the rise of television, the death of the studio system, and a multi-billion dollar corporate merger. It stays because it works. It tells us that for the next two hours, we’re going somewhere else. And really, that’s all we want from the movies anyway.
To truly appreciate the evolution, track down a high-quality audio recording of the 1997 re-recording conducted by Bruce Broughton. It’s the version most of us hear today, and the clarity of the brass section is unmatched. It’s the gold standard of the fanfare. Keep an eye on the credits of upcoming 20th Century Studios releases to see how they continue to tweak the visual logo while keeping the sonic soul intact.