Cinema is a synthetic art that combines different media to achieve the striking cinematic language that we’re all drawn to. While most of the spectators are used to rely on visual narration — auditory perception plays one of the significant roles in storytelling as well.

Sound design is one of the most powerful yet often invisible elements of cinema. It shapes our emotions, builds worlds, and enhances storytelling on a subconscious level. The following five films are prime examples of how exceptional sound design elevates a movie into something unforgettable.

Photo credits: The Hollywood Reporter

 1. Dune (2021) by Denis Villeneuve

Dune crafts a fully immersive soundscape for the desert planet of Arrakis. The world is barren yet rich in sonic complexity. The design combines futuristic sci-fi elements with organic textures. The masterminds of it are sound designers Mark Mangini & Theo Green.

“Denis is not a micro-manager when describing what he wants. Most often it takes the form of advice on what narrative goals the sound should achieve. This is consistent with Denis’ goal of creating a sound track that is motivated most directly by story. His comments, when reviewing our sounds or the mix with Ron and Doug, are most often in relationship to how they make him feel and what narrative value they have or lack. It would be rare for Denis to give us a specific direction of what something should sound “like” but, rather, what it needed to achieve.”

Key sound examples:

• The Voice: The Bene Gesserit “Voice” is rendered with a jarring, multi-layered low-frequency rumble that physically hits the audience. It’s a sonic cue of domination that breaks cinematic convention by sounding within the character and to the audience.
• Ornithopters: These dragonfly-like flying machines have wingbeats inspired by real insect flight and helicopter rotor blades, combining nature and machinery into a believable alien technology.
• Sandworms: Their colossal presence is made known through deep, seismic rumbles and low-end frequencies, creating a visceral sense of scale and terror.

 2. Apocalypse Now (1979) by Francis Ford Coppola

This Vietnam War epic film is a landmark in the use of sound as a psychological and narrative tool. Walter Murch’s sound design is surreal, poetic, and deeply immersive. It still stands out so many years later despite the emerge of better equipment and only is enhanced with Dolby possibilities even more.

“Francis wanted the sounds to be accurate, in high-fidelity stereo, and when somebody fired an AK-47, it should be an AK-47 with real bullets in it. We were able to get hold of these weapons and ammunition, and went to a remote location where we could shoot and do original recordings with all the right perspectives.”

Key sound examples:

• The opening scene: The sound of helicopters merges with ceiling fans, and The Doors’ “The End” plays over a dreamlike montage—blurring the lines between war and the soldier’s fractured psyche.
• The jungle atmosphere: The soundscape is thick with unnatural quietude or suddenly bursting with layers of bullets, distant screams, and distorted radio chatter.
• Sound transitions: Murch pioneered fluid transitions between diegetic and non-diegetic sound—like a helicopter’s roar becoming part of the music—which altered how audiences experienced time and reality.

3. Gravity (2013) by Alfonso Cuarón

In space, sound doesn’t travel — that sound designer Glenn Freemantle understood very well. Gravity embraces this realism while still creating a rich auditory experience by relying on what astronauts would hear through their suits and bodies.

“At the beginning you get the visual impression of the size of space and a big sound goes with that. Then it’s all sucked into Sandra’s world. The other voices she hears, as radio signals, are so tiny within the environment. When I met Alfonso in 2010 we talked about how sound for space had been done traditionally and decided that it should be heard as vibrations through the space suit.”

Key sound examples:

• Collision sequence: Explosions are muted or completely silent when seen from outside, but we hear deep, muffled vibrations from inside Sandra Bullock’s helmet. It enhances realism and emotional intensity.
• Breathing and heartbeats: The protagonist’s rapid, panicked breathing becomes a rhythmic score element, elevating tension.
• Musical blend: Steven Price’s score and the sound design often overlap—creating a seamless blend that pulls viewers further into the void.

 4. The Dark Knight (2008) by Christopher Nolan

Christopher Nolan’s films are known for their intricate sound, and The Dark Knight is a standout. It uses aggressive realism blended with thematic audio cues to shape its characters and action — all orchestrated by a talented sound designer Richard King.

“To me, this was the epic of the three, if you could categorize it. It had a David Lean quality to it. It had so many emotional beats and characters plus set-piece action scenes. We really worked hard to make it feel as epic and as huge as possible. Part of that was inspired by the Bane character, because he is such a gargantuan figure. We had to amp things up, not necessarily make them louder, but make them feel bigger.”

Key sound examples:

• Joker’s motif: A single, rising note—played on a razor-thin violin string—accompanies the Joker. It creates unease and tension without needing dialogue.
• Batpod chase: The sound of the Batpod is a mix of a jet engine, a lion’s roar, and Formula 1 cars. It emphasizes the intensity of Batman’s pursuit through urban chaos.
• City ambience: The soundscape of Gotham feels oppressive and alive, with subway rumbles, sirens, and murmurs creating a living, breathing environment.

 5. Arrival (2016) by Denis Villeneuve

We couldn’t pass on Arrival because the whole film relies on sound from the very first second pretty heavily. Denis Villeneuve’s movie is about communication — and its sound design reflects that. The sound designer Sylvain Bellemare achieved that every sonic choice deepens the mystery, emotion, and philosophy of the story.

“The sound was in the memory—in the past—and the image was in the present. It was something to play with. I think you just want to make sure that the sound was a strong enough character to live by itself, and maybe to cover holes that sometimes we had hard times with in editing—that there was some link to the story that sound had to do in the rhythm, in the narration.”

Key sound examples:

• Heptapod language: The alien speech combines whale calls, submarine pings, and synthetic modulation. It sounds truly alien yet intelligent, reinforcing the idea of a language unlike any other.
• Silence as tension: In scenes inside the alien vessel, silence is used with intention. The void makes the few sounds—such as inky noises or atmospheric hums—feel profound.
• Subtlety: When the characters piece together the alien language, tiny audio cues (like breath, pen strokes, or sonar-like pulses) echo the intimacy of their cognitive process.