The Top Instrumental TV Theme Song from Each Decade

With all the promotion of the new season of The White Lotus, I’ve been hearing its TV theme song a lot. The 1^st episode of the 8 episode 3^rd season of The White Lotus airs tonight at 9 on HBO. Moving forward each new show in the series will be available to stream on Max each week.

It’s got a pretty cool theme and got me thinking about how today’s TV theme songs match up to those during my lifetime and over the past 50 years.

I’m not an expert enough to analyze all of them, but I do know which ones stood out and continue to stand out for me. The themes that if they came on the radio, I’d turn it up.

Starting in the 70’s I thought back to my childhood and my favorite shows. However, great shows don’t always produce great theme songs. So I made a point to narrow it down to the instrumental theme songs I enjoy most that don’t always match my top shows list.

So here goes, my personal favorite instrumental TV theme songs from each of the past 6 decades with many honorable mentions. Your list may significantly differ.

Let's start with the 2020s. While The White Lotus theme is cool, I wouldn’t put it at number one. I’m going with the Only Murders in the Building theme. It’s somewhat of a haunting bouncy melody that uses Home Depot buckets for drums. Honorable mentions: The White Lotus, Wednesday.

The 2010s top spot goes to Game of Thrones. I admit it has a bit to do with the fact that it’s an awesome show. How about that cello? It’s driving, intense, powerful and so iconic. Honorable mentions: Succession, Rizzoli and Isles.

Moving on to the 2000s, The Office theme is a fantastically fun, bouncy, quirky piano melody, and it’s even danceable. Honorable mention: Curb Your Enthusiasm.

As we back into the 20^th century and the 90s, my overwhelming choice is Seinfeld. Even though it officially began in 1989, it’s considered a 90s sitcom. A great bass-driven funky tune with cool horns and pops that is so much fun every time I hear it. Honorable mention: Twin Peaks

There were a lot of great 80’s theme songs, but when it comes to my favorite instrumental theme, it’s got to be Magnum P.I. An awesome driving electric guitar, horn-driven, fast ditty. Honorable mention: Hill Street Blues, Miami Vice.

There are so many great 70’s instrumental theme songs. For me, it really could be a three-way tie for the top spot, but I settled with the funky Sanford and Son theme. “The Streetbeater” was composed by Quincy Jones and has that cool harmonica groove. Honorable mention: Rockford Files, S.W.A.T., Barney Miller, What’s Happening.

Bonus 60’s themes: Awesome 60’s instrumental themes include Hawaii Five-O, Bewitched, Odd Couple, I Dream of Jeannie, and The Munsters. The list of amazing 60’s instrumental themes is endless.

Super Bowl LIX is officially in the rearview, with the Philadelphia Eagles defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in a staggering 40-22 blowout. The game, itself, is always an attraction, as are the big-budget Super Bowl commercials.

As has been the trend for decades now, purchasing ad time during the Super Bowl comes at a hefty price. According to USA Today, the cost of a 30-second commercial went up in 2025 to a whopping $8 million. In 2023 and 2024, the cost of a 30-second commercial was $7 million.

The cost has gone up significantly since 2010. Back then, the average cost for a 30-second spot was $2.954 million. However, the most mind-blowing price USA Today shared was the cost of an ad during the first Super Bowl in 1967. All of those years ago, when the Big Game was broadcast on NBC and CBS, a 30-second ad had a whopping price tag of $37,500.

When companies drop big bucks like this, they really have a chance to make a splash. So, which ads stood out among the packed field of spots? Here is our list of the ten best Super Bowl commercials of 2025.

"Big Men on Cul-de-Sac" is a textbook example of the perfect Super Bowl commercial. It's funny, has a great soundtrack (shout out to Huey Lewis and the News!), and it's packed with big celebrities, including Shane Gillis, Post Malone, and Peyton Manning. If you grew up or currently live in a suburb like the one shown, this ad feels very familiar, especially when Gillis takes a shot at the HOA "breathing down my neck."

Some Super Bowl commercials tickle the funny bone, while others opt to hit you right in the feels. The latter was the strategy for this two-minute ad for Google Pixel 9. A father is seen practicing for a job interview and talks about the job that taught him the most. We're then taken on a journey of a father raising his daughter, from infancy to dropping her off at college. Even the toughest person will feel something watching this ad.

Pop culture is often a common theme when it comes to Super Bowl commercials, and Hellman's showed they understood the assignment with this throwback to the classic rom-com When Harry Met Sally. Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal (in that sweater!) star in this ad and recreate the infamous Katz's Deli scene. Sydney Sweeney guests saying the classic "I'll have what she's having" line, which is a fun surprise.

Liquid Death is a marketing master, so it's not surprising that they created a great Super Bowl ad. What makes this ad so special? It features an original jingle that's absurd and catchy! Go ahead, watch this ad, and try not to have "Drink on the job/Drink on the job/Everyone is drinking on the job" stuck in your head.

Little Caesars has a penchant for quirky ads, and they certainly leaned into that for their 60-second Super Bowl spot highlighting their Crazy Puffs. Eugene Levy was the perfect star for the literal eyebrow-raising ad.

Speaking of quirky, the Super Bowl ad for Mountain Dew Baja Blast brought that and then some. Certainly did not expect to see legendary singer Seal performing a reworked version of "Kiss From A Rose" as a literal Seal during this year's Big Game commercials, but kudos to whichever ad firm thought of this one. It is delightfully bizarre!

Nike recruited some of the biggest names in women's sports today in this powerful 60-second spot, including Jordan Chiles, Caitlin Clark, Sabrina Ionescu, Sha-Carri Richardson, A'ja Wilson, and Sophia Wilson. The icing on the cake is recent Best Rap Album Grammy Award-winner Doechii providing the voiceover. This is truly a chef's kiss moment.

Some Super Bowl ads take a little bit of time to make a massive impression. At first, this Ram Trucks ad starring Glenn Powell as a different kind of Goldilocks seemed just fine, but then, Van Halen's "Panama" starts playing, and things take a turn for the hilariously insane.

Another David Beckham? And he's played by Matt Damon?! That's the premise for this 60-second Super Bowl ad for Stella Artois. Apparently, the soccer icon has had a twin brother this whole time named "Other David," who's now living in America. Not only do they have a genetic bond, but they both love drinking Stella.

Pharmaceutical company Novartis brought an important message via their 60-second spot, which highlighted the importance of early detection of breast cancer. After showing chests of all shapes and sizes, the ad cuts to the following text: "So much attention. Yet so ignored. Over 6 million women watching today's game may be diagnosed with breast cancer. The ad closes with iconic comedian and breast cancer survivor Wanda Sykes talking about how early detection saved her life.