Composed by John Williams for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in 1980, the Imperial March was written as the musical identity of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. Its stern, marching rhythm quickly became shorthand for power and menace far beyond the films, appearing in trailers, television, sports entrances and countless online videos. Because the opening notes are instantly recognisable even to people who have never seen the movies, creators still use it to turn an everyday entrance into a mock-serious villain moment.