An integral element in the chances of future success, a good soundtrack can make or break a film, a state of affairs reflected by the final form of some of thegreatest movies of all time. The right choice of songs can serve to elevate the standard of the wider film, but a misjudged selection can rob proceedings of any credibility in an instant. Accordingly, the quality of a film’s soundtrack is of vital importance if it is to have any hope of lasting success or cultural impact among a never-ending stream of competitors.
Fortunately, many of cinema’sbest movie scoreshave provided plenty of inspiration for subsequent adaptations. Popular culture boasts a veritable catalog of first-rate soundtracks to match the considerable quality of their parent movie, meticulously selected, timed, and implemented to elevate the quality of the final product even further. Much like a flawless album from one’s favorite artist, the standard of music on offer in these outings is so high that we could listen to these movie soundtracks on repeat every day without ever getting tired of them.
Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse
Cast
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse follows Brooklyn teenager Miles Morales as he discovers his powers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. While adapting to his new abilities, he encounters a super collider constructed by the villain Kingpin, which inadvertently brings other Spider-heroes from parallel universes into his dimension.
In addition to the movie’s spectacular visuals, stirring narrative, and first-rate vocal performances, critical acclaim has been directed toward the epic soundtrack of 2018’sSpider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse.Comprised of a score from Daniel Pemberton and original songs from an array of artists composed specifically for the movie,the film’s varied soundtrack pays fitting tribute to Miles' diverse ethnic and cultural background in a manner that never feels forced.
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Boasting endlessly catchy hits from the likes of Post Malone, Juice Wrld, and Lil Wayne,Into the Spider-Verse’shair-raising use of Blackway and Black Caviar’sWhat’s Up Danger?also serves as a notable highlight among a smorgasbord of memorable numbers from some of the best and brightest talents in the music industry. A state of affairs that was carried on by2023’sAcross the Spider-Verseand appears set to continue with the trilogy’s conclusive entry, theSpider-Versefranchise would appear to have the formula for exemplary soundtracks on lock.
Forrest Gump
Forrest Gump is a drama film released in 1994, starring Tom Hanks as the titular character. The film explores the life of a man with a low IQ who inadvertently shapes several historical events, while his personal journey remains centered on his unrequited love for childhood friend Jenny.
One of the most divisive movies of all time, Robert Zemeckis' Academy Award-winning comedy-dramaForrest Gumpis typically either revered as a masterpiece or derided as one of the most overrated films ever made. However, while the debate over the 1994 Tom Hanks-led outing’s overall quality rages on, the fact thatForrest Gump’scollection of songsrepresents one of the best movie soundtracks of all time is not up for debate.
Robert Zemeckis insisted that all the music inForrest Gumpmust be songs by American artists, as he strongly felt that Forrest wouldn’t buy any music that wasn’t American.
Loaded with hits from musical titans like Aretha Franklin, Jimi Hendrix, and Creedence Clearwater Revival to name but a few,Forrest Gump: The Soundtrackis one of the most star-studded examples that popular culture has to offer.Using hit songs from different eras as musical markers to pinpoint specific time periods,Forrest Gump’suniversally appealing collection of smash hits offers a tour through American history like no other.
Trainspotting
Trainspotting is a darkly comedic drama based on the novel by Irvine Welsh. The film follows Mark Renton and his friends, a group of Scottish heroin addicts who journey outside of Edinburgh to find where the grass is greener. Renton attempts to clean up his act as he and his friends find themselves in increasingly absurd situations as they try to find the bright side of life.
Capturing a mesmerizing screenshot of the British music scene in the 1990sthrough a carefully selected array of hits from the likes of Blur, Sleeper, and New Order, the endlessly replayableTrainspotting: Music from the Motion Pictureis one of cinema’s most beloved soundtracks. Based on Irvine Welsh’s novel of the same name, 1996’sTrainspottingis widely regarded as a seminal piece of cinema, a state of affairs that wouldn’t be possible without its glorious soundtrack.
Legendary English rock band Oasis snubbed the offer to be featured onTrainspotting’ssoundtrack, as Noel Gallagher was under the impression that the movie centered on literal trainspotters.
Director Danny Boyle’s choice of music proved to be a driving factor in creating some of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history. Whether it be the memorable"Choose life!“monologue fromthe movie’s opening sceneset to Iggy Pop’sLust for Life, or the sequence depicting Renton overdosing juxtaposed against the soothing tones of Lou Reed’sPerfect Day,there are few films that can rivalTrainspottingwhen it comes to choosing an unforgettable backing track.
Black Panther
Black Panther follows King T’Challa as he returns to Wakanda to assume the throne of the technologically advanced African nation. Faced with internal and external challenges, T’Challa dons the Black Panther mantle, uniting with allies to protect Wakanda from potential global conflict.
Co-executive produced by musical titan Kendrick Lamar, it should come as little surprise that the acclaimed soundtrack to 2018’sBlack Pantherhas lost none of the appeal that led many fans to label it as one of the finest film-inspired albums ever made. A visionary collection of tunes from a group of remarkably gifted musicians, talents like Jorja Smith, Future, and The Weeknd all lend their considerable flair and skill to this phenomenal soundtrack.
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From the enthralling strains ofAll of the Starsto the swaggering thump ofPray for Me,Black Panther’slaundry list of endlessly replayable head bangers is arguably the coolestsuperhero music soundtrackof all time. Simultaneously featuring a heavy authentic African influence that draws attention to the movie’s central themes of identity and self-determination,Black Panther’smeticulously selected medley of hits is a testament to one of the most intricately designed Marvel movies of all time.
A Complete Unknown
A Complete Unknown is a biographical movie that follows a young Bob Dylan as he integrates with New York and catches the eye of the folk singers in the area, eventually propelling him into stardom.
James Mangold’sA Complete Unknownis far from a flawless biographical offering, but the 2024 musical drama charting the life of Bob Dylan boasts one of the better soundtracks in recent memory; hardly surprising, considering that the central subject of the movie is one of the greatest musicians of all time. Timothée Chalamet produces a remarkable imitation of the singer’s trademark rugged tones and gritty intonation, while Monica Barbaro and Edward Norton also do exemplary work as folk icons Joan Baez and Pete Seeger, respectively.
A Complete Unknownearned eight Academy Award nominations at the 97th Academy Awards.
A Complete Unknownfeatures most of Dylan’s smash-hit songs, from the early stages of his career up until the fateful events of the Newport Folk Festival, with beloved numbers likeGirl from the North Country,Masters of War, andLike a Rolling Stoneall featuring throughout Mangold’s offering. Chalamet’s rendition ofThe Times They Are A Changin’is a foot-stomping triumph, but Barbaro’s hauntingly beautiful take onHouse of the Rising Sunis the movie’s crowning musical glory, a jaw-dropping performance of a classic tune that never fails to elicit goosebumps.
Goodfellas
GoodFellas chronicles the life of Henry Hill, a young Brooklynite with half-Irish, half-Sicilian heritage, as he rises through the ranks of a Mafia family. As he navigates the criminal underworld, he is mentored by seasoned gangster Jimmy Conway amidst the backdrop of organized crime in New York.
Universally regarded as amovie that has defined the gangster genre, 1990’sGoodfellas’label as a seminal piece of cinema is underlined by one of the greatest soundtracks in the history of popular culture. Martin Scorsese’s magnum opus is loaded with songs that he selected specifically; the director chose numbers that he felt appropriately reflected the character or scene that was being featured at the time and insisted that the movie avoid musical anachronisms to lend proceedings further authenticity.
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The end result is a glorious selection of iconic hits from the various time periods the sprawling gangster epic portrays, from the romantic refrain of The Crystals’Then He Kissed Meall the way to the thunderous riffs of The Rolling Stones’Gimme Sheltertowards the film’s back end. From Dean Martin to Derek and the Dominos, there’s something for everybody in the seemingly endless catalog of magical musical numbers that isGoodfellas’soundtrack.
Baby Driver
After being coerced into working for a crime boss, getaway driver Baby is determined to escape his life of thievery and violence to make a life with his girlfriend Debora, However, when he finds himself taking part in a heist doomed to fail, things start looking desperate.
An ensemble offering from Edgar Wright,Baby Driver’ssoundtrackis an indispensable element of the movie’s sense of identity, as Ansel Elgort’s titular getaway driver requires a constant stream of music through his headphones to combat his tinnitus. This state of affairs leads to a non-stop selection of hits against the backdrop of this acclaimed 2017 action-thriller, beginning with the movie’s iconic introductory robbery scene set to the sound of Jon Spencer Blues Explosion’sBellbottoms.
WithGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2slated for a similar release date asBaby Driver, Wright contacted the movie’s director, James Gunn, to verify that the two films did not feature any of the same tracks.
However, the bangers just keep on coming from Baby’s seemingly endless collection of iPods. Memorable numbers from names like The Commodores, The Beach Boys, and Barry White serve to flesh out this excellent collection of tunes even further, while an electric climactic sequence set to Queen’s blood-pumping hidden gem,Brighton Rock, acts as the cherry on the cake for one of the better soundtracks in modern movie history.
Drive
Starring Ryan Gosling as an unnamed Hollywood stunt driver (identified only as “the Driver”) who moonlights as a criminal getaway driver, Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive follows the enigmatic Driver as he finds himself hunted by a gang of violent criminals. After becoming close with his neighbors, the Driver offers to help Standard (Oscar Isaac), who was recently released from prison, settle a debt with a robbery. But the job is far more complicated than it seems, and the Driver is forced to use everything at his disposal to survive.
Earning rave reviews on release in 2011, particular praise was reserved forDrive’satmospheric soundtrack. Replacing Johnny Jewel with Cliff Martinez proved to be an inspired choice for the Ryan Gosling-led action drama. The involvement of the former Red Hot Chili Peppers' drummer helped toengineer one of the most timeless and influential soundtracks in modern cinematic history,featuring first-rate numbers from synth-heavy names like Kavinsky and Chromatics.
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A trippy cocktail of electronic and retro tones,Drive’sethereal blend of Europop and synthwave reinforces the film’s trademark dreamy aura in effortless fashion. Leveraging an array of haunting female vocals and vintage keyboards to maximum effect, College and Electric Youth’s stirring numberA Real HeroduringDrive’sambiguous endingserves as a particular highlight, but the movie’s memorable soundtrack invariably maintains its excellence from start to finish.
Guardians of the Galaxy
Guardians of the Galaxy is part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, featuring Chris Pratt as Peter Quill. Abducted from Earth as a child, Quill navigates intergalactic adventures, becoming entwined in a conflict centered on a powerful orb coveted by Ronan the Accuser.
All three of James Gunn’sGuardians of the Galaxymovies boast a standout soundtrack, but none more so than the beloved original installment. One of thepast decade’s best feel-good movies, the director’s choice to use a blend of upbeat ’60s and ’70s classics in 2014’sGuardians of the Galaxyproved to be nothing short of inspired, instantly providing his rag-tag motley crew outing with a unique sense of identity that many films take years to achieve.
Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)was the second-best-selling soundtrack album of 2014.
Whether it’s Starlord cooly strutting past an array of dangers to the strains of Redbone’sCome and Get Your Loveor the upbeat tones of Blue Swede’sHooked on a Feelingas the Guardians enter the Kyln,Guardians of the Galaxy’striumphant array of nostalgic classics never fail to score big. Featuring hits from the likes of David Bowie, Marvin Gaye, and the Jackson Five to round out the movie’s feel-good aura,Guardians of Galaxy’sAwesome Mix Vol. 1does exactly what it says on the tin.
Pulp Fiction
Quentin Tarantino’s classic tale of violence and redemption follows the intertwining tales of three protagonists: hitman Vincent Vega, prizefighter Butch Coolidge, and Vincent’s business partner Jules Winnfield.
A1990s movie masterpiecefrom Quentin Tarantino, 1994’sPulp Fictionboasts a soundtrack worthy of a cinematic tour de force. Many of the movie’s most memorable sequences wouldn’t possess the iconic reputation that they do without a carefully selected backing track for the ages, like the sequence depicting Butch sneaking up on his captors with a samurai sword, or Mia Wallace and Vincent Vega’s legendary dance number.
Every Song In Pulp Fiction
Pulp Fiction has a brilliant soundtrack that’s filled with catchy music and retro songs that help create a unique atmosphere of nostalgia.
From the upbeat thump of Dick Dale’sMisirlouduring the movie’s opening credits to Urge Overkill’s memorable cover of Neil Diamond’sGirl, You’ll Be A Woman Soonas Mia Wallace gears up for the most spectacular overdose in cinematic history,Pulp Fictionis loaded with endlessly replayable tracks to rubber-stamp the movie’s status as a classic. All the director’s films have a reputation for possessing killer soundtracks, but none more so than his magnum opus.
