We ranked the 30 best movie soundtracks of all time, from disco legends to the alt rock indie darlings that defined entire generations.
Ranked among the most influential cultural artifacts in cinema history, these are the best movie soundtracks that represent more than just great music. Every album here rewrote the rules and picking the best of all time is an exercise in passionate subjectivity. Understanding what makes them so powerful starts with knowing the key distinction: a film soundtrack is more a selection of songs chosen to be featured in a film while scores are usually created by one or more composers with original instrumental music written specifically for the film.
From disco’s twilight to its revolutionary birth, these 30 soundtracks span five decades of musical evolution. The best ones transcended their films entirely, becoming cultural phenomena that shaped entire generations. Here’s the definitive ranking from essential to absolutely legendary.
30. The Last Days of Disco (1998)
Whit Stillman’s intellectual take on disco culture follows young Manhattan socialites navigating the end of the disco era in the early 1980s, and his meticulously assembled collection reflects that bittersweet farewell. Featuring classics like Cheryl Lynn’s “Got to Be Real” and Sister Sledge’s “He’s the Greatest Dancer,” the soundtrack functions as a nostalgic mixtape that evoked the end of an era with sophisticated restraint. While it lacks the raw energy that originally made disco revolutionary, that’s precisely Stillman’s point—his cerebral approach to disco made it feel like a museum piece, beautiful but deliberately removed from disco’s original transformative power.
29. Cruel Intentions (1999)
This modern update of Dangerous Liaisons follows wealthy Manhattan prep school students entangled in sexual manipulation and dangerous wagers. With Reese Witherspoon, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Ryan Phillippe leading the cast, both the film and the soundtrack were massive hits. Despite the film’s risque source material, its soundtrack had impeccable musical taste, featuring Fatboy Slim’s “Praise You,” Blur’s “Coffee & TV,” and Placebo’s “Every You, Every Me.” The collection also showcased Counting Crows’ melancholic “Colorblind,” Aimee Mann’s biting “You Could Make a Killing,” and Skunk Anansie’s sultry “Secretly,” creating a sophisticated blend of mainstream hits and alternative deep cuts. It seamlessly presents late-’90s alternative culture at its most polished, elevating the manipulative teen drama into a bona fide cultural touchstone. Its unforgettable finale is underscored by the majestic swell of Verve’s “Bitter Sweet Symphony.”
28. All That Jazz (1979)
Bob Fosse’s dark, semi-autobiographical musical follows a driven Broadway choreographer/director (Roy Scheider), whose perfectionism threatens his health and relationships. Jessica Lange appears in a non-musical role as an ethereal character who manifests throughout the film as an angel of sorts, representing death’s seductive allure. While the movie showcases Fosse’s traditional well-executed, slinky choreography, his most revealing moment comes through a trio of old standards sung by the three “women” in the leading character’s life—obvious parallels to Fosse’s wife Gwen Verdon, his long-time girlfriend Ann Reinking (playing a cinematic version of herself), and his daughter Nicole who watched the showbiz life unfold around her.
Fosse affords all three women a chance to “have their say” with him in the best way they can communicate through him: musically. All That Jazz featured powerhouse performances of familiar songs like “On Broadway” and the hypnotic, pulsating “Bye Bye Love,” sung by Scheider and Ben Vereen in one of the most thrilling finales in musical film history. While artistically ambitious and deeply personal, the soundtrack never achieved the mainstream success of other musical entries. The album works best as a companion to Fosse’s cynical, but unforgettable, vision of show business rather than a standalone musical experience.
27. Streets of Fire (1984)
Walter Hill’s rock opera tells the story of a soldier-for-hire (Michael Paré) who returns to rescue his ex-girlfriend (Diane Lane) from a motorcycle gang led by Raven Shaddock (Willem Dafoe). The film bombed spectacularly but delivered formidable original songs, including Jim Steinman’s scorching “Tonight Is What It Means to Be Young” and the epic “Nowhere Fast.” Steinman, the mastermind behind Meat Loaf’s theatrical rock anthems, brought his trademark bombast to the project, blending rockabilly, new wave, and classic rock into a unique sonic landscape.
It’s unfortunate that so many good songs were lost in a film that didn’t deserve them. The actors couldn’t believably lip-sync to the singers who actually performed the vocals. Lane’s acting is on the money, but at no point do you believe sultry rock vocals are coming from her. Years later, Steinman would rework several of these songs for his 1997 musical Dance of the Vampires, which became a massive hit overseas but it was a legendary disaster when it attempted to open on Broadway. Despite the film’s failure, the soundtrack gained devoted cult status and helped define MTV’s hyper-kinetic music video aesthetic.
26. Clueless (1995)
Amy Heckerling’s adaptation of Jane Austen’s Emma is a teen comedy that follows privileged Beverly Hills teenager Cher (Alicia Silverstone) as she navigates high school social hierarchies and discovers her capacity for genuine caring. This soundtrack brilliantly mirrored the film’s blend of high and low culture, mixing indie credibility with mainstream appeal. Featuring The Muffs’ energetic cover of “Kids in America” (which opens the movie with a roar), Coolio’s “Rollin’ with My Homies,” and Radiohead’s “Fake Plastic Trees,” it became the ideal musical companion to Cher’s Beverly Hills princess persona. The album embodied the moment when indie rock was becoming mainstream without losing its edge, each track carefully selected to complement Cher’s sophisticated worldview.
25. Empire Records (1995)
Allan Moyle’s film follows employees at an independent record store over the course of one day as they attempt to save their workplace from a corporate takeover. Moyle also directed Times Square, which highlights his taste for music-centered films. Mid-’90s alternative rock reached its absolute peak here, with the soundtrack leading off with The Gin Blossoms’ instant classic “Till I Hear It From You.” Better Than Ezra, Cracker, and Toad the Wet Sprocket are also featured, but the standouts are The Cranberries’ “Liar,” Evan Dando’s “The Ballad of El Goodo” (with background vocals by Liv Tyler), and Coyote Shivers’ “Sugarhigh” (featuring vocals by Renée Zellweger in the actual film). Shivers was Tyler’s stepfather at the time, married to Tyler’s mother, Bebe Buell.
The soundtrack was far ahead of its time, shedding light on record store culture that was about to be disrupted by digital music. Despite being a total bomb theatrically, showing on only 87 screens instead of the planned 1,000-plus, with no premiere or national advertising campaign, it became a cult hit on VHS. Even Rex Manning Day (named for a pompous, washed-up singer doing an in-store signing at Empire Records) became an annual day of celebration for hardcore fans. Defining the last gasp of physical music retail and the mainstream dominance of alternative rock, the film and soundtrack are a time capsule worthy of praise.
24. The Greatest Showman (2017)
This musical biography follows P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman) as he creates his famous circus. Despite lukewarm critical reception, this musical became a global phenomenon through its soaring anthems. “The Greatest Show” introduces Jackman in a dramatic opening that elicits the goosebumps you usually only feel when seeing live theater, while “Come Alive” serves as an early showstopper that establishes the show’s hold on its audience.
“This Is Me,” performed by Keala Settle, became an anthem of self-acceptance, “Rewrite the Stars” dominated streaming platforms with over 1 billion Spotify plays, and the power ballad “Never Enough” (performed by Loren Allred but lip-synced by Rebecca Ferguson) provided emotional depth. With Zac Efron and Zendaya rounding out the supporting cast, even if musicals aren’t your thing, it’s hard to deny these original tunes are irresistibly catchy, emotional, and worth multiple listens. The soundtrack spent 28 weeks at #1 in the UK and became 2018’s best-selling album in multiple countries.
23. Black Panther (2018)
Ryan Coogler’s groundbreaking superhero film follows T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman) as he returns home to the isolated, technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new king. Starring an acclaimed ensemble including Lupita Nyong’o, Michael B. Jordan, and Angela Bassett, the film elevated the superhero genre through exceptional performances. What makes this soundtrack revolutionary isn’t just its commercial success, but how Kendrick Lamar curated a pan-African musical universe that paralleled the film’s themes of heritage and identity.
Lamar and SZA’s soaring “All the Stars” became a cultural phenomenon and an Oscar nominee, while powerhouse collaborations like “King’s Dead” featuring Jay Rock, Future, and James Blake showcased hip-hop at its most cinematic. With an authentic global dialogue featuring South African artists like Yugen Blakrok and Babes Wodumo alongside established stars, the album created a sensation of contemporary, ancestral music. Far from a traditional superhero soundtrack, it was a celebration of African diaspora culture that elevated both the film and hip-hop while proving that soundtracks could be legitimate artistic statements rather than mere marketing tools.
22. 8 Mile (2002)
Curtis Hanson’s film, starring Eminem as Jimmy “B-Rabbit” Smith Jr. and Kim Basinger as his mother, follows a young white rapper trying to make it in Detroit’s predominantly Black hip-hop scene. Even if the movie didn’t deliver consistently, few would argue that the soundtrack gave greater insight into Eminem’s mind than the film itself, with this CD offering a blistering history of how he got to where he was. It featured his Oscar-winning “Lose Yourself,” alongside Boomkat’s “Wasting My Time” (featuring siblings Taryn and Kellin Manning) and Jay-Z featuring Freeway’s “8 Miles and Runnin’.” The album vividly reflected early-2000s Detroit rap culture, translating hip-hop narratives into mainstream Hollywood success while proving that rap soundtracks could be both commercially massive and artistically uncompromising without sacrificing authenticity.
21. The Harder They Come (1972)
Jimmy Cliff’s film tells the story of a country boy who becomes both a reggae star and a notorious outlaw in Kingston, Jamaica. This reggae masterpiece introduced the world to Jamaican music with soul-stirring tracks like “Many Rivers to Cross” and the infectious title track, alongside contributions from Toots and the Maytals (one of reggae’s pioneering groups). The film was a sensation in Jamaica due to its naturalistic portrayal of black Jamaicans in real locations and its use of Jamaican Patois, the local creole. After premiering at Kingston’s Carib Theatre in June 1972, it became possibly the first English-language movie to require subtitles in the United States when released by Roger Corman’s New World Pictures. The soundtrack gained popularity through midnight screenings nationwide and single-handedly brought reggae to international audiences, influencing countless musicians worldwide.
20. Fame (1980)
Alan Parker’s film follows students at New York’s High School of Performing Arts as they pursue their dreams of stardom. Composer Michael Gore wrote most of these songs, with the late Irene Cara singing on several tracks. Cara’s voice proved an ideal fit for Gore’s title song, inspired by a Donna Summer anthem and co-written with lyricist Dean Pitchford after filming had concluded. Luther Vandross handled the background vocals and improvised the famous “remember, remember, remember” that became synonymous with “Fame”.
With performances captured live on set, the music channeled the raw grit of the era, the hopes for the future, and the pain of disappointment, culminating in a breathtaking finale that transformed Walt Whitman’s poem “I Sing the Body Electric” into electrifying, multidisciplinary musical theater. The title track became a massive cultural phenomenon and Oscar winner, along with “Out Here on My Own,” launching the careers of its stars, writers, and filmmakers and inspiring a television series.
19. Sing Street (2016)
John Carney’s charming film, set in 1980s Dublin, follows teenager Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) who starts a band to impress a mysterious girl and escape his troubled home life. Carney, who also directed “Once” and “Begin Again” (films where original music featured prominently), created luminous original songs like “Drive It Like You Stole It,” “Up,” and the earworm hook of “The Riddle of the Model,” that felt authentically period-appropriate without being pastiche. The album’s original compositions rival those of the decade’s best, channeling influences from Duran Duran to The Cure, both of whom are also interspersed throughout the soundtrack alongside the original songs, while telling a deeply personal coming-of-age story.
18. The Big Chill (1983)
Lawrence Kasdan’s ensemble drama follows former college friends who reunite for a funeral weekend, wrestling with the gap between their youthful dreams and adult realities. Brilliantly curated hits from that era, like Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine”, expertly played over the opening credits as Kasdan wordlessly introduces all his richly written characters and Three Dog Night’s “Joy to the World.” These, along with “You Can’t Always Get What You Want” by The Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin’s stirring rendition of “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” created a nostalgic soundtrack that defined a generation’s relationship with their past.
The ensemble cast, including Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, and William Hurt, represented baby boomers grappling with middle age. One of the “safest” soundtracks on this list due to a near-universal appeal of the music, it’s one that everyone’s parents seemed to have on vinyl. The soundtrack spent five weeks at #1 and pioneered the “greatest hits” compilation trend that would dominate the 1980s.
17. Romeo + Juliet (1996)
Baz Luhrmann’s postmodern take on Shakespeare transposes the classic tale to contemporary Verona Beach, with Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes as the star-crossed lovers. The soundtrack featured an eclectic mix including Radiohead’s brooding “Talk Show Host,” Garbage’s seductive “#1 Crush,” The Cardigans’ deceptively sweet “Lovefool,” Des’ree’s “Kissing You (Love Theme from Romeo + Juliet),” and house music star Kym Mazelle’s cover of Candi Staton’s “Young Hearts Run Free.” The album successfully bridged experimental alt-rock with pop sensibilities, creating a musical landscape that matched the film’s kinetic energy. Achieving triple-platinum status, it represented the ideal blend of hit movie and hit soundtrack, embodying the mid-’90s alternative rock zeitgeist.
16. Trainspotting (1996)
Danny Boyle’s gritty black comedy follows Mark Renton (Ewan McGregor) and his group of heroin-addicted friends navigating the underbelly of Edinburgh, Scotland, as they struggle between addiction and the desire for a better life. Twenty-five years later, the film’s soundtrack remains an iconic collision of Britpop, rock and dance music, perfectly capturing the mid-’90s cultural climate. Iggy Pop’s drum-heavy bulldozer “Lust for Life” roared the film into audiences’ senses from the opening scene, while Underworld’s “Born Slippy .NUXX” became an idolized anthem of ’90s rave culture, gaining worldwide fame and serving as the film’s emotional crescendo.
The album’s brilliance lies in its eclectic curation; Lou Reed’s haunting “Perfect Day,” Pulp’s “Mile End,” Blur’s “Sing,” and New Order’s “Temptation” created a sonic landscape that felt underground but still universal. This music didn’t just accompany a cult film; it became the definitive mixtape for a generation arriving at a crossroads in an uncertain time, proving that the right songs could transform a dark story about addiction into an exhilarating celebration of youth and rebellion.
15. Magnolia (1999)
Paul Thomas Anderson‘s must-see drama weaves together multiple storylines of lonely Los Angeles residents over one extraordinary day, featuring an ensemble cast including Tom Cruise and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Aimee Mann’s melancholic songs, particularly the Oscar-nominated “Save Me” and her haunting version of Harry Nilsson’s “One,” were integral to the ambitious three-hour epic. Mann’s deeply personal compositions about loneliness and addiction ideally complemented the film’s interconnected stories. Cruise should have absolutely won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for this performance, his best ever. The soundtrack demonstrated how a single artist’s work could function as both score and soundtrack, creating unprecedented narrative cohesion.
14. Superfly (1972)
Curtis Mayfield’s soundtrack to this crime film about drug dealer Priest planning one final score became more acclaimed than the movie itself. With the tagline “He’s got a plan to stick it to the man,” the film generated $4 million in profits while the album generated $5 million, a remarkable number for the era. Mayfield’s socially conscious gems, such as “Freddie’s Dead” and “Pusherman,” featured his trademark falsetto vocals and pioneering use of the wah-wah guitar, defining the sound of 1970s soul that influenced everyone from Stevie Wonder to D’Angelo. The album showcased how African American artists could use film soundtracks as platforms for social commentary within the emerging genre of films featuring African American protagonists in urban crime stories.
13. Drive (2011)
Nicolas Winding Refn’s neo-noir thriller follows a stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) who moonlights as a getaway driver and becomes entangled in dangerous criminal schemes. This evocative masterpiece featuring French electronic artist Kavinsky’s haunting “Nightcall” and College’s ethereal “A Real Hero,” along with Cliff Martinez’s flawlessly moody score, created a sonic landscape that sparked a global revival of 1980s-inspired electronic music. The soundtrack introduced mainstream audiences to the French electronic scene, establishing that atmospheric, minimalist music could be as cinematically powerful as traditional orchestral scores. It functions as the ideal “mood” album; a cool burst of sound for a sleek, dark movie that defined contemporary electronic music’s cinematic potential.
12. The Crow (1994)
Alex Proyas’s gothic supernatural thriller follows Eric Draven (Brandon Lee), who returns from the dead to avenge his and his fiancée’s murders. This dark tale of love and revenge features Michael Wincott and Ernie Hudson as Eric seeks vengeance in a dystopian Detroit. The soundtrack for The Crow became the defining collection of ’90s alternative and industrial music upon its release in 1994, with tracks that perfectly captured the film’s brooding atmosphere and tragic romanticism.
What brought this compilation up in notoriety far beyond typical movie tie-ins was its inspired use of covers. Nine Inch Nails transforming Joy Division’s “Dead Souls,” Pantera crushing Poison Idea’s “The Badge,” and Rollins Band reimagining Suicide’s “Ghostrider,” creating a haunting tribute to underground music culture. The Cure’s transfixing “Burn,” written specifically for the film, became one of their most beloved tracks, while Stone Temple Pilots’ “Big Empty” and contributions from Rage Against the Machine and Soundgarden added grunge power to the gothic atmosphere.
Lee’s tragic on-set death cast a shadow over the film before its release, but the soundtrack transcended the circumstances to become something greater. Rather than being defined solely by the cult film, it established itself as a blueprint for how alternative music could enhance dark storytelling, influencing countless goth and industrial acts while maintaining credibility in underground music scenes.
11. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
The Coen Brothers’ Depression-era odyssey, loosely based on Homer’s epic Greek poem “The Odyssey,” follows three escaped convicts (George Clooney, John Turturro, Tim Blake Nelson) on a surreal journey through the American South. This bluegrass and country compilation featuring Dan Tyminski’s “Man of Constant Sorrow” (Clooney’s singing voice in the film) and Alison Krauss’s ethereal “Down to the River to Pray” sparked an entire roots music revival and won the Grammy for Album of the Year. The soundtrack established that pre-war American music could find a massive new audience, selling over 8 million copies and influencing indie-folk artists such as Fleet Foxes and Mumford & Sons.
10. The Commitments (1991)
Alan Parker’s film follows working-class Dublin youths who form a soul band, hoping to bring authentic R&B to Ireland. This Irish soul revival featured incredible covers of classic R&B songs, such as “Try a Little Tenderness” and “Mustang Sally,” demonstrating that reinterpretations could be just as powerful as the originals when performed with genuine passion. Parker, who also directed Fame and the underappreciated big-screen adaptation of Evita, knew how to blend the world of music and film believably. He assembled mostly unknown Irish actors, including Glen Hansard (later of “Once” fame), and Andrew Strong, whose powerhouse vocals became the film’s secret weapon. The Golden Globe-nominated soundtrack introduced a new generation to soul music and sparked a European roots revival.
9. Footloose (1984)
This musical drama follows city teen Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), who moves to a small town where dancing has been banned and works to overturn the prohibition. Kenny Loggins’ explosive title track transcended the vehicle, spent three weeks at #1, and earned an Oscar nomination, becoming the anthem for rebellious youth everywhere.
The soundtrack also featured Deniece Williams’ infectious, Oscar nominated “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” Bonnie Tyler’s trademark raspy voice reaching new heights on Dean Pitchford and Jim Steinmann’s “Holding Out for a Hero,” and the genius pairing of Loverboy’s Mike Reno and Heart’s Ann Wilson’s for the soaring “Almost Paradise.” This is one of the few soundtracks on this list that can be classified as a “no-skip;” each song is either a bona fide hit or one you don’t mind having float through your ears. The album spent 10 weeks at #1 and sold over 17 million copies worldwide, establishing the gold standard for ’80s movie music.
8. Flashdance (1983)
This romance follows working-class Alexandra “Alex” Owens (Jennifer Beals), a welder by day and a dancer by night, as she pursues her dream of joining a prestigious dance academy. Irene Cara’s “What a Feeling” became synonymous with ’80s empowerment, and it’s hard not to feel something stir inside when you hear the opening notes of her anthemic title track. Cara’s scorching vocals are critical to the musicality of the track, which spent six weeks at #1 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The Giorgio Moroder-produced song flawlessly embodied Alex’s journey, while “Maniac” by Michael Sembello defined workout culture for an entire generation. The soundtrack also featured powerhouse rock tracks, including “He’s a Dream” by Shandi and “Manhunt” by Karen Kamon, showcasing the fantastic vocals of female singers with huge voices. The album spent 28 weeks in the top 10 and sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
7. Top Gun (1986)
Tony Scott’s action film follows cocky Navy pilot Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) at elite fighter pilot school, navigating romance and rivalry. The soundtrack became a cultural phenomenon upon the film’s release in 1986, with two songs in particular defining both Maverick and the entire decade. Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” peaked at #2 and became synonymous with high-octane action sequences, perfectly capturing the film’s adrenaline-fueled spirit. Berlin’s “Take My Breath Away,” featuring one of the greatest key changes ever, proved equally iconic, though the band’s involvement was unique.
While Berlin didn’t write or even play on the track outside of lead singer Terri Nunn’s vocals, it was still attributed to them by the actual songwriters Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock. The song spent one week at #1 and won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, with Berlin’s unforgettable music video telling its own haunting story while accompanied by clips from the movie. The soundtrack also included other notable tracks like Miami Sound Machine’s “Hot Summer Nights,” a lesser-known song from that Gloria Estefan-led group that complements Harold Faltermeyer’s neon-soaked score seamlessly. Overall, the album spent five weeks at #1 and sold over 9 million copies, launching a new era where action films and chart-topping soundtracks became inseparable.
6. Dirty Dancing (1987)
Set in 1963, this romance follows sheltered teenager Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey) who falls for dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) during a family vacation at a Catskills resort. Music is such an integral part of this movie that the soundtrack became a blockbuster, inspiring its own worldwide concert tour. Their voices couldn’t be more different, but Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” is a glorious pairing for the ages that won the Academy Award, spending one week at #1, while Eric Carmen’s “Hungry Eyes” and Swayze’s “She’s Like the Wind” embodied the film’s romantic nostalgia.
While most newly produced tracks are very ’80s compared to the era the film takes place in, the blending of time-appropriate songs (The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” opening the film is an unforgettable moment in cinema) somehow makes it work. The soundtrack spent 18 weeks at #1 and sold over 42 million copies worldwide, demonstrating how the right mix of vintage classics and contemporary romance could bridge musical eras without losing authenticity.
5. The Bodyguard (1992)
This thriller follows a former Secret Service agent (Kevin Costner) hired to protect a pop superstar (Whitney Houston) from a stalker. This is one of the biggest-selling soundtracks of all time; some argue it shouldn’t be included on “Best Ever” lists because most were buying it for the first four songs sung by Houston, five if they were being generous (adding “Queen of the Night”), and six if talking about the truly devoted Houston fans (“Jesus Loves Me,” a duet with BeBe Winans). That leaves seven tracks of music featured in the film (including an instrumental theme composed by Alan Silvestri) that don’t make much of an impact.
To all those naysayers: Houston’s thrilling vocals are worth the cost of the entire CD. Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You” became one of the best-selling singles of all time, spending 14 weeks at #1 and transforming Dolly Parton’s country ballad into a pop masterpiece that showcased Houston’s unmatched vocal power. Houston also dominated the charts with the cover of Chaka Khan’s “I’m Every Woman,” and two songs that would be nominated for Best Original Song at the Oscars: “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You”. The soundtrack spent 20 weeks at #1 and sold over 45 million copies worldwide.
4. Moulin Rouge! (2001)
Baz Luhrmann’s musical follows writer Christian (Ewan McGregor), who falls for cabaret star Satine (Nicole Kidman) in 1899 Paris’s infamous Moulin Rouge nightclub. Luhrmann’s innovative mashup approach created utter magic with Christina Aguilera, Lil’ Kim, Mýa, and Pink’s “Lady Marmalade,” Kidman and McGregor’s gorgeous “Come What May,” McGregor’s joyous “Your Song,” Jim Broadbent’s comical reading of “Like a Virgin,” the “Hindi Sad Diamonds” sequence near the film’s end, and the unforgettable “Elephant Love Medley.” The soundtrack revitalized the movie musical genre and had a profound influence on countless films that followed. Its postmodern approach to familiar songs opened up a new chapter in cinema, reimagining classic pop music for contemporary audiences in a movie musical context.
3. Purple Rain (1984)
Prince’s semi-autobiographical film follows “The Kid,” a Minneapolis musician struggling with personal demons while competing with rival bands for club dominance. Prince’s unrivaled masterpiece featured “Purple Rain,” “When Doves Cry,” and “Let’s Go Crazy,” showcasing the Minneapolis genius at his creative and commercial peak alongside protégés The Time and Apollonia 6. The soundtrack spent 24 consecutive weeks at #1 and sold over 25 million copies worldwide, functioning as both a soundtrack and a standalone Prince album. It created unprecedented crossover success, unmatched by any artist, seamlessly blending rock, funk, R&B, and pop.
2. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino’s nonlinear crime saga weaves together multiple stories from the Los Angeles underworld, featuring John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman. Tarantino’s eclectic mix of surf rock, soul, and pop launched a soundtrack revolution, showing how deep-cut gems and forgotten classics could enhance narrative and character development without a single original song. Dick Dale’s “Misirlou,” Urge Overkill’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon,” Chuck Berry’s “You Never Can Tell,” and Dusty Springfield’s sultry vocals gave the legendary singer a late resurgence shortly before she died in 1999. The soundtrack spent eight weeks at #1 and established the director as a cultural tastemaker whose musical choices could revitalize forgotten songs and transform how directors approached musical storytelling.
1. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Director John Badham’s drama follows Tony Manero (John Travolta), a working-class Brooklyn youth who escapes his mundane week through weekend disco dancing, finding purpose and identity on the dance floor. The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive,” (a masterpiece of songwriting), “Night Fever,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” and “You Should Be Dancing” didn’t just soundtrack Tony’s journey; they defined an entire cultural movement that transformed dance floors worldwide. The album spent 24 consecutive weeks at #1, sold over 40 million copies globally, and single-handedly made disco mainstream.
The soundtrack also featured Yvonne Elliman’s “If I Can’t Have You,” Tavares’ “More Than a Woman,” The Trammps’ explosive “Disco Inferno,” Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band’s classical-disco fusion “A Fifth of Beethoven,” and David Shire’s atmospheric “Night on Disco Mountain,” creating a disco dynasty that influenced fashion, dance culture, and nightlife for generations. Even today, when that incredible intro to “Stayin’ Alive” kicks in, you can’t help but walk a little taller and hold your head a bit higher. This entire album makes the whole world your dance floor, cementing what we feel is the best movie soundtrack of all time.
