What would cinema be without music? A good soundtrack can completely change the experience of watching any movie. Therefore, throughout the history of cinema, music has been used to add more emotion and depth to dialogue, landscapes, heroes and villains.
But the best soundtracks do more than complement the images we see on screen. In the hands of great directors, a soundtrack can take on a life of its own, perfectly fitting the tone, themes, setting, period and plot of a film.
What are the 10 best movie soundtracks?
Whether original or carefully selected songs, film music can function as a commentary on the scene, as a foreshadowing of the plot, or even as a narrative device. Soundtracks are often burned into your memory, so you will forever associate a song with a very specific cinematic moment.
Below are the 10 best movie soundtracks, all available on major music streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music – both as albums and playlists:
2001.10: A Space Odyssey (1968)
This film by Stanley Kubrick is known for the use of many classical and orchestral pieces. Initially, the director planned to use Alex North’s original compositions. However, during editing, Kubrick fell in love with the classical pieces that were being used as temporary scores and chose to use them officially. From Richard Strauss’ “Also Sprach Zarathustra” and Johann Strauss’ “Blue Danube” to the existential nightmare of György Ligeti’s “Lux Aeterna”, these songs are now connected to Kubrick’s scenes, as if they were written for the film.
9.Donnie Darko (2001)
The soundtrack to the classic Donnie Darko features musical appearances from artists such as Echo & the Bunnymen, Duran Duran and The Church. But perhaps the most memorable appearance is that of Tears for Fears, whose song “Head Over Heels” sets a scene in Donnie’s school. However, the film is perhaps best known for another Tears for Fears song that wasn’t even sung by them. The abridged version of “Mad World” by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews, featured in the final sequence, became an international success.
8. Shrek (2001)
While Shrek pokes fun at classic Disney musicals, the film almost works like a musical, from the opening chords of the Smash Mouth classic “All Star” to Rufus Wainwright’s version of “Hallelujah.” The track also features deeper songs, like “My Beloved Monster,” by Eels, and a great cover of “You Belong to Me,” by Jason Wade, from Lifehouse. Oh, and the Shrek 2 soundtrack was just as good, introducing kids to artists like Pete Yorn, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave, as well as the original song “Accidentally in Love” by Counting Crows.
7. Trainspotting (1996)
Danny Boyle’s comedy about heroin addiction and economic depression is full of British pop and rock songs, carefully selected for the soundtrack. The director used the work of artists such as Pulp, Sleeper, Primal Scream, Blur, Underworld, New Order and Brian Eno to immerse the viewer in the dark world in which the film is set. For example, Lou Reed’s “Perfect Day,” now often used with irony and melancholy, marks an accidental overdose.
6. Pulp Fiction (1994)
Quentin Tarantino composed his crime film with surf rock, pop and soul songs that might as well have been part of his personal taste. Pulp Fiction’s iconic songs come from a retro collection that draws heavily from the ’60s and ’70s, including Urge Overkill’s cover of The Revels’ “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” and “Comanche.” Other great songs included are the Kool and the Gang hit “Jungle Boogie” and Dusty Springfield’s cover of “Son of a Preacher Man.”
5. Superflight (1972)
Mayfield, the composer, wrote and recorded the soundtrack for Superfly while working on the screenplay and on the set of the film, but his music is not just an accompaniment to the scene: it is part of the narrative. The soundtrack doesn’t just sound good, it wants to uncover difficult truths, tell specific stories and point the finger at systemic failures. Songs like “Freddie’s Dead” and “Pusherman” did more than simply summarize or accentuate the narrative, this soundtrack is like a social complaint.
4. Crazy Boys (1993)
Set in the 1970s, the film has a soundtrack that reflects the songs the characters listened to on the radio at the time. Some of the hits presented are “School’s Out”, by Alice Cooper, “Slow Ride”, by Foghat, “Low Rider”, by War, and “Tush”, by ZZ Top, the main choices of director Richard Linklater to demonstrate that songs have a way of attaching themselves to seemingly unimportant memories. But there are still other classics that are not part of the official soundtrack, but appear in the film, such as “Sweet Emotion”, by Aerosmith, and “Hurricane”, by Bob Dylan.
3. The Bodyguard (1992)
Although other artists appear on The Bodyguard soundtrack, make no mistake, Whitney Houston is the star of the show. Her versions of “I’m Every Woman” and “I Will Always Love You” are pop music canon, originally written by Dolly Parton. Furthermore, the ballads “Run to You” and “I Have Nothing,” as well as the cheeky and danceable “Queen of the Night,” come together in a beautiful, moving and immortal work.
2. A Man’s First Night (1967)
The director kept the score for this film simple, but it fits the script perfectly, to the point where the music is what makes this film. Simon and Garfunkel’s songs are deeply integrated into Mike Nichols’ film, from the opening notes of “The Sounds of Silence” to “Mrs. Robinson,” as his melancholy songs captured the malaise of the aimless twenty-year-old protagonist.
1. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Finally, it’s important to consider that when John Travolta steps foot on the dance floor, magic happens. And in this film, his movements are often accentuated by the sound of the Bee Gees, which dominate the soundtrack. Songs like “Stayin’ Alive,” “More Than a Woman,” “Night Fever,” and “How Deep is Your Love” defined not just the film, but an entire era. However, many other disco classics, such as “Disco Inferno” by The Trammps and “If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman, are a great addition to the narrative.
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Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
