From epic orchestral themes to catchy pop hits, movie soundtracks have given us some of the most iconic songs in music history. Join us as we count down the greatest tunes to grace the silver screen, spanning decades of cinematic magic. Get ready for a musical journey through Hollywood's greatest hits!
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00:00:00Choose life, choose a job, choose a career, choose a family.
00:00:09Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best songs to appear
00:00:14on major motion picture soundtracks.
00:00:16We won't be considering songs that achieved their primary fame and recognition prior to
00:00:21their movie's release.
00:00:29Number 100 β Wind Beneath My Wings β Beaches
00:00:39Some songs require time and the proper movie soundtrack to become certified hits.
00:00:44Wind Beneath My Wings was originally composed back in 1982 and was recorded by numerous
00:00:49different performers before the release of Beaches in 1988.
00:00:59It would be Bette Midler's take on Wind Beneath My Wings that would ultimately earn
00:01:03the song its most recognizable public profile.
00:01:05Midler's powerfully breathtaking vocals carry the sweeping grandeur of this evocative
00:01:10particularly on its epic chorus.
00:01:16Sure, the synthesizer sounds here on the Beaches version almost immediately date Wind Beneath
00:01:31My Wings to the 1980s, but is that really a bad thing?
00:01:35We don't think so.
00:01:45Number 99 β Young and Beautiful β The Great Gatsby
00:02:00This 2013 film wasn't the first time F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby
00:02:04was adapted to the silver screen, nor lent a marvelous soundtrack.
00:02:08Yet Lana Del Rey's Young and Beautiful seems tailor-made to this sort of grandiose spectacle.
00:02:27The song's cavernous production serves Del Rey's reverb-laden vocal performance
00:02:31very well, giving it a deservedly cinematic scope.
00:02:35Young and Beautiful is also a poignant piece concerning its lyrics, stating out loud the
00:02:39thoughts many of us hear in our heads when we're feeling philosophical.
00:02:55What happens when looks fade and age takes over?
00:02:58Is love truly forever or just a fleeting thing?
00:03:01Young and Beautiful wants to find out.
00:03:11Number 98 β What Was I Made For β Barbie
00:03:26This 2023 adaptation of the famous Mattel toy line got a lot of people talking, as did
00:03:31its central soundtrack theme song, What Was I Made For.
00:03:34The Billie Eilish composition lyrically leans into the film's feminist message and how
00:03:38it relates to the outside standards imposed upon women in society.
00:04:00Meanwhile the balladry of the tune feels introspective and melancholic, while also boasting arrangements
00:04:06that feel smartly expansive.
00:04:09Eilish's performance of the song, in the meantime, further pushed the singer-songwriter
00:04:12outside of her comfort zone.
00:04:13Her fanbase seemed to appreciate how What Was I Made For thought outside the box.
00:04:25Number 97 β Let the River Run β Working Girl
00:04:39The accolades just sort of speak for themselves when it comes to Let the River Run by Carly
00:04:43Simon.
00:04:44This singer-songwriter achieved a hat-trick of the Academy Award, a Grammy, and the Golden
00:04:48Globe for this song from Mike Nichols' 1988 film Working Girl.
00:04:52This speaks not only to Simon's talent as a songwriter, but also the lightning-in-a-bottle
00:04:56timing of the whole affair.
00:04:58Working Girl was a hit back in 88, while the subsequent single release in 89 capitalized
00:05:03upon all of that kismet momentum.
00:05:13The pulsating beat of Let the River Run is driven home by the drumming, while Simon's
00:05:17vocals are as charming as ever.
00:05:19This one's a winner.
00:05:27Number 96 β The Moon Song β Her
00:05:45It took a notoriously long time for the score of Her to receive a physical release after
00:05:49the film was originally released back in 2013.
00:05:51Thankfully, this was not the case with The Moon Song by Karen Oh and Spike Jonze, which
00:05:56was released as a digital single a year after Her hit theaters.
00:06:08No less than three versions were contained on said single, including the movie version
00:06:13performed by leads Scarlett Johansson and Joaquin Phoenix.
00:06:16It's a humble and pretty song, mainly just ukulele and voice.
00:06:20This small arrangement packs a big emotional punch.
00:06:23The Moon Song is a tearjerker to be sure.
00:06:35Number 95 β Everybody's Talkin' β Echoes β Midnight Cowboy
00:06:46Harry Nilsson was your favorite band's favorite artist, a cult figure admired by artists like
00:06:51John Lennon and the Beatles.
00:06:53So it should probably come as no surprise that Nilsson was able to take a tune that
00:06:57was recorded in 66 and released by someone else in 68 for his own only a year later.
00:07:10His version of Everybody's Talkin' β Echoes was a hit from the Midnight Cowboy soundtrack,
00:07:14an eclectic collection of classic rock, folk, and psych.
00:07:18The strings lend a slick counterpoint to Nilsson's confessional post-Dylan Croon, while the guitar
00:07:23playing possesses a driving jauntiness that's maddeningly catchy.
00:07:26It's great stuff.
00:07:43Number 94 β Scarface β Push It To The Limit β Scarface
00:08:00Everybody loves a good montage, right?
00:08:02Director Brian De Palma provided one for the ages with his 1983 film Scarface, as the movie
00:08:07depicts Tony Montana's rise to power within the criminal underworld.
00:08:11You might think that a scene like this would include a tune that's dark or insidious,
00:08:15but Push It To The Limit couldn't be any more removed from that idea.
00:08:27Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bilotti's composition is a pulsating synth-pop tune that pounds
00:08:31with electronic drums and Paul Engerman's soulful vocals.
00:08:35Some tasty guitar licks pepper Push It To The Limit for some extra oomph.
00:08:39While the melodic bridge calls to mind Moroder's work on The NeverEnding Story, it is gloriously
00:08:51un-ironic, and we love it to pieces.
00:09:02Number 93 β That Thing You Do β That Thing You Do
00:09:19Time seems to have forgotten 1996's That Thing You Do, a critically acclaimed but financially
00:09:25unsuccessful film that serves as a love letter to the one-hit wonders of the world.
00:09:29This is a shame, but at least the movie's main theme was a hit back during the film's
00:09:33original run.
00:09:34That Thing You Do is a textbook pop tune from the earliest days of rock and roll, with a
00:09:39massive hook.
00:09:40The drums pop, the vocals and backing harmonies are spot on, while the groove just makes us
00:09:45want to do the swim or the bunny hop.
00:09:49It honestly makes us want to re-watch the film, which is always the mark of a stellar
00:09:58soundtrack cut.
00:10:14Number 92 β Que Sera, Sera β Whatever Will Be, Will Be
00:10:19Too Much
00:10:32The filmography of Alfred Hitchcock, the master of suspense, probably isn't the first
00:10:36place one might seek out a soundtrack cut.
00:10:38Yet here we are discussing Que Sera, Sera β Whatever Will Be, Will Be, a tune sung
00:10:43by Doris Day in Hitch's 1956 feature The Man Who Knew Too Much.
00:10:47Day's performance of the song occurs at a critical point within the narrative, as
00:10:51she and James Stewart seek their kidnapped son.
00:10:53The call-and-response whistling of the young boy accompanying Day as his mother pumps up
00:10:58the tension, while the song itself is a memorable composition for piano and voice.
00:11:08It's difficult to separate Que Sera, Sera from its source material, but honestly, we
00:11:25wouldn't want it any other way.
00:11:32Number 91 β The Bare Necessities β The Jungle Book
00:11:45The wonderful world of Disney is chock-full of soundtrack songs that could easily comprise
00:11:49a list of their very own.
00:11:51This is partially why we're so proud to highlight some of them here, starting with
00:11:55The Bare Necessities from 1967's The Jungle Book.
00:12:08It's arguably the most famous song from this adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's source material,
00:12:12thanks largely to its placement within the film.
00:12:14The Bare Necessities receives a massive influx of charm via Baloo the Bear and the man-cub
00:12:19Mowgli, while the accompanying animation has gone on to become an iconic example of
00:12:34early Disney films at their best.
00:12:51Number 90 β All the Stars β Black Panther
00:13:03Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe were probably more used to jukebox soundtrack cues
00:13:07of familiar pop hits and score orchestration before 2018's Black Panther.
00:13:12That film featured an accompanying soundtrack album that was produced by Kendrick Lamar,
00:13:17a collection that highlighted this collaboration between Lamar and SZA.
00:13:28All the Stars may be featured over the closing credits of Black Panther, but this commercial
00:13:32rap tune never feels tucked away or hidden.
00:13:35Instead, Lamar's skills as an MC work well with SZA's vocal talents, and All the Stars
00:13:40is made all the better for it, thanks to their superhero team-up.
00:13:52Number 89 β Magic β Xanadu
00:14:04Number 88 β Anyone Else But You β Juno
00:14:20Number 87 β Happy β Despicable Me 2
00:14:35Number 86 β I Say A Little Prayer β My Best Friend's Wedding
00:14:58Number 85 β A Thousand Years β The Twilight Saga β Breaking Dawn Part 1
00:15:12This franchise may not be the place for horror fans to seek their thrills, but at least their
00:15:17respective soundtracks had some bangers.
00:15:19Decode by Paramore was a great tune from the first Twilight film, while Christina Perry's
00:15:34A Thousand Years appeared on both Breaking Dawn Part 1 as well as its sequel.
00:15:38This latter cut takes a more ballad-focused approach when compared to Paramore, a traditionally-minded
00:15:43love song with an earnest message.
00:16:01A Thousand Years doesn't avoid any sappiness, real or projected, but instead, just wants
00:16:06to tie in themes of romantic love with the story unfolding in the world of Bella Swan
00:16:11and Edward Cullen.
00:16:33Number 84 β Blaze of Glory β Young Guns 2
00:16:49Number 83 β City of Stars β La La Land
00:17:12Number 82 β You're the Best β The Karate Kid
00:17:28Number 81 β Go the Distance β Hercules
00:17:50Number 80 β Always Look on the Bright Side of Life β Monty Python's Life of Brian
00:18:03Context is key when it comes to the placement of Always Look on the Bright Side of Life
00:18:07within Monty Python's Life of Brian.
00:18:09This absurdist comedy chooses the crucifixion of Brian as the film's place for him and
00:18:13his fellow crossmates to sing the tune, effectively underlining this film's black sense of humor.
00:18:18It's a scene that's gone down in infamy within what's already an envelope-pushing
00:18:22Python picture.
00:18:38But this is also what's helped the tune live this long within the pop culture zeitgeist.
00:18:42Heck, the heavy metal legends in Iron Maiden even play Always Look on the Bright Side of
00:18:46Life over the PA at the end of every single one of their concerts.
00:18:57Number 79 β Let It Go β Frozen
00:19:15Number 78 β BornSlippy.nux β Trainspotting
00:19:30Number 77 β Cry Little Sister β The Lost Boys
00:19:51Number 76 β A View to a Kill β A View to a Kill
00:20:04Number 75 β When You Believe β The Prince of Egypt
00:20:17Never underestimate the power of an animated blockbuster when it comes to bringing together
00:20:21some serious star power. DreamWorks managed to nab both Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston
00:20:25to sing its main theme from 1998's The Prince of Egypt. The end results are as great as one
00:20:31might expect. Sure, they differ from the version featured in the final film, but these two women
00:20:43were voices of their generation, so pure musical excellence is what listeners reaped with When
00:20:49You Believe. The R&B arrangements make this version stand out too, essentially giving us
00:20:53two excellent songs for the price of one. Number 74 β The Way We Were β The Way We Were
00:21:19Number 73 β Colors of the Wind β Pocahontas
00:21:36Number 72 β Superfly β Superfly
00:21:49Number 71 β Remember Me β Coco
00:21:53Number 70 β A Real Hero β Drive
00:22:24Here's a question. Did 2011's Drive make synthesizers cool again? Well, that's actually
00:22:37a trick because the truth is they never stopped being cool, but Nicholas Winding Refn's film
00:22:41certainly reminded its audience of their awesomeness. This was thanks largely in part
00:22:45to the inclusion of A Real Hero on the Drive soundtrack, a collaboration between Francis
00:22:50College and Electric Youth from Canada. The slick, neon-soaked visuals of the film feel
00:23:01perfectly suited to this synthwave banger, while the production somehow manages to feel both icy
00:23:06cold and emotionally resonant. A Real Hero was quite honestly revelatory back in 2011,
00:23:12and it still kicks ass today. Number 69 β Eye to Eye β A Goofy Movie
00:23:24Number 68 β You Never Can Tell β Pulp Fiction
00:23:54Number 67 β Natu Natu β Triple R
00:24:15Number 66 β A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes β Cinderella
00:24:25Number 65 β Jai Ho β Slumdog Millionaire
00:24:46Fans of the 2008 film Slumdog Millionaire will likely remember this song. While those unfamiliar
00:24:51with the source material might be more familiar with the English version, that cut featured former
00:24:55pussycat doll Nicole Scherzinger. But both takes on Jai Ho are indebted to Indian pop music melodies
00:25:01and orchestration. The electronic execution of Jai Ho makes it feel tailor-made for the
00:25:13dance floor, pulsating relentlessly with an energy that rarely stops for a breather.
00:25:18It feels very much in line with club music from the late millennium,
00:25:21embodying a lot of stylistic tropes that comparison entails.
00:25:33Number 64 β Come What May β Moulin Rouge
00:25:48Number 63 β A Whole New World β Aladdin
00:25:54Number 62 β Up Where We Belong β An Officer and a Gentleman
00:26:24Number 61 β Stuck in the Middle with You β Reservoir Dogs
00:26:43Number 60 β Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend β Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
00:26:55The differences between Broadway productions and cinema adaptations are numerous,
00:27:03but there's no denying that the Marilyn Monroe performance of Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend
00:27:07went on to become the stuff of legend. Carol Channing may have initially popularized this
00:27:12tune with the OG Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, but Monroe's generational stage presence and persona
00:27:27lent Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend's certifiable icon status. Maybe it's the wardrobe,
00:27:32the lights, or the choreography, but everything works perfectly to assist Monroe's take on the
00:27:36song. Co-star Jane Russell even gets to try her hand at the tune later on,
00:28:02proving that this Diamond was bright enough to shine with just about everyone.
00:28:12Number 59 β See You Again β Furious 7
00:28:15Number 58 β You're the One That I Want β Grease
00:28:40Number 57 β White Christmas β Holiday Inn
00:28:57Number 56 β Into the West β The Lord of the Rings β The Return of the King
00:29:10Number 55 β The Way You Look Tonight β Swing Time
00:29:21Number 56 β You're the One That I Want β White Christmas β The Return of the King
00:29:35The tastes of moviegoers are constantly changing, with grandiose musicals and romances often coming
00:29:41in and out of fashion. This is natural, especially considering how this genre held so much creative
00:29:46dominance for such a long time. The Way You Look Tonight is one of the best and most enduring
00:29:51songs from this period in cinema. The tune gained immense popularity thanks to its appearance in the
00:29:561936 film Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The composition here is sentimental
00:30:11and taken straight from the great American songbook worshipped by artists like Frank Sinatra.
00:30:16It's warm, cozy and fits Hollywood glamour to a tee.
00:30:29Number 54 β Falling Slowly β Once
00:30:42We've Still Got Time
00:30:47Number 53 β Just Like Honey β Lost In Translation
00:31:01Number 52 β You'll Be In My Heart β Tarzan
00:31:10Number 51 β Mad World β Donnie Darko
00:31:24Number 50 β Sunflower β Spider-Man β Into The Spider-Verse
00:31:54It's fairly easy to argue that Sunflower by Post Malone probably would've been a hit even
00:32:07if it hadn't appeared on the soundtrack to Spider-Man β Into The Spider-Verse back in 2018.
00:32:11Malone seemed to believe in the song, too, since he shot two videos for the tune
00:32:15and also included it on his 2019 album Hollywood's Bleeding.
00:32:27Fans from both the comic and music worlds seem to agree,
00:32:30since the funky and melodic Sunflower did big business on Spotify, garnering over 3.2 billion
00:32:37streams. Not too shabby for a comic book movie cut, right?
00:32:49Number 49 β Everybody Needs Somebody To Love β The Blues Brothers
00:33:08Number 48 β In Your Eyes β Say Anything
00:33:30Number 47 β I'm A Believer β Shrek
00:33:37Number 46 β Hooked On A Feeling β Guardians Of The Galaxy
00:33:50Number 45 β Man Of Constant Sorrow β Oh Brother Where Art Thou
00:34:21Traditional folk music and Americana serve as important aspects of Oh Brother Where Art Thou
00:34:28and its creative DNA. As a result, the version of Man Of Constant Sorrow provides us with one
00:34:33of those rare instances where a song first written around 1917 and not recorded until
00:34:39the late 1920s gained new life in a new millennium. Sure, other artists have tried their
00:34:52hand at Man Of Constant Sorrow, including heroes like Bob Dylan, but there's a striking visual
00:34:57flair to this movie version. George Clooney and his soggy bottom boys provide a humorously
00:35:02theatrical counterpoint to the song's jaunty melodies, and the scene in the recording studio
00:35:06was a true highlight. Number 44 β Beauty And The Beast β Beauty And The Beast
00:35:24Number 43 β Born To Be Wild β Easy Rider
00:35:41Number 42 β Unchained Melody β Ghost
00:36:11Number 41 β You've Got A Friend In Me β Toy Story
00:36:28Number 40 β When Doves Cry β Purple Rain
00:36:34Movie soundtracks often come and go, but every one of them hopes to tap into the cultural zeitgeist
00:36:44in a fashion similar to Prince's Purple Rain. That original soundtrack had a number of certifiable
00:36:49classics from The Purple One, including our pick When Doves Cry. This song is a potent mix of hard
00:36:55rock, funk, and psychedelic pop that meant a lot of things to a lot of different people.
00:37:00Prince just seemed to have that crossover sensibility.
00:37:11A universal solvent of sorts that nails sound and style with ease,
00:37:15When Doves Cry is catchy and memorable, earning all of the hype and flowers.
00:37:20Number 39 β 9to5 β 9to5
00:37:39Number 38 β A Hard Day's Night β A Hard Day's Night
00:37:50Number 37 β I Don't Wanna Miss A Thing β Armageddon
00:38:06Number 36 β Arthur's Theme β Best That You Can Do β Arthur
00:38:20Number 35 β When You Wish Upon A Star β Pinocchio
00:38:33It speaks volumes that Disney has kept this song from 1940 so tied into their cultural and
00:38:38corporate identity over the years. The company has released so many magnificent songs since then,
00:38:44yet there's a simple and direct honesty to this one that's endured.
00:38:50It helps, naturally, that the original performance in Disney's Pinocchio is so
00:39:02tender and nostalgic. Yet the actual lyricism and melody at play combine childlike wonder
00:39:07with musical grace that's been rarely equaled in the decades since its debut.
00:39:20They call them standards for a reason, after all.
00:39:32Number 34 β Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head β Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
00:39:50Number 33 β Glory β Selma
00:40:12Number 32 β Goldfinger β Goldfinger
00:40:20Number 31 β Singin' In The Rain β Singin' In The Rain
00:40:51Number 30 β Moon River β Breakfast At Tiffany's
00:41:11The filmography of Audrey Hepburn was a varied one, even delving into horror-thriller territory
00:41:17with films like Wait Until Dark and Bloodline. That said, it's the romance of Breakfast at
00:41:22Tiffany's that proved to be a defining career moment for Hepburn, a romanticism that's echoed
00:41:26in the wistfulness of Moon River. The combination of acoustic guitar and Hepburn's breathy vocals
00:41:45could make just about anybody swoon, but the song's composition is simple enough to make
00:41:49it coverable for a wide variety of artists. The success of Moon River echoed back to the
00:41:54Great American Songbook and jazz standards that formerly ruled the Hollywood roost,
00:41:58but it was Hepburn who gave this Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer song a forever home.
00:42:15Number 29 β Princes Of The Universe β Highlander
00:42:23The 1986 film Highlander featured multiple amazing songs by Queen on its soundtrack.
00:42:29Who Wants To Live Forever is up there with the most evocative ballads full stop.
00:42:33Meanwhile, Princes Of The Universe is all power, emotion without a stroke of irony. It's as epic as
00:42:47the Highlander world itself, an outlandish rock statement with aggressive riffing and unreal
00:42:52energy. Princes Of The Universe is electric, capturing a lightning-in-a-bottle approach
00:42:57that mimics the film's heroes and villains. If there can be only one tune responsible for
00:43:02capturing the film's essence, we think it has to be this one.
00:43:12Number 28 β Gangsta's Paradise β Dangerous Minds
00:43:22It's quite difficult to separate the song and accompanying video from the musical legacy of
00:43:26Coolio. If anything, Gangsta's Paradise has outlived 1995's Dangerous Minds, in which it
00:43:32was featured. Of course, it helps that it hangs its creative hat upon the melodies already present
00:43:37within Stevie Wonder's pastime paradise. That said, Coolio's flow and sincere delivery work
00:43:43wonders, allowing the listener to really believe the performance. Elsewhere, LV's singing on the
00:43:49chorus brings it all home. Whether it's playing over Dangerous Minds' opening or just blasting
00:43:54through the stereo, Gangsta's Paradise is simultaneously of its time and timeless.
00:44:05Number 27 β Kiss From A Rose β Batman Forever
00:44:14Kiss From A Rose was actually released on two very different film soundtracks.
00:44:19This all-time SEAL classic debuted on the OST from The NeverEnding Story 3,
00:44:23before finding its home in 1995's Batman Forever. Both films feature fantastical elements, sure,
00:44:30but the latter's gothic grandeur and moody bat-setting feel more in line with the composition.
00:44:35The number is devilishly romantic, a dramatic piece that's set on fire by SEAL's impassioned
00:44:41vocals. It is, in a word, sumptuous, benefiting from poetic lyrics and melodic orchestration.
00:44:47It may not have been crafted for Batman Forever,
00:44:50but we can't imagine a better love theme for Bruce Wayne and Dr. Chase Meridian.
00:45:01Number 26 β Men In Black β Men In Black
00:45:11Never underestimate the power of a great sample. Will Smith's Men In Black does a great job at
00:45:16incorporating forget-me-nots by jazz fusion artist Patrice Rushin, but it also succeeds
00:45:28at standing on its own two creative feet in serving its eponymous film. Smith does a lot
00:45:33of heavy lifting, delivering enough charisma to fill a hot air balloon. His flow is underrated,
00:45:38too, helping us understand the sci-fi action flick's story and titular characters while
00:45:43never coming across as heavy-handed or corny. Men In Black is danceable, melodic,
00:45:47and economically composed, with only a single mission β to get you out on that dance floor.
00:46:00Number 25 β Fight The Power β Do The Right Thing
00:46:03The writing was already on the wall by the time Fight The Power hit listeners like a freight
00:46:12train. This theme from Do The Right Thing underlined how hip-hop was becoming the method
00:46:17of musical communication for a generation. Crucially, it never tries to play it safe
00:46:22or shy away from a political message. Thus, Fight The Power is high-energy and aggressive,
00:46:27yet approachable. It feels like a mantra for anyone who's willing to listen from the moment
00:46:32it plays over Do The Right Thing's opening. Spike Lee knew what he was doing when he got
00:46:36Public Enemy to craft the tune for his 1989 movie. Radio Raheem, his boombox, and the theme song will
00:46:43forever be linked. Number 24 β Holiday Road From National Lampoon's Vacation
00:46:57You know those theme songs that feel like they were basically tailor-made for their movies?
00:47:01They're able to flawlessly embody the story's energy without pretension, even if that energy
00:47:06is largely silly and chaotic. If you ask us, that's exactly what Lindsay Buckingham's
00:47:10Holiday Road accomplishes vis-a-vis National Lampoon's Vacation. At this point, it belongs
00:47:20to the Griswold family. You can't help but smile and feel happy when it plays, just like you can't
00:47:25help but laugh while watching the movie it was made for. Indeed, it's infectious, with a classic
00:47:30chorus and super cool instrumentation. Is it any wonder the bluesy pop-rock bop found its way into
00:47:36multiple National Lampoon sequels? Number 23 β Everything I Do, I Do It For You From Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves
00:47:51Canada's Bryan Adams is no stranger to writing big songs and even bigger hits. He knows his way
00:47:56around a chorus, and Everything I Do, I Do It For You possesses one of the best. A running theme
00:48:02throughout this list is sincerity, or at least the perception of it, and this song is practically
00:48:07begging to be seen in this light. The grandiose ballad expertly underscores the love story present
00:48:12between the title character and Marion in 1991's Robin Hood, Prince Of Thieves. This becomes evident
00:48:26as it lurches up from massively affecting bridge before a tender guitar-heavy interlude guides us
00:48:32into the epic closing minutes. We still have goosebumps. Number 22 β Theme From Shaft, From Shaft
00:48:51The blaxploitation genre became a treasure trove of funky instrumental soundtracks from
00:48:56artists like Isaac Hayes, Marvin Gaye, and Roy Ayers. Indeed, Hayes' work on 1971's Shaft was
00:49:03and remains incredibly important for genre representation in movie soundtracks. The Oscar-
00:49:08winning Theme From Shaft takes its time, building up with that hi-hat, before the beat builds to
00:49:14mesmerizing effect. It isn't until over two minutes in that Hayes starts his call-and-response vocal.
00:49:26The song itself describes private eye John Shaft in no uncertain terms.
00:49:31This is a bad mother, and a complicated man. The funk is on fire here, and Theme From Shaft
00:49:37lives forever in our brains, rent-free. Number 21 β Streets Of Philadelphia, From Philadelphia
00:49:56Boss has carved a career out of telling stories with his music. Classics like Born To Run and
00:50:01Meeting Across The River are great examples. But this award-winning number, crafted for 1993's
00:50:07Philadelphia, spotlights that aspect of Bruce Springsteen's songwriting cinematically. The
00:50:12movie centers on Andrew Beckett, who has AIDS, and his fight for justice. Needless to say,
00:50:17it's not a light-hearted watch. Its theme tune anchors itself on a compelling breakbeat,
00:50:22while Springsteen delivers an intimate vocal. Sharp production values further do the soft-rock
00:50:27hit justice, making Streets Of Philadelphia big, but never disingenuous. As a result,
00:50:32the song is appropriately tethered to its source material's serious and dramatic tone.
00:50:37Number 20 β Fame, From Fame
00:50:53This musical drama explores both the expectations and reality of pursuing a career in the arts.
00:50:59The theme song taps more into the expectations, but there's nothing wrong with that. The fame
00:51:05theme is so optimistic, that it's practically therapeutic for aspiring artists everywhere.
00:51:19If you need a pick-me-up before a life-changing audition or the opening night of your Broadway
00:51:23debut, this song is a perfect fit for you. It's the perfect song to start a new career,
00:51:29and it's a song that will give you the confidence. By the end of the first verse,
00:51:33you might be compelled to rush outside and start dancing in the streets. Michael Gore's
00:51:37toe-tapping music and Dean Pitchford's celebratory lyrics are perfectly complemented
00:51:41by Irene Cara's enthusiastic vocals. The song isn't simply about achieving fame.
00:51:51It's about the enduring passion that will take you to the top.
00:51:58Number 19 β Rainbow Connection, From The Muppet Movie
00:52:04At the suggestion of Jim Henson, Paul Williams and Kenneth Asher devised a banjo solo for Kermit
00:52:09the Frog. The result was Rainbow Connection, a tune that was inspired by the magical When You
00:52:21Wish Upon A Star from Pinocchio. Just as that timeless tune evolved into Disney's anthem,
00:52:32Rainbow Connection has etched out a similar place in The Muppet's legacy.
00:52:42Also like Walt Disney, Henson was a once-in-a-lifetime innovator who always dreamed big.
00:52:47Rainbow Connection encourages dreamers to pursue the impossible and make it a reality.
00:52:58You may even pick up some friends who share a similar dream along the way. While the main story
00:53:02commences with Kermit singing alone, he's joined by over 250 Muppets for the final reprise,
00:53:08completing the Rainbow Connection.
00:53:18Number 18 β The Power Of Love, From Back To The Future
00:53:27Nothing jumpstarts a time travel plot quite like being late for school.
00:53:31But it's the classic pop rocker that gets Marty McFly really going.
00:53:39In Huey Lewis' first number one single, the song pops up throughout the sci-fi trilogy,
00:53:47meshing brilliantly with the movie's themes and with Marty's idealistic young character.
00:53:57As it's practically his own personal theme, Marty and his band, The Pinheads,
00:54:01attempt to perform the tune at a Battle of the Bands audition. However, a familiar-looking
00:54:06judge shuts him down pretty quick. And that's too bad because The Power Of Love is an
00:54:22undisputed masterpiece, and we personally don't mind if it's too darn loud.
00:54:27Number 17 β The NeverEnding Story, From The NeverEnding Story
00:54:38The NeverEnding Story remains a decade-defining movie for any kid who grew up in the 80s.
00:54:51From the get-go, the English version of this fantasy creates a distinctly 80s aesthetic
00:54:56with its synth-pop theme song. That's not to say the song is at all dated. On the contrary,
00:55:08there's a sense of wonder to the lyrics and melody that'll speak to anybody with an active
00:55:13imagination. Lamal's whimsical vocals only make the tune more infectious. Like the film,
00:55:25the song does technically end, which you could argue contradicts the title.
00:55:36The tune is so catchy, however, that you want to play it on an endless loop.
00:55:40No matter how many times we listen to it, the theme never loses its appeal.
00:55:45Number 16 β Shallow, From A Star Is Born
00:55:55Although it was originally meant to merely be played over the end credits,
00:55:59Shallow evolved into the driving force behind A Star Is Born.
00:56:09You never know where a song might take you. One day, you might be testing it out in a parking
00:56:14lot with a fellow singer you just met. The next, the two of you could be performing it
00:56:27in front of a massive audience. This power ballad conveys Ally's desire for something more,
00:56:39Jackson's search for companionship, and their escalating feelings for each other.
00:56:43Although Ally is initially afraid to dive off the deep end, Jackson motivates her to jump with him.
00:56:56Moving out of shallow waters, Ally is swept away by the adoring crowd
00:57:01and her blossoming romance with Jackson.
00:57:03Number 15 β Mrs. Robinson, From The Graduate
00:57:07We all associate this folk rock song with the eponymous Mrs. Robinson,
00:57:10who jumpstarts the younger Benjamin's journey into adulthood.
00:57:18When Simon and Garfunkel were first working on the tune, it wasn't about Mrs. Robinson.
00:57:23Rather, the song was originally titled Mrs. Roosevelt, as in the former first lady.
00:57:28Following a meeting with director Mike Nichols,
00:57:30everything started falling into place for the now-classic song.
00:57:33Although traces of the tune's original intent can still be heard in the final product,
00:57:44it still works as an ode to Mrs. Robinson. The carefree melody paints an innocent portrait.
00:57:49Upon reading deeper into the lyrics, though, we sense that there's something more adult going on,
00:57:54especially the verse where they talk about needing to hide the Robinsons' affair from the kids.
00:58:03Number 14 β Footloose, From Footloose
00:58:08The Footloose soundtrack has arguably left an even greater impact than the film itself.
00:58:20More than 35 years later, we're still rocking out to the titular
00:58:23theme song by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford.
00:58:25Although many associate this song with Kevin Bacon's iconic warehouse dance,
00:58:35the song Never by Moving Pictures actually accompanies that scene.
00:58:45Whenever we're alone and need to blow off steam, Footloose is the song we turn to.
00:58:50The lively lyrics and electrifying melody encourage us to let out
00:58:54all of our pent-up energy through dance.
00:59:03You might not have Ren McCormick's dancing skills,
00:59:05but the song will make you feel confident enough to fly.
00:59:16It's the ideal way to kick off a weekend and has basically become a school dance staple.
00:59:21Number 13 β Flashdance, What a Feeling, From Flashdance
00:59:25Another dance flick that defined the 80s,
00:59:28Flashdance also scores singer Irene Cara her second mention on this list.
00:59:39Co-written by Cara, Giorgio Moroder, and Keith Forsey,
00:59:42the theme song can be summed up in one word β joyous.
00:59:46As such, we can't think of a more fitting way to cap off our heroine's journey.
00:59:51Number 14 β Climactic Audition, What a Feeling
00:59:56First heard over the opening credits, When There's Nothing,
00:59:59the theme returns for Alex's climactic audition.
01:00:09Both the song and the dance convey how far Alex has come not only as a performer,
01:00:14but as a person as well. Emerging more radiant and resilient than ever before,
01:00:19Alex leaves her audition on a high note.
01:00:22It's a mic drop of an ending that wouldn't feel complete without this inspiring song.
01:00:40Number 12 β Eye of the Tiger, From Rocky 3
01:00:43If we were to rank all the Rocky movies, the third chapter would fall somewhere in the middle.
01:00:52As far as Rocky theme songs go, though, Eye of the Tiger is the one to beat.
01:01:05Performed by the band Survivor, the song was co-written by lead guitarist Frankie Sullivan
01:01:09and keyboardist Jim Peterik. Tying it all together is lead singer Dave Bickler,
01:01:14whose fiery vocals bring out the will to survive.
01:01:22Eye of the Tiger could have just been a catchy tune to play over the credits and training montage.
01:01:31However, the filmmakers weaved this rousing song into the narrative's overarching theme.
01:01:43It encompasses the edge that made Rocky the champ,
01:01:45and the drive he feels to reclaim his title. The outcome is a knockout.
01:01:51Number 11 β Lose Yourself, From 8 Mile
01:01:548 Mile is a semi-autobiographical film that draws influence from Eminem's life
01:01:58before he achieved mainstream success. The rapper's struggles and triumphs are
01:02:09on full display in Lose Yourself, which encapsulates B-Rabbit's journey in roughly five minutes.
01:02:15His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy, there's vomit on his sweater already,
01:02:19mom's spaghetti. The song also captures the grit and pride associated with the Detroit hip-hop scene,
01:02:25as well as the city itself. In addition to being what might be Eminem's most personal work,
01:02:35its rhyme scheme and beat burrow their way into the listener's head.
01:02:45Although Eminem wasn't present to accept his Oscar, he would appear on the 2020 Academy Awards
01:02:51telecast to perform Lose Yourself. It went to show that even after all these years, people
01:02:56were still turning to the song for inspiration, and making memes out of mom's spaghetti.
01:03:07Number 10 β I've Had The Time Of My Life, From Dirty Dancing
01:03:11Of all the dance movies the 80s gave us, Dirty Dancing may be the most memorable.
01:03:23This is due in part to its soundtrack, which offered a variety of nostalgic songs and original
01:03:29singles. The standout is this Oscar and Grammy-winning tune, which accompanies the climactic
01:03:39dance between Baby and Johnny. While the song was written with the film in mind, its placement
01:03:51during the pivotal scene can be attributed to choreographer Kenny Ortega and assistant Miranda
01:03:55Garrison. I've Had The Time Of My Life synced up flawlessly with their choreography, as well as the
01:04:01emotional journey our leads have been on. The sequence is as sizzling as it is uplifting,
01:04:13appropriately culminating with what might be the most famous lift in cinema.
01:04:18Number 9 β Live And Let Die, From Live And Let Die
01:04:34The words and ideas of Ian Fleming managed to reunite Paul McCartney with The Beatles producer
01:04:39George Martin to create one of the best-remembered themes from the long-running James Bond series.
01:04:49Written by Sir Paul after reading the novel on which the film was based,
01:04:54the tune's sultry piano music strikes up without warning,
01:04:58and sets the stage for the musical pressure to come in the form of a grand orchestra.
01:05:10The rockers' triumph was as inevitable as another Bond movie,
01:05:14and it became not only one of Wing's most successful singles,
01:05:17but also the first Bond theme to be Oscar-nominated for Best Original Song.
01:05:28The first to win, however, was Skyfall.
01:05:38Number 8 β I Will Always Love You, From The Bodyguard
01:05:42While some songs become iconic right away, others take time to achieve such a status.
01:05:47I Will Always Love You is an example of the latter.
01:05:55When Dolly Parton first released the original country version in the 70s, he performed well.
01:06:00But, Whitney Houston immortalized the song with her haunting rendition in The Bodyguard.
01:06:05In her film debut, she plays an actress-slash-singer
01:06:08who develops a close relationship with her bodyguard.
01:06:13Although the romance is kept relatively understated for most of the film,
01:06:18our lovers share a steamy embrace as they part ways.
01:06:29Their kiss goodbye is sealed with an equally passionate song.
01:06:32Houston throws her soul into every note.
01:06:35Although the two go their separate ways,
01:06:44their hearts remain intertwined through this poignant track.
01:06:54Number 7 β Danger Zone, From Top Gun
01:06:58This is truly a song that screams 1980s,
01:07:08and acts as the anthem for bromances across the world.
01:07:19Mixing a synthesized bass line with the vocals of the king of the movie soundtrack himself
01:07:24never sounded so good, especially considering the background to the song.
01:07:28Originally, producers wanted Toto, Brian Adams, or even REO Speedwagon to perform it,
01:07:33with all of them turning down the opportunity for different reasons.
01:07:43Eventually, Mr. Loggins was tapped to perform the hit track,
01:07:46likely thanks to his impressive job with Footloose a few years prior.
01:07:54But it's the epic nature of Danger Zone that has bypassed 80s cheese
01:08:00and gone straight back into awesome territory.
01:08:10Number 6 β Ghostbusters, From Ghostbusters
01:08:19Say it with us now!
01:08:20Ghostbusters!
01:08:22When approached by producers to create a theme for this supernatural comedy,
01:08:25Ray Parker Jr. was given very little time to write a dance pop masterpiece,
01:08:29especially considering how hard it is to rhyme with Ghostbusters.
01:08:41According to Parker, he saw a cheap ad late at night that was incredibly similar to the
01:08:45one featured in the movie, and he was inspired to set what basically became a commercial jingle
01:08:49to a popping beat.
01:08:58However, Huey Lewis sued Parker due to the similarities between the Ghostbusters theme
01:09:02and his own song, I Want A New Drug.
01:09:04Regardless of the resemblance,
01:09:06Parker Jr. seems to have come out on top thanks to his super catchy theme song.
01:09:15Number 5 β Don't You Forget About Me, From The Breakfast Club
01:09:19This coming-of-age classic opens and closes with the same song by rock band Simple Minds.
01:09:31By the time the credits roll,
01:09:33the characters we met in the first scene have significantly grown.
01:09:36Don't You Forget About Me encompasses the same feeling each teen experiences as they part ways.
01:09:41It's a feeling that although something has come to an end, something new is beginning.
01:09:59Whatever waits on the horizon, the five likely won't face it together because
01:10:03they all come from different backgrounds.
01:10:04But the impact they've had on each other won't be forgotten.
01:10:11The same can be said about this bittersweet new wave tune.
01:10:15Anyone who feels lost as the song commences
01:10:18may find what they're searching for before its conclusion.
01:10:28Number 4 β Stayin' Alive, From Saturday Night Fever
01:10:31They say disco's dead,
01:10:32but the endurance of this film's best-selling soundtrack suggests it's still very much alive.
01:10:41The Bee Gees' musical contributions in particular added another layer to the story
01:10:49and character development.
01:10:50Right off the bat, Stayin' Alive tells us everything we need to know about Tony Manero.
01:11:03Like the song, Tony comes off as cool and confident on the surface.
01:11:11Listening to the lyrics, however, the song's message of survival is made apparent.
01:11:18Although it seems like Tony owns the streets of New York,
01:11:21the big city is slowly eating him alive and disco is the one escape.
01:11:32The song will speak to anyone who's tried to maintain a self-assured appearance
01:11:36while struggling to find their place in life.
01:11:38Number 3 β Circle of Life, From The Lion King
01:11:41We easily could have populated at least half this list with themes from Disney's animated library.
01:11:53Obviously, we've covered quite a few Disney tracks already.
01:11:56In this entry, though, we're shining a spotlight on the Disney song that gives us the most chills.
01:12:01Every time The Lion King commences with Circle of Life, we get goosebumps.
01:12:09It's a song that makes us feel almost insignificant in the vastness of nature.
01:12:16At the same time, Circle of Life reminds us that we all have a part to play in this world.
01:12:27Elton John's music and Tim Rice's lyrics are sweeping yet soothing,
01:12:31not unlike A Sunrise.
01:12:33Opening and closing Simba's story, the song makes the circle whole.
01:12:39Number 2 β My Heart Will Go On, From Titanic
01:12:47As an elderly rose lies in bed, her younger self reunites with Jack aboard the Titanic,
01:12:52sharing a kiss while their fellow passengers surround the staircase.
01:12:56For anyone in the audience barely containing their tears,
01:12:59the ensuing song is what unleashed the floodgates.
01:13:09My Heart Will Go On is every bit as epic and romantic as the film that inspired it.
01:13:14Ironically, director James Cameron initially didn't want a theme song for his picture
01:13:18because he feared it would come off as too commercial.
01:13:27Likewise, singer Celine Dion wasn't sure if she had another Beauty and the Beast in her.
01:13:38Composer James Horner was so adamant that he quietly worked on the song with lyricist Will Jennings.
01:13:51Cameron eventually gave his blessing, and the rest is history.
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01:14:18Number 1 β Over the Rainbow, From The Wizard of Oz
01:14:21The Wizard of Oz is full of extravagant musical numbers,
01:14:29but its most beloved song feels surprisingly simple.
01:14:32There's no complex choreography or crowds.
01:14:38It's just a young girl on a farm, singing about her desire to travel somewhere more colorful.
01:14:50But sometimes, the simplest songs are the most profound.
01:14:53Over the Rainbow brilliantly sets up Dorothy's story.
01:14:56Upon arriving in Oz, all she wants is to return home.
01:15:00It dawns on Dorothy how much she misses the comfort of Kansas,
01:15:04as well as the fact that she's not alone.
01:15:09There's no place like home, there's no place like home.
01:15:15Her farm might not be as exciting as Oz, but it has a warmth that can't be topped.
01:15:20While Over the Rainbow speaks to our inner adventurer,
01:15:23its peaceful melody reminds us that there's no place like home.
01:15:27Which genre of movie do you think is the best fit for cult soundtrack cuts?
01:15:32Let us know in the comments.
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