Grab the popcorn and have the time of your life! These are the movie soundtracks you’ll want to listen to long after the credits roll.
41 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time
Updated on May 14, 2025
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Saturday Night Fever (1977)
For the disco lover, there is no better movie soundtrack than Saturday Night Fever. In fact, even if you’ve never seen the movie about a Brooklyn teen who escapes his bleak reality by moving on the dance floor—and you really should—you probably know this is where to find Bee Gees classics like “Stayin’ Alive” and “Night Fever.” This soundtrack sold more than 40 million copies in the United States alone.
Black Panther (2018)
You don’t always associate action movies with killer soundtracks, but Black Panther defied all expectations. Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s “All the Stars” is a standout, though each song speaks to the characters and the film’s powerful themes. At the 2019 Grammys, it took home the award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.
A Star Is Born (2018)
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper not only provided their stellar acting chops for the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born, they delivered outstanding vocals on its soundtrack. Their duet on “Shallow” still gives us chills, and it impressed Oscar voters enough to give it the Best Original Song trophy at the 2019 awards show. There’s a nice nod to original star Judy Garland as well.
Pretty in Pink (1986)
Pretty in Pink writer John Hughes was so involved in the making of this oh-so-’80s romantic comedy that he actually curated the soundtrack himself. Might we say he did an excellent job? The Psychedelic Furs sing the title hit, OMD sings the emo ballad that plays during the prom (“If You Leave”) and the tracklist also features music by Echo & the Bunnymen, New Order and the Smiths. Ah, teenage angst and first-time heartbreak.
The Lion King (1994)
Beautifully written, performed and produced, The Lion King soundtrack is one of the most masterful of all Disney’s animated films. Elton John’s version of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” was a chart-topper, hitting No. 1 on Billboard‘s U.S. Adult Contemporary list and No. 3 on Billboard‘s Mainstream Top 40. It won the American Music Award for Favorite Pop Album in 1995.
Encanto (2021)
This Disney entry is jam-packed with catchy tunes—and with Hamilton‘s Lin-Manuel Miranda at the helm, that shouldn’t come as a big surprise. The soundtrack is lively and infectious as it masterfully tells the story of a Colombian family with magical powers. The mega-popular “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in January 2022, making it just the second song from an animated Disney film to accomplish that feat. (The first was Aladdin‘s “A Whole New World” in 1993.)
Grease (1978)
Chock-full of memorable songs, the Grease soundtrack is hands down one of the best movie soundtracks of all time. From “Summer Nights” to “You’re the One That I Want,” these beloved timeless, catchy and nostalgic tunes still beg for a group singalong.
Purple Rain (1984)
Some might argue that Prince’s Purple Rain set the bar for the best movie soundtracks. It contains hit after hit, including the title song, plus “Let’s Go Crazy,” “I Would Die 4 U” and “When Doves Cry,” to name a few. The movie won Academy Awards for Best Original Musical and Best Original Song Score, and the music is as impressive today as it was back in the day.
Clueless (1995)
The ’80s get all the respect for great teen movies, but the ’90s didn’t exactly slack off. Hello, Clueless! Beverly Hills high schooler Cher (Alicia Silverstone) ruled the school, and the soundtrack offered up some rollicking good fun. For starters: Coolio’s “Rollin’ with My Homies” has a major moment in one scene at “the Val party.”
The Big Chill (1983)
This ensemble drama is about a group of college friends who gather at a big country house for a weekend of nostalgia and reminiscing. That lends itself to some great Motown music from the ’60s, like Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine.” One of the film’s famous scenes features stars Glenn Close, Kevin Kline, William Hurt and Jeff Goldblum dancing to “Ain’t to Proud Beg” as they clean up the kitchen.
Pitch Perfect (2012)
We could listen to the Bellas, Pitch Perfect‘s fictional all-girls collegiate singing group, all day. Their a cappella renditions of catchy Top 40 songs are earworms of the best kind. The soundtrack is equally peppy, featuring many of those performances and mashups, along with tunes by Nicki Minaj, Andy Grammer and star Anna Kendrick’s original hit, “Cups.”
The Greatest Showman (2017)
The tale of legendary circus entertainer P.T. Barnum unfolds in this film starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zendaya and Zac Efron. The music matches the drama and the inspirational message about being yourself and celebrating individuality. The soaring tracks “This Is Me” and “A Million Dreams” are certainly fan favorites, but the entire album is pitch perfect.
Waiting to Exhale (1995)
When you have one of music’s all-time best vocalists as a lead in your movie, you’d better have an amazing soundtrack to match. Waiting to Exhale doesn’t disappoint. Star Whitney Houston delivers the goods, of course. As do other incredible R&B artists such as Mary J. Blige, Chaka Khan, Brandy and Patti LaBelle.
Forrest Gump (1994)
Well, of course Forrest Gump’s life is accompanied by an memorable soundtrack. Hello, he met Elvis Presley as a boy in Alabama and John Lennon as an adult in New York City! No original songs here—just a who’s who of legends like Presley, Joan Baez, the Four Tops, Aretha Franklin, the Doors, Willie Nelson, Bob Seger and more.
Footloose (1984)
The quintessential ’80s movie is bolstered by an iconic soundtrack. (Of course, the fact that the movie stars Kevin Bacon and Sarah Jessica Parker relatively early in their careers is a huge bonus.) Sure, the title track by Kenny Loggins never gets old. But the power ballad “Almost Paradise” and the ditty “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” each hold their own all these years later. No wonder those small-town teens are so desperate to dance!
The Bodyguard (1992)
The movie itself was tepidly received by critics. But the Whitney Houston-fronted soundtrack is one of the bestselling albums ever, with 45 million copies sold worldwide. And while Houston’s rendition of the Dolly Parton-penned ballad “I Will Always Love You” got much of the attention (not to mention the radio airplay), the Grammy-winning album also features hits like “I’m Every Woman,” “I Have Nothing” and “Run to You.”
Dreamgirls (2006)
Based on the 1982 Broadway production of the same name, the big-screen version of Dreamgirls with Beyoncé, Anika Noni Rose and Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson made its music come to life. The Motown-inspired music is capped by Hudson’s gut-busting rendition of the power ballad “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.” And you, and you, and you, and you … You’re gonna love it!
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
Forget the special effects—this Marvel action hit is a standout because of the throwback hits from the ’70s and ’80s that provided the backdrop to the Guardians’ space adventures. (Thank you to Chris Pratt’s Peter Quill, who has a Walkman mixtape that keeps everyone connected to earth culture.) The “Awesome Mix Vol. 1” soundtrack hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart for 11 straight weeks despite only featuring previously released material.
Garden State (2004)
Zach Braff wrote, directed and starred in this Sundance Film Festival gem that attracted a cult following, partly thanks to its stellar soundtrack. The best way to describe this array of tunes? Chill. Think a slew of music from indie artists like The Shins and Iron & Wine, as well as a classic from Simon & Garfunkel.
Do the Right Thing (1989)
Do the Right Thing‘s soundtrack is like taking a trip down memory lane of ’80s hip-hop and R&B. The film’s plot focuses on the hottest day of the year in a Brooklyn neighborhood where hate and bigotry reach a boiling point among its inhabitants. Public Enemy, Teddy Riley, Take 6 and Al Jarreau all contribute to this impressive compilation.
Almost Famous (2000)
Given that Cameron Crowe’s autobiographical movie connects its characters through their love of music, the Almost Famous soundtrack delivers. There are so many classics, like Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” and Simon & Garfunkel’s “America.” As a collection, it’s like a love song to the 1970s.
Pulp Fiction (1994)
Pulp Fiction landed on American moviegoers with a bang—and the film’s use of music is just as influential as its cinematography and writing. Writer-director Quentin Tarantino relied on surf classics and other ’60s throwbacks like Dusty Springfield’s “Son of a Preacher Man” and a cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” to create a memorable accompaniment to this ’90s darling.
High Fidelity (2000)
A record store owner (John Cusack) walks down memory lane to look at his top five romantic breakups, and a too-cool soundtrack inevitably ensues, all based on the book by Nick Hornby. Cusack’s costar Jack Black even gets to tackle Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On” and does a pretty impressive job!
Mary Poppins (1964)
In terms of the best movie soundtracks that come from classic family movies, Mary Poppins is tops. Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke are such delights on timeless tunes like “Chim Chim Cher-ee” and “A Spoonful of Sugar.” In a word, this Disney soundtrack is—what else?—supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.
Frozen (2013)
Little kids around the world (and their parents) fell in love with songs like “Do You Want to Build a Snowman?” and “For the First Time in Forever.” But it was the Oscar-winning anthem “Let It Go”—sung in the film by Idina Menzel and over the credits by Demi Lovato—that made it the top-selling album of 2014 with more than 3 million copies sold worldwide.
Sing (2016)
Like American Idol but for animated animals, Sing brings some of the best renditions of previously released pop and rock hits. Still! The soundtrack of this funny kids movie is loaded with great tunes—including Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” performed by Nick Kroll and Reese Witherspoon. And it’s impossible not to love Taron Egerton’s take on Elton John’s “I’m Still Standing.”
Romeo & Juliet (1996)
Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes starred in this rock ‘n’ roll riff on William Shakespeare’s classic tale, and it has a soundtrack that’s equal parts gritty and swoon-worthy. The band Garbage contributes its song “#1 Crush,” while The Cardigans give us the poppy “Lovefool.” The first soundtrack was so popular, a second volume was released.
Empire Records (1995)
Yet another film set in a record store lands on our list of the best movie soundtracks. There are a lot of fun ’90s music finds on this tracklist from bands like Gin Blossoms, the Cranberries, Cracker and Better Than Ezra. It’s like a little time capsule of that era. The movie was all about young adult angst, and the songs definitely reflect that.
Reality Bites (1994)
Feeling dumped out into the world post-college, four friends (Winona Ryder, Ethan Hawke, Janeane Garofalo and Steve Zahn) try to navigate their new lives in one of our favorite coming-of-age romantic comedies. The Reality Bites soundtrack breathed new life into The Knack’s 1979 hit “My Sharona” and offers moody offerings from U2, the Juliana Hatfield Three and Crowded House, among others. The film also features Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories’s “Stay (I Missed You),” which became the first song from an unsigned artist to reach No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.
Titanic (1997)
Titanic wasn’t just one of the most epic and award-winning blockbusters of all time—its soundtrack also made huge splashes on the pop charts. Anchored by Celine Dion’s extravagant Oscar-winning ballad “My Heart Will Go On” (which played over the film’s closing credits), the album sold more than 30 million copies.
Twilight (2008)
Twilight author Stephenie Meyer has said she listened to a lot of very specific bands while writing her bestselling vampire books. Many of them are included on the Twilight soundtrack, including Muse and Iron & Wine. Additionally, Carter Burwell’s original contributions, like “Bella’s Lullaby,” are hauntingly beautiful.
Help! (1965)
Amazingly, just one year after A Hard Day’s Night, the Beatles returned with a movie that featured some of their catchiest hits. Think “Ticket to Ride,” “Yesterday,” “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away” and, of course, the upbeat No. 1 hit “Help!” Fun fact: The latter was reportedly one of John Lennon’s personal faves.
O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
The Coen brothers, who wrote and directed this period comedy, enlisted “T Bone” Burnett to produce its Grammy-winning country-music-tinged soundtrack. Featuring the vocal stylings of Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and the Soggy Bottom Boys, the music pairs seamlessly with the adventures of three escaped inmates (including George Clooney) trying to find their treasure.
High School Musical (2006)
Don’t roll your eyes. The High School Musical soundtrack has some of the catchiest tunes around, and it’s all family friendly. This Disney Channel Original Movie spawned numerous sequels, one of which was a feature film. The original soundtrack sold a whopping 7 million copies worldwide, and that’s nothing to sneeze at.
The Graduate (1967)
Dustin Hoffman rose to stardom in this classic ’60s film about rebellion against mainstream norms. Simon & Garfunkel score the romance and drama, and their songs stand in for the counterculture sensibility taking the nation by storm at the time. The album charted at No. 1 and features iconic tunes “The Sound of Silence” and “Mrs. Robinson.”
Juno (2007)
The story of a sharp-tongued teen who becomes pregnant and chooses a couple to adopt her baby, Juno is filled with a lot of heart and plenty of cool indie-fronted music from the likes of Belle and Sebastian and Kimya Dawson. The songs truly add to all the poignant moments in the movie, elevating each scene with an extra dash of drama or whimsy. Co-stars Elliot Page and Michael Cera even duet on one of the tunes.
That Thing You Do! (1996)
If you love the peppy music of the ’60s, then you’ll find the soundtrack to That Thing You Do! absolutely irresistible. The Tom Hanks-directed film follows the Wonders, a fictitious Pennsylvania-based band that rockets to stardom with one hit. As they grapple with fame, moviegoers go along for the ride and all the fun music that goes with it. The titular hit was nominated for a Best Original Song Oscar!
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing is one of those feel-good movies that everyone watches over and over again—and not just to see Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey shimmy it up on the dance floor in the Catskills. This movie’s music, a mix of ’60s classics and contemporary numbers, is now the fifth bestselling movie soundtrack of all time, with more than 30 million copies sold. It also spent 18 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200 Album Chart.
The Great Gatsby (2013)
In typical Baz Luhrmann fashion, this rendition of The Great Gatsby is glossy and visually stunning. And of course, there’s a fabulous soundtrack to go along with it. Tracks from Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Lana Del Rey, Fergie and more make up the compilation that is equal parts fun and dramatic.
Top Gun (1986)
What would a dramatic action film be without a fierce soundtrack to go along with it? Tom Cruise’s Top Gun was everything you could want in an ’80s movie about the students of the Navy’s elite fighter-pilot school. The music is unforgettable, including Kenny Loggins’s “Danger Zone” (reprised in the 2022 smash sequel Top Gun: Maverick!) and Berlin’s chart-topping “Take My Breath Away.”
50 First Dates (2004)
Next time you stream this Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore comedic delight on Netflix, take a moment to appreciate all the updated versions of ’80s hits. We’re particularly fond of Ziggy Marley’s “Drive” and UB40’s “Every Breath You Take.”
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Sources:
- Library of Congress: “Saturday Night Fever”
- Billboard: “Chart Flashback: In 1994, The Lion King Reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200″
- Variety: “We Don’t Talk About Bruno Becomes the First Disney Song To Top Billboard 100 in 29 Years”
- Forbes: “Guardians of the Galaxy Is Shockingly Successful When It Comes to Cassette Sales”
- Grammys.com: “The Bodyguard Soundtrack: 25 Years After Whitney Houston’s Masterpiece”
- Forbes: “Disney’s Frozen Soundtrack Is the Only Album to Sell 1 Million Copies This Year”
- Radio Times: “Titanic Soundtrack Is Best-Selling Classical Album of the Last 25 Years”
- Stereogum: “Lisa Loeb & Nine Stories: Stay (I Missed You)”
- Spin: “Twilight Author Reveals Musical Inspirations”
- Grammys.com: “T Bone Burnett”
- Billboard: “Chart Rewind: In 2006, High School Musical Charted Something New”
- Spin: “‘Dirty Dancing’ 25 Years Later: Ranking the Soundtrack’s Songs”
