Last week, I shared my top 10 songs used in TV shows, and the response was awesome. So I had to do one for movies.
Here are 10 songs that elevated key scenes and became inseparable from the films themselves.:
“Layla (Piano Exit)” by Eric Clapton:
Goodfellas
The gold standard. Turns a beautiful song into something haunting and inevitable.
“Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies:
Fight Club
A perfect ending. The song feels like it was made for that moment.
“Stuck in the Middle with You” by Stealers Wheel:
Reservoir Dogs
An upbeat song turned deeply unsettling. Classic Tarantino contrast.
“Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen:
Wayne's World
Pure joy. It revived Queen for a whole new generation.
“You Never Can Tell” by Chuck Berry:
Pulp Fiction
Effortless cool. One of the most iconic dance scenes ever.
“Tiny Dancer” by Elton John:
Almost Famous
A fractured group becomes a family again for a moment.
“The End” by The Doors:
Apocalypse Now
Sets the tone for the entire film in the opening minutes.
“All Star” by Smash Mouth:
Shrek
Defines the tone instantly. You cannot separate this song from the movie.
“Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone:
Guardians of the Galaxy
A perfect character intro. It signals this is not a typical superhero movie.
“Fortunate Son” by Creedence Clearwater Revival:
Forrest Gump
The definitive Vietnam needle drop. It instantly sets time, place, and tone.
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