The 53 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time

Honestly, I don’t know what pub trivia nights and coffee shops with board games would do without this Marvel movie soundtrack. Nerds everywhere are embracing the oldies, and I love that for us.

On the totally OTHER end of the spectrum, we've got the sweet, thoughtful music from this feel-good movie. The late Elliott Smith contributes a beeyootiful whispery mood to some of the more emotional moments of the film (when Minnie Driver's Skylar gets on a plane, when Robin Williams' Sean reads the note from Will) to make you wanna cry for the 50th time.

Except for a cover, nothing from The Eagles makes it onto this playlist (ya know, because The Dude hates them??). Also this is like dying and going to rock heaven, where Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Kenny Rogers, and a bunch of other amazing artists perform for you over and over again. Even if it's been years since you watched this, the soundtrack's about to become your BFF.

It's been more than 25 years since our beloved record store employees graced the big screen in Empire Records, but both the movie and the soundtrack remain a cult favorite amongst film fanatics and nostalgics alike. A quasi-coming of age film about teens who spend their whole day trying to save a music store, it's only fitting that the soundtrack would miss no marks. With offerings from quintessential '90s bands like The Gin Blossoms and The Cranberries, the lilting melodies and gritty rock blends the crew's personal turmoils with renewed hope for both their lives and the record store they manage to save against all odds.

The music in this balls-to-the-wall Western is integral to the plot (there's a sting in here that'll make your heart drop). But it's also just a masterpiece in its own right, thanks to Kid Cudi, Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill(!!), and many other artists. Including skits featuring the actors' voices (LaKeith Stanfield, Regina King, Zazie Beetz, and Jonathan Majors, yes please.)

Super-hot take: I didn't completely love this movie (it's so disjointed!). But no one can deny that the music—which was designed to be integral to the film—is compelling, so much so that it helped bring folk, bluegrass, and Americana back to popularity both in Hollywood and outside it. And you cannot deny that "Down to the River to Pray" is gorgeous, full stop, no question.

What a feeling the '80s were. You don't even have to take our word for it— Irene Cara said it herself—and the Flashdance soundtrack is proof. Bolstered by the timeless pop charm of Cara's iconic opener "Flashdance… What a Feeling," Michael Sembollo's "Maniac," and additional fare from the legendary Donna Summer's "Romeo," transport yourself forty years back with this timeless soundtrack. And if you're brave enough, you can learn some cool dance moves of your own.

There's no better encyclopedia on the '90s than the soundtrack that's the quintessential supplement to all things Cher Horowitz and her flip phone. From the Beastie Boys to the Counting Crows, this compilation is all that's missing from the future '90s party you're going to throw. Can't wait for you to roll with your homies.

I literally bought the CD (yes, I'm old!) and listened to this soundtrack every single day when it came out. Headlined by Hoku's catchy girl-power-centric "Perfect Day," this soundtrack's also got The Black Eyed Peas, Lisa Loeb, and Mya on there for late '90s throwback perfection—oh, and "A Thousand Miles" by Vanessa Carlton too, casual.

The Kinks, Velvet Underground, and Stevie Wonder are just a couple of the iconic musicians on this soundtrack. Which makes sense, since Rob (John Cusack) works at a record store, is obsessed with music, and absolutely would make a mixtape for different parts of his life if he existed IRL. (The TV remake also had very good music, FYI, but start here before you binge Zoë Kravitz.)

The actual movie? Meh. The songs?? Rlly, rlly great. Featuring 33 of the Beatles' songs, a lot of them are sung by the stars (including Jim Sturgess and Evan Rachel Wood—who nails it, btw, in case you're wondering) and then there are some singing cameos from Eddie Izzard, Salma Hayek, and Joe Cocker. Oh, and Bono, NBD.

If you were ever a teenager who grew up listening to music (probably the five cassettes you owned) while you drove around in a car, this soundtrack perfectly captures that. Or, if you'd like to capture that aimless, joyful, rebellious experience, just put on this soundtrack. Stoner Matthew McConaughey not included, sadly.

Again, Baz Luhrmann just ~gets~ the power of music to match his movies. This is jam-packed with hits, including a song that would introduce the world to The Cardigans. But the most gorgeous songs come from the late Quindon Tarver; His cover of "When Doves Cry" serves as the centerpiece of the doomed couple's wedding—a moment of pure joy before it all goes bad.

This candid and musical look inside Zach Braff's brain earned the actor and director a Grammy in 2005 for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. The album also sold more than 1.3 million copies, NBD, and made everyone feel a little bit better via Coldplay, The Shins, and Imogen Heap's duo, Frou Frou.

The album of summer 2023 has ARRIVED thanks to Dua Lipa, Nicki Minaj, Ice Spice, PinkPantheress, Ava Max, Lizzo, and more. Leave it to the Barbie soundtrack to get everyone up and moving.

This adorable Pixar movie from director Domee Shi had a soundtrack so strong, its fake band 4*Town's song "Nobody Like U" hit the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for a Grammy Award.

It's really hard to overstate how important this soundtrack was to Baz Luhrmann's OTT singing extravaganza. The "pop music, but make it into a musical!" choice was copied by every college a capella group for the next decade, but the songs still hold up as genuinely impressive covers, mixes, and reimaginings. Plus, "Lady Marmalade," always and forever, is the best collab between female artists of all time.

So, technically the film's score is on this soundtrack (and it's amazing, so just consider it a bonus instrumental) but the Huey Lewis and the News songs—written for the movie—are insta-classics. Plus, Mark Campbell does the singing for Michael J. Fox in the "Johnny B. Goode" song that's so integral to the plot—but don't get it twisted: Despite the film joking about it, the song was written by Chuck Berry, period.

The movie remake inspired some die-hard fans to get mad, since certain songs weren't sung in exactly the same context (or even by the same characters, shock). But even if you love the original, come into this with open ears. The sheer talent and energy on display is worth the evolution of the source material. Two words: Rachel. Zegler.

(inhales deeply) "We don't talk about Bruno-no-NO!" Thanks to Lin-Manuel Miranda (and TikTok latching onto the catchiest part of the catchiest song), this Disney movie about healing generational trauma has some of the earworm-iest songs you've heard since...well, since the last Disney hit LMM participated in, Moana, which is also an amazing soundtrack.