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The 53 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time

Cue "aaannnd I will always love youuuuu ♪"

By Valerie Magan and
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Not every movie soundtrack has to go as hard as it does. The best soundtracks exist outside of the movie, giving you all the feels without all the *drama.* It's like a specially curated mixtape (aka a playlist, duh) from your favorite movie to you. There's often that one, epic song the movie's known for—the one that plays over the end credits and sends you out of the movie theater with a smile on your face—but there are also hidden gems that maybe only get a few lines in the film but are utter bangers in their own right. Movie soundtracks = an underrated way to find new music!

Important note: This list doesn't include scores, which are instrumental songs crafted specifically to pair with movie scenes (think: John Williams, Michael Giacchino, Hans Zimmer, and more of the greats that beef up our favorite movies). As my husband likes to say, a favorite movie score is for listening with the windows up while you're driving so you can appreciate the gorgeous sounds and probably cry. A favorite movie soundtrack is for listening in your car with the window open while you're driving so you can sing along. We're aiming for the latter with these bbs.

In no particular order, here are 53 soundtracks—from time-honored classics to Disney jams and some new note-worthy contenders—that know exactly what songs will go together for the perfect cinematic and musical experience.

1

Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol.1

<i>Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol.1</i>
1

Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol.1

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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.

2

High Fidelity

<i>High Fidelity</i>
2

High Fidelity

Credit: Courtesy Image

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.)

3

Good Will Hunting

<i>Good Will Hunting</i>
3

Good Will Hunting

Credit: Courtesy Image

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.

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4

Inside Llewyn Davis

<i>Inside Llewyn Davis</i>
4

Inside Llewyn Davis

Credit: Courtesy Image

The Coen brothers reimagined old folk songs with performers like Marcus Mumford. But the truly impressive feat is the actors' vocal performances—including Oscar Isaacs, Carey Mulligan, Justin Timberlake, and Adam Driver—and the fact that the movie is both a hyper-specific look at the music scene in the '60s and an evergreen tale of struggling to try and achieve a dream.

5

Empire Records

<i>Empire Records </i>
5

Empire Records

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.

6

The Big Chill

<i>The Big Chill </i>

I can admit that this soundtrack slaps. Motown is timeless, and even though this movie is about an upper middle class white yuppie, every single song on the soundtrack is a hit. Marvin Gaye, anyone?!

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7

The Greatest Showman

<i>The Greatest Showman</i>
7

The Greatest Showman

Credit: Courtesy Image

Sing it with me now: "This is the greatest showwww!" If you've never watched, pls do yourself a favor and learn about what a terrible person the real PT Barnum was, then accept this into your heart as a fully fictional tale starring international treasure Hugh Jackman. Come for his full-on belting, stay for the exquisite vocals of Zac Efron and Zendaya and Keala Settle.

8

Garden State

<i>Garden State</i>
8

Garden State

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.

9

Barbie The Album

<i>Barbie The Album</i>
9

Barbie The Album

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.

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10

Back to the Future

<i>Back to the Future</i>
10

Back to the Future

Credit: Courtesy Image

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.

11

Legally Blonde

<i>Legally Blonde</i>
11

Legally Blonde

Credit: Courtesy Image

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.

12

Encanto

<i>Encanto</i>
12

Encanto

Credit: Courtesy Image

(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.

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13

The Harder They Fall

<i>The Harder They Fall</i>
13

The Harder They Fall

Credit: Courtesy Image

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.)

14

Top Gun

<i>Top Gun</i>
14

Top Gun

Credit: Courtesy Image

As heavy-handed and on the nose as this music can sometimes be (I mean, the movie's major song is literally called "Danger Zone" and you hear it A LOT in the film), there's a reason every single person knows the lyrics. Plus, "Take My Breath Away" is never a bad choice to sing along to at the top of your lungs. Here's hoping the sequel lives up to it (we already know "Danger Zone" is on there, duh, alongside a live rendition of "Great Balls of Fire" by Miles Teller. And there's a song by Lady Gaga!)

15

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

<i>Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping</i>
15

Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping

Credit: Courtesy Image

"Mona Lisa! You're an overrated piece of sh*t!" I sing to myself while doing the dishes. "F*ck off, I don't want your life / I don't owe you sh*t / And I hate your rules!" I chant while doing chores. "I'm so humble!" I shout to my husband without context. This might not have as a good a plot as other biopic satires (see also: Walk Hard), but you absolutely cannot deny Lonely Island knows how to write songs and lyrics that will stay in your head. Forever.

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16

Across the Universe

<i>Across the Universe</i>
16

Across the Universe

Credit: Courtesy Image

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.

17

A Goofy Movie

<i>A Goofy Movie</i>
17

A Goofy Movie

Credit: Courtesy Image

This is one of those "movies you're prob unfamiliar with unless you grew up watching them." But! A Goofy Movie has some ~impressively catchy~ tunes. And that's a huge part of the reason fans remember and still love it—I dare you to listen to "Stand Out" and "I2I" (like eye to eye, get it??) and not be won over by their effortless catchiness.

18

Almost Famous

<i>Almost Famous</i>
18

Almost Famous

Credit: Courtesy Image

The whole movie is about a student following around a band trying to interview them—like, it's all about the love of music and the cost of fame, so you *know* the soundtrack is gonna be great. Simon and Garfunkel! The Beach Boys! Elton John! David Bowie! An actual new song for the fictional band to sing! This soundtrack won a Grammy, and with good reason.

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19

The Lion King: Special Edition

<i>The Lion King: Special Edition</i>
19

The Lion King: Special Edition

Credit: Courtesy Image

Not only is this perhaps the coolest Disney animation ever—it's a modern Hamlet, with lions!—it features one of the most iconic voice cast of all time (Jeremy Irons, James Earl Jones, Rowan Atkinson, Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, just to name a few). The combo of Elton John making some of the most iconic music of all time and Hans Zimmer making one of the best scores of all time was a winner—they both won Oscars.

20

Flashdance

<i>Flashdance</i>

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.

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