Skip to main content

The 13 Best Film Soundtracks of All Time

The secret sauce to many great films is the soundtrack. The sounds, either written specifically for the movie or representing a carefully curated collection of recordings, are sewn beautifully into the story, adding drama, intrigue, and all the moods.

Sure, the soundtrack can win an Oscar and even sell lots of vinyl or downloads. But it’s rarely talked about in the same vein as a leading actor’s performance, or even an eye-catching work of a special effects artist. As huge fans of music, we think it should be. In fact, sometimes the soundtrack is so good it practically takes on the role of the main character.

Here are some of the best of all time, from iconic to overlooked:

Friday

Released during in 1995 amid what many would argue was the heyday of rap, Friday perfectly acknowledges this context in its soundtrack. From Ice Cube and Mack 10 to Dr. Dre and 2 Live Crew, it’s a cross-section of the vibrant hop-hop and R&B that poured out of the era. It’s the kind of hard-hitting soundtrack that’s great alongside the film but just as good on its own.

The Royal TenenbaumsThe Royal Tenenbaums

Many Wes Anderson films are in the conversation here as the director has become a mastermind of sourcing perfect mix tapes to accompany the action. While Life Aquatic incorporates gorgeous Bowie songs sung in Portuguese and Rushmore dusts off some amazing old rock tracks, The Royal Tenenbaums banks on an eclectic mashup. Noted participants include go-to musician Mark Mothersbaugh, John Lennon, Nico, The Ramones, and an amazing song — and accompanying scene — by Elliott Smith.

Jaws

Hitchcock may be the master of suspense from a filmmaking standpoint but that title in the realm of scores ought to go to John Williams. Here, the maestro creates pure iconography with the “da-duh, da-duh” motif, a sound that’s not permanently tied to scary sharks and mysterious waters worldwide. It’s so damn engrossing that Spielberg admitted that the film probably would have only fared half as well, at best, without this tension-driven and Academy Award-winning masterpiece.

Drive

Rumor has it, the Drive soundtrack was initially supposed to be scored by Johnny Jewel of Glass Candy fame. In fairness, it probably would have been as good or better than the one they went with. Which isn’t to discount the official soundtrack, with its brooding tracks that wonderfully complement the film’s dark, noir-ish side. Tracks like Kavinsky’s Nightcall and the work of Cliff Martinez sonically illustrate the mischievous wonder of a city at night. You can watch this film on our list of the best Netflix movies.

Toy Story

With Toy Story, the soundtrack keys were essentially handed over to the great Randy Newman. In addition to writing standout tracks like You’ve Got a Friend in Me, Newman captured the playfulness of the plot with shimmering piano work, silly lyrics that appeal to the kid and adult alike, and his signature use of satire.

Jurassic Park

John Williams is a genius and for that reason his work features yet again on this list (which admittedly might not be enough). The Jurassic Park score is brilliant in its lasting melodies, cinematic orchestral rises and falls, and tingle-inducing suspense. You know it’s a great musical foundation when every sequel going forward borrows from the original. 

Marie Antoinette

The soundtrack from this 2006 Sofia Coppola film did something unique that still stands out today. It managed to juxtapose a story taking place in the 18th century with modern sounds from the likes of New Wave, The Cure, Gang of Four, Aphex Twin, and more. It’s unbelievably cool and the film recognizes this throughout, functioning more like a long music video than a conventional movie.

Oh Brother Where Art Thou

The Coen Brothers are no strangers to good soundtracks. This one, though, takes the cake and was produced by the legendary T-Bone Burnett. It’s an Americana and bluegrass wonder, with impressive offerings from the likes of Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and more. Even better, it calls on a made-up band, The Soggy Bottom Boys, to perform some written-for-the-movie material that’s so good that it might as well be on the FM dial.

Black PantherBlack Panther

Black Panther is good on so many levels and one major component is the soundtrack. It goes toe-to-toe with the mesmerizing and quick-moving film, keeping pace and adding an extra burst of energy when needed. It’s a remarkable fusion of traditional African musical elements and modern powerhouses like Kendrick Lamar. The collaborations are many, unexpected, and quite vibrant.

SinglesSingles

Any fan of 90s culture should treat themselves to the Singles soundtrack, a beacon of all things grunge. It’s a showpiece of the frayed denim and flannel shirts of the time, featuring fuzzy tracks from acts like Soundgarden, Smashing Pumpkins, Alice in Chains, Mother Love Bone, Pearl Jam, and more. It’s very, very Seattle and will have you head-banging like it’s 1992.

Purple RainPurple Rain

One of the best albums of all time is also a score to a sultry music movie. The work of the one and only Prince, Purple Rain is dynamic, sexy, fun, and funky. It can be pinned down by a single genre, just the fluid and always intoxicating sounds of The Purple One and his great band.

Dead ManDead Man

An overshadowed Johnny Depp film, Dead Man is an artistic wonder, built around a twisted western tale and a rather spooky, guitar-driven soundtrack. Neil Young wrote it, incorporating low-register and reverb-driven instrumental tracks to convey the darkest corners of the mind.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Stock
Mark Stock is a writer from Portland, Oregon. He fell into wine during the Recession and has been fixated on the stuff since…
The 16 best fighting movies of all time
Does your favorite fighting movie make the list?
Fight Club press image

 

It may sound a bit barbaric, but it's undeniable that human beings love to watch one another fight. The magic of the movies allows us to enjoy that pleasure safely in the knowledge that, at least most of the time, no one actually got hurt. On the big screen, fighting takes a wide variety of different forms. Sometimes it's boxing, sometimes it's kung fu, and sometimes it's much more street-level, down-and-dirty battling. All of these styles of fighting can be done well, and many of them have made it into some great action movies over the years.
For this list, though, we've narrowed down the focus specifically so that the films involve some form of combat sport. We've also gathered some of the best sports movies of all time that you should check out if you're looking for something a little broader. For now, though, check out this list of the best fighting movies ever made.

Read more
From Inglourious Basterds to The Thin Red Line, these are the best war movies of all time, ranked
If you're a war movie buff, you must stream these films now
Tom Hanks, Tom Sizemore, and other actors playing as American soldiers riding a boat in "Saving Private Ryan."

War movies are among the most morally sticky films produced in Hollywood. While the best war movies go out of their way to reveal the violence and bloodshed that comes with any armed conflict, many can't help but valorize the men and women who fight in these wars. As a result, many movies about war end up glorifying war even if the creative voices behind the project didn't intend them to. In the best war movies, though, moral questions are never easily answered. Well, unless your war movie is a Star Wars movie.

If you want black-and-white morality, this list of the best action movies on Netflix may better fit the bill.
War movies, on the other hand, often speak to the way that violence breaks men, even if they believe in their cause. These best war movies of all time will shake you to your core, and remind you that humanity is capable of being messy and violent just as frequently as it is brave and valorous.

Read more
These are the best film noir movies of all time
These noir movies stand the test of time
Jack Nicholson in Chinatown.

When you think of film noir, you're likely thinking of movies that came out decades ago, and films that are largely in black and white. While that's not wrong, it doesn't encompass everything that great film noir movies can be. They're not action movies, although they may have great action scenes. They're not quite great thrillers either, which is a genre unto itself, and while they might contain a heist, they aren't defined by it like heist movies.

The genre is defined by its focus on gnarly crimes, and sometimes on the detectives who help solve those crimes. Noir movies are also defined by moody, uniquely cinematic lighting schemes, the femme fatale who exists to prey on men's worst instincts, and the darkness at the heart of every man. The best noir films play on all of these elements and have stood the test of time as not just great entries in the genre, but as some of the greatest movies of all time.

Read more