The 40 Best Movie Soundtracks

A couple of weeks ago, I found a few movie soundtrack CDs in the 50 cent clearance bin at a record store that is closing down. These collections can have some really rare gems like cover songs, exclusive recordings, etc. So it got me thinking: what are THE best movie soundtrack albums?

This entire week I've been really digging deep, trying to find all of those lost treasures. The rules I gave myself for this list are: 1. The soundtrack has to have around 50% vocal music or more (so no movie scores, we'll save that for a future list), 2. The songs have to appear on the soundtrack album (sometimes a rad song will appear in a movie, but it didn't end up on the album). 

I've posted a ton of links, so if you'd like to buy the movie, the album, or individual songs, there are several formats to choose from.

If you'd like to keep up with my daily postings, head on over to the Life On This Planet Facebook Page and click LIKE over there. Okay, so without further ado... here are The 40 Best Movie Soundtracks. Please enjoy.

40.  The Lost Boys (1987)
I love this movie. Saw it back when it came out in the Summer of '87. RIP Corey Haim.

Key Tracks:  Gerard McMann - Cry Little Sister, Echo and the Bunnymen - People Are Strange, Tim Cappello - I Still Believe, Mummy Calis - Beauty Has Her Way

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

39.  The Commitments (1991)

Great film with some fun R&B music.

Key Tracks:  The Dark End Of The Street, Try A Little Tenderness, Mustang Sally, In The Midnight Hour

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

38.  Dirty Dancing (1987)

Another one from the Summer of '87. Patrick Swayze, RIP

Key Tracks:  Patrick Swayze - She's Like The Wind, Eric Carmen - Hungry Eyes, The Ronettes - Be My Baby, Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes - I've Had The Time Of My Life

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

37.  The Graduate (1968)
Most of the soundtrack was done by Simon & Garfunkel.

Key Tracks:  The Sounds Of Silence, Mrs. Robinson, Scarborough Fair, April Come She Will

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

36.  Almost Famous (2000)

Did you know that Mark Kozelek from Red House Painters & Sun Kil Moon plays one of the band members?

Key Tracks:  Elton John - Tiny Dancer, David Bowie - Waiting For The Man (live), Cat Stevens - The Wind, Led Zeppelin - That's The Way

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

35.  Maximum Overdrive (1986)

This adaptation of a Stephen King short story features a soundtrack by AC/DC. The entire collection was released as Who Made Who.

Key Tracks:  Who Made Who, You Shook Me All Night Long, Hells Bells, For Those About To Rock

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

34.  Wedding Singer (1998)

A second volume was released with even more 80s classics.

Key Tracks:  Culture Club - Do You Really Want To Hurt Me, The Smiths - How Soon Is Now, Psychedelic Furs - Love My Way, David Bowie - China Girl, Billy Idol - White Wedding, New Order - Blue Monday

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

33.  The Doors (1991)

Crispin Glover was rad as Andy Warhol.

Key Tracks:  Velvet Underground - Heroin, The Doors - The End, Love Street, Ghost Song, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - Carmina Burana

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

32.  Forrest Gump (1994)

Lots and lots of killer tracks on this double album.

Key Tracks:  The Byrds - Turn Turn Turn, Lynyrd Skynyrd - Sweet Home Alabama, Simon & Garfunkel - Mrs. Robinson, The Doors - Break On Through, Buffalo Springfield - For What It's Worth, Beach Boys - Sloop John B, Creedence Clearwater Revival - Fortunate Son, Willie Nelson - On The Road Again

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

31.  Party Monster (2003)

New York club kids, murder and some great dance music - based on a true story.

Key Tracks:  Stacey Q - Two Of Hearts, Ladytron - Seventeen, Felix da Housecat - Money Success Fame Glamour, Tones On Tail - Go!

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

30.  Buffalo 66 (1998)

One of my favorite films of all time. Not only did Vincent Gallo write, direct, and play the lead role in Buffalo 66, but he wrote some of the songs on the eclectic soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  Yes - Heart Of The Sunrise, King Crimson - Moonchild, Vincent Gallo - Lonely Boy, Vincent Gallo Sr. - Fools Rush In

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

29.  Platoon (1987)
Who can forget that moment depicted on the album cover above?

Key Tracks:  Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit, The Doors - Hello I Love You, Merle Haggard - Okie From Muskogee, Smokey Robinson - The Tracks Of My Tears, Samuel Barber - Adagio For Strings

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

28.  Empire Records (1995)

This has been playing on TV a lot lately. Several of the actors went on to bigger things. The soundtrack had some great music on it.

Key Tracks:  Gin Blossoms - Til I Hear It From You, Evan Dando - The Ballad Of El Goodo (Big Star cover), The Cranberries - Liar

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

27.  Cruel Intentions (1999)

Some killer music in this teen drama.

Key Tracks:  The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony, Placebo - Every You Every Me, Counting Crows - Colorblind, Fatboy Slim - Praise You

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

26.  Easy Rider (1969)

A classic, featuring the late Dennis Hopper. Own it. Be sure to check out the deluxe edition of the soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  Steppenwolf - Born To Be Wild & The Pusher, Roger McGuinn - Ballad Of Easy Rider, Jimi Hendrix - If 6 Was 9, The Band - The Weight, The Byrds - Wasn't Born To Follow, Fraternity Of Man - Don't Bogart Me

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

25.  Saturday Night Fever (1977)
In the U.S. alone, the album sold over 15 million copies. Get on your disco shoes.

Key Tracks:  The Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive, How Deep Is Your Love, Night Fever, More Than A Woman; Yvonne Elliman - If I Can't Have You

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

24.  Pump Up The Volume (1990)

I was never really a fan of the movie, but the soundtrack rocked.

Key Tracks:  Pixies - Wave Of Mutilation (UK Surf), Peter Murphy - I've Got A Miniature Secret Camera, Concrete Blonde - Everybody Knows (Leonard Cohen cover)

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

23.  The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou (2004)

Brilliant Wes Anderson movie with a great accompanying soundtrack - featuring Brazilian Seu Jorge's fabulous David Bowie covers in his native tongue - Portugese. Shortly after, Jorge released an extended version with additional songs that didn't make the album.

Key Tracks:  Seu Jorge's Bowie covers - Starman, Rock N' Roll Suicide, Rebel Rebel, Five Years, Life On Mars?, The Stooges - Search And Destroy, Scott Walker - 30 Century Man, David Bowie - Life On Mars? & Queen Bitch

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

22.  The Crow (1994)

I saw this movie three times in the theatre when it came out - just to hear that Cure song!

Key Tracks:  The Cure - Burn, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult - After The Flesh, Nine Inch Nails - Dead Souls, Jesus and Mary Chain - Snakedriver, Violent Femmes - Color Me Once, Jane Siberry - It Can't Rain All The Time, Stone Temple Pilots - Big Empty

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

21.  Pretty In Pink (1986)

From the late John Hughes.

Key Tracks:  Psychedelic Furs - Pretty In Pink, OMD - If You Leave, Echo and the Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses, The Smiths - Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

20.  Good Will Hunting (1997)
Elliott Smith earned a Grammy nomination for his song Miss Misery.

Key Tracks:  Elliott Smith - Miss Misery, Say Yes, Between The Bars, Angeles, No Name #3; Al Green - How Can You Mend A Broken Heart

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

19.  Say Anything (1989)

Yeah, you know the one. John Cusack holds up the boombox playing In Your Eyes. Check out this great soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  Living Colour - Cult Of Personality, Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes, Red Hot Chili Peppers - Taste The Pain, Depeche Mode - Stripped, Fishbone - Skankin' To The Beat, The Replacements - Within Your Reach

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

18.  The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Another cool Wes Anderson film with quirky characters and some great music.

Key Tracks:  Nico - These Days & The Fairest Of The Seasons, Elliott Smith - Needle In The Hay, Velvet Underground - Stephanie Says, Nick Drake - Fly

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

17.  Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)

Really great comedy with a fun soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  David Bowie - Modern Love, The Replacements - I Will Dare, Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home, New Order - Bizzare Love Triangle, Echo and the Bunnymen - Bring On The Dancing Horses, Salt N Pepa - Push It

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

16.  Nowhere (1997)

I remember very little about the movie, but the soundtrack featured some exclusive tracks that rivaled some of the included bands' best work.

Key Tracks:  Catherine Wheel - Intravenous, Lush - I Have The Moon, Radiohead - How Can You Be Sure, Suede - Trash, James - Thursday Treatments

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

15.  Purple Rain (1984)

Not only is it a Prince album, but it acts as the soundtrack to the movie.

Key Tracks:  Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Let's Go Crazy

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

14.  Natural Born Killers (1994)
Disturbing Oliver Stone film with a rad soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  Cowboy Junkies - Sweet Jane (Velvet Underground cover), Leonard Cohen - Waiting For The Miracle & The Future, Jane's Addiction - Ted Just Admit It (excerpt), Nine Inch Nails - Burn, Patsy Cline - Back In Baby's Arms

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

13.  Dazed And Confused (1993)

I can't believe this movie is almost 20 years old! Always happy to see it when it comes on TV. A second volume of the soundtrack was also released, with some more great 70s jams.

Key Tracks:  Nazareth - Love Hurts, The Runaways - Cherry Bomb, Black Sabbath - Paranoid, War - Low Rider, Alice Cooper - School's Out, Foghat - Slow Ride.

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

12.  Marie Antoinette (2006)

Great 80s alternative soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  New Order - Ceremony, The Cure - Plainsong & All Cats Are Grey, Siouxsie & The Banshees - Hong Kong Garden

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

11.  Lords Of Dogtown (2005)

A fantastic film portraying a group of teenage skaters in Santa Monica, California.

Key Tracks:  Iggy Pop - Success, Nazareth - Hair Of The Dog, Jimi Hendrix - Fire, Black Sabbath - Iron Man, Sparklehorse & Thom Yorke - Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover), Social Distortion - Death Or Glory (Clash cover), T. Rex - 20th Century Boy, David Bowie - Suffragette City, Rod Stewart - Maggie May

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

10.  Trainspotting (1996)

Saw this in the theatre back when it came out and was blown away by the soundtrack. A second volume was later released on CD, with even more great tunes.

Key Tracks:  Brian Eno - Deep Blue Day, Underworld - Born Slippy, Iggy Pop - Lust For Life & Nightclubbing, Lou Reed - Perfect Day, New Order - Temptation

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

09.  Lost Highway (1996)
Like most David Lynch films, no matter how many times you see it, you'll never understand it all.

Key Tracks:  Lou Reed - This Magic Moment, David Bowie - I'm Deranged, Smashing Pumpkins - Eye, Nine Inch Nails - The Perfect Drug

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

08.  Adventureland (2009)

Somehow I doubt the kids in this movie would've had a copy of Big Star's Radio City, but nonetheless, the soundtrack is pretty great.

Key Tracks:  Lou Reed - Satellite Of Love, Big Star - I'm In Love With A Girl, David Bowie - Modern Love, The Cure - Just Like Heaven, INXS - Don't Change, The Outfield - Your Love, Crowded House - Don't Dream It's Over, Velvet Underground - Pale Blue Eyes, The Replacements - Unsatisfied, New York Dolls - Looking For A Kiss

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

07.  24 Hour Party People (2002)
Great portrayal of Tony Wilson and the Manchester music scene.

Key Tracks:  Joy Division - Transmission & Love Will Tear Us Apart & Atmosphere & She's Lost Control, Happy Mondays - 24 Hour Party People, Sex Pistols - Anarchy In The UK, New Order - Temptation & Blue Monday

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

06.  Into The Wild (2007)

The soundtrack served as Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder's spectacular, debut solo album.

Key Tracks:  Setting Forth, Far Behind, Rise, Society, Hard Sun, Long Nights

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

05.  Control (2007)

A really amazing, tragic biographical look at the short life of Joy Division frontman, Ian Curtis.

Key Tracks:  Joy Division - Dead Souls & Love Will Tear Us Apart & Atmosphere, Velvet Underground - What Goes On, Iggy Pop - Sister Midnight, David Bowie - Drive In Saturday & Warszawa, Roxy Music - 2HB, Kraftwerk - Autobahn

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

04.  Hedwig And The Angry Inch (2001)

Phenonmenal movie. The soundtrack was written for the movie - just incredible. Haven't seen it? Buy it now.

Key Tracks:  Midnight Radio, The Origin Of Love, Wicked Little Town, Wig In A Box, Angry Inch, Tear Me Down, Sugar Daddy

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

03.  Velvet Goldmine (1998)

A cool film, loosely-based on Bowie & Iggy Pop. A band was assembled to re-record some classic glam-era tracks named The Venus In Furs, featuring Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead, Bernard Butler of Suede, Andy Mackay of Roxy Music and actor Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Key Tracks:  Placebo - 20th Century Boy, Roxy Music - Virginia Plain, Venus In Furs - 2HB, Baby's On Fire, Bittersweet, Ladytron, Brian Eno - Needle In The Camel's Eye, Lou Reed - Satellite Of Love

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: Amazon MP3 / CD

02.  Donnie Darko (2004)

If you haven't seen the film, buy it now - it's intense and pretty deep.

Key Tracks:  The Church - Under The Milky Way, INXS - Never Tear Us Apart, Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart, Michael Andrews & Gary Jules - Mad World, Echo & The Bunnymen - The Killing Moon, Tears For Fears - Head Over Heels

Purchase Movie:  DVD, Blu-ray

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

01.  Singles (1992)
I saw this the day it came out and was blown away by the soundtrack.

Key Tracks:  Mother Love Bone - Chloe Dancer/Crown Of Thorns, Alice In Chains - Would?, Paul Westerberg - Dyslexic Heart, Smashing Pumpkins - Drown, Pearl Jam - State Of Love And Trust, Jimi Hendrix - May This Be Love

Purchase Movie:  DVD

Purchase Soundtrack: CD

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