Movie Soundtrack Songs

What are the best songs from movie soundtracks?

The term soundtrack originated in the 1950s, when film studios decided to release albums as a promotional gimmick for upcoming movies. They then labeled these recordings as “music from the original motion picture soundtrack.” Technically, the music does not come from the “soundtrack” of the film–which would also contain the dialogue and sound effects. Instead, it comes from the music track, but I digress.

Once upon a time, music featured on a soundtrack was always featured in the film. This is not the case anymore and the term soundtrack now most commonly refers to the music used in a movie and on the album sold containing that music. Any music that is featured on the album, but not in the movie, is considered “inspired by” the film.

Choosing the best movie soundtracks songs was not an easy task. In doing so, we found we had enough songs to create separate pages for both James Bond Songs and Disney Songs. So we created a special page for each of them instead of listing them here. For your convenience, we have compiled the songs in a playlist, making it easy for you to listen to a sample or purchase a song.

  • “As Time Goes By” by Dooley Wilson from Casablanca (1942)
  • “Almost Paradise” performed by Ann Wilson & Mike Reno from Footloose (1984)
  • “Because You Loved Me” performed by Celine Dion from Up Close and Personal(1996)
  • “Cabaret” from Cabaret (1972)
  • “Cheek to Cheek” performed by Fred Astaire from Top Hat (1935)
  • “Come What May” performed by Nicole Kidman And Ewan McGregor from Moulin Rouge! (2001)
  • “Crazy For You” by Madonna from Vision Quest 1985
  • “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” by Marilyn Monroe from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)
  • “Everybody’s Talkin’” by Harry Nilsson from Midnight Cowboy (1969)
  • “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” by Bryan Adams from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)
  • “Fight the Power” by Public Enemy from Do the Right Thing (1989)
  • “Hero” by Chad Kroeger from Spider-Man (2002)
  • “Hopelessly Devoted to You” by Olivia Newton-John from Grease (1978)
  • “I Could Have Danced All Night” by Marni Nixon, Rex Harrison & Wilfrid Hyde-White from My Fair Lady (1964)
  • “I Cross My Heart” performed by George Strait from Pure Country (1992)
  • “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston from The Body Guard (1992)
  • “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” performed by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes from Dirty Dancing(1987)
  • “It Must Have Been Love” by Roxette from Pretty Woman (1990)
  • “Jailhouse Rock” by Elvis Presley from Jailhouse Rock (1957)
  • “Moon River” by Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast At Tiffany’s (1961)
  • “Mrs. Robinson” by Simon & Garfunkel from The Graduate (1967)
  • “Old Time Rock And Roll” by Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band from Risky Business (1983)
  • “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” by Judy Garland from The Wizard of Oz (1939)
  • “People” by Barbra Streisand from Funny Girl (1968)
  • “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” by B.J. Thomas from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
  • “Singin’ In The Rain” by Gene Kelly from Singin’ in The Rain (1952)
  • “Separate Lives” performed by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin from White Nights (1985)
  • “She’s Like The Wind” performed by Patrick Swayze from Dirty Dancing (1987)
  • “Soul Man” by Blues Brothers from The Blues Brothers (1980)
  • “Take My Breath Away” performed by Berlin from Top Gun (1986)
  • “The Man that Got Away” performed by Judy Garland from A Star Is Born (1954)
  • “The Way You Look Tonight” performed by Tony Bennet from My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997)
  • “Unchained Melody” by the Righteous Brothers from Ghost (1990)
  • “Up Where We Belong” performed by Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes from An Officer and a Gentleman (1982)
  • “White Christmas” performed by Bing Crosby from Holiday Inn (1942)
  • “Wind Beneath My Wings” performed by Bette Midler from Beaches (1988)
  • “You’re the One that I Want” by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John from Grease (1978)