Music scores are often found and added to films during editing, but some songs are written and produced exclusively for films.
Scoring within a film often makes or breaks a film. A soundtrack that doesn’t match the movie’s scenes won’t be able to set the scene or evoke emotion in the audience. But time and time again, viewers experience that the music and scenes are so integrated that they become truly unforgettable.
The songs on this list were created specifically for the movies in which they appeared and remained popular long after their release date.
Songs such as “Moon River” from “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” became popular because they were created for movies. (Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)
Other songs that have made a comeback thanks to movies like “Murder on the dancefloor” and “Saltburn”
- Audrey Hepburn “Moon River” “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
- “Mrs. Robinson”, Simon & Garfunkel, “The Graduate”
- “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” BJ Thomas and Hal David “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
- “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Bob Dylan, “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid”
- “Staying Alive”, Bee Gees, “Saturday Night Fever”
- “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion “Titanic”
- “9 to 5”, Dolly Parton, “9 to 5”
- “Eye of the Tiger” “Survivor” “Rocky III”
- “Ghostbusters”, Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
- “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, Simple Minds, “The Breakfast Club”
- “Danger Zone”, Kenny Loggins, “Top Gun”
- “Miss Misery” Elliott Smith “Good Will Hunting”
- “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”, Aerosmith, “Armageddon”
- Eminem “Loose Yourself” “8 Mile”
- “Skyfall”, “Adele”, “Skyfall”
- “See You Again” Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth “Fast & Furious 7”
- “Shallow”, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, “A Star Is Born”
1. “Moon River”, Audrey Hepburn, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
“Moon River” has been recorded many times by numerous artists since Audrey Hepburn’s official debut in 1961 with “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”
The song was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.
2. “Mrs. Robinson”, Simon & Garfunkel, “The Graduate”
The film, directed by Mike Nichols, was the setting for the debut feature of Simon and Garfunkel’s Mrs. Robinson.
The band first provided a song titled “Mrs. Roosevelt”, which they later changed to the name of the film.
3. “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” BJ Thomas and Hal David, “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”
For generations, some may remember “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” from Spider-Man 2. This song plays when the main character, Peter Parker, temporarily sacrifices his superhero duties to be happy. However, the song did not originate from his 2004 fantasy film, and actually debuted many years ago.
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This hit song was written for the 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” In the scene where this song plays, Butch, played by Paul Newman, takes Etta, played by Katharine Ross, on a romantic bike trip.
4. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, Bob Dylan, “Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid”
Bob Dylan’s hit song “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” is one of his most famous songs. It comes from the 1973 movie “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid.”
The film starred Dylan, who also recorded the film’s soundtrack.
One of the most famous covers of this song was released by Guns N’ Roses in 1991.
5. “Staying Alive,” Bee Gees, “Saturday Night Fever”
I first heard “Staying Alive” on “Saturday Night Fever.” A Bee Gees song plays as American actor John Travolta dances among a crowd of people on a lit disco floor. When Travolta dances, his steps light up the floor.
After the movie was released, this song not only became popular, but also lit up the dance floor.
“Stayin’ Alive” remains one of the Bee Gees’ most popular hits to this day.
“Stayin’ Alive” is one of the Bee Gees’ most popular songs. (CBS via Getty Images)
6. “My Heart Will Go On” Celine Dion “Titanic”
“My Heart Will Go On” is a heart-breaking hit that was first featured in the 1997 film “Titanic.” The song plays during the end credits after the tragic events of a historic shipwreck.
The song perfectly embodies the electrifying atmosphere of the film and the heartbreaking ending of the love story between Leonardo DiCaprio’s Jack and Kate Winslet’s Rose.
This song remains one of Celine Dion’s most famous songs.
7. “9 to 5” Dolly Parton “9 to 5”
Did you know that “9 to 5” was written for a movie of the same name?
Country music icon Dolly Parton starred in a comedy film titled “9 to 5,” opposite Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin from “Grace and Frankie.”
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Parton was nominated for an Academy Award for this hit song, and continues to perform it for fans today.
8. “Eye of the Tiger,” “Survivor,” “Rocky III”
Everything happens for a reason, and “Eye of the Tiger” is a perfect example of that.
This song by Survivor is often used to cheer up gym-goers, fans at sporting events, etc., but it was almost never created.
Sylvester Stallone, who played the beloved Italian Stallion in the Rocky movies, first asked Queen for permission to use “Another One Bites the Dust” in the film. After his request was denied, Stallone consulted Survivor, who composed a new song for the film.
The training montage in “Rocky” produces some of the most memorable scenes in the movie. (Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
The training montage in “Rocky” is all memorable and moving scenes, all thanks to the music playing in the background. “Eye of the Tiger” is no exception. The piece served as the perfect soundtrack for the motivational montage that generations of fans have appreciated.
9. “Ghostbusters”, Ray Parker Jr., “Ghostbusters”
“Who are you going to call? Ghostbusters!”
The catchy “Ghostbusters” theme was first used in the original 1984 film, but has continued to be associated with many films in the series ever since.
The latest film, Ghostbusters, is scheduled to be released in theaters in 2024.
10. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)”, Simple Minds, “The Breakfast Club”
The hit 80’s movie “The Breakfast Club” spawned Simple Minds’ memorable hit “Don’t You (Forget About Me).”
The song is played during the film’s opening and ending credits.
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11. “Danger Zone”, Kenny Loggins, “Top Gun”
The opening sequence of “Top Gun” perfectly sets the tone for the rest of the action-packed movie. The beginning of the movie combines scenes from Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone” with jet planes flying through the sky.
Loggins recorded the song with Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock shortly after making the 1984 film Footloose.
The song was also used in a similar but more updated opening sequence for 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick.
The opening sequence of “Top Gun” features Kenny Loggins’ “Danger Zone.” (CBS via Getty Images)
12. “Miss Misery”, Elliott Smith, “Good Will Hunting”
Good Will Hunting, starring Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, received numerous Oscar nominations. One of these nominations was for Best Musical, Original Song for “Miss Misery.”
Elliott Smith’s song is used in the film’s final scene and ending credits.
13. “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing”, Aerosmith, “Armageddon”
Aerosmith recorded many songs for the 1998 film Armageddon, but “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” was the most memorable.
This song was written by Diane Warren for the film directed by Michael Bay.
Liv Tyler, daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, starred in the film.
14. “Loose Yourself”, Eminem, “8 Mile”
“Lose Yourself” by Jeff Bass, Luis Resto and Eminem was written and produced for the film “8 Mile,” which was loosely based on the rapper’s own life.
The song became the first rap song to win an Oscar for Best Original Song.
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15. Adele “Skyfall”
In 2012, “Skyfall” was co-written by Adele and her producers. Paul Epworth, director of the James Bond film of the same name.
The film was part of a series of films starring British actor Daniel Craig as 007.
Adele co-wrote and sang “Skyfall” for the 007 film of the same name. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Advertising)
16. “See You Again”, Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, “Fast and Furious 7”
‘See You Again’ was a tearful farewell to Paul Walker.
Walker passed away while filming Fast & Furious 7 in 2015.
17. “Shallow”, Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga, “A Star is Born”
A Star is Born has been remade four times over the decades. The 2018 film Shallow starred Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga as Ally and Jack.
The film won an Oscar for best film score (original song).
