53 Movie Soundtracks That Still Give Us All The ~Feels~

It’s really hard to overstate how important this soundtrack was to Baz Luhrmann’s OTT singing extravaganza. The “pop music, but make it into a musical!” choice was copied by every college a capella group for the next decade, but the songs still hold up as genuinely impressive covers, mixes, and reimaginings. Plus, “Lady Marmalade,” always and forever, is the best collab between female artists of all time.

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.)

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.

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.)

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.

Except for a cover, nothing from The Eagles makes it onto this playlist (ya know, because The Dude hates them??). Also this is like dying and going to rock heaven, where Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Kenny Rogers, and a bunch of other amazing artists perform for you over and over again. Even if it’s been years since you watched this, the soundtrack’s about to become your BFF.

If you were ever a teenager who grew up listening to music (probably the five cassettes you owned) while you drove around in a car, this soundtrack perfectly captures that. Or, if you’d like to capture that aimless, joyful, rebellious experience, just put on this soundtrack. Stoner Matthew McConaughey not included, sadly.

Again, Baz Luhrmann just ~gets~ the power of music to match his movies. This is jam-packed with hits, including a song that would introduce the world to The Cardigans. But the most gorgeous songs come from the late Quindon Tarver; His cover of “When Doves Cry” serves as the centerpiece of the doomed couple’s wedding—a moment of pure joy before it all goes bad.

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.

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.