From soundtracks that play a significant role in progressing the plot of a movie to songs you might not have ever known were written for a film or television show, here are the 100 best movie and TV
The connection between visual media and music goes back to the dawn of cinema itself. Even during the silent era, there was a musician perched in the theater, playing deftly alongside the moving images. In the time since, movies or TV shows and music have formed a mutually beneficial relationship. One of the most famous examples: « My Heart Will Go On » by Celine Dion, a song that helped make Titanic a meteoric smash hit, while also benefiting from the film’s unstoppable popularity. There is no shortage of top-notch soundtracks from any given era. Many heighten the film or show’s atmosphere while some just represent a terrific collection of songs. The best of these soundtracks are powerful enough to stick with us for a lifetime. To determine the best movie and TV soundtracks of all time, Stacker mined data from Billboard to rank the top 100 out of 1,675 soundtracks. The list is based on Billboard’s methodology and ranking (centered primarily on retail and digital sales in the U.S.), along with the soundtrack’s performance on the Billboard 200 chart. The story features several soundtracks that made it onto the list in the last year to compete for the coveted « Best Soundtrack » award at this year’s Billboard Music Awards. Counting down from #100, here are the best movie and TV soundtracks of all time. You may also like: Songs that dominated Billboard charts the longest – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: March 1,1969 The Beatles were initially unimpressed with the animation for Yellow Submarine, though the bandmates later changed their minds. As a result, they only put together a few new songs for the soundtrack, relying on songs from previous releases. Side two consists of classical-style instrumentals composed and arranged by the band’s producer, George Martin. Both the album and film endure as psychedelic classics. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: June 23,1990 Pop legend Madonna was on top of the world in 1990, releasing chart-topping albums and starring in Hollywood films. In 1990’s Dick Tracy, however, she did both—in addition to playing a lead role, she released I’m Breathless, a Broadway-style album to accompany to the movie. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: June 13,1998 While 1998’s Godzilla was widely considered a box office dud, its soundtrack was a popular slice of ’90s music culture. Featured on the album are singles from Jamiroquai, The Wallflowers, and Diddy (then known as Puff Daddy). Diddy’s offering, « Come With Me, » received substantial rotation on MTV and the radio, in particular. The song samples a famous Led Zeppelin song, which Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page contributed to on the soundtrack. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: March 2,2019 Bohemian Rhapsody shattered box office records to earn the distinction of highest-grossing music biopic in the U.S. and around the world, nudging Straight Outta Compton into second place. But for all the fanfare surrounding the film and its soundtrack, the album failed in one regard: By not including a new song on the setlist, Bohemian Rhapsody neglected to have a shot at Best Song at the Academy Awards. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: July 25,2009 Years before she shocked audiences with her 2013 VMA performance, Miley Cyrus played a wholesome girl with a secret alter ego on Disney’s Hannah Montana. Given that Cyrus’ character was a pop star, it’s no surprise that the series and movie produced a range of hit soundtracks. Among them was Hannah Montana 3, which features songs from the third season, including the singles « He Could Be the One » and « Let’s Get Crazy. » – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Jan 28,2017 Damien Chazelle’s 2017 hit musical La Land is still fresh on everyone’s minds, as are its catchy songs. Featuring performances by the film’s stars, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, the soundtrack covers a range of styles, energies, melodies, and moods. Its most popular number, « City of Stars, » won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Nov 26,2005 Not to be confused with 50 Cent’s debut album of the same name, Get Rich Or Die Tryin’ is the soundtrack to the 2005 film in which he starred. As one might expect, the soundtrack features a bevy of gangster rap songs performed by 50 Cent with fellow artists from his G Unit Label. While the movie underperformed at the box office, the album went triple-platinum, selling more than 3 million copies. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: May 27,2000 The second Mission Impossible movie has always been something a franchise oddball and the soundtrack is similarly unsubtle. It comes loaded with songs from head-banging outfits like Limp Bizkit, Foo Fighters, Buckcherry, and Rob Zombie. The soundtrack and film may have made loads of money in their respective markets, but thankfully the franchise itself got back on track for the next installment. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: May 25,2013 Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann built his reputation on pairing classic stories with hyperkinetic visuals and modern music, and 2013’s The Great Gatsby was no exception. Executive produced by Jay-Z, the film’s soundtrack hosts a bevy of hot talent, with three hit singles: « Young and Beautiful, » « A Little Party Never Killed Nobody (All We Got), » and « Bang Bang. » As Rolling Stone put it: « This ain’t your great-grandfather’s West Egg. » – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: May 31,1975 Director Ken Russell and The Who adapted the band’s best-selling 1969 album Tommy for the big screen. Along with the film version came an updated soundtrack, overseen by songwriter and guitarist Pete Townshend. In addition to The Who, the album featured contributions from artists like Elton John, Eric Clapton, and Tina Turner, all of whom also appeared in the film. You may also like: 100 Best Movies Under 100 Minutes – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: April 23,1994 Released at the height of Death Row Records’ popularity, the soundtrack to 1994’s Above the Rim features a range of artists from the hip-hop label. Standing out from the pack was hit single, « Regulate, » by Nate Dogg and Warren G. One of the film’s stars, rapper Tupac Shakur, only made one appearance on the soundtrack. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Nov.8,2008 The High School Musical franchise ranks among the most successful in Disney Channel’s history. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Ashley Tisdale, and the rest of the gang came back with an arsenal of hit tracks on the soundtrack for High School Musical 3: Senior Year. Peaking at #2 on the Billboard 200, the album spent a total of 37 weeks on the chart. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: May 25,1991 New Jack City is the story of an inner-city drug kingpin and the cop trying to take him down. Playing the cop is actor and rapper Ice-T, who was still in the midst of a formidable hip-hop career at the time of the film’s release. He contributed one of the soundtrack’s most infectious songs: « New Jack Hustler. » Also featured: Keith Sweat, Color Me Badd, and The 2 Live Crew. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: March 6,1971 Love Story is a tragic romance. It was only natural that the seasoned French composer Francis Lai handle the music duties. Lai was known for sweeping, melodramatic melodies. The album was a best-seller, and Lai won that year’s Academy Award for Best Original Music Score. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Oct.5,1963 Hit Hollywood musicals and chart-topping soundtracks go hand in hand, as was the case with 1963’s Bye Birdie. Dick Van Dyke reprised his Broadway role as aspiring songwriter Albert Peterson, providing numerous vocals for the soundtrack. Co-stars Janet Leigh, Bobby Rydell, and Ann-Margret are featured on the soundtrack as well. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Aug.11,2007 Zac Efron was still part of the High School Musical universe when he starred in this popular 2007 adaptation of the Broadway play and cult film. He performed five songs on the best-selling soundtrack, including its lead single, « Ladies’ Choice. » Fellow stars Nikki Blonsky, James Marsden, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Ricki Lake, and Amanda Bynes also lend their vocals. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Jan.18,1997 Baz Luhrmann injected copious amounts of modern flair into this iconic adaptation of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy. In addition to setting the story in a contemporary world, Luhrmann incorporated a soundtrack that hit the zeitgeist bullseye, featuring bands like Garbage and Radiohead. It was followed by a second soundtrack, which included the film’s original score, snippets of dialogue, and leftover songs. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Feb.8,2003 Based on the Broadway musical, Chicago was a veritable smash hit, making more than $300 million at the worldwide box office, and winning six Academy Awards. The soundtrack was a chart-topping, award-winning behemoth, featuring striking performances from the film’s stars. One of its songs, « All That Jazz, » made the American Film Institute’s list of the « 100 Greatest Songs in American Movies. » – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Sept.10,1977 Can you imagine the Star Wars franchise without the iconic themes from composer John Williams? Among his contributions: the « Main Title » theme, which first appeared on the original 1977 soundtrack, a double album that’s been reissued numerous times. « The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme), » appeared on the soundtrack to 1980’s « The Empire Strikes Back. » – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Feb.28,2015 True to the film, the Fifty Shades of Grey Original Soundtrack comes loaded with sultry songs from a range of contemporary artists. Two lead singles were released ahead of the album: « Earned It » by The Weeknd, and « Love Me Like You Do » by Ellie Goulding. Both singles reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the album itself peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200. You may also like: 100 Best TV Episodes of All Time – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Jan.7,1989 Bolstered by two #1 hit singles— »Kokomo » and « Don’t Worry, Be Happy »—the Cocktail Original Soundtrack sold 4 million copies and became a fixture at parties across the country. In addition to those radio staples, the album features some classic cover tunes, including « Rave On » by John Cougar Mellencamp, « Hippy Hippy Shake » by the Georgia Satellites, and « All Shook Up » by Ry Cooder. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: July 12,1969 The soundtrack to Franco Zeffirelli’s Romeo & Juliet was a major success, and Italian composer Nino Rota provided the film’s most essential melodies. The soundtrack also includes snippets of dialogue from Leonard Whiting and Olivia Hussey, who played the two lead roles. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: April 5,1997 Look no further than the Space Jam Original Soundtrack for an iconic lineup of late ’90s R&B artists like D’Angelo, R. Kelly, Monica, Seal, and Salt-N-Pepa. Ultimately, the album went platinum six times, thanks to the strength of its lead single: « I Believe I Can Fly. » – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Aug.13,1994 Given that Forrest Gump chronicled some of the country’s most formative moments, it was only natural that the soundtrack would follow suit. Virtually every song is a perennial radio staple, and quintessential track from each era. As a result, the soundtrack is essentially a compilation of America’s greatest music. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: Jan.21,2017 Where there’s a hit Disney movie, there’s a hit soundtrack. Naturally,2016’s Moana was no exception to the rule—the soundtrack sold in massive numbers. Songwriting superstar Lin-Manuel Miranda (of « Hamilton » fame) wrote a number of the songs, including « How Far I’ll Go, » which was nominated for both a Golden Globe and Academy Award. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #2 – Date of soundtrack peak: June 10,1989 Bette Midler lent her acting talent and vocal chops to 1988’s Beaches, a film about the on-and-off relationship between two close friends. While her cover of oldies tune « Under the Boardwalk » was used to promote the film in advance, it was « Wind Beneath My Wings » that took the world by storm, peaking at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It’s still considered one of Bette Midler’s most popular songs. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: Mar 15,1997 In 1997, the self-proclaimed « King of All Media » Howard Stern starred in Private Parts, an autobiographical film based on his memoir. While Stern is largely known for his quick wit and candid interview style, he’s also a music aficionado. The movie soundtrack doesn’t just feature a swath of classic songs, it has Stern himself performing vocals on two tracks. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: Feb.15,1997 Another popular release from Death Row Records, Gridlock’d featured Tupac Shakur on two tracks. Fellow labelmate Snoop Dogg joined Shakur for the song « Wanted Dead or Alive. » Shakur was murdered in Las Vegas before the movie and its soundtrack were released. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: May 8,2010 Over the course of six seasons, the hit TV show Glee paid tribute to a slew of popular artists, including Madonna. On the adjoining EP release—which reached #1 on the Billboard 200—the cast covered classic tunes « Like a Prayer, » « Express Yourself, » « Vogue, » and « Like a Virgin. » It was the first EP released from the show, followed by 10 others. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: Aug.15,2009 For the most part, Loso’s Way from rapper Fabolous is more a proper studio album than it is an official soundtrack. The Deluxe Edition includes a DVD featurette, starring Fabolous and Styles P, Jadakiss, Swizz Beatz, and DJ Khaled. In the short film, Fabolous is shot while leaving a restaurant, and encounters a run-in with the police on his way to the hospital. Naturally, the drama is all set to best-selling hip-hop music. You may also like: 100 Best TV Shows of All Time, According to Critics – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: Aug.22,2015 When the Disney Channel’s Descendants franchise was initially conceived, it reportedly wasn’t supposed to be a musical. Once accomplished choreographer Kenny Ortega was brought on board, however, things went in a different direction. The rest is chart-topping soundtrack history. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: April 7,2012 The Hunger Games franchise kicked off in 2012, raking in more than $690 million at the worldwide box office, and cementing Jennifer Lawrence’s A-list status. The Hunger Games: Songs From District 12 And Beyond includes a number of songs inspired by—but not featured in—the film, performed by Arcade Fire, Maroon Five, Neko Case, Taylor Swift, and others. – Highest rank on Billboard 200: #1 – Date of soundtrack peak: Aug 2,2003 Will Smith and Martin Lawrence reprised their roles as hilarious Miami cops in Michael Bay’s Bad Boys II, with a soundtrack featuring Notorious B.
