What Are The 7 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time?

When I was a kid, it was all the rage to buy CDs of your favorite movie soundtracks. Albums would come out with the movies consisting of a ton of pop songs that sort of gave you the vibes of the movie but functioned as great mixes. Today, I want to go over which ones I consider to be the best of all time. In order to make this list, I didn't include movie scores, just movies with amazing soundtracks consisting of music by popular artists. Make sense? Let's dive in. 1. Forrest Gump This double-album soundtrack was such a banger. True story, I wore the CD out. It covers so many decades of hits and focuses on American music, perfectly reflecting the film's time-spanning narrative. Key Tracks: "Hound Dog" - Elvis Presley "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival "California Dreamin'" - The Mamas & the Papas "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel.2. Almost Famous One of my all-time favorite movies, the core of this story is music. So you know it has to have some real jams on the soundtrack. It would be hard to find a scene that doesn't have an iconic song paired with it. Key Tracks: "Tiny Dancer" - Elton John "Simple Man" - Lynyrd Skynyrd "That's the Way" - Led Zeppelin "America" - Simon & Garfunkel.3. The Bodyguard Whitney Houston's powerful vocals dominate this soundtrack. This was one I feel like every Mom had in their van. It got so much play, and "I Will Always Love You" became one of the greatest covers of all time. Key Tracks:"I Will Always Love You""I Have Nothing""I'm Every Woman""Run to You"4. The Graduate This soundtrack is deeply intertwined with the film's atmosphere thanks to Simon & Garfunkel's dulcet tones. It perfectly captures the sense of alienation and searching that is at the heart of the movie. Key Tracks:"Mrs. Robinson""The Sound of Silence" "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"5. Pulp Fiction Tarantino movies are all about the music that goes with the visuals. And this soundtrack was one of the first I illegally downloaded on Limewire as a kid. It just had all the bops. Key Tracks: "Misirlou" - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones "Jungle Boogie" - Kool & The Gang "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" - Urge Overkill "You Never Can Tell" - Chuck Berry6. O' Brother Where Art Thou I blast this soundtrack whenever I have writer's block. It has all the sauce and just feels like magic when you hear the songs. It creates such a vibe. Key Tracks:"Man of Constant Sorrow" - The Soggy Bottom Boys"Down to the River to Pray" - Alison Krauss"Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby" - Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch:7. Saturday Night Fever This soundtrack defined the disco era, with the Bee Gees' infectious rhythms and a few other key artists of the era. It's hard not to dance when you listen. Key Tracks "Stayin' Alive""Night Fever""How Deep Is Your Love""More Than a Woman"Summing Up the Best Movie Soundtracks of All TimeMusic and movies have gone hand in hand since the dawn of cinema. A great soundtrack can elevate any movie and change your mood from song to song. I know I missed some of your faves, so tell me hear all about them. LEt me know what you think in the comments.

Mar 19, 2025 - 01:14

What Are The 7 Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time?

When I was a kid, it was all the rage to buy CDs of your favorite movie soundtracks. Albums would come out with the movies consisting of a ton of pop songs that sort of gave you the vibes of the movie but functioned as great mixes.

Today, I want to go over which ones I consider to be the best of all time.

In order to make this list, I didn't include movie scores, just movies with amazing soundtracks consisting of music by popular artists.

Make sense?

Let's dive in.

1. Forrest Gump

This double-album soundtrack was such a banger. True story, I wore the CD out. It covers so many decades of hits and focuses on American music, perfectly reflecting the film's time-spanning narrative.

Key Tracks:
- "Hound Dog" - Elvis Presley
- "Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
- "California Dreamin'" - The Mamas & the Papas
- "Sweet Home Alabama" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
- "Mrs. Robinson" - Simon & Garfunkel.

2. Almost Famous

One of my all-time favorite movies, the core of this story is music. So you know it has to have some real jams on the soundtrack. It would be hard to find a scene that doesn't have an iconic song paired with it.

Key Tracks:
- "Tiny Dancer" - Elton John
- "Simple Man" - Lynyrd Skynyrd
- "That's the Way" - Led Zeppelin
- "America" - Simon & Garfunkel.

3. The Bodyguard

Whitney Houston's powerful vocals dominate this soundtrack. This was one I feel like every Mom had in their van. It got so much play, and "I Will Always Love You" became one of the greatest covers of all time.

Key Tracks:
- "I Will Always Love You"
- "I Have Nothing"
- "I'm Every Woman"
- "Run to You"

4. The Graduate

This soundtrack is deeply intertwined with the film's atmosphere thanks to Simon & Garfunkel's dulcet tones. It perfectly captures the sense of alienation and searching that is at the heart of the movie.

Key Tracks:
- "Mrs. Robinson"
- "The Sound of Silence"
- "Scarborough Fair/Canticle"

5. Pulp Fiction

Tarantino movies are all about the music that goes with the visuals. And this soundtrack was one of the first I illegally downloaded on Limewire as a kid. It just had all the bops.

Key Tracks:
- "Misirlou" - Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
- "Jungle Boogie" - Kool & The Gang
- "Girl, You'll Be a Woman Soon" - Urge Overkill
- "You Never Can Tell" - Chuck Berry

6. O' Brother Where Art Thou

I blast this soundtrack whenever I have writer's block. It has all the sauce and just feels like magic when you hear the songs. It creates such a vibe.

Key Tracks:
- "Man of Constant Sorrow" - The Soggy Bottom Boys
- "Down to the River to Pray" - Alison Krauss
- "Didn't Leave Nobody but the Baby" - Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss, and Gillian Welch:

7. Saturday Night Fever

This soundtrack defined the disco era, with the Bee Gees' infectious rhythms and a few other key artists of the era. It's hard not to dance when you listen.

Key Tracks
- "Stayin' Alive"
- "Night Fever"
- "How Deep Is Your Love"
- "More Than a Woman"

Summing Up the Best Movie Soundtracks of All Time

Music and movies have gone hand in hand since the dawn of cinema. A great soundtrack can elevate any movie and change your mood from song to song.

I know I missed some of your faves, so tell me hear all about them.

LEt me know what you think in the comments.