If two things in this world go together as perfectly as peanut butter and jelly go together, it's movies and music. No movie is truly complete without the inclusion of a soundtrack to be used during certain scenes. Whether it's a score of just music without lyrics or a soundtrack of songs, music enhances the tone of a movie. The depiction of the mood in a scene is often dependent on the accompanying music because it helps the audience feel as though they are experiencing the events unfolding in a scene themselves. Both the diegetic (heard by the characters) and non-diegetic (unheard by the characters) use of music in a film set the tone for whichever scene they are being used in.
Sometimes music is needed to get characters to bond over a particular moment, while other times it is used to enhance the mood they are already feeling. Sometimes music is used for pure entertainment. No matter what the use is, it's difficult to imagine any movie without music used in some way. Many movies have curated memorable soundtracks to magnify their stories, which have left us with truly iconic scenes in a plethora of films. Pop, disco, show tunes, hard rock, and so many other genres of music have been expertly used in movies throughout the years.
Perhaps utilized the best out of all the genres is classic rock. Too many films to list have used at least one classic rock song in their music roster over the years, but there's something about classic rock that works well with just about every genre of film. Without further ado, here are 20 of the greatest uses of classic rock in movies (and yes, there are plenty of other great uses in addition to the ones listed):
20 "Everybody Wants Some!!" by Van Halen - Better Off Dead (1985)
If you have seen Better Off Dead starring a young John Cusack, then you know exactly what scene will be mentioned here. The film follows a teenager named Lane (Cusack) who decides that he actually would be better off dead when his girlfriend dumps for a jock instead. In the film's most well-known scene, Lane is berated by his boss at the local burger joint, which leads to Lance fantasizing about creating a living, breathing burger. After Lane declares "It's alive!", the burger immediately launches into a performance of Van Halen's "Everybody Wants Some!!". Complete with Eddie Van Halen's iconic Frankenstrat guitar, the burger performs the song using David Lee Roth's voice and is accompanied by some French fry friends. The scene is wildly absurd and ridiculously funny.
19 "Brighton Rock" by Queen - Baby Driver (2017)
Adding any Queen song into a movie will almost guarantee that whichever scene it is being used in will be memorable. Edgar Wright's Baby Driver follows a young man with partial hearing loss named Baby (Ansel Elgort) who accidentally becomes a getaway driver for a crime boss. To judge the timing of each getaway, Baby plays a song during each one of his rides. The movie is filled with incredible songs and highly entertaining scenes, but one of the best uses of music in the film comes in the third act when Baby and Debora (Lily James) are trying to escape Buddy (Jon Hamm). As Buddy prepares to end Baby and Debora, he shifts his car into drive and floors it just as Queen's "Brighton Rock" begins playing. The song plays out over the scene as the two try to outrun and outsmart Buddy. The song fits perfectly with the high-stakes antics of the scene.
18 "Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin - Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)
Amy Heckerling's Fast Times at Ridgemont High is one of the most beloved teen comedies that people from every generation can appreciate. It has a unique cast of characters that are portrayed perfectly by their actors, and it has an excellent soundtrack as well. One of the film's main storylines follows the awkward development of Stacy (Jennifer Jason Leigh) and Ratner's (Brian Backer) relationship. Ratner gets advice from his senior friend Mike Damone (Robert Romanus) before his first date with Stacy, and he instructs him to play side one of Led Zeppelin IV as part of his five-point plan for dating. When driving to the restaurant, Ratner plays "Kashmir", which is not on side one of Led Zeppelin, but rather from the album Physical Graffiti. It's a funny scene for any music fan who immediately spotted the faux pax.
17 "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" by Aerosmith - Armageddon (1998)
With a star-studded cast including Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, and Steve Buscemi, Armageddon follows a ragtag team of deep-core drillers recruited by NASA to save the planet from a Texas-sized asteroid. It wasn't exactly praised by critics, but it was a hit with audiences in the summer of 1998, grossing over $550 million worldwide. The movie also stars Liv Tyler, daughter of Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler, which perfectly set up the opportunity to feature an Aerosmith song at the end. "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" plays at the very end of the film, when A.J. (Affleck) and Grace (Tyler) get married and continues playing through the end credits. The song is inextricably associated with the movie, and many people probably can't listen to the song without thinking of the movie.
16 "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones - Suicide Squad (2016)
The movie itself may not be great, but the soundtrack certainly is. Featuring a mix of older and newer artists, the soundtrack to Suicide Squad is the most memorable part of the movie. From Twenty-One Pilots to Black Sabbath, the movie featured some seriously catchy tunes. The opening of the movie shows the government recruiting supervillains such as Harley Quinn and Deadshot to be part of a defensive task force meant to save the world from the apocalypse. During the opening scene, we see each member of this task force being forcibly removed from their prison cells and strapped onto chairs as The Rolling Stones' "Sympathy for the Devil" plays over their objections.
15 "God Gave Rock & Roll to You" by KISS - Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991)
Everyone's favorite slackers geared up for yet another time-traveling adventure in Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey. In the world of these movies, Bill S. Preston (Alex Winter) and Ted "Theodore" Logan (Keanu Reeves) is prophesized to become rock and roll legends who bring harmony to Earth through the power of their music. In the sequel, that prophecy is threatened when a would-be conqueror sends evil doubles of the boys to kill them. The rest of the movie follows Bill and Ted as they try to outwit the Grim Reaper and save the world with a triumphant concert. Since these movies are all about rock music, it of course had to end with a performance by Bill and Ted's band, the Wyld Stallyns. The two perform a cover of KISS' "God Gave Rock & Roll to You" to end the movie on a rhythmic rock beat that encapsulates the entire movie.
14 "Twist and Shout" by The Beatles - Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
John Hughes movies have ruled the teen comedy genre for nearly 40 years. Ferris Bueller's Day Off is one of the most iconic teen movies of the '80s for many reasons. Ferris (Matthew Broderick) is a charismatic, mischievous high school senior who wants to enjoy the remainder of high school before heading off to college. His best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) is the polar opposite of him, completely high-strung and unable to take the risks Ferris does. It makes for an entertaining dynamic between the two, and one of the best scenes that showcase this dynamic is during the parade. While goofing off in downtown Chicago, Ferris hops on a parade float and performs an energetic cover of The Beatles' "Twist and Shout" that has the entire audience cheering him on. Cameron is entertained but in disbelief of Ferris' ability to do as he pleases without thinking of any consequences. As Ferris is performing, the parade passes right by his father's office building, but thanks to Ferris' unbelievable good luck, he goes completely unnoticed by his dad when he looks out the window.
13 "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealers' Wheel - Reservoir Dogs (1992)
It is nearly impossible not to think of Reservoir Dogs when listening to "Stuck in the Middle With You" by Stealer's Wheel. The film follows a group of thieves after a simple jewelry heist goes horribly awry, leaving the remaining criminals to suspect that one of their own is an informant. The scene in which this song is featured is a pivotal moment for the film, where it goes from being a quirky but violent movie to an all-out bloodbath, as many of Quentin Tarantino's movies become. The song begins as Mr. Blonde (Michael Madsen) prepares to torture a captured cop (Marvin Nash). The camera pans away for a few seconds and eventually goes back to Mr. Blonde, who is now holding the cop's severed ear. It's the most disturbing yet most iconic scene in the film thanks to the inclusion of Stealers Wheel's song.
12 "Shoot to Thrill" by AC/DC - Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
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There have been many spectacular entrances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, enough to make an entire list ranking them. Certain characters frequently make grand entrances, such as the father of the MCU himself, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr). The lead-up to the first assembling of the Avengers in Marvel's The Avengers was an epic experience in movie theaters in 2012. Each character had their own perfectly crafted introduction scene, and Tony's may have been the best. While technically not his first appearance in the film, it is the first time Iron Man is introduced to the other Avengers. When Captain America is fighting Loki in a crowd in Germany, we hear Tony speak to Natasha (Scarlet Johansson) as she's flying the quinnjet, and all of a sudden, the jet's sound system is taken over. AC/DC's "Shoot to Thrill" starts blasting from the speakers, much to Cap and Loki's surprise. It is an absolutely perfect way to fuse Iron Man with the rest of the team, and a great callback to Tony's entrance at the beginning of Iron Man 2 at the Stark Expo, where the same song is played.
11 "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen - Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Edgar Wright is excellent at doing is curating an incredible soundtrack to go with each of his films. Shaun of the Dead is a horror comedy that follows the boring lives of an aimless electronics salesman and his lazy roommate when their lives in London are disrupted by the zombie apocalypse. The apocalypse hits on the same day Shaun (Simon Pegg) decides to turn his life around, so he takes the zombie invasion as an opportunity to prove to everyone how useful he is by saving everyone in London. The movie is already hilarious, but arguably the best scene in the film happens when Simon and his pals are attacked by zombies while hiding out in a bar, and "Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen randomly starts playing from the jukebox. The comically unequipped group proceeds to attack one older zombie almost to the beat of the song before finally pushing him into the jukebox, where he is electrocuted.
10 "Old Time Rock & Roll" by Bob Seger - Risky Business (1983)
With a lengthy filmography such as Tom Cruise's, there are many great films to choose from. Arguably one of his best roles was as high schooler Joel Goodsen in Risky Business. If his last name didn't spell it out for you, Joel is a good son to his parents and an A+ student at school. The movie sees him go from a well-behaved teen who takes no risks to a rule-breaking rebel who turns his home into a money-making front to pay for the repair of his father's car. The second Joel's parents leave for their vacation, Joel immediately seizes the opportunity to break the rules now that he's home alone. He infamously slides into the living room in just socks, underwear, a button-up shirt, and sunglasses as he mouths out the lyrics to Bob Seger's "Old Time Rock & Roll". The scene is inarguably one of the most iconic movie scenes of all time, and it has been parodied countless times over the last 40 years.
9 "Danger Zone" by Kenny Loggins - Top Gun (1986)
Yes, another Tom Cruise movie. Even though the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, is probably a better film as it improved upon what the first movie established, there is no denying the icon status of Top Gun. The movie features two songs that are forever associated with the film, but the one that truly stands out is Kenny Loggin's "Danger Zone". Played in the opening of the film and used a few times throughout, "Danger Zone" serves as the theme song to both movies. When you hear this song on the classic rock station, you are more than likely picturing fighter jets flying over the runway at the naval training base.
8 "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult - X (2022)
Another director who carefully constructs the perfect soundtrack to go along with his films is Ti West. His slasher phenomenon X takes place in 1979, leaving plenty of opportunities to include some of the truly fantastic classic rock songs, including Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide". While that scene is wonderful on its own as we see the group of adult filmmakers bonding in the barn house of Pearl's farm property as Bobby-Lynne (Brittany Snow) sings to them, the best use of classic rock in the film is Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper."
By this point in the film, it is evident that Pearl is unhinged, but this is where her true psychopathic behavior arrives in full force. RJ (Owen Campbell) is angry and jealous that his girlfriend Lorraine (Jenna Ortega) decided to participate in their adult film, so he rushes out the door to leave. He is met by Pearl, who is standing in front of his truck. When he tries to see if she's alright, she ends up stabbing him in the neck. "Don't Fear the Reaper" is blasting from the truck as she then repeatedly stabs him on the ground in an adrenaline-fueled rage. She's jealous of the youngsters but also empowered by the ability to harm them.
7 "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)
All three Guardians of the Galaxy movies have excellent soundtracks full of forgotten or underappreciated classic rock songs. Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) is motivated by music thanks to a cassette tape his mother left him, and he turned his friends into music lovers as well. The Guardians can't go on any mission without a list of songs to serve as the soundtrack to their battles. The opening scene of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 shows the team fighting a giant squid-like creature while Baby Groot dances around to "Mr. Blue Sky" by the Electric Light Orchestra. Since this version of Groot is a baby, he pays absolutely no attention to his surroundings as he prances about, causing the rest of the Guardians to swoop in to remove the baby tree from danger. The entire scene encapsulates the Guardians' family dynamic beautifully, adding just the right amount of humor to the situation.
6 "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen - Wayne's World (1992)
The car scene in Wayne's World is yet another example of Queen's discography fitting in perfectly with just about any movie. The movie opens up with Garth (Dana Carvey) picking up Wayne (Mike Myers) and popping in the cassette tape of "Bohemian Rhapsody". Wayne, Garth, and their two friends quickly start singing along as they drive through town to pick up a fifth friend. The group of friends attempts to harmonize the way Queen does in a hilarious fashion before getting to the iconic headbanging portion of their drive right as the guitar solo hits. Queen's popularity was waning in 1992 after the passing of the late Freddie Mercury, but this scene revitalized the band almost immediately.
5 "Back in Black" by AC/DC - Iron Man (2008)
Any MCU fan knows that Tony Stark, similar to Peter Quill, loves music. Specifically, bands such as Black Sabbath and AC/DC. In the opening of the original Iron Man movie, we see Tony being transported in military vehicles from the launch site for one of his newest weapons back to base. "Back in Black" is playing on the stereo that is placed on the floor of the vehicle as Tony starts talking to the soldiers transporting him. They are all enamored by him as he spews joke after joke and quip after quip. The scene captures Tony's distinct personality and sarcastic brand of humor expertly From the sarcasm to AC/DC serving as the soundtrack to the scene, it displayed Tony's charisma and attitude perfectly from the get-go.
Metallica is certainly better categorized as heavy metal, but they are played on classic rock stations, so we're counting them. Zombieland quite possibly has one of the best opening sequences in a movie, and a huge reason that it works so well is the addition of Metallica's "For Whom the Bell Tolls" in the opening credits. The opening credits start rolling directly after Columbus (Jesse Eisenberg) describes to the audience what it's like living in Zombieland as he explains his own personal set of rules for surviving the zombie apocalypse. The credits appear just as a woman is thrown from her car, and lands on the pavement, and the intro to the song starts playing. It is played over a montage of people running from the flesh-eating creatures but failing miserably to do so. The tone of the rest of the movie is set up just within this opening sequence, and it gives the audience a small taste of just how entertaining the movie will be.
3 "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd - Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014)
Most people are used to seeing Colin Firth in romcoms and British dramas, so it was a breath of fresh air to see him in a movie so ridiculously fun and absurdly violent. Kingsman: The Secret Service follows promising street kid Eggsy (Taron Egerton) who is recruited by an agent named Harry (Firth) from a secret organization of spies called The Kingsman. The two embark on a mission to stop tech billionaire Valentine (Samuel L. Jackson) from turning users of his devices into rage-fueled maniacs. In a scene where Harry visits a church in the southern U.S. to gather information, Valentine turns on his devices to full capacity, sending everyone in the church into a violent frenzy. Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird" plays over the ensuing scene where Harry, affected by Valentine's devices, proceeds to obliterate every person in the church, despite the fact that everyone is attacking each other. It's a completely brutal scene, but oddly satisfying to watch him take out the bigots that were in that church.
2 "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John - Almost Famous (2000)
Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous is all about loving and appreciating music. It has a soundtrack full of classic rock songs that will make you want to spend an entire afternoon dancing around your house. It features older Fleetwood Mac songs such as "Future Games" and songs from Jethro Tull, Yes, Simon & Garfunkel, and more. Undoubtedly the most famous scene from the film is the tour bus sing-along scene. Stillwater and their friends just got back on the tour bus, and everyone is either tired or in a bad mood. No one is speaking to each other, but Elton John's "Tiny Dancer" is playing throughout the bus. One of the band members starts singing along, then Penny (Kate Hudson) joins in, and eventually, the entire bus is singing along at the top of their lungs. William (Patrick Fugit) interjects to tell Penny he has to go home, to which Penny responds, "You are home", and they continue on with the song.
1 "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" by the Beastie Boys - Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)
With the amount of incredible music the MCU has used in the past 15 years, an entire list could be dedicated to its best musical moments. Another list entirely could be dedicated to the best songs used in the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy. Music is an integral part of the story in the Guardians universe, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had some of the best musical moments in the trilogy. In what is quite possibly the best fight scene in MCU history, the Guardians battle the High Evolutionary's (Chuckwudi Iwuji) henchmen after saving Rocket's (Bradley Cooper) life. The beginning of the Beastie Boy's "No Sleep Till Brooklyn" plays as the galaxy-saving team leaps into action in one of the best-choreographed fight sequences in the MCU. The team completely annihilates every single enemy in true Guardians' style.
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