Musichistory is littered with iconic records, but much of the impact of certain songs wouldn’t exist without movies. The mediums couldn’t be more different, but they do lend to each other oftentimes. Sometimes, a great song referencing a movie could inspire listeners to check out the motion picture, while movies with great soundtracks inspire viewers to seek out their songs.
It’s why the prospect of a music soundtrack for a movie is so lucrative for musicians. Regardless if the movie is good or bad, a good song attached to it can do wonders in terms of exposure for it. Movie soundtracks have proven to be a great gateway for songs to gain an audience, and in doing so, many songs garner legacies that overshadow the legacy of even the movies they debuted in. The following are just a few examples.
Made for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
On paper, “Raindrops Keep Falling on My Head” might bethe most random addition to a movie’s soundtrack, in this context at least.Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidis a gritty actioner taking place in the Old West, portraying the final days of two of the world’s most infamous bank robbers. For such an uplifting song about overcoming troubled times to not only be included, but made for the movie sounds like a strange fit. The sentiment was shared by members of the cast, including Robert Redford, who didn’t believe the song fit the movie despite director George Roy Hill’s insistence.
All parties would be proven wrong not only because the song became a number one Billboard hit, but it actually makes sense in the movie. The song accompanying Cassidy and Etta Place’s bike ride symbolized a wholesome calm before the storm, and a break from their chaos on the run.
9"Iris" by Goo Goo Dolls
Made for City of Angels
In 2025, “Iris” by The Goo Goo Dolls gained something of a resurgence thanks to the movieCompanion, which features the song in its soundtrack. Companion seems to have done more to progress The Goo Goo Dolls in the history books than the original movie that ushered “Iris” into the musical lexicon. The movie wasCity of Angels, a romance drama starring Nicolas Cage as an angel smitten with the human Meg Ryan. The flick is loosely inspired byWings of Desire, amind-blowing movie about loneliness.
For readers curious to know more about the movieCompanion,what other songs can be found in its soundtrack, and what scenes they can be found in the movie, clickhere.
The Cage-led remake pales in comparison. It’s a movie that came and went, hence why few people remember it today, or so much as heard of it. The one good thing to come from the movie was “Iris,” even if it did succeed asthe soundtrack’s breakout singlewithout the movie being successful enough to give it a boost.
8"Stayin' Alive" by The Bee Gees
Made for Saturday Night Fever
The Bee Gees have the movieSaturday Night Feverto thank for much of their career success. About 1/3 of the movie’s hit soundtrack consists ofBee Gees records made for the movie, with perhaps the most notable being “Stayin' Alive.” It’s one of the first songs that audiences heard, as John Travolta can be seen strutting down the street during the opening credits while The Bee Gees single serves as background music. As the second single for the soundtrack, the song connected with audiences instantly.
The song would not only win a Grammy, but was a big reason why the motion picture soundtrack won Album of the Year in 1979. Before Michael Jackson’sThrillertook the accolade,Saturday Night Feverwas the highest-selling album in music history, and you’re able to bet that “Stayin’ Alive” was one of the most replayed tracks for many. Why else would the movie’s sequel be calledStayin’ Alive?
7"Gangsta’s Paradise" by Coolio
Made for Dangerous Minds
For readers who have never heard ofDangerous Minds, it’s a movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer about a former marine who acquires a gig as a teacher for a rambunctious classroom. Some will call it underrated, but ultimately, the 90s movie remains overlooked and forgotten. What has not gone forgotten, however, is the song produced for the movie, “Gangsta’s Paradise.” Both the song’s lyrics and accompanying music video were based aroundDangerous Minds, and whereasDangerous Mindsunderwhelmed at the box office, “Gangsta’s Paradise” exceeded expectations.
When rap was still more underground than ever, it managed to become the top-selling single of 1995, as well as the first rap song to top the British charts. The late Coolio produced what would be world-renowned for being one of thedefinitive songs of the 90sand a star-making performance for himself.
6"Young and Beautiful" by Lana Del Rey
Made for The Great Gatsby
Lana Del Rey’s image and song style have often embodied a time forgotten. Her tone has yielded perfectly to genres like blues, soul, and oldies tunes, all combined in a modern revamp. The perfect personification of all these qualities can be found in “Young and Beautiful,” arguably her quintessential song. Because it fits other songs in her catalog, like “Summertime Sadness” and “Burning Desire,” so perfectly, not many recall that it was actuallycreated for an old-school movierather thanone of her albums.
The movie in question wasThe Great Gatsby, which itself is largely about characters from an era long forgotten and those left behind. Director Baz Luhrmann adopted the tutelage of Prince to produce a song for the soundtrack.Prince’s song was cutafter spending six months on one song just to start all over again. Lana Del Rey felt like a natural replacement.
5"Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor
Made for Rocky III
“Eye of the Tiger” has become not only one of themost definitive songs of the 80s, but one of the definitive sports songs. Wherever there’s a sporting event that needs a record played in between quarters or a tune is necessary to evoke the feeling of triumph, audiences can bet on hearing “Eye of the Tiger” at some point within earshot. When “Eye of the Tiger” has spawned such a specific legacy in of itself, it’s easy to forget that the song debuted asthe theme song toRocky III.
Survivor’s road to Rocky Balboa is an interesting one, as originally, multiple songs almost took its place. First, Sylvester Stallone originally wanted “Another One Bites the Dust” as the theme, butnegotiations with Queen fell through. Meanwhile,oneKarate Kidsongwas also in the running. To compromise, Stallone hired Survivor to make a song based on the movie’s dialogue, and the rest is history.
4"Lose Yourself" by Eminem
Made for 8 Mile
Both8 Mileand “Lose Yourself” - the latter being a lead single for the former’s soundtrack - have both been considered a classic, but “Lose Yourself” has gained a life of its own. It was rare in the 2000s to see a song made for a movie turn out to be a hit record, much less a rap song when hip-hop was still considered niche by the masses.“Lose Yourself,” though, was undeniable, proving that any great song from any genre can top the charts.
Any time a song is popular enough to warranta cover by Taylor Swiftof all people, that song has reached beyond the scope of its intended genre. The song would become the first rap song to win Best Original Song at the Oscars. Much like his B-Rabbit character in the movie, Eminem was writing “Lose Yourself” during the making of 8 Mile, slowly adding to it in between takes.
3"Purple Rain" by Prince
Made for Purple Rain
“Purple Rain” may very well bethe definitive song of Prince’s career, remaining his most streamed record and considered one of the greatest records ever made. What isn’t praised as highly is thePurple Rainmovie that spawned the song, as the singer’s Hollywood epic has received mixed reviews. Upon release, the rock opera that coincided with the album/soundtrack of the same name has been called out for its unevenness and being a bonafide vanity project for the singer. It’s a movie that critics either love or they hate, while the song is universally loved.
The moviedoes not boast as flattering of a legacyas the song. Thankfully, “Purple Rain” as a song has enough merit and greatness on its own accord that it allows it to be spoken of without even thinking of the movie.
2"Call Me" by Blondie
Made for American Gigolo
“Call Me” is easily the most iconic song produced by Blondie, as it is statistically their biggest single. The number one hit single maintains relevance in the modern age through its references to pop culture, such as when the song appears on the soundtrack forBride of Chucky. Ironically, it was a movie that is the reason “Call Me” existed in the first place.The forgottenAmerican Gigolo, starring Richard Gere, stars a high-priced male sex worker at a time when escorts were readily available by way of a simple phone call.
Debbie Harry would produce lyrics for the song within hours, writing from the perspective of the Julian character played by Gere. Unexpectedly, the song became a number one song that topped Billboard for six weeks, longer than any other song in 1980.
1"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
Made for The Bodyguard
There are two reasons whyThe Bodyguardhas been immortalized as a classic: the late Whitney Houston’s presence in the movie, and her lead single from the movie’s soundtrack, “I Will Always Love You.” The song managed to outlive the legacy of the movie, considering that fans tend to forget it was made for the movie. Similarly, itoutlivedThe Bodyguard’sbox office run. While the Kevin Costner vehicle spent 10 weeks at the box office, debuting at number three, the song spent 14 weeks atop the Billboard charts. This effectively makes “I Will Always Love You” one of thelongest-running number one singles in music history.
Funny enough, the song was originally produced by Dolly Parton in the 70s. Just the same as fans forget that Houston’s song was part of a soundtrack, people forget that it’s a cover. That’s the power ofmusic, as Houston’s song has garnered a bigger legacy than both the Parton original and the movie it debuted in.
