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8 Movies With Great Scores and Soundtracks
This Collider feature by Jeremy Urquhart compiles eight films that succeed on two musical fronts at once: an original score composed specifically for the film, and a soundtrack built from pre-existing songs. The author notes that most films do one or the other — citing The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and Star Wars for scores, and Pulp Fiction and Trainspotting for curated song selections — whereas films excelling at both are comparatively rare.
The piece counts down from number eight, with each entry explaining how its score and soundtrack complement one another. At number eight, An American Werewolf in London (1981) pairs Elmer Bernstein's score with a novelty soundtrack of moon-themed songs, including "Blue Moon," Van Morrison's "Moondance" and Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Bad Moon Rising." At number seven, Call Me by Your Name (2017) draws on 1980s tracks such as The Psychedelic Furs' "Love My Way," though the supplied text cuts off partway through this entry.
In short
- Collider lists eight films with strong original scores and song soundtracks.
- An American Werewolf in London ranks eighth for its moon-themed songs.
- Call Me by Your Name places seventh with 1980s pop selections.
Explained simply
Films typically rely on one of two musical approaches: an original score composed for the film, or a collection of pre-existing songs woven throughout the story. An original score—think of the iconic themes in Star Wars or The Good, the Bad and the Ugly—is written specifically to accompany the narrative. A curated soundtrack, as seen in films like Pulp Fiction and Trainspotting, draws from existing recordings to enhance mood and meaning.
When a film succeeds with both an original score and a thoughtfully chosen song selection at once, it is comparatively rare. This is because crafting both elements to work together requires careful balance; the score and the songs must complement rather than compete with one another. Jeremy Urquhart's feature for Collider identifies eight films that achieve this dual success, examining how each uses music on both fronts to strengthen the story and viewer experience.
The countdown runs from eight down to number one, with each entry explaining how a particular film's score and soundtrack enhance each other. Examples include An American Werewolf in London, which pairs an original score with a playful collection of moon-themed songs, and Call Me by Your Name, which combines original music with 1980s pop and new wave tracks.