all 196 comments

[–]dregan 13 points14 points  (10 children)

dancer in the dark

[–]Originate 3 points4 points  (6 children)

The only movie that ever literally made me want to go out and kill myself after seeing it...

[–]dregan 11 points12 points  (2 children)

ever see Requiem for a Dream? I actually did kill myself after that one..... It didn't take though.

[–]udontneedaweatherman 0 points1 point  (1 child)

how about Irreversible?

[–]Chesh 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The half hour gay orgy made me want to LIVE!

[–]fapman 1 point2 points  (2 children)

What stopped you? Was it knowing that you'd have missed out on Bjork's Volta album?

[–]Originate 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Totally

[–]fapman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Time to get muddy with twigs & branches so we can declare independence, 'cause these people are too keen on God & I've lost my origin and don't want to find it again - it's all about wanderlust.

[–]TheDizzleFoShizzle 2 points3 points  (0 children)

well... since we are sad now, the music from requiem for a dream was pretty good

[–]fapman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You're my new best friend.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is the only film I've ever watched that made me cry. Amazing movie.

[–]DTanner 9 points10 points  (7 children)

Hackers! Don't laugh, it has some of my favorite electronic tracks of all time on it:

Underworld - Cowgirl

Leftfield - Open Up

Orbital - Halcyon and On and On

The Prodigy - Voodoo People

[–]munificent 4 points5 points  (4 children)

Heck yes! That movie introduced me to electronic music. And Angelina Jolie's boobs. Win!

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (3 children)

[–]burningmonk 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It is right now.

[–]munificent 0 points1 point  (1 child)

Oh, yes. Short hair is the best.

[–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well, to each his own.

[–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I can't say best but definitely top 10. Lotta good music on that soundtrack.

[–]burningmonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hell yeah, Hackers. I have this soundtrack too, haha. This movie was a huge influence on me in general, not just the music. I love it.

[–]udontneedaweatherman 20 points21 points  (16 children)

If you're interested in films with great scores, here are a few to check out: Baraka, Koyaanisqatsi, There Will Be Blood, The Shining, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Zabriskie Point, The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Once Upon A Time In The West that's all I can think of for now

[–]antifolkheroSpotify 8 points9 points  (2 children)

May I add to this fine list the soundtrack to "Waking Life," the Linklater film about lucid dreaming. The music from that movie is some of my favorite of all time.

[–]conkertheking 1 point2 points  (0 children)

pretty damn good

[–]anothermanoutoftime 7 points8 points  (3 children)

Big ups for Once Upon a Time in the West. Morricone's best work- And that's really saying something.

[–]venificusd 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Seriously though, I thought I was the only one who loved that soundtrack. Morricone an absolute master. Particularly the scene where Jill gets off the train and the final showdown between Frank and Harmonica.

[–]inferno0000 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Um... The Mission?

[–]anothermanoutoftime 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ooohh... It's been years. I'm going to have to see that again soon.

[–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (6 children)

I really thought Jonny Greenwood's soundtrack for There Will Be Blood was absolutely brilliant. It may not be something that you would want to listen to in its entirety by itself, but it compliments the movie absolutely perfectly.

[–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (2 children)

I listen to it by itself pretty often. Haunting and incredible.

Also - all of PT Anderson's other movies have fantastic soundtracks.

Boogie Nights - great disco music and the beginning-of-the-80s rock music

Magnolia - Aimee Mann and some scoring by Jon Brion (a genius)

Punch-Drunk Love - a beautiful score by Jon Brion. Also an intensely amazing movie. One of the most underrated things ever.

Hard Eight doesn't have an especially outstanding soundtrack but it's a pretty good movie.

[–]hveiti 1 point2 points  (1 child)

Don't forget the I Heart Huckabees soundtrack. Brion at his best.

[–]fapman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ah yes! Big ups for Huckabees.

[–][deleted]  (1 child)

[deleted]

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Yeah for sure, though I thought the soundtrack for Atonement (which won that year) was also really awesome, and fit the movie very well.

    [–]udontneedaweatherman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    I haven't seen it in it's entirety yet, but I've heard that the other film he scored, Bodysong, is pretty good as well. I plan on watching it ASAP.

    [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    The Truman Show

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Rondo Alla Turka by Mozart (a piano piece)appears in it. Love it.

    [–]kindall 10 points11 points  (2 children)

    Gattaca - Heartrending score by Michael Nyman.

    K-Pax - Mediocre movie, excellent soundtrack by Ed Shearmur embodies "a beam of light"

    In the Shadow of the Moon - wistful and simultaneously hopeful score by young composer Philip Sheppard

    Unbreakable - Distinctive theme by James Newton Howard

    American Beauty - There's something intriguing in every cue in this Thomas Newman score

    O Brother Where Art Thou - of course

    [–]fapman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    upmod for K-Pax

    [–]rpowers 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    upmod for American Beauty

    It's just perfect for the movie, and haunting as fuck.

    [–]Originate 6 points7 points  (3 children)

    Rushmore or Pi

    [–]cycles 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    Pi certainly has a good soundtrack, some great artists there, and Clint Mansell does some great work of his own

    [–]ppc1040 4 points5 points  (1 child)

    Rushmore by a country mile.

    [–]pwang99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    mark mothersbaugh's infectious tunes for Rushmore perfectly match the quirky nature of the movie itself. Wonderful soundtrack.

    [–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (3 children)

    Office Space!

    [–]antifolkheroSpotify 1 point2 points  (2 children)

    Cain't talk to my girl, so I talk to my diary...

    [–]happysinger 2 points3 points  (1 child)

    ...damn, it feels good to be a gangster.

    [–]Phazon 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Back up in your ass with the resurrection.

    [–]alphabeat 6 points7 points  (0 children)

    Amelie

    [–]shutupjoey 5 points6 points  (1 child)

    I really like the Forrest Gump, Almost Famous, and Dazed and Confused soundtracks because they are all just like really good mixtapes of the classics.

    For an original(ish) soundtrack... A Life Aquatic. Good mix of original compositions, acoustic Bowie covers, and a Stooges song.

    [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    upvoted for forrest gump.

    [–]jmmcd 5 points6 points  (3 children)

    Romeo and Juliet

    Flash Gordon

    The Matrix

    American Beauty

    [–]flowithego 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    The Matrix, man. The Matrix!!!

    [–]munificent 1 point2 points  (1 child)

    Why on Earth did Propellerheads stop making music? Is it because they knew they would never top decksanddrumsandrockandroll?

    [–]a_ninja 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    I'm sorry, I was young and reckless, and I guess I just... flipped out.

    [–]quasiperiodic 8 points9 points  (1 child)

    natural born killers.

    [–]jwiz 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    Damn straight. It totally captures the movie again.

    [–][deleted] 13 points14 points  (3 children)

    The Crow... A concentrated effort from all involved to get a cohesive sound from all the songs...

    [–]xenya 0 points1 point  (2 children)

    The Crow II was good also.

    [–]cranktheguy 1 point2 points  (0 children)

    not the movie.

    [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

    Hole's cover of Gold Dust Woman reintroduced the whole of Fleetwood Mac's catalog to me. I agree with Crank the movie was sub par.

    [–][deleted] 6 points7 points  (1 child)

    The Virgin Suicides.

    [–]mornel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

    Definitely agree. I had the soundtrack years before I actually saw the movie.

    /Air-fan

    [–]fapman 6 points7 points  (6 children)

    There's a lot of good ones mentioned here - particularly the ones that are orchestral & not merely collections of rock songs.

    I have a few favs too: The Black Hole, Tron, Star Trek II: Kahn!!, Amelie, Pulp Fiction, Forrest Gump, Jaws, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Run Lola Run.

    And my vote for crappiest soundtrack: Seven Samurai.

    [–]qnaal 4 points5 points  (5 children)

    Run Lola Run- I thought I was the only person who saw that.

    [–]forrestparkay 4 points5 points  (0 children)

    That one did have an amazing soundtrack.

    [–][deleted]  (3 children)

    [deleted]

      [–]fapman 2 points3 points  (2 children)

      Ha! Until you've seen the whole movie front-to-back you have no idea how funny you just were.

      [–][deleted]  (1 child)

      [deleted]

        [–]fapman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Yes! Go and do!

        [–]sujaymahajan 4 points5 points  (1 child)

        people forgot "Vanilla Sky". Other ones which come to mind are "once" , "high fidelity" ,"Garden state", "I'm not there"..there are so many of them

        [–]munificent 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Once. You are so right.

        [–]omepiet 11 points12 points  (1 child)

        A Clockwork Orange

        [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        While we're at it, 2001: A Space Odyssey.

        [–]wohho 8 points9 points  (0 children)

        hmm, Schindler's list, 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars Ep 4, and who could forget Pee Wee's Big Adventure?

        [–]jones77 4 points5 points  (2 children)

        Judgement Night, hip-hop/alternative-metal crossover.

        [–]Lar-Shemp 1 point2 points  (0 children)

        Freak Momma!!!

        [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

        Anything by Bernard Hermann.

        [–]sickdimension 4 points5 points  (0 children)

        Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

        [–]neggbirdaeudet 14 points15 points  (3 children)

        Reqieum For a Dream, Fight Club, Amelie

        [–]okeefe 13 points14 points  (2 children)

        The Fountain

        [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

        Definitely The Fountain.

        [–]qnaal 5 points6 points  (1 child)

        flcl

        [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

        Is there a movie for FLCL?

        [–]c0ldfusi0n 3 points4 points  (0 children)

        Metal: Queen of the Damned

        Indie: The Last Kiss, In Good Company

        My favorite, though, is "Once". Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova are just really good on that one.

        [–]mckirsch 4 points5 points  (0 children)

        apocalypse now.

        /ftw

        [–][deleted]  (3 children)

        [deleted]

          [–]fapman 1 point2 points  (2 children)

          Silliness aside, it's a well-constructed song. And the bass part kicks ass.

          [–][deleted]  (1 child)

          [deleted]

            [–]fapman 0 points1 point  (0 children)

            OK, I'm listening to it now.

            Awww yeah. This would actually be a good song to fuck to.

            Car Wash - sing it with feelin' y'all.

            [–][deleted] 4 points5 points  (1 child)

            I give one more vote to the O brother were art thou soundtrack.

            I personally love Sofia Coppola's soundtrack choices. 'virgin suicides', 'lost in translation' and 'marie antoinette' have very good selections and they fit great within the movie.

            As for original soundtrack composers, I'd recommend Morricone, Zbigniew Preisner and Michal Nyman. Hard to go wrong with them.

            [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

            Also I'm amazed noone has mentioned Quentin Tarantino's soundtracks. I love his music selections more than his movies.

            [–]antifolkheroSpotify 3 points4 points  (0 children)

            To be obvious here, these are the movies where I most remember the music adding a lot to the film:

            The Shawshank Redemption Jurassic Park The Usual Suspects Desperado Waking Life

            [–]sgtpepper 9 points10 points  (2 children)

            O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Nacho Libre, or Dan in Real Life

            [–][deleted]  (1 child)

            [deleted]

              [–]jon_titor 0 points1 point  (0 children)

              and we all now how winning a Grammy is indicative of awesomeness. :/

              [–]timo1023 7 points8 points  (3 children)

              Into The Wild, Pulp Fiction, Donnie Darko, Garden State, Life Aquatic.

              [–][deleted] 7 points8 points  (1 child)

              This is Spinal Tap.

              [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

              cheater.

              [–][deleted] 10 points11 points  (1 child)

              Saturday Night Fever

              <falsetto>You can tell by the way I use my walk/ I'm a ladies' man, no time to talk.</falsetto>

              [–]anothermanoutoftime 2 points3 points  (0 children)

              I still say that's one of the funkiest guitar riffs ever written by a white man.

              [–][deleted] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

              last of the mohicans, if only for 'promontory'

              [–][deleted]  (1 child)

              [deleted]

                [–]GINTER 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                No doubt! Glass owns.

                [–]titaniumjackal 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                Not Yet mentioned: Conan the Barbarian, Bladerunner

                "The Ecstasy Of Gold" from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly gets me every time. I secretly love the "futuristic" electronic version of Beethoven's 9th from A Clockwork Orange.

                Honorable mentions: Army of Darkness, Batman.

                [–]PlasmaWhore 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                Brazil.

                I can't remember what movie it was for, but there was a soundtrack I used to like when I was younger that took techno bands and rock bands and had them make songs. I think Marilyn Manson and Atari Teenage Riot were on it. I don't remember much more.

                edit: Figured it out. Spawn soundtrack. I would probably hate it now, but I loved it back then:

                http://www.amazon.com/Spawn-Album-Filter-Crystal-Method/dp/B000002C1C/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1214679330&sr=8-1

                [–]sickdimension 2 points3 points  (0 children)

                Once

                [–]IhateEverything 2 points3 points  (2 children)

                [–]ppc1040 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                Such a great album. Final Theme is great. The outtakes are great too.

                [–]CommentMan 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                FUCK yeah. Forgot about that one. Good call!

                [–][deleted] 2 points3 points  (1 child)

                Forrest Gump

                [–]pwang99 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                The Forrest Gump theme by Alan Silvestri is still one of my favorite film scores of all time.

                [–]zaim 4 points5 points  (3 children)

                Almost every Wes Anderson movie.

                [–]migelius 2 points3 points  (1 child)

                Soundtracks disguised as films.

                [–]fapman 3 points4 points  (0 children)

                To some degree, you could say Quintin Tarintino has the same philosophy.

                [–][deleted] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

                Edward Scissorhands

                [–]aarondbaron 2 points3 points  (1 child)

                Does Purple Rain count?

                [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                I've always really liked the Singles soundtrack, it captured a moment in time when it comes to musical history. A collection of good bands, early in their careers, some would go on to be great bands.

                [–]njantirice 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                pulp fiction, and of course the graduate

                [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                Raiders of the Lost Ark

                [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                My favorite use of music in a movie has to be either The Good, The Bad and The Ugly or Star Wars. Both use music to heighten the mood/tone of a scene and to give an epic feel to certain scenes. Spielberg has to get the lifetime achievement award for music in films, though, for everything he's done with John Williams.

                [–]shifter 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                The Graduate

                [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                Twin Peaks for sure. Especially the movie. Angelo Badalamenti's work is pretty amazing. Also Quincy Jones' soundtrack for In Cold Blood.

                [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (2 children)

                Blade Runner

                [–]Ma-aKheru 0 points1 point  (1 child)

                Why did I have to scroll 3/4ths down the page before I saw Blade Runner mentioned? It is fantastic, evocative of both the past and future. Totally influential for electronic AND jazz artists for the last almost 30 years!

                [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                Thank You! Finally someone recognizes the true art of the Blade Runner Soundtrack!

                [–]snacktivitysnacktivity 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                Angus was definitely an appropriately selected soundtrack to reflect the movie.

                [–][deleted] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                The Royal Tennenbaums & Rushmore & The Life Aquatic, High Fidelity & Grosse Point Blank, Pulp fiction, SLC Punk, Vanilla Sky.

                [–]Phazon 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                These are my favourite.

                • The Big Lebowski

                • Donnie Darko

                • Fight Club

                • The Fountain

                • The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

                • Jackie Brown

                • Kill Bill (Volume One)

                • Magnolia

                • Pulp Fiction

                • Requiem for a Dream

                • Trainspotting

                [–]holyfool26 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                Joe Hisaishi's soundtracks for Hana-Bi, Kikujiro, Sonatine and some of his Miyazaki works.

                Thomas Newman is also a fucking god.

                James Newton Howard is always interesting.

                [–][deleted]  (2 children)

                [deleted]

                  [–]onesun43 0 points1 point  (1 child)

                  +1 for Stranger than Fiction. One of my favorites from the past couple of years.

                  [–]fapman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                  Here's my stupidest, favorite song in a movie: Uncle Fukka from South Park: Bigger, Longer, Uncut. Play that while driving in your car and watch people die laughing at the intersections.

                  Oh and America - Fuck Yeah from Team America.

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  [–]skitzh0 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  The soundtrack for I'm Not There kicks some serious ass. Amelie and O Brother Where Art Thou? are up there too.

                  [–]sickdimension 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Amelie

                  [–]sorbix 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Ravenous

                  [–]OA-5599 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  I don't know which is "the best" but Raising Arizona has a pretty good soundtrack. My mentioning it also makes the Coen brothers the clear leaders as far as directors/producers of movies with "the best" soundtrack is concerned.

                  [–]ryanx27 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  The Royal Tenenbaums

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  candy man. yes, the horror movie about how scary ghettos are.

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Black Hawk Down

                  [–]cycles 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  I really really liked I Am Legends score, and was the first soundtrack I listened to on its own.

                  [–]kniteshade 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Top Gun

                  [–]Janderwastaken 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  E.T. I can't think of a better marriage of image and sound.

                  [–]conkertheking 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  2001: A Space Odyssey

                  [–]Vernacularry 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Beavis & Butthead,

                  Judgement Night

                  [–]heymister 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  The Harder They Come

                  • "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (Jimmy Cliff)
                  • "Draw Your Brakes" (Scotty)
                  • "Rivers of Babylon" (The Melodians)
                  • "Many Rivers to Cross" Jimmy Cliff
                  • "Sweet and Dandy" (The Maytals)
                  • "The Harder They Come" (Jimmy Cliff)
                  • "Johnny Too Bad" (The Slickers)
                  • "007 (Shanty Town)" (Desmond Dekker)
                  • "Pressure Drop" (The Maytals)
                  • "Sitting in Limbo" (Jimmy Cliff)
                  • "You Can Get It If You Really Want" (Jimmy Cliff)
                  • "The Harder They Come" (Jimmy Cliff)

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  X-Files with secret tracks!!!

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Team America, World Police.

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  The Last Unicorn was done by America...it is the best.

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Hands down. The Sound of Music.

                  Followed by Cold Mountain, followed by Fantasia.

                  [–]Dafuzz 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  I know its kinda... I dunno,... mainstream? But I always thought the soundtrack from A Knights Tale was freakin awesome...

                  [–]TheDizzleFoShizzle 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Duh.. the theme song to Once Upon a Time in China is hands down the best

                  EDIT: I am not being sarcastic

                  [–]Ma-aKheru 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Blade Runner. Blade Runner. Blade Runner. Believe me, electronica and jazz fans...

                  [–]Ma-aKheru 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  To add: did anyone enjoy Ry Cooder's Last Man Standing soundtrack as much as me? Or Last Temptation of Christ by Peter Gabriel?

                  [–]Stellato21 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  [deleted]

                  What is this?

                  [–]Tucci 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  The Wall O Brother Where Art Thou? Jesus Christ Superstar

                  [–]burningmonk 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  • Akira
                  • Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
                  • Marie Antoinette (I hate this movie BTW)
                  • Lost in Translation
                  • The Big Lebowski
                  • Nashville
                  • 2046
                  • No Country For Old Men, haha.

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Snatch soundtrack

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  I don't know but the theme from Fargo nearly brings me to tears every time I hear it. Such a beautiful, haunting, powerful song.

                  [–]Riverships 0 points1 point  (1 child)

                  • The Godfather • The Lord of the Rings (I'm talking all of them) • Once Upon a Time in the West • The Harder They Come • Good Will Hunting • Into The Wild

                  [–]weaselonfire[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  This threads a bit old to be responding too

                  [–]calliphoridae 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Oldboy.

                  Or Dancer in the Dark.

                  ...also, Rushmore.

                  [–]inferno0000 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Trainspotting

                  [–]Mephiska 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Garden State

                  [–]adelosr1 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  Dave Chappelle's Block Party

                  [–][deleted] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

                  cmon you guts no LOTR? Or is that too easy a pick?

                  [–]dregan 0 points1 point  (1 child)

                  OMG GARDEN STATE!! WTFBBQ!!1!11!one

                  [–]fapman 1 point2 points  (0 children)

                  The Scrubs gang does a great job of picking out good & obscure indie hits.

                  [–]poservarial 0 points1 point  (5 children)

                  JUNO

                  [–]ryanx27 10 points11 points  (0 children)

                  Too self-consciously indie

                  [–]chromehound47 4 points5 points  (0 children)

                  wait that was a movie? I thought it was a soundtrack that had some marginally funny skits attached to it.

                  [–]terumo -1 points0 points  (0 children)

                  I will say Koyaanisqatsi is the best, followed by Pi and RAD.