October 2021 - djApp_MuZik

Nicole Johnson

During the early days of cinema, silent films used music to set the background and tone. The music helped set the mood for audiences, allowing them to figure out whether the film was meant to be serious, spooky, or hysterical. While much about cinema and the way music is used in film has changed, the importance of songs in film has not. The perfectly-placed track—whether it's tear-jerking lyrics over a moving melody or a fast-paced power ballad that pulls them into the action—still helps to strike the mood.

Stacker took a look at Billboard data and listed the 50 songs from movies that have performed the best on the Hot 100 charts. To qualify, the song had to peak at #1 or #2 on the Hot 100. Stacker supplemented the most recent Billboard data with data over the seven years since its release. In order to qualify, the song also had to be explicitly made for the movie. Songs that were in movies but not made for them were not included. The list is organized chronologically.

These songs have won Grammys and Oscars for the artists who’ve written and performed them. They have found their places on soundtracks, and in many cases, the artists’ albums as well. They have represented every genre of film and appeared in movies throughout the decades.

Keep reading to discover the 50 most popular songs from movies.

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'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' by B.J. Thomas

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Jan. 3, 1970

This catchy song from the 1969 revisionist Western “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” was written by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. The track played over the classic bicycle scene in the Robert Redford/Paul Newman blockbuster and was an unconventional choice that movie executives weren’t originally sold on. In his autobiography “Anyone Who Had a Heart: My Life and Music,” Bacarach said, “I wrote the entire melody, and the only words that kept running through my mind from top to bottom were ‘Raindrops keep fallin’ on my head,’” he recalled.

'Evergreen' by Barbra Streisand

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: March 5, 1977

This love theme from the 1977 film “A Star is Born” was a collaboration between Barbra Streisand, who would also star in the film, and Paul Williams. Of his initial meeting with the actress, Williams told the Tennessean: “The first thing she did, she said, "Can you use this?" She picked up a guitar and (played the melody). I said, "Oh my God, it's beautiful." She was like a little kid. It's a side of her I'd never seen before.” “Evergreen” took home the Oscar for Best Original Song.

'How Deep Is Your Love' by Bee Gees

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Dec. 24, 1977

The Bee Gees were a singing group made up of three brothers Barry, Maurice, and Robin, who not only wrote and performed “How Deep Is Your Love,” for the hit film “Saturday Night Fever,” but who also wrote several hits by other artists like “If I Can’t Have You” by Yvonne Elliman and “Woman in Love” by Barbra Streisand. “How Deep Is Your Love” played over the end credits of the film.

'Stayin' Alive' by Bee Gees

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Feb. 4, 1978

This song from “Saturday Night Fever” played as the opening credits ran and found a young John Travolta cruising the streets of New York. The opening follows Travolta’s Tony Manero and shifts focus between the red shoes he wears and the image of him walking with a can of paint to bring to his father’s hardware store, and it sets the tone for the rest of the film. This Grammy-nominated track was found to have the perfect beat for performing CPR, according to a University of Illinois College of Medicine study.

'Night Fever' by Bee Gees

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: March 18, 1978

The Bee Gees manager, Robert Stigwood, produced the film “Saturday Night Fever,” a disco coming-of-age story starring John Travolta, which inspired the song “Night Fever.” The song, released as the third single on the soundtrack, won Album Of The Year at the Grammys. Keyboardist Blue Weaver said the string intro was inspired by another song hit from a movie, Percy Faith’s “Theme From A Summer Place.”

'Magic' by Olivia Newton-John

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: August 2, 1980

Released as the lead single from the movie soundtrack for the 1980 musical fantasy film “Xanadu,” “Magic” was performed by Australian singer Olivia Newton-John and written and produced by John Farrar. Newton-John also starred in the film, along with dancing legend Gene Kelly, and while the film didn’t do well at the box office, the song flew up the Billboard 100 and remained there for four weeks.

'Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)' by Christopher Cross

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Oct. 17, 1981

Christopher Cross’ romantic melody set the tone for the movie “Arthur,” about a drunken millionaire who finds love with a down-to-earth waitress. The theme song took home an Oscar for Best Original Song at the 1982 Academy Awards. Dudley Moore, who starred as the title character in the film, was also an accomplished pianist, and he and Christopher Cross performed the song together.

'Eye Of The Tiger' by Survivor

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: July 24, 1982

Written for the third film in the “Rocky” franchise, “Eye of the Tiger'' instantly soared up the charts after being used in “Rocky III,” and was a one-hit-wonder for the band Survivor. With its pulse-pounding power chord opening, it found its way into several sections of the movie, including the opening and closing credits and a training sequence, and remains instantly recognizable. Written by Survivor keyboardist Jim Peterik and guitarist Frankie Sullivan, it came from the band’s third album, which also shared its name with the hit song.

'Flashdance ... What A Feeling' by Irene Cara

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: May 28, 1983

The title track for the 1983 Adrian Lyne film “Flashdance,” which was about a welder and exotic dancer who dreams of being a ballerina, was Irene Cara’s only chart-topping song. Originally a male, Joe Esposito, was used to sing the song, but director Lyne felt since the lead character was a female, a female singer should sing the film’s theme song. The song won an Oscar for Best Original Song in 1984.

'Maniac' by Michael Sembello

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Sept. 10, 1983

"Maniac” featured a unique music video where singer Michael Sembello was not seen performing, rather the video solely featured clips from the film “Flashdance.” Sembello and Dennis Matkosky wrote the song, which would go on to be covered by several artists and find its way into a Kia commercial with a salesman dancing to the song, where the lyrics have been updated to “selling like he’s never sold before.”

'Footloose' by Kenny Loggins

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: March 31, 1984

The title track for the film “Footloose” was written by Dean Pitchford, and the song and accompanying video were released ahead of the film on MTV. By the time the film came out, “Footloose” was already a Billboard hit. The song appears several times throughout the film: in the opening credits, which focuses on feet moving to the music; at the bar, where they sneak off to dance; and in the final epic dance scene that closes out the film.

'Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)' by Phil Collins

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: April 21, 1984

After being asked by director Taylor Hackford to write a song for the 1984 film “Against All Odds,” starring Jeff Bridges and Rachel Ward, Phil Collins found a song he hadn’t used for his 1981 debut solo album “Face Value,” and made some adjustments for the film. The legendary love ballad received Oscar and Golden Globe nominations for Best Original Song and won a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male.

'When Doves Cry' by Prince And The Revolution

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: July 7, 1984

Written for the film “Purple Rain,” which not only featured music by Prince but also starred the Minneapolis artist, the song played during a mid-movie montage. The song covered many of the film’s themes and became the top-selling single from 1984. The song was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song - Motion Picture and showed up in Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 version of “Romeo & Juliet,” where it was sung by a choir in the film.

'Don't You (Forget About Me)' by Simple Minds

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: May 18, 1985

Written for one of the quintessential coming-of-age movies of the 1980s, “"Don't You (Forget About Me)" plays during the opening and closing credits of the beloved John Hughes’ movie “The Breakfast Club.” The film features a group of stereotypical teens who have nothing in common but are forced to spend the day together at Saturday detention. The Scottish rock band Simple Minds’ hit climbed the Billboard Hot 100 and remained there for 22 weeks.

'The Power Of Love' by Huey Lewis & The News

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: August 24, 1985

The reason the creative team behind “Back to the Future,” which included producer Steven Spielberg, director Robert Zemeckis, and writer Bob Gale, asked Huey Lewis & The News to write a song for the film was simple: Main character Marty McFly would have most certainly been a fan of the popular 1980s band. Lewis came up with the lyrics for the pop smash hit after he threw on his Walkman and went for a jog. The band’s frontman even had a brief cameo in the film as a teacher who dismisses Marty’s band after a talent show audition.

'St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)' by John Parr

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Sept. 7, 1985

David Foster and John Parr wrote the title track for the hit Brat Pack movie, “St. Elmo’s Fire,” and though the song was written for the film, paralyzed Canadian athlete Rick Hansen’s epic wheelchair tour around the world was the inspiration behind it. While "St. Elmo's Fire" is a reference to the ethereal light that can sometimes be spotted around a ship's mast, in the film it also refers to a bar, “St. Elmo’s,” that the recent college grads frequent. The song’s music video features clips from the film intercut with clips of Parr singing.

'Separate Lives' by Phil Collins & Marilyn Martin

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Nov. 30, 1985

Featured on the soundtrack for the film “White Nights,” starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gregory Hines, “Separate Lives” wasn’t written by Phil Collins though he was a songwriter. Instead, Stephen Bishop, who sang such hits as “On and On” and “Save it for a Rainy Day,” wrote it. The song was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song, but Lionel Richie’s “Say You, Say Me,” which was also from the film “White Nights,” won the honor.

'Say You, Say Me' by Lionel Richie

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Dec. 21, 1985

Written for the 1985 film “White Nights,” “Say You, Say Me” won the Oscar for Best Original Song as well as a Golden Globe. The song would not be included on the movie soundtrack because Motown Records, Richie’s label, did not want Atlantic Records to release Richie’s first release since 1983 under a different record label. Richie wound up releasing the song on his 1986 album “Dancing On the Ceiling,” under Motown’s label.

'Kiss' by Prince And The Revolution

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: April 19, 1986

From the movie “Under the Cherry Moon,” “Kiss” was released on Prince’s album “Parade,” which was also the soundtrack from the film. The song won Prince the 1986 Grammy Award for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance. It has also been featured in both television and film, including the animated film “Happy Feet” and an episode of “Glee.” It is also sung by a bathing Julia Roberts in the hit film “Pretty Woman.”

'Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now' by Starship

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: April 4, 1987

The romantic comedy “Mannequin” starred 1980s heartthrob Andrew McCarthy and Kim Cattrall and featured the #1 hit “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now” by Starship, a continuation of the successful band Jefferson Starship. This song came as a follow-up to Starship’s 1985 debut LP “Knee Deep in the Hoopla,” which birthed “We Built This City” and “Sara.”

In July 2021, singer Kelly Clarkson covered the song on her daytime talk show and dedicated it to all the mothers who somehow managed to keep things going during the global COVID-19 pandemic.

'Shakedown' by Bob Seger

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: August 1, 1987

The second installment in the Eddie Murphy comedy franchise “Beverly Hills Cop” featured this fast-paced, catchy tune. Harold Faltermeyer composed the film’s score, and Keith Forsey, wrote the music, while Bob Seger wrote the song’s lyrics. “Shakedown” received an Academy Award nomination for Best Music, Original Song but lost to “Dirty Dancing” whose hit track “(I've Had) The Time Of My Life,” took the Oscar.

'Cradle of Love' by Billy Idol

- Hot 100 peak position: 2
- Peak date: August 4, 1990

Released as the first single off Billy Idol’s fourth album, “Charmed Life,” “Cradle of Love” appeared in the comedy film “Ford Fairlane'' starring Andrew Dice Clay. David Fincher directed the music video, which featured Idol singing in paintings so he could only be seen from the waist up, a move that had to be made due to injuries Idol sustained in a motorcycle crash. Though clips from the film also appeared throughout the video, Dice Clay movie clips were removed since he’d been banned from MTV and the network refused to air the video with him in it.

'Blaze Of Glory' by Jon Bon Jovi

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Sept. 8, 1990

This title track to the Western film “Young Guns II” was featured on Jon Bon Jovi's debut solo studio album of the same name. The music video features Bon Jovi singing and playing guitar in the middle of a canyon and rock-filled desert while a movie screen plays clips from the film in the background. Not only did Jon Bon Jovi have a cameo in the film, but the song was nominated for an Oscar and the singer got the boys from Bon Jovi back together to perform it at the Academy Award ceremony.

'(Everything I Do) I Do It For You' by Bryan Adams

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: July 27, 1991

This power ballad was released on the soundtrack to the 1991 film “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” starring Kevin Costner, and Bryan Adams’ album “Waking Up the Neighbours.” The song went on to garner an Oscar nod for Best Original Song, three Grammy nominations including one for Record of the Year, and a Grammy win for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television.

'End Of The Road' by Boyz II Men

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: August 15, 1992

“End of the Road” was featured in the 1992 comedy film “Boomerang” starring Eddie Murphy. It was co-written by Babyface, L.A. Reid, and Daryl Simmons. Simmons talked to Songwriter Universe about what inspired the love song, “At the time, Kenny had been through a divorce, and I was going through a divorce. So here we go with this concept, thinking about [how things were at] the end of the road. That’s how the concept came along.” The song remained on the Billboard Hot 100 for 13 weeks, setting a new record.

'Kiss From A Rose' by Seal

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: August 26, 1995

“Kiss From A Rose” was released as a single and featured in the film “Batman Forever,” starring Val Kilmer, Jim Carrey, and Nicole Kidman. The meaning of the love song has been much debated— Seal would only say it was about a relationship. It was played during the closing credits of the film. The music video featured Seal singing on a rooftop over Gotham in front of a bat signal intercut with clips from the film.

'Gangsta's Paradise' by Coolio feat. L.V.

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Sept. 9, 1995

“Gangsta’s Paradise” was released on both the soundtrack for the 1995 film, “Dangerous Minds,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, and Coolio’s album of the same name. Singer Larry Sanders, who goes by L.V., reworked Stevie Wonder's 1976 song, "Pastime Paradise,” and sent it to Coolio. The song received Stevie Wonder's approval, a 1995 Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance, a music video featuring Coolio and Pfeiffer, and a Weird Al Yankovic song parody called, “Amish Paradise.”

'Because You Loved Me' by Celine Dion

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: March 23, 1996

While the song was performed by Celine Dion, it was produced by David Foster and written by Diane Warren for the film “Up Close & Personal,” starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford. Warren admitted that the inspiration behind the song was her father and his early and ongoing support of her music career. In 2018 Warren told Billboard, "I felt that when I wrote that song, it was better than I was at the time, if that makes sense. I was like, 'Whoa, this is probably my best song.' There's something lyrically about it."

'Don't Let Go (Love)' by En Vogue

- Hot 100 peak position: 2
- Peak date: Jan. 18, 1997

“Don’t Let Go (Love)” was recorded for the feature film “Set It Off” starring Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, and Vivica A. Fox, and was the last En Vogue single to feature Dawn Robinson, who sang lead vocalist on the track. She left the group to embark on a solo career. Sections of the song featuring Robinson’s vocals had to be re-recorded for release on the band’s album “EV3.”

'Independent Women Part I' by Destiny's Child

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Nov. 18, 2000

Featured in the action film based on the television series “Charlie’s Angels,” the film’s stars, Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, and Lucy Liu are mentioned in the song. "Independent Women Part I" also appeared as the opening track on Destiny’s Child’s album “Survivor.” The song was the perfect fit for the film, as it was about women who are in charge of their own lives, just as the Angels were.

'Lose Yourself' by Eminem

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: Nov. 9, 2002

“Lose Yourself” earned Eminem, rapper and star of the film “8 Mile,” a Grammy and Oscar for Best Original Song, making Eminem the first rapper to claim such an honor. Eminem was so sure the song wouldn’t win that he refused to perform it at the Oscar ceremony; co-producer Luis Resto accepted the award while Eminem fell asleep at home with his daughter.

Seventeen years later, the rapper finally performed the song at the Academy Awards. The film’s theme song also spent 23 weeks on top of the charts, which earned it the title of "Longest Running Single at Number One for a Rap Song,” in the Guinness Book of World Records.

'Shallow' by Bradley Cooper & Lady Gaga

- Hot 100 peak position: 1
- Peak date: March 9, 2019

When Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper starred in the remake of the 1976 Barbara Streisand/Kris Kristofferson film, “A Star Is Born,” Gaga wrote the modern hit for the film along with Andrew Wyatt, Anthony Rossomando, and Mark Ronson. The film was actually a remake of a remake: “A Star Is Born” was originally made in 1937, and remade in 1954, 1976, and 2018.

“Shallow” won an Oscar, and when Gaga and Cooper (who also directed the film) performed it together on stage at the ceremony, there was so much chemistry between the two that rumors of an affair ran rampant.

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Percy Faith And His Orchestra

#52

"The Theme From 'A Summer Place''" by Percy Faith And His Orchestra

''To Sir With Love' by Lulu

#51

'To Sir With Love' by Lulu

'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' by B.J. Thomas

#50

'Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head' by B.J. Thomas

'The Way We Were' by Barbra Streisand

#49

'The Way We Were' by Barbra Streisand

'Evergreen' by Barbra Streisand

#48

'Evergreen' by Barbra Streisand

'You Light Up My Life' by Debby Boone

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'You Light Up My Life' by Debby Boone

'How Deep Is Your Love' by Bee Gees

#46

'How Deep Is Your Love' by Bee Gees

#45

'Stayin' Alive' by Bee Gees

#44

'Night Fever' by Bee Gees

#44

'Call Me' by Blondie

'Magic' by Olivia Newton-John

#43

'Magic' by Olivia Newton-John

#42

'9 To 5' by Dolly Parton

'Endless Love' by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

#41

'Endless Love' by Diana Ross & Lionel Richie

#40

'Arthur's Theme (Best That You Can Do)' by Christopher Cross

#39

'Eye Of The Tiger' by Survivor

'Flashdance ... What A Feeling' by Irene Cara

#38

'Flashdance ... What A Feeling' by Irene Cara

'Maniac' by Michael Sembello

#37

'Maniac' by Michael Sembello

#36

'Footloose' by Kenny Loggins

#35

'Against All Odds (Take A Look At Me Now)' by Phil Collins

#34

'When Doves Cry' by Prince And The Revolution

#33

'Ghostbusters' by Ray Parker Jr.

#32

'I Just Called To Say I Love You' by Stevie Wonder

'Crazy For You' by Madonna

#31

'Crazy For You' by Madonna

'Don't You (Forget About Me)' by Simple Minds

#30

'Don't You (Forget About Me)' by Simple Minds

The Power Of Love' by Huey Lewis & The News

#29

'The Power Of Love' by Huey Lewis & The News

#28

'St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)' by John Parr