Who can forget John Travolta’s swagger as he strutted down a Brooklyn sidewalk to the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive”? Or Rocky Balboa’s epic training run through 30.61 miles of Philadelphia streets, from his home to the art museum to Bill Conti’s “Gonna Fly Now”? Even today, decades later, these songs inspire us to own the night or seize our time in the sun. Music brings magic to movies.
Whether it’s existing songs or original pieces written specifically for the film, filmmakers use music on the big screen in many different ways. Some theme songs recur throughout movies—some characters even get a particular theme to embody their personality.
Key points in the plot, like the climax, also feature carefully selected songs that enhance the moment’s mood. Think Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey dancing to Franke Previte’s “(I’ve Had) the Time of My Life.” That classic lift is still something we see recreated in weddings and rom-com movies.
These musical choices impact the viewing experience. The right songs can structurally ground viewers in the setting or move the story forward. Music can help build the right atmosphere—suspenseful, dramatic, or romantic—for the story. It can also reflect the characters’ emotions onscreen and even create specific emotional responses in viewers.
Some movie soundtracks resonate more powerfully than others, permeating pop culture for decades. Stacker compiled a list of iconic movie soundtracks from the ’60s and ’70s, drawing on work from music and film historians, critics, news reports, and other sources. Keep reading to learn more about 25 films whose music defined an era, listed in order of release date.
