Movies without great original songs are like nachos without cheese — technically fine, but why would you even bother? The right track can turn a good scene into an all-timer, lodge itself in your brain for decades, and in some cases completely overshadow the film it came from.
From Bond ballads to disco struts, from Oscar-winning rap to a certain pop-punk roast about poor Scotty, these are the original movie songs that didn’t just play in the background — they took over.
Goldfinger – Shirley Bassey (Goldfinger, 1964)
James Bond: a man who drinks too much, flirts with anything that moves, and somehow never gets fired. The Bond theme tradition is almost as iconic as the spy himself, and Shirley Bassey’s “Goldfinger” is the crown jewel of original movie songs.
Bold brass, dramatic vocals, and just the right amount of camp — this was the moment the Bond opener went from “cool intro” to “full cinematic event.”
Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel (The Graduate, 1968)
Before American Pie had its “Stifler’s mom” moment, The Graduate gave us the original older woman/younger man scandal. And Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” was the perfect cheeky, upbeat soundtrack to Dustin Hoffman’s awkward seduction saga.
The movie may have drifted from the pop culture frontlines, but strum those first chords and suddenly everyone’s humming along — proof of how powerful an original song written for a movie can be.
Theme from Shaft – Isaac Hayes (Shaft, 1971)
Cooler than cool. Funkier than funky. Isaac Hayes’ “Theme from Shaft” is pure 70s swagger — wah-wah guitar, a groove that doesn’t quit, and lyrics that made Shaft sound like the most dangerous man alive… in a good way.
It didn’t just top charts; it kicked down the door, won an Oscar for Best Original Song, and strutted off with your girlfriend.
Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees (Saturday Night Fever, 1977)
One bassline. One white suit. One walk down the street with more confidence than anyone has a right to have. John Travolta’s Brooklyn strut made him a star, but the Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” made Saturday Night Fever an icon of original movie songs.
It’s not just a song — it’s a disco battle cry that’s outlived the disco era by decades.
Eye of the Tiger – Survivor (Rocky III, 1982)
If you’ve ever gone for a run, lifted a dumbbell, or even just carried the shopping up the stairs and pretended you were training for a title fight — you’ve heard “Eye of the Tiger” in your head.
Survivor wrote it as an original song for Rocky III, but it escaped the movie to become the universal soundtrack for “I’m about to crush this.”
Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr. (Ghostbusters, 1984)
It’s campy. It’s funky. It’s the reason people still yell “Who you gonna call?” at every minor inconvenience. Ray Parker Jr. distilled the entire supernatural comedy into one earworm, making it one of the most famous songs from a movie ever recorded.
It topped the Billboard charts, earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, and still sparks instant recognition decades later.
Don’t You (Forget About Me) – Simple Minds (The Breakfast Club, 1985)
John Hughes didn’t just make teen movies — he made the teen movies. And this track? This was the one that stuck. Simple Minds somehow bottled every emotion of being a misunderstood high schooler into a single chorus.
Even if you’ve never seen the movie, you’ve probably done the Judd Nelson fist pump while this iconic movie song plays.
You’ve Got a Friend in Me – Randy Newman (Toy Story, 1995)
Pixar’s first feature gave us cowboys, spacemen, and the unsettling realisation that our toys might be alive — but Randy Newman’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me” was the warm, fuzzy glue that held it all together.
It’s the kind of original song for a movie that kids love and adults cry to, which is basically Pixar’s entire business model.
My Heart Will Go On – Celine Dion (Titanic, 1997)
The song that made an entire generation believe romance peaked on a sinking ship. Celine Dion’s power ballad wasn’t just the theme for Titanic — it was Titanic. Sweeping, dramatic, and designed to make you ugly-cry in public.
Yes, Jack could’ve fit on the door. No, we’re never letting that go.
Lose Yourself – Eminem (8 Mile, 2002)
If you’ve ever told yourself “One shot. One opportunity.” before doing literally anything — from a job interview to parallel parking — you can thank Eminem.
Written as an original song for 8 Mile, “Lose Yourself” is pure adrenaline in music form, an Oscar-winning reminder to grab the moment and choke it until it gives up its lunch money.
Scotty Doesn’t Know – Lustra (EuroTrip, 2004)
Some original movie songs are memorable because they’re brilliant. Others because they’re so wildly inappropriate they immediately become legend. “Scotty Doesn’t Know” is the latter — a pop-punk masterpiece about cheating on a guy while he’s in the audience.
Delivered by a mohawked, leather-clad Matt Damon (yes, that Matt Damon) in the opening scene of EuroTrip, it went from in-joke to real-world charting single. Two decades later, Scotty still doesn’t know.
Final Word
Some of these original songs from movies won Oscars. Some topped charts. And one is literally about sleeping with your boyfriend’s girlfriend behind his back. But every single one outlived the film it came from — because the best original movie songs don’t just support a scene, they become the movie.
