If there’s one thing about a movie that can make it stand out to the audience, it is the soundtrack. While in some ways this has become a lost art, many movies over the years have become synonymous with their theme song. In many ways, they become so synonymous with each other that it becomes hard to think of one without thinking about the other. These songs not only helped in making the movie bigger, but they also helped the artist who made them in reaching levels of popularity they had never seen before. Some of these songs became so big that some of them even became more popular than the actual movie they were from. Get ready to take a trip down memory lane as we rank the Top Ten Most Memorable Songs from A Movie: 

10.  Top Gun: Take My Breath Away – Berlin

One of the defining action movies of the 1980s, 1986’s Top Gun is remembered for being one of the breakout roles for Tom Cruise and popularizing the term “need for speed.” In addition to the characters and adrenaline-fueled action scenes, the film is also fondly remembered for its soundtrack. While the Kenny Loggins song “Danger Zone” is in many ways synonymous with the movie, the song that gained even more popularity was the group Berlin’s love ballad that can be heard throughout the movie, “Take My Breath Away.” The song’s association with the film helped it become one of the biggest hits of the year as it reached number one on the Billboard charts that summer. In addition to that, it won the film its lone Oscar the following year as it won the award for Best Original Song.

9. The Breakfast Club: Don’t You Forget About Me – Simple Minds

As movies centered around teens were a huge trend throughout the ‘80s, there was no other from that era that stood out more than The Breakfast Club. Released in 1985, the film tells the story of five teenagers from different social cliques who are forced to spend a Saturday together in detention. While the movie went on to be a huge success and a cult classic, the exact same can be said for its theme song, “Don’t You Forget About Me.” Performed by Simple Minds, the song became a breakout hit for the band that made it to the top of the Billboard charts. Not only is it synonymous with the movie as it can be heard during both the opening and closing credits, its sound and lyrics are synonymous with the entire decade.

8.  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: Sunflower – Post Malone, Swae Lee

For as many movie incarnations as there have been of Spider-Man over the years, the one that many fans argue tops them all is 2018’s Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. While all the films about the superhero released in theaters up to that point were live action, this one was an animated version with special effects and a story that provided a breath of fresh air. Something else about the film that stood out was its heavy hip hop influence, which could be felt through its theme song, “Sunflower.” Performed by Post Malone and Swae Lee, the song topped the Billboard charts and even received a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year. As great as the movie was, the way the song’s sound and production perfectly fit its vibe helped make the movie even better.

7. Boomerang: End of the Road – Boyz II Men

1992’s Boomerang featured an ensemble cast with the likes of Eddie Murphy, David Allen Grier, Martin Lawrence, Robin Givens, and Halle Berry in one of her first major roles. While the film wasn’t as appreciated back then as it is now, something that was appreciated about it at the time was its soundtrack. With a soundtrack featuring songs from Johnny Gill, P.M. Dawn, and a debuting Toni Braxton, the one song from it that outshined them all was Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road.” Setting the record at the time for most consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard charts at 13, “End of the Road” brought the Philadelphia group to heights no other R&B group had seen before and very few have seen since. The song’s success easily overshadowed the success of the movie and became one of the many songs that made Boyz II Men the defining group of the ‘90s.

6. Rocky III: Eye of The Tiger – Survivor

Released in the Summer of 1982, Rocky III became the most successful film in the Rocky franchise by that point. Although “Gonna Fly Now” was the song most synonymous with the Rocky character in the earlier films, this sequel introduced a song that became every bit as synonymous with it. Survivor’s “Eye of The Tiger” proved to be an inspirational song that captured both the Rocky spirit and the gritty vibe of the entire movie. As Sylvester Stallone personally selected the band to put the song together, that decision paid off in a major way as it topped the Billboard charts for six weeks and was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song. As memorable and iconic as Rocky III is, it perhaps wouldn’t have become as iconic had “Eye of The Tiger” not been a part of it.

5. Dangerous Minds: Gangster’s Paradise – Coolio, L.V.  

The film Dangerous Minds centers around Michelle Pfeiffer as an ex-marine who becomes a teacher at an inner-city high school. While the movie did enjoy box office success when it came out in the Summer of 1995, the success it had paled in comparison to the success of its theme song, “Gangster’s Paradise.” Performed by the late Coolio featuring L.V., the song became the rapper’s biggest hit as it reached number one on the Billboard charts. Not only did it accomplish that, but it also went on to be the best-selling single of the year and even helped Coolio win a Grammy for Best Rap Solo Performance. With Pfeiffer also appearing in the song’s music video, its success made her appearance in the video arguably more memorable than her performance in the actual movie. 

4. Armageddon: I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing – Aerosmith

Released in the Summer of 1998, the action film Armageddon became the highest grossing movie of the year despite receiving mixed reviews. While Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was used as the movie’s theme song, the song’s popularity quickly surpassed the popularity of the movie. Despite being around since the early ‘70s, this song became the band’s first to ever top the Billboard charts in the United States. Holding down that top spot for four straight weeks, it went on to be one of the biggest hits of the year as well as their biggest hit to this day. While many people who’ve seen Armageddon don’t really look back on it fondly, its association with “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” is something about it that is worth remembering.

3. Titanic: My Heart Will Go On – Celine Deon

Starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, Titanic tells the story of two people from different social classes that fall for each other during the ship’s voyage before it eventually sinks. Released in late 1997, it was the highest grossing movie of all time during its theatrical run. As big of a deal as this movie was, its theme song “My Heart Will Go On” was impressively able to match its level of popularity. Performed by Celine Dion, the song checked off every accolade that you could think of including topping the Billboard charts, becoming the best-selling single of 1998, and winning the Oscar for Best Original Song. Despite the many hits Dion has had throughout her career, “My Heart Will Go On” is widely regarded to this day as her signature song.    

2. 8 Mile: Lose Yourself – Eminem 

2002’s 8 Mile tells the ultimate underdog story of a white rapper trying to breakthrough the underground Detroit hip hop scene of the mid-90s. In his feature film debut and with it largely based around his real-life story, Eminem put on a strong performance as the film’s lead protagonist, B-Rabbit. As great as his performance was in the movie, he arguably put on an even better one for the movie’s theme song, “Lose Yourself.” Telling the same story of the movie and the B-Rabbit character, the song became Eminem’s first to top the Billboard charts and did so for 12 straight weeks. As successful as it was, the biggest accolade “Lose Yourself” achieved was becoming the first hip hop song to ever win the Oscar for Best Original Song. 

1. The Bodyguard: I Will Always Love You – Whitney Houston

The late Whitney Houston made her feature film debut alongside Kevin Costner in 1992’s The Bodyguard. In the movie, she plays a pop star and actress who receives protection from a former Secret Service agent after she’s sent death threats by a stalker. While the movie went on to be a success and opened the door for her acting career, the song “I Will Always Love You” that she sang for it made her an even bigger pop star than she already was. The song went on to be her biggest hit as it topped the Billboard charts for 17 straight weeks, breaking the record previously set by Boyz II Men’s “End of the Road” a few months earlier. Even more impressive than that feat, “I Will Always Love You” became the best-selling single of all time for any female artist. 

Honorable Mentions:

• Batman Forever: Kiss From a Rose – Seal
• Men In Black: Men In Black – Will Smith
• Ghostbusters: Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr.
• Above The Rim: Regulate – Warren G & Nate Dogg
• Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves: Everything I Do (I Do It for You) – Brayn Adams