Matching the right song with a scene is an art — especially when you consider that filmmakers have to deal with things like budgets and rights issues. After the jump we’ve rounded up 35 of our all-time favorite movie music moments; scenes made instantly memorable thanks to a talented DJ. By no means are we going to pretend this list is definitive, it’s just meant to be a jumping off point. (In fact, we could have done 35 moments from Wes Anderson’s films alone.) Do us a solid and add your personal faves in the comments.
1. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) – Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, “Moon River”
2. The Graduate (1967) – Simon & Garfunkel, “The Sound of Silence”
3. Harold and Maude (1971) – Cat Stevens, “Trouble”
4. Animal House (1974) – Otis Day & the Knights, “Shout”
5. Apocalypse Now (1979) – The Doors, “The End”
6. The Muppet Movie (1979) – Kermit the Frog, “The Rainbow Connection”
7. Rocky 3 (1982) – Survivor, “Eye of the Tiger”
8. The Big Chill (1983) – The Rolling Stones, “You Can’t Always Get What You Want”
9. Risky Business (1983) – Bob Seger and The Silver Bullet Band, “Old Time Rock and Roll”
10. Sixteen Candles (1984) – The Thompson Twins, “If You Were Here”
11. Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985) – The Champs, “Tequila”
12. Top Gun (1986) – Berlin, “Take My Breath Away”
13. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986) – The Beatles, “Twist & Shout”
14. Pretty in Pink (1986) – Otis Redding, “Try a Little Tenderness”
15. Dirty Dancing (1987) – Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”
16. Beetlejuice (1988) – Harry Belafonte, “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)”
17. She’s Having a Baby (1988) – Kate Bush, “This Woman’s Work”
18. Say Anything (1989) – Peter Gabriel, “In Your Eyes”
19. Ghost (1990) – The Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody”
20. Goodfellas (1990) – Cream, “Sunshine of Your Love”
21. Wayne’s World (1992) – Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”
22. Dazed and Confused (1993) – Aerosmith, “Sweet Emotion”
23. Pulp Fiction (1994) – Urge Overkill, “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon”
24. Reality Bites (1994) – The Knack, “My Sharona”
25. Dangerous Minds (1995) – Coolio, “Gangsta’s Paradise”
26. Empire Records (1995) – Coyote Shivers, “Sugarhigh”
27. Rushmore (1998) – The Rolling Stones, “I Am Waiting”
28. Velvet Goldmine (1998) – Placebo, “20th Century Boy”
29. Fight Club (1999) – The Pixies, “Where Is My Mind?”
30. Office Space, 1999 – The Geto Boys, “Damn It Feels Good to Be a Gangsta”
31. Almost Famous (2000) – Elton John, “Tiny Dancer”
32. American Psycho (2000) – Huey Lewis & the News, “Hip to Be Square”
33. The Royal Tenebaums (2001) – Nico, “These Days”
34. Garden State (2004) – Simon and Garfunkel, “The Only Living Boy in New York”
35. The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) – Sigur Ros, “Staralfur”
Joy Division-Inspired Street Art Around the World
The 10 Best Sitcom Finales in TV History
43 Great Tina Fey Quotes for Her 43rd Birthday
The 20 Best Disney Animated Feature Films
15 Books You Should Definitely Not Read in Your 20s



