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THE POWER OF THE DOG BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH as PHIL BURBANK in THE POWER OF THE DOG./ CREDIT: KIRSTY GRIFFIN/NETFLIX © 2021 Cross City Films Limited/Courtesy of Netflix

The 50 Best Movie Soundtracks Of The Last Decade

Danielle Hurst

If you’re the type of person who can’t get enough of movie musicals and soundtracks, then you’ve come to the right place. This list is filled with movie and musical brilliance, and while I am not a musical expert, I’ve used online research, opinions from friends, and my own personal opinion to craft the best movie soundtracks from 2010 movies. 

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50. Inherent Vice (2014)

The Paul Thomas Anderson film, Inherent Vice is known for its chaotic and pungent storyline, and the soundtrack is no different. It mixes dreamy pop hits like Minnie Ripperton’s “Les Fleurs”  and gritty under-the-radar gems like “Soup” by Can.

The clash of all the different genres creates the perfect storm and a delightfully chaotic movie soundtrack. 

Take it from this guy, he knows what’s up. 

49. Spring Breakers (2010)

Spring Breakers was a movie phenomenon full of parties, drugs, and debauchery, so of course, the movie soundtrack reflects this. With old and new songs from Skrillex, Meek Mill and Ellie Goulding the soundtrack is filled with fabulous collaborations and EDM music that fits in with the Spring Breakers theme. 

A fever dream time capsule is the… perfect way to put it. 

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48. Mid 90s (2018)

Writer and director Jonah Hill painted the perfect picture of the late last century when crafting Mid90s. This coming-of-age tale tells the story of skateboard culture in the 90s – gritty and directionless. The soundtrack packs a punch of 90s nostalgia that elevates the impact of the film. Some 90s faves like Nirvana, Wu-Tang Clan, Cypress Hill, and Misfits appear on the soundtrack, along with other classic artists and songs. 

If you’re looking for a soundtrack as nostalgic as the film, then the Mid 90s soundtrack is the perfect listen for you. 

47. Life of Pi (2012)

The enchanting film Life of Pi is known for its richness of storyline and visuals, so it’s only fitting that the movie soundtrack is just as bold and beautiful. 

The soundtrack perfectly pays tribute to and honors the French Indian characters, while also adding to the spiritual side of the film. From the first song on the album, Pi’s Lullaby, it’s clear that the Life of Pi soundtrack is filled with beautiful melodies and Indian sounds from start to finish. 

46. Birds of Prey (2012)

Brought to you by the DC Universe, Birds of Prey is a violent action-fantasy film about Harley Quinn and her battle against a huge crime kingpin. The movie soundtrack includes banger after banger. The soundtrack includes hits from Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Sofi Tukker, and more! If you’re looking for a bad girl playlist, then you’ve come to the right place. 

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45. Don’t Look Up (2021)

Don’t Look Up starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Jennifer Lawrence and Meryl Streep is an unforgiving, sharp, and eerily close-to-home dark comedy that was all the talk in late 2021. 

Composed by Nicholas Britell, the soundtrack has a bit of a manic sound, making for one fantastic match to the movie. It is no simple feat to write music for a comedy with such dark undertones, but Nicholas crafted a masterpiece with this 32-track album for Don’t Look Up.

Facts.

44. Waves (2019)

From acclaimed director Trey Edward Shults, Waves is a heartfelt story about feeling love and compassion even in the darkest of times. Schults was able to secure artists like Kendrick Lamar, Frank Ocean, Animal Collective, Kid Cudi and more!

Director Trey Edward Schults referred to the movie and soundtrack by saying, “Someone told me it was like I made a musical, but it’s the camera doing the dancing, I love the idea of that.”

43. Frances Ha (2013)

One of my personal faves on the list is the Noah Baumbach masterpiece Frances Ha, starring Greta Gerwig and Adam Driver. The film touches on the evolution a person goes through in their 20s. It’s messy and sometimes confusing, but in the end, it’s a journey, and everyone’s journey is unique. 

The soundtrack features everything from French instrumental songs to pop classics like David Bowie’s “Modern Love”, and is beautiful, carefree, and nostalgic, just like the film. 

42. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

Okay, this one is a given. When Bohemian Rhapsody was released in 2018, Queen fans everywhere rejoiced. The film received great reviews and Rami Malek gave an iconic performance. But was the soundtrack as good? Of course, it was. 

It features classics like “Somebody to Love” and “Bohemian Rhapsody”, but also has deep cuts and unheard live performances. It’s a fresh, fun, and raw tribute to the massive musical genius of Freddie Mercury and Queen. 

41. Cruella (2021)

Cruella starring Emma Stone, Emma Thompson, and Joel Fry was a hit when it was released in 2021, and has a killer soundtrack to match the film. The soundtrack is chock full of hits from the ’60s and ’70s like “She’s a Rainbow” by The Rolling Stones and “Should I Stay or Should I Go” by The Clash. 

The soundtrack features back-to-back classics and you can’t help but listen to the whole album in its entirety.

It’s truly top tier. 

40. Baby Driver (2017)

Baby Driver is a smart, action packed, and stylish movie that is driven by a revved up soundtrack (no pun intended). 

The driving scenes feature ’70s rock classics from bands like Queen, but also features  various styles of vintage artists like Beck, Barry White the Beach Boys and more!

39. Call Me By Your Name (2018)

The beautifully romantic Luca Guadagnino film Call Me By Your Name tells the love story between Elio and Oliver, and uses ’80s pop songs and classical masterpieces to help tell the story. 

With artists like Sufjan Stevens and the Psychedelic Furs, it’s hard to not get lost in the beautiful sounds of delirium and falling in love. 

38. Joker (2019)

When you think of the Joker, you think of absolute madness and mayhem. Same goes for the Joker soundtrack. Many of the songs like “Joker” by Steve Miller Band and  ‘Send in the Clowns’ by Frank Sinatra are odes to clowns, which is unsettling yet fits the vibe of the film perfectly. 

37. Spider-man: Into the Spider-Verse (2019)

The Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse soundtrack is amazing for a number of reasons. The song choices are unique, diverse and nostalgic. The soundtrack builds just like the movie, starting with the hit ‘Sunflower’ by Post Malone and ending with the vivacious and powerful Vince Staples song “Home”.

36. Black Panther (2019)

Black Panther boasts an all-star cast including Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, Daniel Kaluuya and more! The soundtrack matches the grandiose energy of the film with songs from Kendrick Lamar, The Weeknd, and SZA. Both the film and soundtrack are black excellence at its finest. 

The soundtrack has no business being this good. 

35. Mamma Mia 2 (2018)

The Mamma Mia 2 soundtrack is everything you would expect it to be. When you pop on this movie, you immediately know it’s going to be fun ABBA covers, pretty island vibes, and Meryl Streep.

Any of the cheery, upbeat songs can be used as a summer anthem at any time. 

34. Lady Bird (2017)

Lady Bird’s soundtrack, composed by Jon Brion, is full of quirky understated melodies that add to the nostalgia and underlying melancholy of the film. The music never overpowers the scene, but rather adds to the emotional depth to this coming-of-age mother, daughter drama. 

33. Moonlight (2016)

Moonlight, a visually breathtaking and heartrending movie boasts a soundtrack like never heard before. It features classical music with chopped and screwed melancholic hip hop vibes, and is unlike anything i’ve ever heard.

32. Sing (2016)

The Sing soundtrack is such a treat for music lovers everywhere. The album features songs performed by their original artists and amazing covers. And Tori Kelly‘s “Don’t You Worry Bout a Thing” is to die for, along with ‘Faith’ by Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande. 

If you’re looking for an album to cheer you up, look no further than the Sing soundtrack. 

31. Arrival (2016)

Arrival is a provocative sci-fi film starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker. The movie is dark, and existential and the ending can be left to interpretation. 

The Arrival soundtrack has a hauntingly beautiful film score, delivering looming and dark melodies that evoke the same intense fear and bewilderment that that film does. 

30. Carol (2015)

You know the kinda movie soundtrack that fits PERFECTLY with the movie? Well, that’s the Carol soundtrack. The movie stars Cate Blanchette and Rooney Mara as they navigate falling in love in the 1950’s. The movie is filled with romance, drama and a score that sets the scene. 

Carter Burwell composed the score, making it an intimate and delicate extension of the film, bouncing between vocal jazz and classical pieces and perfectly embodying the film through sound. 

29. Skyfall (2012)

The 23rd James Bond Movie, Skyfall, was released around the 50th anniversary of the first film, and quickly became a hit. 

The composer of the Skyfall score is Thomas Newman, a multi-nominated composer of scores from American Beauty and Shawshank Redemption. While Thomas spent over 50 years composing, Skyfall was his first action score. Without a doubt, the music perfectly compliments the action scenes in the film and helps crafts the world of Bond, James Bond. 

28. If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)

First off, if you have not seen this movie yet, stop what you’re doing and go watch it. If Beale Street Could Talk is a movie that is essentially a collection of beautiful vignettes that tells a heartbreaking and emotional love story between Lonny (Stephan James) and Tish (Kiki Layne).

Composed by Nicholas Britell, the movie soundtrack for If Beale Street Could Talk is rooted in the world of New York Jazz. The beautiful orchestral jazz sounds detach the two main characters from reality, showing that their unbreakable love is protecting them from the injustices happening around them.

27. Little Women (2019)

Greta Gerwig’s Little Women is an adaptation of the 1868 novel written by Louisa May Alcott and was often referred to as “a new classic” when released in 2019. . 

The movie score was written by Alexandre Desplat, a French composer best known for his scores for The Shape of Water, The King’s Speech and Zero Dark Thirty. The Little Women score really speaks to the heart of the film, and there is a simplicity to it that is hard to find in film scores. This Oscar nominated score fits with the film perfectly and provides a wide tonal and emotional range to listeners. 

The titular song of the film, “Little Women” is a fun and upbeat depiction of the film while songs like “Father Come Home” offer a slow burn and a calming breath of fresh air. 

26. Best Movie Soundtracks of The Past 10 Years: Suspiria (2019)

Are you a Radiohead stan? If so, you’ll love the Suspiria Movie Soundtrack, because Thom Yorke composed the whole thing. He is definitely an unexpected choice for this Luca Guadagnino Susupiria remake, but his score conquered a broad range of styles that lived in a totally different world than his previous work. The Suspiria movie score is cinematic, dark and brooding, just like the movie. 

25. Pitch Perfect (2012)

We like to think of Pitch Perfect as an elevated Glee, mostly for its wit, humor and excellent movie soundtrack. Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Skylar Astin and more star in this three part film series featuring plenty of acapella. 

After watching the first movie, you’ll be sure to have “Cups” by Anna Kendrick or the famous ‘Riff Off’ medley stuck in your head. Either way, Pitch Perfect is a great movie to sing along too. 

24. Hateful Eight (2015)

The score for Quentin Tarantino’s Hateful Eight was written by Ennio Morricone and was his first work for a western themed movie in 30 years. His melodies are filled with strong notes and emotion, but long winded enough to support an epic-length film.The Hateful Eight movie score is filled with powerful Morricone melodies, but Tarantino can’t help but sprinkle his only flair on the movie soundtrack by including artists like the White Stripes, Roy Orbison and David Hess.

23. The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

The Grand Budapest Hotel movie score is just as delightful, fluid and filled with charm as the movie itself. Alexandre Desplat’s collaboration with Wes Anderson on this great movie gifted us the classic theme song ‘Mr. Moustafa’. This is the theme track for the album and it’s filled with sounds of plucked instruments. This vibe ultimately sets the tone for the rest of the score and movie. 

22. The Social Network (2010)

Okay, this movie may be from longer than 10 years ago, but we had to include it on the list for its impeccable soundtrack. Many people believe that the success of The Social Network was largely attributed to the movie soundtrack, and we agree. 

The film was punctuated by a dark brooding score, filled with dark ambient electro-industrial music. The most interesting part of the score is that it in a way predicted the future and set the tone for Mark Zuckerberg‘s villain origin story. 

21. 50 Shades of Grey (2015)

With all the amazing music on the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack, we couldn’t help but add it to the list. I mean, any album with Beyonce on it is bound to be good. 

This steamy movie soundtrack features songs from Queen Bey, The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Frank Sinatra and more! At 16 total tracks, the album is long winded but well worth it for the diversity of artists and the quickening pulse from one song to the next.  

20. Inception (2010)

There’s no surprise that the backbone of Inception is the work of composer Hanz Zimmer. The ambient melodies accompany the film perfectly, and is a testament to the incredible work of Zimmer. 

Believe it or not, all of the music for the movie was recorded before anything was filmed and Zimmer based his creative genius off of the concept of dreaming and losing touch with reality.

19. Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019)

Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time is set in the ’70s and surrounds the infamous Manson murders in Hollywood. In typical Tarantino fashion, he uses music to help tell his story.

The 70’s tunes make us want to cruise around just like Cliff Booth (Brad Pitt), and listen to the album in its entirety. The movie soundtrack features artists like Deep Purple, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Bob Seger and more!

18. Judas and The Black Messiah (2021)

Judas and the Black Messiah tells the story of the Illinois Black Panther leader Fred Hampton and an FBI informant who invaded the party in the 1960s. The director of Judas and The Black Messiah, Shaka King walked a fine line between radicalism and mainstream when crafting the film, and he did the same with the soundtrack. 

The Judas and the Black Messiah movie soundtrack features heavyweights in Hip Hop like Nas and Jay-Z and newcomers like Pooh Shiesty and Polo G. The multi faceted album charged already incredible moments in the film, and was truly a collaboration of the greatest artists in hip hop. 

17. Soul (2020)

It makes total sense that Soul made it onto the list of best movie soundtracks. The score was composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, with some Jazz compositions from Jon Batiste. It’s truly Batiste’s jazz compositions that act as the heart of the film. Songs like “Collard Greens and Cornbread Strut” and ‘Bigger Than Us’ are full of flavor and life and accompany the vibe of Soul so well. 

16. Power of The Dog (2021)

Jane Campion’s Power of the Dog sweeped the 2022 Oscars, but it did not win for Best Score despite the nomination. Johnny Greenwood, lead guitarist of Radiohead is responsible for this work of art that is the Power of the Dog movie score. 

Believe it or not, Johnny has been composing for cinema classics for years including Inherent Vice (which also made our list!), The Master and Spencer (what!?). Greenwood’s work in POTD is refined, elegant and somehow both light and dark at the same time. He actually bent instruments while playing to portray the troubled psyche of Phil Burbank (Benedict Cumberbatch). If that is’t genius, I don’t know what is. 

15. The Great Gatsby (2013)

First off, we want the record to show that we at Hollywood.com are absolute Baz Lurhman stans. The Great Gatsby remake starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey Macguire, Carey Mulligan and Isla Fischer is a true masterpiece.

The movie soundtrack features artists like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Jack White, Lana Del Ray, The xx, Andre 3000, and more!  This is more than enough to get most music lovers riled up. 

While most of the songs on the soundtrack are amazing, If you haven’t listened to Emeli Sande’s cover of Beyonce’s ‘Crazy in Love’, you should stop what you’re doing and listen right now. 

14. Interstellar (2014)

Hanz Zimmer is back at it once again with the breathtaking Interstellar movie score. The film stars Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Matt Damon, Timothee Chalamet and more! This Christopher Nolan classic focuses heavily on the concept of time, space and gravity with a sci-fi plot.

We all know the vastness and mystery of outer space is overwhelmingly infinite, but Hans does a fantastic job of capturing this feeling while also sticking to the main themes of the film; love, closeless and human connection. 

13. Guardians of The Galaxy (2014)

It’s no secret that the Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack is equally as great as the movie. Music dominates the film and was an integral part of the story line. 

The soundtrack features mostly music from the ’60s and ’70s, including classics like ‘The Chain’ by Fleetwood Mac and ‘Moonage Daydream’ by David Bowie. The 42-track album has no shortage of hits, and serves as a great accessory to the film. 

12. The Shape of Water (2017)

I’m not going to lie, this movie and soundtrack is one of my all time favorites. The Shape of Water is the ultimate sci-fi fairytale love story from the one and only Guillermo Del Toro.

When talking about the film, composer Alexandre Desplat spoke about a recurring theme of the film, saying,  “Water takes the shape of everything. It goes through the air, it’s invisible, it’s transparent, but it still has a lot of power.” 

He had this in mind when composing the movie score, and the end result was magical, whimsical and full of love. This just proves that Desplat and Del Toro make one amazing team.

11. Star Wars (2019)

The newest installment in the Star Wars series, Star Wars: Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker is nothing short of spectacular and the same goes for the film soundtrack. 

The album, composed by John Williams, is full of familiar sounds and music that brings the listener back in time. The high quality of John’s work throughout the Star Wars franchise is evident, and he never fails to create a complex yet subtle string of melodies to compliment the movies.

10. Trolls World Tour (2020)

Hot take: Trolls is to Gen Z to what Shrek is to millenials. Don’t ask me to explain.

Trolls World Tour is a rainbow colored musical mashup of all different genres of music, starring Anna Kendrick, Justin Timberlake and Rachel Bloom. The movie is essentially a 90 minute music video where every troll performs and sings music within their own genre. The soundtrack features covers of Daft Punk, Heart, Black Sabbath and more!

Also, Kelly Clarkson is the gift that keeps on giving in Trolls World Tour with her song “Born To Die”.. 

9. The Greatest Showman (2017)

The Greatest Showman is a story about PT Barnum and how he turned a world of imagination into reality. It could be argued that The Greatest Showman truly raised the bar for movie soundtracks. James Arthur, Kelly Clarkson, Kesha, Sara Barielles and so many more amazing musicians are featured on this 26-track album. A personal favorite from the movie soundtrack is “Tightrope” by Michelle Williams as it carries the story from one scene to the next so seamlessly. 

In the words of this Twitter user, the Greatest Showman soundtrack ALWAYS slaps. 

8. The Lion King: The Gift (2019)

The Lion King: The Gift soundtrack is yet another masterpiece brought to us by Queen Bey. A celebration of blackness, the album features artists from the U.S., Nigeria, South Africa, Ghana, and Cameroon. The album is similar in nature to Kendrick Lamar’s Black Panther soundtrack and puts Beyonce’s amazing taste and overwhelming power on display. The album features artists like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Blue Ivy Carter, Childish Gambino, Pharrell Williams, Kendrick Lamar, Tierra Whack, and more!

Songs such as “Brown Skin Girl” and “My Power” quickly became iconic anthems for dark-skinned women everywhere. This type of celebratory ode to blackness is often times dismissed, so the fact that the song reached mainstream popularity is a step in the right direction. These songs are made for dark skinned women, and it’s important to accept the songs and album as a whole, and who it was intended for. 

7. In The Heights (2021)

Brought to us by Lin-Manuel Miranda, In The Heights is a celebration of the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City. 

The music from the  In the Heights is powerful, and every lyric is intentional and propels the story forward. 

Songs like “96,000” Has A Hip Hop style that encapsulates Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s musical style., while “Breathe” is a standout song about Nina facing a dilemma and one that resonates with the audience.

6. Coco (2017)

The Pixar movie, Coco, tells the story of a young Mexican boy whose family disapproves of his love of music. On Dia De Los Muertos, he crosses into the spirit world and meets past family members and it gives him more insight into his loved ones. Music is the heartbeat of this film, and it made for one truly special story.  

This Coco movie soundtrack was definitely written with nostalgia in mind, triggering  memories and feelings that are so close to home. The themes of tradition, belonging and family is intrinsically intertwined from the movie to the soundtrack. No matter what language you speak or where you come from, these feelings are universal. 

Some songs like “The World is My Family,” served as a musical piece tied to the theme of the films, while other songs like “Everyone Knows Juanita” are silly and light. Either way, there’s something for everyone in the Coco soundtrack. 

5. A Star is Born (2018)

It is no secret that both Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga are shining stars in A Star is Born, and the same goes for the movie soundtrack. The film marks one of the most powerful moments in both of their careers, and the album has gained extreme mainstream success.

The songs on the A Star is Born soundtrack loosely tell a story, but are meant to be hit singles for both Ally (Lady Gaga) and Jackson (Bradley Cooper).

The song “Shallow” will live on in history as a pivotal moment in Gaga and Cooper’s careers and is, more importantly, a personal karaoke choice of mine. The album features other classics like “Always Remember Us This Way” and “Maybe It’s Time”. 

4. Moana (2016)

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have either seen Moana or listened to the soundtrack. Moana is an undeniable classic for Disney. With the movie soundtrack offering up 40 tracks that include original songs and more of the score, it’s a great way to appreciate the music the movie has to offer. 

The song “Where You Are” is clearly a Lin Manuel Miranda-styled song, along with “How Far I’ll Go,” one of the most popular songs on the album. 

It’s obvious that Moana is one of the more favored Disney movies and soundtracks of the past 10 years. 

The Moana soundtrack isn’t just for children.

There’s just no competition. 

 

3. La La Land (2016)

La La Land was a movie that consistently generated Oscar buzz when it was released in 2016. The film follows two starving artists, on a quest to make it in Hollywood. Sebastian (Ryan Gosling) is a pianist passionate about Jazz, and Mia (Emma Stone) an aspiring actress. 

Composed by Justin Hurwitz, the La La Land soundtrack transports the audience back into a 1950’s style musical like Singin in the Rain and Funny Face.

The movie opens to a scene with LA Traffic, and the lively and catchy “Another Day Of Sun” starts the movie out on the right foot. Mia and Sebastians Theme is the heart of the film. Justin Hurwitz did a great job at blending classic musical elements with a variety of musical flavors mostly consisting of jazz. 

2. Frozen (2013)

It’s no surprise that the Frozen made it to #2 on our list. The movie and soundtrack has truly helped shape 2010s culture for both kids and adults. The soundtrack features Demi Lovato, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Katie Lopez, and more!

Disney’s animated musical Frozen was one of the biggest movies of 2013 and the soundtrack features countless incredible songs. From “Let It Go” to “Into the Unknown,” many songs on the soundtrack became an overnight success. 

The soundtrack still holds up to this day. 

It’s so good that it gives us goosebumps. 

We’re all just trying to relive our Frozen days.

1. Encanto (2021) 

Lin Manuel-Miranda is back at it again with another amazing movie soundtrack, and this one made it to the #1 spot on our list. Encanto has a narrative soundtrack that propels the story forward, and has that Lin Manuel-Miranda flair that we all know and love. 

“We Don’t Talk About Bruno” is WELL on its way to becoming a classic in the Disney realm, and it’s all over Instagram Reels and TikTok. The Encanto soundtrack is an incredible celebration of Colombian culture, and it deserves all of the attention it has received around the world.

@ellafletcher27 #encantodisney #encanto #hetoldmethatthemanofmydreams #nz #newzealand #fyp #foryoupage #2022 #encantotrend ♬ original sound – Sarah 💜🎶

Other songs on the soundtrack like “The Family Madrigal,” “Waiting on a Miracle,” and “Surface Pressure,” are equally as catchy and really help move the story along. 

The entire soundtrack is absolute fire. 

We’ve had it on repeat ever since it was released, and will listen to it forever and ever.

Even without seeing the movie, the soundtrack is still stuck in people’s heads. 

Check out our Spotify playlist!

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Danielle Hurst
Danielle Hurst

Movies in theaters