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Music can make a movie. When the right song underscores a pivotal moment, something magical happens. Music helps evoke emotion. It gives us insight into characters. You really underestimate the power of song until it’s gone. When it comes to cinema, the greatest decade for movie soundtracks was, hands down, the 1980s. Some of the greatest movie songs came out during that 10-year span. Some became so synonymous with the film that they remain together in the same conversation.
We’re here to celebrate the greatest movie soundtracks of the ’80s. Some are so iconic, they’d even make the list of the greatest of all time! Whether elevating a scene or setting the stage for the ultimate romantic gesture, the songs from these films represent the decade. With only limited slots available, some greats fell just shy. For those who did make the cut, we still play them on repeat and listen for the ultimate nostalgia factor.
10
‘Beverly Hills Cop’ (1984)
Long before you had that Crazy Frog become the ultimate earworm, “Axel F” by Harold Fatermeyer set the tone for Beverly Hills Cop and its subsequent franchise. The hit 1984 action comedy follows Axel Foley (Eddie Murphy), a street-smart and rebellious Detroit detective. When his childhood friend, Mikey Tandino (James Russo), is murdered, Foley travels to the wealthy, palm-lined streets of Beverly Hills to investigate, engaging in a hilarious culture clash with the rigid local police, including the anxious Detective Billy Rosewood (Judge Reinhold) and the easily irritated Sergeant John Taggart (John Ashton). A wild joyride that gave the decade its flair, Beverly Hills Cop perfectly synthesized the infectious, high-energy pop-funk sound of the times to match its main character’s swagger.
“Axel F” epitomized its titular character. It’s equal parts energetic as it is mischievous. In addition to “Axel F,” the film’s soundtrack is a treasure trove of chart-topping smashes. From “The Heat Is On” by Glenn Frey to the Pointer Sisters‘ “Neutron Dance,” the music made the film. One of the more iconic musical moments came through the inclusion of “Nasty Girl” by Vanity 6. Although not included on the physical soundtrack, the song plays during the iconic strip-club robbery scene. Another strip club scene features “Stir It Up” by Patti LaBelle as Axel pumps up the crowd, distracts the bouncers, and interrogates the suspects regarding Mike’s murder. Every song featured on the soundtrack was just as cool as the central player, setting up a stylistic footprint for the franchise to follow.
9
‘Say Anything…’ (1989)
Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack), desperate to win Diane Court (Ione Skye) back, stands outside of her bedroom window, lifting his Toshiba boombox above his head. The song is “In Your Eyes” by Peter Gabriel. The moment is the most romantic act ever in an ’80s rom-com. This pinnacle moment in the film is proof of how evocative music can be. The right song truly can make a moment. Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, Say Anything follows the summer romance between Lloyd, an earnest but aimless optimist, and Diane, the class valedictorian, as their relationship is threatened by her possessive, overprotective father, Jim (John Mahoney). A definitive film of the ’80s, Say Anything will forever be tied to its music moment and the carefully curated songs Crowe selected.
Say Anything is a coming-of-age romance. The music reflects it. From indie rock to soaring pop, the music heightens the emotional stakes of Lloyd and Diane’s romance. While the boombox scene stands out as the greatest, the tracks Crowe taps into add a wonderous energy to the narrative. From Fishbone‘s “Shakin’ to the Beat” to the Red Hot Chili Peppers‘ “Taste the Pain, “Keepin’ the Dream Alive” by Freiheit to “Within Your Reach” by The Replacements, each song defined the most romantic, generation-defining sounds you could find. These songs were tools for capturing vulnerability, becoming a universal means of expressing feelings when words cannot. Even an original song, “Joe Lies” belted out by Corey Flood (Lili Taylor), captures that sentiment. Whether music player in Lloyd’s clunker of a car or serenading with a Whitney Houston classic, everything Crowe utilizes is purposeful.
8
‘The Big Chill’ (1983)
When you reunite with your friends, nostalgia is inevitable. So, when music is introduced in The Big Chill, that same nostalgia must be reflected in the sound. Directed by Lawrence Kasdan, the film follows a group of college friends who reunite for a weekend after the sudden suicide of one of their tight-knit circle. Forced to confront their lost youthful idealism, broken marriage, and the compromises of adulthood while listening to classic Motown, serving as a catalyst for conversation, confrontation, and bonding. The music is not background noise—it serves as the story’s ninth character, capturing the complex longing of the ’60s. The Big Chill‘s soundtrack redefined how music can be seamlessly infused into the story without being heavy-handed.
Serving as a cultural time capsule for the Baby Boomers, the soundtrack is phenomenal. From Marvin Gaye to The Temptations, Aretha Franklin to Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, each song has a purpose. Perhaps the most infamous scene from the film is the kitchen dance to “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg.” The group breaks out into a synchronized, joyful dance, capturing the youthful camaraderie of the past. Juxtaposed to the funeral procession, when Motown gives way to The Rolling Stones‘ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want,” evoking a somber yet defiant anthem that goes from church organ played by Karen Bowens (JoBeth Williams) before transitioning into the studio version. By the end of the film, after the heavy moments are concluded, the epilogue is set to “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night in a boisterous contrast, cementing the group’s bond. Though the song may not have debuted for the film, the timelessness of the song carries the film to victory.
7
‘Back to the Future’ (1985)
A science fiction comedy about time travel may not sound like it would have a great soundtrack, but Back to the Future celebrated one of the most iconic soundtracks of the decade. All thanks to the power of love. Directed by Robert Zemeckis, Back to the Future is set in 1985, where Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) is accidentally sent back to 1995 in a time-traveling DeLorean built by eccentric scientist Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd). After disrupting his parents’ first meeting, Marty must ensure they fall in love to save his own existence, then power the DeLorean with a lightning strike to return home. A ruckus journey with hilarious hijinks, Back to the Future had the great honor of flawlessly capturing two distinct eras through a brassy, bombastic soundtrack that went from Marty’s electrifying “Johnny B. Goode” to the quintessential ’80s track from Huey Lewis and the News, “The Power of Love.”
Music is vital to the film, physically and emotionally anchoring the story and serving as its heartbeat. It works as a narrative tool for character development while bridging eras. When Marty rocks out to “Johnny B. Goode,” it serves as a brilliant yet hilarious paradox in which he “invents” the very music that influenced his own era. Those influential songs include “Earth Angel,” which plays at the dance when Marty steps in to play guitar to ensure George (Crispin Glover) and Lorraine (Lea Thompson) share their pivotal first kiss, and “Mr. Sandman,” which scores the sequence when Marty arrives in a tranquil 1955 Hill Valley, matching the simpler times of the era. Aside from “The Power of Love,” Huey Lewis and the News are represented by “Back in Town” as a wrap-up of the film, tying all the sounds together. Back to the Future was a game-changer for sci-fi comedy, as it highlighted the importance of music in film soundtracks.
6
‘Top Gun’ (1986)
Listen. A song written for a film that earns an Oscar must earn it. It should do more than just play over a credit sequence. Perhaps one of the greatest examples of this was in Top Gun with Berlin‘s “Take My Breath Away.” It’s not just present in the film; it plays during the sultry motorcycle chase and subsequent love scenes between Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) and Charlotte “Charlie” Blackwood (Kelly McGillis). The synth-heavy ballad didn’t just capture the moment; it gave us all that tingle every time we have heard it since. The action drama, directed by Tony Scott, follows Lieutenant Pete Mitchell, an arrogant and daring Navy pilot who attends the elite Top Gun training academy. There, he battles for the top spot against rival pilots, pursues a romance with a civilian instructor, and learns to overcome guilt under high-stakes pressure. Music serves as the soul of the straightforward story.
Music comes in hot through the opening sequence, where Kenny Loggins‘ “Danger Zone” matches the high-octane thrills of fighter jets launching from an aircraft carrier. There’s a roaring intensity in the music that mirrors the engines’ power, giving audiences a rush that carries them through the story. In the world of the film, music helps showcase the officers’ fun side as Maverick and Goose (Anthony Edwards) try to charm Charlie with their impromptu version of “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin'” by The Righteous Brothers. More fun with matching music comes with another Loggins song, “Playing with the Boys,” during the beach volleyball match. What’s clear about the music in these moments is that it amplifies a standard scene into something memorable. Top Gun‘s musical impact carried over into its sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, which featured similar evocative moments, including Rooster (Miles Teller) delivering a show-stopping performance of “Great Balls of Fire,” while Lady Gaga provided the emotional core of the sequel with “Hold My Hand.” Bringing the same essence that Berlin brought in 1986, layering music for the sequel proved how important Top Gun‘s soundtrack truly was.
5
‘Purple Rain’ (1984)
This one might be cheating for some, since some of Prince‘s greatest songs debuted in this film. That said, Purple Rain is a narrative that just so happened to feature an extraordinary soundtrack that played into the flow of the story. The romantic rock drama explores themes of youth trauma and ambition as The Kid (Prince) navigates a turbulent music career and romantic struggles in Minneapolis. The titular song serves as a spiritual and emotional climax representing reconciliation, purification, and finding peace during chaos. If you’re familiar with “Purple Rain” without the context of the film, that’s OK. Now, it has even more power. That’s the beauty of the film’s soundtrack. The songs that became top 40 hits have even more power thanks to Purple Rain.
Purple Rain blends its narrative and music into a masterful rock opera. From the opening kickoff with the high-energy “Let’s Go Crazy” to “When Doves Cry,” working in after the violent confrontation between The Kid and Apollonia (Apollonia Kotero), mirroring the toxic dynamic The Kid experienced with his own parents. The soundtrack itself made quite an impact on the artist himself as it became Prince’s first album to reach number one on the Billboard 200, spending 24 consecutive weeks atop the charts. Purple Rain was a pioneer in film, as it gave multi-hyphenate artists a vehicle not only to spread their wings and act, but also to find a mega hit in the process. Had it not been for Purple Rain, the ’90s would not have had The Bodyguard, and the ’00s wouldn’t have had 8 Mile.
4
‘Dirty Dancing’ (1987)
There are films that define the ’80s. Dirty Dancing is absolutely one of those. The iconic dance film set in the summer of 1963 follows Frances “Baby” Houseman (Jennifer Grey), a naive 17-year-old on vacation with her wealthy family, who falls in love with the resort’s rebellious working-class dance instructor, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). What starts as a dirty dance partnership leads to a deep love in a classic coming-of-age drama. A story that pushes the conversation on class inequity and societal judgment, Dirty Dancing will forever be remembered for its music. We know that no one puts Baby in a corner, but the same is true for this magnetic soundtrack.
Dirty Dancing features an era-defining soundtrack with chart-toppers from the past and present. Through its pure nostalgia and storytelling, the album brilliantly infuses the innocence of the early ’60s with defining classics like “Be My Baby” by The Ronettes alongside the likes of “Hungry Eyes” by Eric Carmen, “You Don’t Own Me” by The Blow Monkeys, and Swayze’s own “She’s Like the Wind.” Then, of course, the signature song comes in the finale with Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes‘ “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” Music operates as a universal language for things the characters can’t articulate, so for the final act, in which the pair complete the infamous lift, the lyrics miraculously reflect the moment, adding an emotional enhancement for both character and audience. A Billboard-topping, 14-times Platinum album, Dirty Dancing is as much the movie as it is the soundtrack. If the film’s title is mentioned, you can instantly hear the chorus of the Medley and Warnes’ classic. It’s that simple.
3
‘Flashdance’ (1983)
The reality is that if a movie in the ’80s involved some sort of dance, it was destined to make this list. Such is the case for Adrian Lyne‘s romantic drama Flashdance. The classic tells the story of Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals), an 18-year-old woman in Pittsburgh who works as a welder by day and a cabaret dancer by night. Driven by raw talent and a desire to be a professional ballerina, Alex strives to overcome her lack of formal training and apply to a prestigious dance conservatory. Balancing a gritty blue-collar life with her artistic ambitions while mentored by retired ballerina Hanna Long (Lilia Skala), and a romance with her steel mill boss, Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), Alex’s journey is epitomized by its soundtrack. It was its titular track that epitomized the entire story. Sung by Irene Cara, previously known for the title track of Fame—another soundtrack that fell just shy of making this list—”Flashdance…What a Feeling” became a metaphor for dreamers. It was an anthem of power and perseverance, showcasing the inspiration and ambition one goes to chase down their dreams. Stomping into that final audition, stripping off her leg warmers, and flawlessly delivering a legendary routine, Alex’s success served as the perfect ending for a sensational journey.
While the song did win the Academy Award for Best Original Song, one song on the soundtrack may be more infamous: “Maniac.” The Michael Sembello song worked like an MTV music video within a big-screen movie. Only in the ’80s can you get away with that! The song captures Alex’s energy as she’s channeling her every emotion in a sweaty, high-intensity aerobic routine. Shall we talk about one more infamous moment? I’d be remiss not to mention the “He’s a Dream” by Shandi Sinnamon water scene. Not only an iconic ’80s moment, but once again, it’s a perfectly paired song for the moment. The rest of the film’s soundtrack, rounded out by Joe Esposito, Donna Summer, Laura Branigan, and Kim Carnes, Flashdance was a blueprint for movie soundtracks.
2
‘The Breakfast Club’ (1985)
This one goes out to all the Brat Pack and John Hughes films. To represent them is the incomparable The Breakfast Club. The truth of the matter is, The Breakfast Club is an inspirational film, but the generational power of the triumphant Simple Minds track defines the film’s soundtrack as impactful. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” has been referenced, parodied, and paid homage to for decades. All because of how it was utilized at the top and bottom of the film. We all have our Breakfast Club moment as we walk off into the sunset, with our fists pumping in the air. To earn that moment, it’s through a wonderful coming-of-age story. The Hughes’ dramedy follows five high school students—Andrew Clark the athlete (Emilio Estevez), Brian Johnson the brain (Anthony Michael Hall), Claire Standish the princess (Molly Ringwald), John Bender the criminal (Judd Nelson), and Allison Reynolds the basket case (Ally Sheedy)—from different cliques who are forced to spend a Saturday detention together under a strict vice principal, Richard Vernon (Paul Gleason). As the ’80s anthem anchored the film, the rest of the soundtrack masterfully translated teenage angst and rebellion into a musical time capsule.
The film’s musical vocabulary featured an array of high-energy new wave tracks with a synth-soaked energy that epitomized the MTV generation. From Wang Chung to Karla DeVito, Hughes’ curation matched the characters sitting inside that library. Hughes’s ability to replicate the vulnerability of adolescence through music showcases just why he was the master of ’80s movies. Using DeVito’s “We Are Not Alone” as the detention dance song helped bring down the rigid cliques’ walls so they could all stand in solidarity. It was the ultimate icebreaker. By the time Wang Chung’s “Fire in the Twilight” plays as they circle up and confess their fears and home troubles, the energetic synths work as a powerful fighting backdrop. Thus, those fists in the air. The truth is, if we were simply ranking ’80s movie songs, The Breakfast Club‘s “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” might take the top slot.
There really is no movie soundtrack that sums up the decade quite like Footloose. It’s so good, many of the songs were even used for the musical version! That’s how integral they were to the original story. Not only did the film remind us that dancing is not a crime, Footloose served as a reminder that if ever the titular song plays at an event, we gotta cut loose. The beloved classic tells the story of Ren McCormack (Kevin Bacon), a city teenager who moves to the conservative, religious town of Bomont, where dancing and rock music are outlawed by the local town council and the strict Reverend Shaw Moore (John Lithgow). Frustrated by the rules, Ren rallies his classmates, including Ariel (Lori Singer), the reverend’s daughter, and his awkward best friend Willard (Chris Penn), to overturn the ban so they can hold a senior prom. A story about the battle between rigid morality and youthful expression, Footloose isn’t just a compilation of random songs; its meticulously written songs by Dean Pitchford became a factory of pop-culture anthems.
Unlike many soundtracks of the time, Footloose‘s tracklist was almost all chart-topping singles—”Footloose” and “I’m Free (Heaven Helps the Man)” by Kenny Loggins, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” by Deniece Williams, “Almost Paradise” by Mike Reno and Ann Wilson, “Holding Out for a Hero” by Bonnie Tyler, “The Girl Gets Around” by Sammy Hagar, “Somebody’s Eyes” by Karla Bonoff. These songs were so seminal that by the time the remake came around, covers of nearly every song were recorded because you cannot do Footloose without those songs. They didn’t just play in the background; they propelled the story forward. Again, that’s why they were used in the Broadway adaptation. Dancing and music serve as a means for artistic expression. For a story about stripping away that expression, Footloose needed an exceptional soundtrack. It delivered in spades. Maybe one day we’ll rank the entire soundtrack, but for now, we’ll celebrate with Ren yelling, “Let’s dance!”
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Michael Block
Almontather Rassoul
