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Top 10 film/music moments

edition.cnn.com — When a song perfectly complements a movie's on-screen action it creates a magical moment. CNN pick their favorites -- but do you agree?

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  • JayCruz, on 05/05/2008, -8/+2Great list.
    • massproductions, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2This list is utter fail without Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" in the third Winchester scene of Shaun of the Dead.
  • mattbeetee, on 05/05/2008, -1/+5Most of those are spot on, especially Muriel's Wedding and Reservoir Dogs. I think that True Romance could have deserved an entry too though.
    • sodade, on 05/05/2008, -2/+1.
    • verynegative, on 05/05/2008, -0/+0Yes, but they definately left out the best one: the movie "Shine", the moment when David Helfgott played the rachmaninov 3rd piano concerto perfectly for a big an important audience in London. He finished it and then collapsed and fell to the floor and went haywire. Its great because its a true story, and the music is superb.
      Oh and i forgot to mnetion Geoffrey Rush. What a powerful actor.
      • mattbeetee, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I agree that that was a monumental performance, but I don't think you get the gist of what this list is about - music that defines and gives new meaning to film scenes. While Rach's 3rd is unquestionably beautiful, it does not inspire the scene or enhance the *viewing* experience.
    • SpencerMc, on 05/05/2008, -0/+4"Stuck in the Middle with You" in Reservoir Dogs was perfect.
      • Niightwitch, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I've seen that movie a dozen times, and that scene still disturbs me.
    • antiorblkflag9, on 05/05/2008, -1/+5Anything with Elliott Smith gets a digg from me
    • Samosama, on 05/06/2008, -0/+2No, I still think this is the best one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJJbjmuJHo8
  • mediaspree, on 05/05/2008, -10/+2No Raiders or Imperial March?
    • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+5That was a theme for a character set and played dozens of times in the series. In both cases.
  • DaFunk, on 05/05/2008, -5/+33Breakfast Club: Simple Minds - Don't You (Forget About Me)
    • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -4/+5No scene association with it. Just a movie theme that made it big as a pop tune.
      • ZebZ, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8Wasn't it used at the very end of the movie when they call go their separate ways?
        • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -2/+6Yeah and it bled into the closing credits. The problem is that there are so many killer scenes in that movie that when that final scene shows up the tune has just becomes background noise. If it hadn't been part of the closing credits no one would have noticed it played. Every tune on that movies soundtrack went platinum at one point but "Don't you forget about me" became the killer tune because it's the only one that was actually heard in the entire movie. The movies is just so captivating you don't hear the other tunes at all.
  • OfNumbers, on 05/05/2008, -13/+7Awful list.
  • mrlivingston, on 05/05/2008, -2/+41Just about every song in 70's porn movies seems to match the action perfectly.
    • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -4/+1If you turn the volume all the way down and play your own music maybe.
  • russbent, on 05/05/2008, -3/+69My vote goes for the Pixies "Where is my mind?" at the end of Fight Club
    • jankind, on 05/05/2008, -1/+6Yeah that would go toward the top of my list too.
      A. It's the Pixies.
      B. It fit that moment perfectly.
    • goomba323, on 05/05/2008, -2/+19Digg loves Fight Club. I do too, but Digg LOOOOOOVES Fight Club.
    • shagg187, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2I came into this page expecting Pixies to be somewhere in the list. I was disappointed...
    • verynegative, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1All the music in "Snatch" is awesome.
  • danno147, on 05/05/2008, -1/+10The ending music of The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly while in the cemetery is unparalleled... Really, anything by Ennio Morricone is great.
    • ElAssoWipo, on 05/05/2008, -3/+1Yeah but it was completely ruined with that effeminate running italian guy. Everytime I see that scene I can't stop laughing at how he runs.
    • karmazon, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I was going to say, good bad ugly too.
    • rolexxx11, on 05/05/2008, -0/+0agreed, great score
  • Icecream, on 05/05/2008, -1/+10Dr Zaius Dr Zaius
    • hd95, on 05/05/2008, -0/+7"I hate every ape I see, from Chimpan - A to Chimpan - Z"
  • Willy99, on 05/05/2008, -4/+3My vote goes to Dario Argento's Suspiria & Creepers... and the Goblins (Argento's band).
    Suspiria
    http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/tun ...
    Creepers
    http://tesla.liketelevision.com/liketelevision/tun ...
  • tipexy, on 05/05/2008, -4/+7Pixies, "where is my mind" Fight club.
    I beg to differ with article though, "Lust for life" is not trainpsotting's best fitting song, that would in fact be be "atomic" by sleeper.
    • massproductions, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2You're right that "Lust for Life" isn't the best music/cinema synergy in Trainspotting, but I disagree with you on your alternate choice. I'd say that Renton's final escape with the money along with Underworld's "Born Slippy.NUXX" deserve that award.
      • slashpslayer, on 05/06/2008, -0/+2Or, "Perfect Day" by Lou Reed as Renton is OD'ing...
  • LimeParrot, on 05/05/2008, -0/+6There are too many great ones. Too hard to pick just ten.
  • kbull, on 05/05/2008, -1/+36C'mon, they forgot American Psycho - Huey Lewis & The News - Hip To Be Square
    • NuFadZoo, on 05/05/2008, -1/+4Good call. More people talk about that scene than the ones on this list.
  • nycmikewp, on 05/05/2008, -2/+18Uhhh..."Wise Up" from Magnolia anyone?????
  • ElAssoWipo, on 05/05/2008, -3/+15Where's 2001?

    It changed movie soundtracks forever. It should be there.
    • ZebZ, on 05/05/2008, -4/+1Songs. Not instrumentals.
      • Niightwitch, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2Please don't call a great piece of classical music an "instrumental".
    • tdogg241, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3I think the article was going more for songs and not scores. But you're absolutely right.
  • DigablePlanet, on 05/05/2008, -0/+5Can't You Hear Me Knocking - The Rolling Stones on the opening sequence of Blow. That is all.
    • Shakermaker, on 05/05/2008, -1/+1I LOVED that movie - but it was SUCH a Scorsese ripoff....
  • jeffh992, on 05/05/2008, -1/+20Ride of the Valkyries was better in Apocalypse Now.

    "We'll come in low out of the rising sun and about a mile out, we'll put on the music . . . Yeah, I use Wagner - scares the hell out of the slopes! My boys love it!" --Kilgore
    • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+6Yeah but when you think about it, that scene is not quite as gripping as the soldier milling about in fear as "The End" is playing.
  • G_money, on 05/05/2008, -1/+6God moving over the face of the waters - End of 'Heat' when Pacino and DeNiro clasp hands.
    • Samurai77, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I was hoping someone would mention a Michael Mann film, all of them have at least one perfect pairing of music and scenery.
  • jun2san, on 05/05/2008, -0/+14I don't know if its a real song but the tune playing in Kill Bill when the Crazy 88s walk into that restaurant is pretty memorable.
    • jeffinfremont, on 05/05/2008, -0/+9"Battle Without Honor or Humanity" by Tomoyasu Hotei. Awesome piece.
    • RealmDown, on 05/05/2008, -0/+5Placement of the Green Hornet theme on her arrival in Japan was also an exceptional touch.
  • Tyrghast, on 05/05/2008, -1/+33Requiem For A Dream, hello? The Winter Overture perfectly complements one of the saddest movies ever.
    • matthewjhughes, on 05/05/2008, -1/+5Dugg for good taste.
    • NathanielJ, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8As much as I adore the Requiem soundtrack, I think it's pretty obvious that this article was going for actual songs that were also released outside of the movie, not instrumental tracks that were made solely for the movie.
      • Tyrghast, on 05/05/2008, -2/+2Well this list fails on all accounts, so there.
  • nshady, on 05/05/2008, -3/+30I always tear up a bit at the end of Donnie Darko when Mad World plays.
    • matthewjhughes, on 05/05/2008, -0/+7Never was a big fan of donnie darko but it had a great soundtrack.
    • Jektal, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8I think that's just the song - the Mad World Gears of War commercial was beautiful too
      • PueSi, on 05/06/2008, -0/+1Yeah, I'm no fan of commercials but that one is truly epic. It always let me with a weird/sad feeling after watching it.
    • chris4404, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3How about the end of Eternal Sunshine, when there running through the house and its falling apart? I don't know the name of the song but I tear up every time.
    • DarkEidolon, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I was waiting for someone to mention Mad World. So perfect for the end of that movie - gives me chills remembering it.
  • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -3/+11Devils Rejects shootout to Freebird. It worked so well it should have lasted longer.
  • koolkelso, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2story of love by the velvetones in casino. i think that is great
  • Psiplex, on 06/02/2008, -8/+0If it was up to Wolf, he would have included something about Obama and Hillary. CNN's 'Situation Room' is nothing but the puppets doing what the puppeteers tell them. Been a long time since there was any actual news coming out of Wolf's maw. The CNN web site offers something here that has a modicum of appeal rather than their daily drivel about the puppet race. In #4, The Doors 'The End' in A.N. was really eerie. Overall pretty decent article and list.
  • jeffinfremont, on 05/05/2008, -0/+6Dugg for the nuclear montage that closes Dr. Strangelove, the greatest movie ever.
  • TheKingInYellow, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8where's "in dreams" from blue velvet?

    the score for LOST HIGHWAY is pretty impressive too; creates the whole mood of the film.
    • futimazar, on 05/05/2008, -0/+7How about the spanish version of "Crying" in Mulholland Drive
      • TheKingInYellow, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2yeh, that was pretty intense.
  • ZebZ, on 05/05/2008, -0/+4Glad "Tiny Dancer" and "In Your Eyes" made the list.
  • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3Thought it is only called "The Trial" and not nearly as bloody as the same scene in "The Passion of Christ", the final confrontation between Jesus and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar is a perfect match of movie and music made to make you feel Jesus pain as he is whipped. It also happens to be one of the best stand alone guitar riffs in history.
    • sipofsoma, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2I prefer Peter Gabriel's amazing soundtrack to Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ.
      • nobody98, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2I love the vocals from nusrat fateh ali khan on that one. Fit the film scenes brilliantly.
  • finnodave, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1I'll admit I love the first time the nuns sing good: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHASQg8fR0s
  • hd95, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3agreed on layla in goodfellas...great sequence
  • barney74, on 05/05/2008, -3/+7What no Eye of the Tiger? No Danger Zone? Wow i can't believe I just said those. One that may just be outside of the top 10 but I loved was "Hip to be Square" - Huey Lewis and the News, in American Psycho
    • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Eye of the Tiger was a closing tune. Danger Zone was a vehicle for showing jets in Top Gun.
    • barney74, on 05/05/2008, -2/+1Danger Zone and Eye of the Tiger were jokes.
  • BruisedGhost, on 05/05/2008, -0/+10Sigur Ros- Life Aquatic the scene where they find the jaguar shark?
    • TheKingInYellow, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2ping island works well with bill murray shaking his hips, too.

      mothersbaugh rules!
      • iamrussell, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1what about the zombies' 'the way i feel inside' when ned dies..
    • nibdaman, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Agreed. They did a lot of good music for soundtracks. 2 of their songs were in Vanilla Sky
    • tdogg241, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2That scene makes the movie, IMO. I also love "Search & Destroy" during the shootout scene.
  • dubbakec, on 05/05/2008, -0/+8Wes Anderson's movies always have a great music, and I think Needle in the Hay from The Royal Tenenbaums is the epitome of that. Plus, it was my first encounter with Elliott Smith other than in the background of Good Will Hunting.
  • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+7The Vietnamese farmer taking out the C-4 Cargo plane with a single shot to Edgar Winters "Free Ride" in Air America.

    And the best one yet. The B17 Bomber getting devastated to Don Fielders (Eagles) "Heavy Metal" In the movie with the same name or the Corvette jump from the Space Shuttle to CC Riggs "Radar Rider".
    • RealmDown, on 05/05/2008, -0/+3Excellent choice on the B17. Fantastic movie too.
  • goodpoint11, on 05/05/2008, -1/+3I'm going to say Cruel Intentions should be on that list for either Bittersweet Symphony or Colorblind both fit very well.
  • machei, on 05/05/2008, -1/+0Dugg for Almost Famous. One of my fav scenes ever. But missing Magnolia and Donnie Darko, as has been pointed out.
  • ElFredo, on 05/05/2008, -3/+2No Conan The Barbarian = No digg.
    • ElFredo, on 05/05/2008, -2/+1Why am I being buried? If there's a movie where music and action perfectly match each other ALL MOVIE LONG, and not just for one given sequence, then that's CTB.
      • kennyfulgencio, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1You're right; it is widely recognized as one of the all-around best original film scores of the past few decades in mainstream US films, and some of Basil Poledouris's best work.

        Several possible reasons you're being buried: it doesn't have a "single outstanding moment", though it has many remarkable matches of music to scene; it doesn't use music that people already recognized from outside of the film (especially no pop tunes); and some people may confuse it with the horribly butchered soundtrack from the sequel, which was amazing in the way it took the incredible score from the first film, chopped it up just a bit, and turned it into generic crap.

        That, or people just don't have any idea what you're talking about.
    • fsjenkins2000, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1What about the sad song after James Earl Jones gets his head lopped off?
    • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1The Conan soundtrack was great and most of it stands alone but with the exception of the orgy scene I cannot tie any single tune to it. Most of the movie soundtrack seemed to be just one long song. That tune during the orgy scene I can remember as if I had heard it yesterday and mainly because Conan takes on the snake and the music never stops and the fight almost goes to the beat of it.
  • ThecNiqueMan, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1The Burbs', when they walk to ring the door.
  • koolkelso, on 05/05/2008, -6/+2http://lol.niya.cc/

    cruel inteninons
    • nibdaman, on 05/05/2008, -0/+0Every You and Every Me by Placebo? I agree.
  • PhoenixAvatar2, on 05/05/2008, -1/+3The ending of the Bourne Ultimatum and Moby's Extreme Ways got me pretty good, even though I knew it was going to happen.
  • jrod7783, on 05/05/2008, -0/+28Bohemian Rhapsody - Wayne's World

    I'm sure I'm not the only one who thinks of that scene every time I hear that song.
    • mrlivingston, on 05/05/2008, -0/+5Please, let's not forget Garth's Foxy Lady.
    • KyleGoetz, on 05/05/2008, -0/+7I think there's a generation of young Americans who wonder if headbanging existed before that sequence.
      • Abomonog, on 05/05/2008, -0/+4And a generation of headbangers that wonder why they chose a Queen tune to headbang to.
    • kevyn, on 05/07/2008, -0/+1I was headbanging to that with a car full of people just the other day. timeless.
  • RealmDown, on 05/05/2008, -2/+3
    I'll add the first"Superman" movie with Christopher Reeves. The crescendo of the Superman theme when he catches the helicopter. Perfect.

    For honorable mention, I'm going with "Star Trek, The Motion Picture" when the Klingon battle cruisers showed up.

  • baltar2008, on 05/05/2008, -6/+1Anything from the Battlestar Galactica soundtrack...
  • mlvassallo, on 05/05/2008, -1/+1Those are 10 good ones. Probably not top 10. I can't listen to Needle in the Hay after that scene however.
  • grhomepage, on 05/05/2008, -1/+12mrs robinson from the graduate
    • sonnybobiche, on 05/05/2008, -1/+2that was recurring throughout the movie.
    • mrtrevin, on 05/05/2008, -1/+1Yeah, kinda surprising they didn't include the Graduate. The Simon and Garfunkel soundtrack is perfect.
  • prdgndude, on 05/05/2008, -0/+6My favorite will always be the scene at the end of Rushmore when everyone was dancing in slow-motion to The Faces' "Ooh La La"
    • tdogg241, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Wes Anderson is a master of using pop music to accentuate moments in his films.
  • darthvalium, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1harold and maude - I think I see the light (cat stevens)
    • iamrussell, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2and 'trouble' at the end is pretty..
  • ElFredo, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2Let The Sunshine In (Hair):

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhNrqc6yvTU

    I get goose bumps every time Berger gets on the plane while the chorus sings "the rest is silence".
  • ConanTL, on 05/05/2008, -0/+1Amadeus, Confutatis scene: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ROllcRNrGI4
  • Evocati, on 05/05/2008, -0/+2Any song in Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels.
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