The Most Iconic Movie Soundtracks of All Time

November 11, 2026 · Movies · 3 min read

A soundtrack can bring back an entire scene before the first image appears. Some films are inseparable from a single theme; others carry a whole album of songs into the wider world. Here are five iconic movie soundtracks worth listening to beyond the end credits, with a distinction between an original score and a collection of licensed songs. For more about screen music, explore the BFI’s film writing.

Five films you can almost hear by name

The Godfather (1972)

Nino Rota’s melancholy main theme makes the Corleone family feel both intimate and impossibly distant. It has the weight of a memory even on a first viewing.

Saturday Night Fever (1977)

The Bee Gees-powered song collection escaped the cinema and became a cultural event of its own. The music gives the dance floor its glamour while the story remains more complicated.

The Sound of Music (1965)

From “Do-Re-Mi” to “My Favorite Things”, its songs are woven so closely into the characters that it is hard to separate the recording from the film.

Star Wars (1977)

John Williams uses recurring musical themes to tell you who has entered the story and what might be at stake before anyone speaks.

Titanic (1997)

James Horner’s score and Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” made a film about memory feel recognisable from its first notes.

A soundtrack album is not always identical to the music heard in a film; film scores and curated song albums are related but different things. Check your music platform for legitimate recordings and your video service for licensed film availability.

Listening idea Try the opening credits with headphones. You may notice how much storytelling happens before the first conversation.

For more watchlist ideas, visit our feel-good movie guide or read what a limited series is.