10 Iconic Movie Songs That Made Their Films Superhits

Movies and music have always had a close relationship, and film music has come a long way since the silent era. Today, iconic movie songs have the power to transform a film from a potential flop into a superhit. Songs in movies play a vital role in engaging with the audience and helping to create an emotional connection with the story. Therefore, it is impossible to overstate the importance of songs in movies.

The impact of good songs on a film cannot be denied. Superhit songs can elevate a movie to new heights, while flop movies can become unforgettable thanks to their iconic movie tracks. Hollywood music has a long-standing reputation for producing some of the best movie tracks. However, Bollywood music is equally well-known for its contribution to film music. Many iconic movie songs have come from Bollywood movies.

Importance of movie songs for a superhit film

Film music plays a vital role in creating a memorable cinematic experience. Superhit movie tracks can stay with audiences long after the movie has ended, creating a lasting impact that cements the film’s status as a superhit. From iconic movie songs that have become cultural touchstones to superhit songs that have taken films to new heights, the importance of music in movies cannot be ignored.

Don’t miss the chance to explore our list of 10 iconic movie songs that made their films superhit. Listen to the amazing songs that have left a lasting impact on Hollywood music, Bollywood music, and film music in general.

1. “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever (1977)
2. “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Rocky III (1982)
3. “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion – Titanic (1997)
4. “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard (1992)
5. “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds – The Breakfast Club (1985)
6. “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin – Top Gun (1986)
7. “Happy” by Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2 (2013)
8. “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (1984)
9. “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News – Back to the Future (1985)
10. “Jai Ho” by A.R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

1 “Stayin’ Alive” by Bee Gees – Saturday Night Fever (1977)

The Bee Gees’ “Stayin’ Alive” is one of the most iconic movie songs of all time, thanks to its association with the 1977 film “Saturday Night Fever”. The song played a crucial role in the movie’s success and helped to make it one of the biggest hits of the decade.

One interesting fact about the song is that it was originally titled “Saturday Night”. It was only after the Bee Gees saw a poster for the John Travolta film “Saturday Night Fever” that they decided to change the name to “Stayin’ Alive”. The decision proved to be a stroke of genius, as the new title perfectly captured the film’s disco-era vibe and conveyed a sense of survival in the face of adversity.

Since its release, the song’s iconic opening bass line has become instantly recognizable, and countless artists have sampled and parodied it. The catchy melody, driving rhythm, and memorable lyrics helped to make it one of the most successful singles of the 1970s. It topped the charts in multiple countries and won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Group or Duo.

Overall, “Stayin’ Alive” is a perfect example of how an iconic movie song can help to make a film into a superhit. Its infectious energy and enduring popularity have ensured that it remains a beloved classic even decades after its initial release.

2 “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor – Rocky III (1982)

The song “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor was the perfect addition to the soundtrack of “Rocky III”, and played an important role in making the film a superhit. The song’s inspirational lyrics and upbeat melody perfectly captured the mood of the film and became an instant favorite with audiences all over the world.

Interestingly, “Eye of the Tiger” was not the first choice for the film’s soundtrack. The original song that was supposed to be used was “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen, but it was later replaced with “Eye of the Tiger”. This decision turned out to be a stroke of genius, as the song went on to become one of the most iconic movie tracks of all time.

The song’s success can also be attributed to the fact that it was released as a single before the movie came out and became an instant chart-topper. The music video, featuring the band performing in a boxing ring, also helped to increase the song’s popularity. Even today, “Eye of the Tiger” remains a popular track that is played at sporting events and used in movies and TV shows.

3 “My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion – Titanic (1997)

“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion, from the film “Titanic” (1997), is one of the most iconic movie songs of all time. The song played a crucial role in making the film a superhit and has remained popular even after more than two decades since its release.

Interestingly, the song almost didn’t happen. Director James Cameron initially did not want any songs with lyrics in the movie, but composer James Horner and lyricist Will Jennings convinced him otherwise. The result was a song that perfectly captured the emotional and romantic essence of the film.

“My Heart Will Go On” was an instant success, topping charts worldwide and winning numerous awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song. The song’s success helped to make “Titanic” one of the highest-grossing and most beloved films in history.

“My Heart Will Go On” won multiple awards, including the Academy Award for Best Original Song, and became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with over 18 million copies sold worldwide. It played a crucial role in the success of “Titanic,” which went on to become one of the highest-grossing films in history. The song’s emotional resonance and its connection to the movie’s tragic love story have made it an iconic movie song that continues to be beloved by fans of all ages.

4 “I Will Always Love You” by Whitney Houston – The Bodyguard (1992)

Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You” from the film “The Bodyguard” is undoubtedly one of the most iconic movie songs of all time. Written and originally performed by Dolly Parton, Houston’s rendition of the song became a cultural phenomenon in its own right.

The song’s powerful vocals, soaring melody, and emotional lyrics made it an instant classic and contributed greatly to the film’s massive success. “The Bodyguard” may have been a commercial hit, but it was the song that made the film truly unforgettable.

Houston’s version of the song spent a record-breaking 14 weeks at the top of the charts and won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Record of the Year. The music video for the song, which features clips from the film, is also an iconic piece of pop culture history.

Interestingly, they almost didn’t include the song in the film. Originally, the filmmakers had chosen a different song for the climactic moment when Houston’s character declares her love for Kevin Costner’s character. However, after hearing Houston’s rendition of “I Will Always Love You,” the filmmakers knew they had to include it in the film.

The song’s success also helped to cement Houston’s status as one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Her powerful vocals and emotional delivery of the song have made it a karaoke favorite and a staple at weddings and other romantic occasions.

In short, “I Will Always Love You” is a perfect example of how an iconic movie song can elevate a film from a commercial hit to a cultural phenomenon. People consider it as one of the greatest movie tracks of all time because of its timeless appeal and emotional resonance. Generations to come will continue to feel its impact.

5 “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds – The Breakfast Club (1985)

Audiences today still love The Breakfast Club, a classic ’80s movie. One of the things that made it so memorable is its iconic movie track, “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds. The timeless appeal of this superhit song still plays a key factor in the success of the film to this day.

From the opening notes of the song’s synthesizer riff, it’s clear that this is a superhit song that perfectly captures the spirit of the film. The lyrics are simple but powerful, and they express the film’s central theme of teenage rebellion and the search for identity. With lines like “Won’t you come see about me? I’ll be alone, dancing, you know it, baby,” the song speaks directly to the heart of every teenager who’s ever felt like an outsider.

Interestingly, the song almost didn’t make it into the film at all. The film’s director, John Hughes, had to practically beg Simple Minds to record the song. But when the band finally agreed, they created a superhit song that has become a pop culture touchstone.

Countless artists have covered “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and the song has appeared in numerous films and TV shows since its release. But it’s in The Breakfast Club where the song truly shines, perfectly capturing the spirit of the film and becoming an iconic movie track in its own right.

6 “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin – Top Gun (1986)

“Take My Breath Away” is an iconic movie track from the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun,” which remains a fan-favorite to this day. Berlin, an American new wave band, performed the superhit song which Giorgio Moroder and Tom Whitlock wrote.

The song’s romantic lyrics and catchy melody perfectly captured the film’s themes of love and danger, and its inclusion in the film helped to make it a massive commercial success. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, as well as a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

“Take My Breath Away” was a game-changer for Berlin, propelling them to the top of the charts and making them a household name. The song’s success also helped to usher in a new era of film music, with a focus on pop hits that could help to sell the movie to a wider audience.

“Take My Breath Away” was not the original choice for the film’s love theme. Director Tony Scott initially wanted to use “Danger Zone” by Kenny Loggins but ultimately chose “Take My Breath Away” because he felt it was a better fit for the film.

Since the release of “Top Gun,” “Take My Breath Away” has remained a beloved song, and has been covered by many artists and featured in various films, TV shows, and commercials. Its timeless appeal continues to make it a popular choice for romantic occasions and karaoke nights.

7 “Happy” by Pharrell Williams – Despicable Me 2 (2013)

Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” is an iconic movie track from the superhit film Despicable Me 2. The song’s upbeat tempo and catchy lyrics perfectly complement the movie’s cheerful and optimistic themes, making it a key factor in the film’s success.

“Happy” was written and produced by Pharrell Williams himself and was released in 2013. The song’s popularity skyrocketed after its inclusion in the film’s soundtrack, with the music video becoming an instant viral hit.
The song’s upbeat message resonated with audiences worldwide, and it quickly became a global phenomenon. “Happy” topped music charts in multiple countries and won numerous awards, including a Grammy for Best Pop Solo Performance.

An interesting fact is that this song almost didn’t make it into the film. Pharrell was initially hesitant to submit the song for the film’s soundtrack, but after some convincing from the producers, he decided to include it. And boy, are we glad he did!

Numerous films and TV shows have featured “Happy,” which has become an iconic movie track. Its feel-good vibe and infectious energy continue to inspire and uplift audiences around the world.

8 “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (1984)

The 1984 supernatural comedy film Ghostbusters was a superhit movie that featured an iconic movie track, “Ghostbusters,” performed by Ray Parker Jr. The song played an important role in making the film successful and has become a classic hit of the ’80s.

Written and produced by Ray Parker Jr. himself, the song was a huge commercial success and topped the Billboard Hot 100 charts for three weeks. Interestingly, the song was written just a few days after Parker Jr. was given the task of creating a hit theme song for the film.

The catchy lyrics and memorable melody of “Ghostbusters” made it an instant hit, and it soon became a cultural phenomenon. The music video featured Parker Jr. and the Ghostbusters crew dancing through the streets of New York City, and it became a staple on MTV during the ’80s.

The song’s popularity has endured over the years, and it has been featured in numerous films, TV shows, and commercials. It has also been covered by many artists, including Run-D.M.C., The Chipmunks, and Bowling for Soup. The song’s legacy has continued through the Ghostbusters franchise, with a new version of the song appearing in the 2016 reboot of the film.

In conclusion, “Ghostbusters” is an iconic movie track that played a crucial role in the success of the superhit film of the same name. The song’s catchy melody and lyrics made it an instant hit, and its popularity has endured for decades, making it one of the most recognizable and beloved movie tracks of all time.

9 “The Power of Love” by Huey Lewis and the News – Back to the Future (1985)

Huey Lewis and the News “The Power of Love” is an iconic movie song that played a crucial role in making the film “Back to the Future” a superhit in 1985. The song was written by Huey Lewis, Chris Hayes, and Johnny Colla specifically for the movie, and it became one of the most recognizable and beloved movie tracks of all time.

“The Power of Love” was released as a single in June 1985, a few months before the movie hit theaters, and it quickly became a superhit song in its own right, reaching the top of the charts in the US and several other countries.

The song wasn’t originally intended to be the theme song for “Back to the Future”. The filmmakers initially wanted to use a song by the band “Electric Light Orchestra”, but the band declined the offer.

Huey Lewis and the News then stepped in and provided “The Power of Love”, which perfectly captured the film’s themes of time travel, adventure, and romance. The music video for the song also featured scenes from the movie, further cementing its association with “Back to the Future”.

10 “Jai Ho” by A.R. Rahman – Slumdog Millionaire (2008)

“Jai Ho” is a superhit song from the iconic movie “Slumdog Millionaire” that played a vital role in the film’s success. This song was composed by the legendary A.R. Rahman, who is known for his innovative and soulful music.

Interestingly, the filmmakers did not originally commission “Jai Ho” for “Slumdog Millionaire”. The song belonged to another Bollywood movie named “Yuvvraaj”. However, the song’s catchy tune and inspiring lyrics caught the attention of the filmmakers of “Slumdog Millionaire”, who decided to include it in the movie.

Its catchy tune, memorable lyrics, and high-energy beats contributed to the success of the song. The chorus of “Jai Ho” has become iconic, with people around the world recognizing and dancing to the song. It won several awards, including an Academy Award for Best Original Song, and has become one of A.R. Rahman’s most popular tracks.

The lyrics of “Jai Ho” also play an important role in the song’s success. The song is in Hindi, but it includes a mix of Hindi, Urdu, and Punjabi lyrics, making it accessible to a wider audience. The lyrics celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and the power of unity. This makes it an inspiring anthem for people all over the world.