Best Superhero Movie Soundtracks | ScreenRant
With the star-studded soundtrack of Shang-Chi and the Ten Rings, an interest in superhero soundtracks is bound to be regenerated. From '80s flicks like Batman Forever to modern trendsetters like Black Panther, the superhero genre has provided the space for several artists to reinterpret these comic book characters in their own unique ways.
In cases such as Watchmen and Guardians of the Galaxy, the soundtracks often comprise previously-recorded tracks or covers of classic songs. At the same time, films like Suicide Squad and Deadpool 2 also boast original songs released as exclusive singles. These soundtracks serve as a good break from the usually dramatic scores of the films.
10 Suicide Squad: The Album (2016)
Even though it polarized audiences, Suicide Squad still won over fans with its multi-genre soundtrack. Almost all of the exclusive singles capture a particular mood relevant to the characters. Kehlani's "Gangsta" can be heard in the context of Harley Quinn and the Joker sharing a toxic relationship. On the other hand, Twenty One Pilots' "Heathens" shows that the film's antihero team has accepted their villainous ways. There's nothing that can change them now.
To add some diversity, Skrillex helms the electronic "Purple Lamborghini," while Brendan Urie croons on a rendition of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody."
9 Batman Forever: Music From And Inspired By The Motion Picture (1995)
Batman Forever might have been forgotten in the collection of Tim Burton's other films and Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight trilogy but its song, "Kiss From A Rose," has become an unforgettable hit. The magnum opus of British soul singer, Seal, the song is a poetic love ballad with dramatic violin-heavy instrumentation.
The Grammy-winning track aside, U2's "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me" also captures the brooding life of Batman and the manic energy of the Batman movie villains, Two-Face and The Riddler. The soundtrack also includes a track called "The Riddler" by Wu-Tang Clan alumnus, Method Man.
8 Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (Soundtrack From & Inspired by the Motion Picture) (2019)
Miles Morales made his cinematic debut with the visually stunning Into The Spiderverse. The film's soundtrack was as praised as the film itself, delivering one hit after the other. The rappers who feature on the album include Vince Staples, Juice WRLD, Lil Wayne, Denzel Curry, and many more, and their tracks are masterfully used in the film. For instance, the mellow "Scared of the Dark" plays after Morales' uncle dies, while the anthemic "Home" plays when Miles is about to take a "leap of faith."
At the same time, the album also delivers some non-hip-hop tracks, like the cheery Post Malone and Swae Lee collaboration, "Sunflower."
7 Watchmen: Music From The Motion Picture (2009)
Zack Snyder's stylish take on the monumental graphic novel, Watchmen, incorporates most of the songs mentioned in the original source material. These include rock, soul, and folk songs like Simon and Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" and Jimi Hendrix's cover of the Bob Dylan classic, "All Along The Watchtower."
Talking about Bob Dylan, the film starts off with "The Times They Are A-Changin'" and ends with a cover of "Desolation Row" by My Chemical Romance. All in all, the tracklist carries a haunting and ominous vibe to it that gels well with Watchmen's twisted look at the world of superheroes.
6 Black Panther: The Album (2018)
A brainchild of Kendrick Lamar (who also served as curator of the soundtrack), the album that accompanies Black Panther is a fine work of art on its own. Carrying a wide variety of sounds and themes, Lamar lends his songwriting and rapping skills on memorable tracks like "Pray For Me," "All The Stars," "King's Dead," and "Big Shot." Apart from Lamar, a wide variety of artists from his Top Dawg Entertainment label also feature.
Musicality aside, the album was also praised for incorporating authentic African elements and storytelling cues behind T'Challa's rise as the king of Wakanda.
5 Deadpool 2: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (2008)
The mercenary Deadpool continues his hyperviolent misadventures in Deadpool 2. The film's fast-paced action is accelerated by bangers such as Diplo's "Welcome To The Party" and the Run The Jewels and DJ Shadow classic, "Nobody Speak." At the same time, the soundtrack also includes some classic '80s throwbacks that appear in the second movie's funniest moments, such as Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" and a rendition of "Take on Me."
However, the cherry on the top is "Ashes," a single that Celine Dion recorded for the film's opening credits. Contrasting with the merc-with-a-mouth's cheeky humor, the song is surprisingly profound and brims with passionate romance.
4 Birds Of Prey: The Album (2020)
Just like its predecessor, Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey boasts an iconic DC movie soundtrack that features leading new-age pop and hip-hop artists like Doja Cat, Halsey, Megan Thee Stallion, and many more. The songs are full of energy and suit the hyperactive nature of both the film and its leading character.
One of the standout tracks is "Diamonds," the collaboration between Megan Thee Stallion and Normani. The pop-rap number is also the first song to sample Marilyn Monroe's jazz classic, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend." As this Harley Quinn adventure is also set in the aftermath of her split with the Joker, Charlotte Lawrence's "Joke's On You" makes for a perfect breakup anthem that allows Quinn to claim her own spotlight.
3 Music From And Inspired By Spider-Man 2 (2004)
Spider-Man 2's original score and theme song by Danny Elfman is iconic, while its soundtrack is a 2000s rock gem that has aged well over the years. Incorporating genres like pop-punk, post-grunge, alt-rock, and emo, the star-studded soundtrack featured songs by the leading rock groups of the time, ranging from Maroon 5 and Hoobastank to Train. Even though most of these songs don't play in the film, most of them were recorded exclusively for the OST.
Another notable aspect of Spider-Man 2's album is the additional tracks that were added for international releases. These included singles such as "Web of Night" by Japanese artist T.M. Revolution and "Najane Kyun" by the Pakistani band, Strings.
2 Guardians Of The Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol. 1 (2014)
Peter Quill, the protagonist of the space drama Guardians of the Galaxy, was a young child in the '80s when he left Earth. One of his last connections to his home planet was his Walkman. Given the vintage theme of his beloved gadget, it is not surprising to find the film featuring a plethora of '60s and '70s classics, most of which appear on the film's soundtrack.
Styled as Quill's very own mixtape, listeners can expect several upbeat and dancey tracks including the likes of Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love," Blue Suede's "Hooked on a Feeling," and The Runaways' "Cherry Bomb."
1 Shang-Chi And The Legend Of Ten Rings (2021)
Shang-Chi is probably the second Marvel Cinematic Universe movie to have its own original soundtrack after Black Panther. Featuring a slate of exclusive releases, the album is heavy on hip-hop and R&B. Just like the film's lead character, the tracklist celebrates Asian representation with artists like Rich Brian, JJ Lin, and Shang-Chi actor Simu Liu himself, who features on the track called "Hot Soup."
Indonesian rapper Rich Brian provides his vocals on five of the tracks. Other mainstream names on the credits include Anderson Paak, DJ Snake, and Jhené Aiko.