From “Defying Gravity” in Evil for “Claw Machine” in I saw the glow of the TVThe 2024 films had some unforgettable hits in their soundtracks. It was a great year for music in film. Dune: Part Two had another classic score by Hans Zimmer, Beetle juice Beetle juice had another classic soundtrack by Danny Elfman, and Twisted it had an infectious country rock soundtrack.
There have been some truly incredible needle drops on 2024 movie soundtracks. Deadpool and Wolverine saved the universe to the sound of Madonna's “Like a Prayer”. Anora's greatest day was, appropriately, set to Take That's “Greatest Day.”
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"Time Will Crawl" by David Bowie
Challengers
One of David Bowie's most underrated songs, “Time Will Crawl,” can be heard during the party scene in Challengers. There's something really engaging about the drop of a diegetic needle; the audience is listening to the same music that the characters are listening to. This marks a fundamental turning point in the film. As the music plays, Art and Patrick watch Tashi taking a photo, both falling in love with her - an obsession that will ultimately destroy their friendship.
Bowie's lyrics, inspired by news of the Chernobyl disaster, are linked to the tension of the love triangle and the emotional devastation it will cause. In a literal sense, the song also hints at the story's extensive non-linear timeline, just as the audience is settling into the unique narrative structure. A filmmaker can never go wrong with putting Bowie on his soundtrack.
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"Claw Machine" by Sloppy Jane Ft. Phoebe Bridgers
I saw the glow of the TV
Virtually any of the original songs from the soundtrack I saw the glow of the TV would be a worthy entry on this list. Renowned artists like Florist, Drab Majesty, and Snail Mail contributed music to this film, and they all did a great job. But without a doubt the best song in the film – and the most used song in the film – is “Claw Machine” by Sloppy Jane and her former bassist Phoebe Bridgers.
“Claw Machine” is playing at a bar called The Double Lunch. It fits the tone of the film better than any other song on the soundtrack. “Claw Machine” matches not only the soundtrack’s ’90s mixtape vibe, but also the film’s spooky supernatural horror vibe.
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"Bye, Bye" by NSYNC
Deadpool and Wolverine
There are a ton of big needle drops in the Deadpool and Wolverine soundtrack, from Chris de Burgh's “The Lady in Red” with Dogpool's introduction to Madonna's “Like a Prayer” about the climactic street fight with the Deadpool Corps. But without a doubt the best cliffhanger in the film is the first one. As TVA agents confront Deadpool for desecrating Logan's grave, Deadpool decides to fight them using his fellow mutant's adamantium skeleton. In a hilarious nod to Wolverine's distaste for music in X2NSYNC’s “Bye Bye Bye” blasts onto the soundtrack.
In between beating TVA agents with indestructible bones, Deadpool recreates the iconic dance from the “Bye Bye Bye” music video. This is such a memorable sequence that it's easy to see why it led to the song's resurgence in popularity. It was streamed by millions of people and even turned into an emote in Fortnite.
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"Defying Gravity" by Cynthia Erivo Ft. Ariana Grande
Evil
The film adaptation of Evil it only covers the first half of the hit Broadway musical, but it still goes out on a high note thanks to its closing number. At the end of EvilIn the first part, Madame Morrible declares Elphaba as a “evil witch,” Shiz students flee campus and Governor Thropp has a heart attack. Meanwhile, Elphaba flies into the western sky and sings one of the best songs in the musical: “Defying Gravity.”
The box office success of Evil was attributed to its feel-good tone. Audiences needed a touching story about kindness and friendship this year, and “Defying Gravity” epitomizes that. As far as cinematic interpretations of iconic Broadway musical numbers go, Cynthia Erivo's version of “Defying Gravity” is on par with Anne Hathaway's “I Dreamed a Dream.”
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"Greatest Day" by Take That Ft. Robin Schulz and Calum Scott
anora
Sean Baker's moving character study anora opens with the song “Greatest Day” by Take That. It becomes a sort of theme song for the film, recurring throughout the run, but its first use in the opening scene is timed perfectly. As the camera pans past various dancers working on clients, the beat drops the second it reaches Anora herself. It fits with the story, because the day Ani meets Ivan is the best day of her life (even if the romance that follows is short-lived).
The sound of Take That's late-career pop ballad sets the right tone for the film. The melody is upbeat and uplifting, but with a hint of melancholy, much like this doomed love story between a sex worker and a wealthy client. After the film, it will be impossible to listen to “Greatest Day” and not think anora.