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The 90s were such a rad decade. Not only were the movies unforgettable, but their soundtracks were divine. Soundtrack albums started as a way to squeeze a little extra juice out of filmgoers, but filmmakers quickly discovered that they could capture the essence of their movies with a mix CD. From grunge to pop, alternative rock to hip-hop, the soundtracks covered here show exactly how diverse the decade was. Throw on your headphones and let’s look back at the iconic soundtracks that made these movies even better.
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Coming in at the end of the decade, the soundtrack for Go is an in your face mix that captures the underground rave scene of the 90s just as it was peaking. But that’s not all, the soundtrack also boasts the absolute ripper of a single by No Doubt, “Go.” For many people hitting their teens in the late ‘90s, this soundtrack (and the movie) is likely the first time they heard truly cool music.
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Perhaps one of the most iconic soundtracks of the decade, Trainspotting is packed with Britpop and electronica. Artists like Iggy Pop, Underworld, and Pulp packed on this mix; a perfect compliment to Trainspotting’s raw, unfiltered energy. These songs are enough to make you want to start nodding off in Scotland.
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A celebration of 90s buzz bin rock, the Empire Records soundtrack boasts tracks by The Gin Blossoms, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and Cranberries; and of course it climaxes with “Sugarhigh” by Coyote Shivers. For many suburban teens in the 90s this soundtrack was a key to the world of alternative rock.
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Gregg Araki’s Nowhere isn’t just a cult classic, it’s Beverly Hills 90210 on acid. This is not a movie you watch passively, you experience it. The film’s soundtrack is a crash course through the underground music scene of the 90s with bands like Massive Attack, Hole, and Elastica. If you owned this soundtrack when you went to high school, it’s official, you were very cool.
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Looking for a nostalgic dive into the punk rock, new wave, and ska songs of the 1980s? Then The Grosse Pointe Blank soundtrack is what you’ve been looking for. Featuring songs by The Clash, The Jam, and The Specials, these offbeat songs are the perfect songs for this look at a hitman’s high school reunion.
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Of course this iconic teen movie has a killer soundtrack to match. Featuring songs by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Radiohead, and The Muffs, even kids from the Midwest could throw this CD on and feel like a Valley girl.
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Today, superhero movies are so serious. Nothing from the MCU could ever match the pure 90s majesty of the Batman Forever soundtrack. Bombastic, over-the-top, and full of bangers from the jump, throw this soundtrack on during a road trip and you’ll have a blast. Whether you prefer Seal, U2, or Smashing Pumpkins, there’s something here to hold you, thrill you, kiss you, kill you.
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Boyz in the Hood introduced the world to the raw, powerful voice of John Singleton. And its soundtrack introduced the world to the true power of West Coast hip hop. With songs by Ice Cube, Too $hort, and a bevy of incredible artists, it matches the film’s emotional power, showing the world what it’s like to live in South Central LA. Not only is this soundtrack culturally relevant, it grooves.
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Wes Anderson’s Rushmore is a quirky love story with one foot in the 1960s. So it makes sense that the soundtrack takes us back in time too. Packed with songs from the British Invasion, this soundtrack’s mix of mod rockers and folky love songs maintains the film’s distinct tone.