As record album sale dwindle and flick studios tighten their belt , challenging soundtrack have become increasingly rare . So what salutary metre to keep the coolest , uncanny , and most listenable soundtracks resulting from not - so - great movies ?
In the same way that a pic ’s financial achiever does n’t necessarilycorrelate with its artistic worth , some of the best soundtrack of all clock time came from forgettable or delimitation - disastrous films . Luckily , you do n’t have to watch any of these – just grab a pair of headphones and let these eclectic soundtracks switch your life.(Note : with one elision , I ’m talking about soundtrack here , not picture show scores . Sorry , Hans Zimmer fans . )
Sucker Punch(2011)
Why the moving-picture show is bad:300director Zack Snyder officially reached point - Zack Snyder with this Girl Talk - esque mash - up ofAlice In Wonderland , TV game cut - scenes , and a drooled - over Hot Topic catalogue .
Why the soundtrack is great : Like the movie itself , the soundtrack is n’t particularly original , but , luckily , it ’s got tike style to save . In a throwback to the ambitious soundtracks of the ' XC , the collection mostly features gonzo , operatic cover of Greco-Roman careen songs like " Tomorrow Never Knows , " " hunt and Destroy , " and " White Rabbit " by contemporary female vocalists . Ever since he scored some laughs with a cheery rendering of Disturbed ’s " Down With The Sickness " in hisDawn of the Deadremake , Snyder has evidence a knack for selecting covers and remixes that are gleefully on the nose , and theSucker Punchsoundtrack is a gauche tribute to his peculiar dad - rock taste . I intend , where else are you going to hear Oscar Isaac and Carla Gugino covering Roxy Music ?
Standout tracks:“White Rabbit " by Emilíana Torrini and " Army of Me ( Sucker Punch Remix ) " by Björk feature Skunk Anansie
Fox Searchlight
TRON: Legacy(2010)
Why the movie is bad : With fans hold back over 25 years for a sequel to the Jeff Bridges - star original , dashing hopes was probably inevitable . But did the whole thing have to be so wearisome ?
Why the soundtrack is great : Daft Punk . That ’s pretty much the only reason . By tapping the helmet - rocking French pair to make the pic ’s countless pursuit , fights , and scene of Jeff Bridges confronting his CGI - facelifted young ego , the film ’s producers interpose some lordliness to the laser slender story . Instead of simply mimicking the original ’s Moog - filled grade , the electro - innovators crafted an icy climate - piece that stands on its own whether you ’re down a wheelie on aTron - bike or zone out in a cubicle .
Standout tracks:“Derezzed " and " The Game Has Changed "
Elizabethtown(2005)
Why the movie is forged : Director Cameron Crowe swung big and whiff with this rack fixed storage - com about a self-destructive horseshoe designer ( Orlando Bloom ) who return home to Kentucky for his begetter ’s funeral and ends up fall for a flight of steps attendant ( Kirsten Dunst ) , the eccentric that inspire the coining of the " Manic Pixie Dream Girl " trope . Seriously , just watchJerry Maguireagain instead .
Why the soundtrack is gravid : Before he was a filmmaker , Crowe put in meter as a young music journalist for careen mags likeCreemandRolling Stone , so his soundtracks , from the ' 90s grunge ofSinglesto the ' seventy classic John Rock ofAlmost Famous , are normally impressive . Elizabethtownis no exception , especially if you have a affair for mid ' 00s alt - country . Tracks from Ryan Adams , My Morning Jacket , and Tom Petty enliven a melancholic , whiskey - inebriate collection that ’s perfect for getting over a spoilt separation – or , even worse , a bad moving picture .
Standout tracks:“Where To Begin " by My Morning Jacket and " My Father ’s Gun " by Elton John
Warner Bros. Pictures
Garden State(2004)
Why the picture is bad : Despite strong operation from Natalie Portman and Peter Sarsgaard , Zach Braff ’s cloying directorial unveiling belongs in the same box you stash away your yearly , band uniform , and favourite Warped tour of duty sweatshirt in .
Why the soundtrack is great : It might not have"changed your life,“but if you were a sad stripling in the former ' 00s this record album probably hop into you CD burner like an impulsive party - departer jump into a pool . sour songs from The Shins , Coldplay , and Frou Frou fit perfectly alongside Graeco-Roman mope - anthems by Nick Drake and Simon & Garfunkel , put up you with the ideal cellar make - out session mixtape . Just beg your parent do n’t fare below !
Standout tracks:“New Slang " by The Shins , " Such Great Heights " by Iron & Wine
Disney
2 Fast 2 Furious (2003)
Why the movie is bad:“Bro . "
Why the soundtrack is great:2 Fastmoved the first movie ’s nos - fueled military action from California to Miami , misplace Vin Diesel in the process , which in the end derailed the picture show . But the series gained something important in this transitional phase : Chris " Ludacris " Bridges , who was at his postWord of Mouf - height and add considerable firepower to the movie ’s soundtrack . It ’s a fun , occasionally freakish snapshot of early ' 00s pelvic girdle - hop , where southerly rap from Luda , Chingy , and Lil Flip itch shoulders with the politically charged rime of Dead Prez , New York anchor Fat Joe , and a pre - fame Pitbull . It may not be cohesive , but it ’s deserving the trip , bro .
Standout tracks:“Act A Fool " by Ludacris and " Slum " by I-20 featuring Shawnna and Tity Boi
Paramount Pictures
Cradle 2 the Grave(2003)
Why the moving-picture show is bad : It does n’t weigh if you pair him with Steven Seagal , Jet Li , or Tom Arnold , DMX was not meant to asterisk in silklike Joel Silver - produce military action movies .
Why the soundtrack is groovy : But he was intend to yell over cavernous , begrimed beats from pit . This soundtrack gave us " X Gon Give It To Ya , " the shouty classic that ’s currently having a moment thanks toDeadpool , but it ’s also notable for the killer Eminem trim back " Go To Sleep , " along with luggage compartment - rattling runway from Clipse , G - Unit , and Joe Budden . Most of the songs strike harder than a special K Li round - house kick to the school principal . Also , it ’s the perfect music to blast while yourun a bare laparound the halls of a nice hotel .
Standout tracks:“X Gon Give It To Ya " by DMX , " I ’m Serious " by Clipse
Fox Searchlight
I Am Sam(2001)
Why the movie is uncollectible : Sean Penn is a great actor , but this treacly , manipulative melodrama is really only far-famed for inspiring this brutalTropic Thunderriff .
Why the soundtrack is swell : The loose deception to an interesting soundtrack is to put some comme il faut cover songs on there . When the producers behindI Am Samweren’t capable to secure the rights to the Beatles songs they wanted to apply for the movie , they brought together a rag - tag squad of grownup contemporary luminaries to make young versions . Your mileage may vary on specific birdsong – personally , I ’d rather read Sean Penn ’s El Chapo profile 50 meter than hear to Ben Harper blab " Strawberry Fields Forever " once – but the project has a sunny vibe and the best tracks , like Aimee Mann and Michael Penn ’s " Two Of Us , " breathe unexampled life into conversant melody .
Standout tracks:“Two of Us " Aimee Mann and Michael Penn , " Let It Be " by Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Universal Pictures
Spawn(1997)
Why the movie is high-risk : If John Leguizamo delivering lines like , " Every metre someone farts , a demon receive his wings , " while wear pounds of horrifying merry andrew make - up sound like a in force time , well , this is the hyper - violent superhero movie for you . Enjoy ?
Why the soundtrack is great : Besides covers , the best elbow room for a soundtrack to stand out is by encouraging creative person from different genres to collaborate . Spawngets this . Packed with hard - rock bands like Metallica , Korn , and Slayer joining force with electronic acts like Moby , The Dust Brothers , and DJ Spooky , the record album has a bewildering , observational lineament to it that the film lacks . plain , not all the tracks function , but revisiting it is a weird windowpane into a time full stop when a movie studio funded a Henry Rollins meet Goldie call for a cult superhero movie soundtrack . What a clock time to be animated .
Standout tracks:“Satan " by Orbital and Kirk Hammett , " T-4 Strain " by Henry Rollins and Goldie
Warner Bros. Pictures
Batman Forever(1995)
Why the moving-picture show is bad : It ’s not quite " bat nipples " bad , but conductor Joel Schumacher ’s first turn behind the wheel of the Batmobile , this prison term with Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne , is still a garish fleecing of Tim Burton ’s goth - art aesthetic .
Why the soundtrack is great : Sometimes throw a peck of money at a job at a problem can solve it – or , at least , make it memorable . This expensive - sounding collection has its just percentage of dear ' 90s smash - makers ( U2 , Method Man , Seal ) , but what makes it such a surprisingly cohesive listen are the show from cloak-and-dagger stalwarts like PJ Harvey , Massive Attack , and Mazzy Star . It ’s the type of joyfully garbled platter that both the Riddler and Two Face could screw .
Standout get over : " Hold Me , Thrill Me , Kiss Me , toss off Me " by U2 , " The Hunter Gets Captured By The Game " by Massive Attack and Tracey Thorn
New Line Cinema
Judgment Night(1993)
Why the moving picture is bad : Less terrible than just completely forgettable , this Emilio Estevez thriller about some friends taking an recreational vehicle into the metropolis for a boxing mates ca n’t originate above its " metropolis as urban nightmare " cliches .
Why the soundtrack is great : Say it with me : blame - rock does n’t have to sound like Limp Bizkit . Instead , it can be incredible and bracing , an innovational mix of hard riff , pounding drums , and confrontational lyric poem . The idea of teaming Dinosaur Jr. with Del the Funky Homosapien or Mudhoney with Sir Mix - A - Lot might go farcical on paper , but the excution here is bold and playful . This is the Holy Grail of eclectic ' 90s movie soundtracks , an enduring model of what can happen when the power of Emilio Estevez pic brings two genres together .
Standout tracks : " Just Another Victim " by Helmet and House of Pain , " Fallin ' " by Teenage Fanclub and De La Soul
New Line Cinema
Over the Top(1987)
Why the film is bad : Remember how exciting and cinematic the boxing scenes inRockyfelt ? Well , replace those with branch wrestle showdowns and you ’ve got this ridiculous Stallone flop .
Why the soundtrack is heavy : Just watchthis video . in earnest , check it . You could spell a thesis , an larger-than-life verse form , or a trilogy of thematically linked science - fiction novels inspired by that video . What ’s it got ? Sammy Hagar performing guitar , ride a motorcycle through Vegas , and ARM wrestle SLY HIMSELF IN THE ULTIMATE CONFRONTATION OF CARTOONISH MASCULINITY start AWRY . It ’s beautiful . What would the mod equivalent of this even be ? Drake playing Candy Crush against Ryan Gosling ? Ed Sheeran getting in a thumb - war with Channing Tatum ? Justin Bieber sub - twitch the Rock ? This bullshit is unrepeatable . Throw in a Kenny Loggins muddle and some tracks produce by disco god Giorgio Moroder , and you have a Harlan Fisk Stone cold classic .
Standout tracks : No , seriously , watchthe video .
Warner Bros.
Porky’s Revenge!(1985)
Why the movie is bad : Come on – it ’s aPorky’ssequel . By this degree in the series , the farseeing basketball scenes are mirthful than the crude sex gags .
Why the soundtrack is great : It ’s really inspiring that euphony manufacturer Dave Edmunds put so much effort into forgather a thoughtful , beautiful soundtrack for such an irredeemably ugly movie . While the crown gem of the assembling is a previously unreleased George Harrison cover of Bob Dylan ’s " I Do n’t need To Do It , ” there ’s a circumstances of jaunty , nostalgia - bait rock song to enjoy here . It ’s just a shame that Willie Nelson ’s translation of " Love Me Tender " will always make me think of Ms. Balbricker .
Standout tracks:“I Do n’t require To Do It " by George Harrison , " Stagger Lee " by The Fabulous Thunderbirds
Universal Pictures
Xanadu(1980)
Why the moving picture is unfit : Produced at the tail - ending of discotheque cacoethes , this Olivia Newton John picture is a brightly colored fantasia of regrettable way , amazing hair , and horrible particular effects .
Why the soundtrack is great : Three Word : Electric Light Orchestra . While the album ’s first half is reign by catchy Olivia Newton John track , the second half , which is devoted to the songs ELO wrote for the flick , is where the real party is . It ’s unsurprising that the the band has become a go - to credit pointedness for mod director like Paul Thomas Anderson , Michel Gondry , and David O. Russell , but there ’s something to be say for operate back to the original source cloth – especially when it ’s so unapologetically trippy and sport .
Standout tracks:“I’m Alive " by ELO , " All Over The cosmos " by ELO
Warner Bros. Pictures
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Dan Jacksonis a staff writer at Thrillist , and he ’s still thinking about that Sammy Hagar picture . He ’s on Twitter:@danielvjackson .
20th Century Fox
Universal Pictures
