Modern Hit Songs from Film Soundtracks

Great films not only give us great stories, but also great soundtracks. Here are some of our favorite picks for soundtracks songs.

Andrew Joseph Tanner

April 18, 2023

We have chosen our favorite soundtrack songs from the modern music period (2010+). We hope you enjoy the diverse soundtrack music represented here by artists spanning different genres, countries, and continents.

*Warning, some songs are sexually suggestive, viewer discretion is advised.

“Naatu Naatu” by Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava, RRR

This Academy Award-winning song is an Indian Telegu song from the Indian film, RRR. This song has swept the international market by storm, thanks in large part to the phenomenal singing, choreography, and charisma of its leads, Rahul Sipligunj and Kaala Bhairava. Watch the two handsome men make you believe in musicals again.

“Diamonds” by Megan Thee Stallion and Normani, Birds of Prey soundtrack

Megan Thee Stallion, Normani, and Margot Robbie team up to bring the Bad Girl energy to this Harley Quinn tribute. Each is phenomenal, with Megan Thee Stallion providing razor-sharp bars, Normani giving effortless vocals, and Margot giving manic Harley Quinn energy. The song is a hip-hop banger that favors everyone’s strengths. Check out the entire soundtrack for Birds of Prey.

The Lion King: The Gift by Beyonce, The Lion King, and Black is King

Beyoncé and Walt Disney teamed up for Black is King a musical film that uses the songs from The Lion King soundtrack and expands them into a companion film loosely inspired by The Lion King movie. The music is amazing, the visuals are phenomenal, and the symbolic celebration of Blackness is refreshing and inspiring.

“Sunflower” by Post Malone and Swae Lee, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse soundtrack

This song is a vibe song. Post Malone and Swae Lee are almost inconsequential as the song glides by on a simple groove and the Miles Morales/Spider-Man “be your own hero” vibe.

“Love Me Like You Do” by Ellie Goulding, Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack

This sensual song encapsulates the vibe of Fifty Shades of Grey. Ellie Goulding’s electropop power ballad glides by on a sparse arrangement and strong vocals from the pop icon. The song is symbolic of modern love, with less cringe, and a more realistic appreciation of a partner.

“Boom Clap” by Charli XCX, The Fault in Our Stars soundtrack.

This percussion-heavy 3-minute pop song strikes the perfect balance between digestible and unique, giving it a staying power that is not normally granted to modern pop songs. Charli XCX has a knack for making short, catchy, and bombastic pop songs that are earworms in disguise. The Fault in Our Stars really struck gold with this one.

“All The Stars” by Kendrick Lamar and Sza, Black Panther: The Album

This moving song was recorded for the Black Panther soundtrack. Kendrick Lamar and Sza play off one another beautifully, reminding us of what a good marriage between Hip-Hop and R&B can sound like. The afrofuturist vibes are perfect for the Black Panther franchise.

“Let It Go” by Idina Menzel, Frozen soundtrack

You would have had to have been living under a rock to not have heard “Let It Go” from Frozen. This is the song everyone at every talent show contest was singing for a larger part of the 2010s. The song grew its own legs even apart from the wildly successful movie, Frozen.

“Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, A Star is Born soundtrack

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper reinvigorated A Star Is Born for modern audiences. The guitar-laced music and sweet romance between the two leads are charming.

“Recuérdame” by Carlos Rivera, Coco

This Spanish language song from the beautiful movie, Coco, is haunting and beautiful. Carlos Rivera lends his enormous voice to impart passion and somberness into the song. Recuérdame translates into ‘remember me,’ and with such a tremendous voice, we will always remember Carlos Rivera.

“See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth, Furious 7 soundtrack

This song became a tribute to the late Paul Walker. That lends it a beauty that might not otherwise have accompanied it. The song is mostly carried by Charlie Puth’s beautiful vocals in the chorus.

“Lift Me Up” by Rihanna, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever soundtrack

Rihanna was tapped to record this tribute song for the late Chadwick Boseman. This (similar to the song above) gives it a beauty that it might not otherwise have musically. The sentiment is sweet and fits perfectly in the context of the film.