9 Movie Soundtracks That Are Better Than the Movie

Yes, this movie was hugely successful, but the Bee Gees-dominated soundtrack transcended the film to become nothing less than the definitive audio document of the disco era. The album spent 24 consecutive weeks at number one on the Billboard charts and remains one of the best-selling soundtracks of all time. The movie was John Travolta strutting down a Brooklyn street, but the soundtrack defined an entire era of music and nightlife.

Arnold Schwarzenegger's meta action comedy bombed spectacularly at the box office, but its soundtrack was an absolute beast of early '90s hard rock and metal. Alice in Chains, Megadeth, Anthrax and AC/DC all contributed tracks that perfectly captured that era of guitar-driven aggression. While the film tried too hard to deconstruct action movie clichés, the soundtrack simply delivered exactly what fans wanted — pure, unapologetic rock fury.

The movie might have introduced us to one of the most lovable ragtag space teams, but it’s the soundtrack that steals the show (all except Blue Swede’s “Hooked on a Feeling,” Ally McBeal totally ruined that). It’s like 1970s and 1980s nostalgia threw a party in space and invited all the best tunes. If you’ve ever caught yourself humming “Moonage Daydream” at the grocery store, you know what we mean.

If you’ve seen this Quentin Tarantino ultra-cool cinematic puzzle that had everyone calling a quarter-pounder a "Royale with Cheese," you know the soundtrack is what made it pop. From surf rock to soul, this collection is an auditory time capsule of cool, clever and downright iconic tracks that made you want to snap your fingers, swing your hips and start talking in quick, witty repartee. Tarantino knew what he was doing when he paired offbeat tracks with offbeat characters.

As a film, "Purple Rain" is basically a long-form music video with some melodrama thrown in. Prince's acting is... well, we’re here to talk about the soundtrack, which is one of the greatest albums ever made. It spent 24 weeks at #1 on the Billboard charts, won an Oscar, sold over 25 million copies worldwide and turned Prince from a star into a legend. It’s a revolutionary mix of rock, funk and soul that still holds up to this day (how many 80s tunes can you say that about?).

Nobody remembers this generic 1993 action film where Emilio Estevez and Cuba Gooding Jr. witness a murder and get chased by Denis Leary. But they do remember the soundtrack that paired heavy metal bands with hip-hop artists for unprecedented collaborations like Cypress Hill with Pearl Jam and Ice-T with Slayer. This genre-blending came years before the rap-rock fusion, essentially creating a musical blueprint that would dominate late '90s radio. The soundtrack became a pop culture pillar, while the movie became... well, most people don't even know there was a movie.

"The Bodyguard" is known more for its chemistry between Whitney Houston and Kevin Costner than for its gripping plot. But back before Whitney Houston thought crack was whack, her powerhouse vocals and iconic take on Dolly Parton’s “I Will Always Love You” made the album a true classic and became the defining song of Whitney’s career. Whether it’s “I Have Nothing,” “Run to You” or “I’m Every Woman,” the soundtrack hits on all emotional levels, from love to heartbreak to pure empowerment.

Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga's remake of this Hollywood classic was far from a bad movie. Critics loved it, audiences cried buckets and it earned eight Oscar nominations. But the music tells the story better than the dialogue. The soundtrack didn't just complement the film, it overshadowed it. "Shallow" became a cultural phenomenon, winning an Oscar, Golden Globe, Grammy and BAFTA. People might remember the film as "that one where Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper maybe had a thing off-screen," but "Shallow" will still be that song everyone attempts at karaoke after exactly two glasses of liquid courage.

Yep. I said it. Who would've thought that a low-budget film starring the then-relatively unknown Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey would become a cultural landmark? Even more surprising was the soundtrack — the musical collection equivalent of a bargain bin special full of 60s classics, new songs from past-their-prime artists and Latin instrumentals — parking itself at #1 on the Billboard charts for over four months and selling 11 million copies. It’s probably the only soundtrack in history that inspired countless dance enthusiasts to attempt dangerous dance moves that should have resulted in far more ER visits than they did.