About This Quiz
Movie soundtracks can turn a regular film into a cult classic. They can turn a drama into an Oscar-winning phenomenon. The music you hear in movies changes the entire tone, takes viewers back in time, and can even be the sole reason a film is successful. If you think back to some of the greatest movies ever made, you will probably be able to spot the perfect timing of a song that helps the plot, provides a setting or delivers a deeper meaning to an emotional moment.
As a matter of fact, there are movie soundtracks that are so popular that the albums sold out just as fast as the VHS tapes. Some of these films are even less popular than the soundtracks themselves.Â
This quiz isn't for just movie buffs. You have to know your music just as much as you know your film history. However, if you're ready to have the time of your life, this quiz will take you where you need to go ... but you better think about your answers, because we're only giving you three clues. If you're ready to (Space) JAM, start answering questions now, and see just how far Above The Rim you can get.
While "Top Gun" doesn't have the longest soundtrack on record, it does have one of the most memorable. This is because the songs go so well with the different tones that are represented throughout the movie.
Having one of the most recognizable soundtracks in the world was no small feat. As a matter of fact, the budget for the film almost didn't allow for the majority of the songs to make the track list.
Huey Lewis and the News contributed two songs to the "Back to the Future" soundtrack — "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time." Anyone who's seen the movie will remember the scene where Marty plays Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode."
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How could we not add this epic soundtrack to this quiz? Not only did the film's music define the times, but it was nearly impossible to listen to it without at least tapping your feet to the songs.
When a boy doesn't have the answer to the "what's next?" question after he graduates, things get a little weird. Dustin Hoffman plays a young man who is trying to figure out life while things get a little dark for him.
The soundtrack for "The Big Chill" sparked nostalgia for the music of the '60s when the film was released in 1983. Those who know and love the movie and the soundtrack know that "You Can't Always Get What You Want" isn't on the soundtrack despite its prominent use in the film.
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Prince was a person of many talents. He basically could play every single instrument and didn't care what people thought about his personal life. "Purple Rain" was a movie that moved so many, and the soundtrack is iconic.
When you move to a town where music is completely illegal, the only solution is to create an underground dance crew. It's all well and good until you get caught, though. This film's soundtrack is applied to every moment on screen, and it is genius.
While the MCU has created some awesome movies, the one with the best soundtrack is definitely "Guardians of the Galaxy." The best part about it is that we get to see a volume 2 when Star-Lord opens his final gift.
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Quentin Tarantino movies are well-known for their excellent soundtracks that are filled with classics. They're always appreciated for the nostalgia factor, and five of his movie's soundtracks have even been nominated for Grammys.
It took around 80 years, but Disney finally learned that a woman doesn't have to marry the first non-related male she comes into contact with. As a matter of fact, she doesn't have to get married at all, even if she wants to be a queen.
"Goodfellas" may go down in history as Martin Scorsese's best mob film, and that's because it's so tangible to the audience. Part of what makes it so tangible is the soundtrack that goes with it.
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If you love Whitney Houston, the soundtrack to "The Bodyguard" is probably on your top 10 for best movie albums of all time. She plays a singer who is being stalked, and she needs Kevin Costner to keep her safe.
For a comedy film, this movie takes on topics that are heavier than most. The 1982 coming-of-age film has music that encompasses the high school scene in the most memorable ways possible.
"Clueless" is one of those movies that help us realize that teen movies are a little excessive when it comes to what teens of the '90s had access to. However, it did give us some great tunes and excellent quotable moments.
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Thirty-year-olds playing teenagers was nothing new in the '70s, but most audiences watched "Grease" for the music rather than the acting or accuracy of the film. It's about teenagers who fall in love, even though they're from different worlds.
Starting off as two comedians who just loved to hop on stage and sing blues music, "The Blues Brothers" were soon seen on the SNL stage, and then later in their own film ... which has an excellent soundtrack.
Rob Reiner's 1986 "Stand By Be," based on a Stephen King short story, takes place in 1959. The soundtrack is a fun collection of oldies. Ben E. King's 1961 song "Stand By Me," which plays at the end of the movie, re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 after the film's release.
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Quentin Tarantino "Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood" takes place in 1969. Its Grammy-nominated soundtrack features infectious songs from Paul Revere & the Raiders, Neil Diamond, Vanilla Fudge and so many others.
The Coen brothers brought us some epic tales that were told in very interesting ways. Audiences watched for the oddity in the characters, but also for the great music they'd hear in the background.
What happens when a seasoned musician meets a struggling artist? They fall in love, of course ... and they also sing some pretty great songs. In this much-loved film, we see Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper take the stage together.
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Michael Jordan was an excellent basketball player, but not so great when it came to acting. So, of course, they made a movie about him playing basketball against aliens. "Space Jam" was an excellent film, if you don't mind terrible acting.
John Hughes loved incorporating great music into his scripts, and this music was essential for completing the stories that he told. Although the "Sixteen Candles" soundtrack isn't his most well-known, it is pretty epic.
Adding racial tensions and an angry pizzeria owner to a comedy might seem unheard of, but "Do The Right Thing" takes the opportunity to discuss difficult topics without becoming offensive.
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"Almost Famous" was a period piece that encapsulated the tone of American rock bands in the 1970s. The purity of the music juxtaposed with the impure actions and lifestyles brings a perfect tapestry of American youth.
The 1997 film "Boogie Nights" was all about the adult film industry of the 1970s. It showed us that there is a little more to film stars than their looks ... if you are looking for more than looks, that is.
"Forrest Gump" is an epic film that includes an epic soundtrack. Most watch the movie to embrace the songs of their youth, and some of the best classic rock to ever come out. Each song represented a moment in Forrest's life.
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Not only does "Apocalypse Now" fully encompass the tone of the soldiers in the Vietnam War, but it also gives us insight into one of the most difficult stories to translate to film: "Heart of Darkness."
John Hughes was a mythical creature in the world of screenwriting, and the songs he chose for his films were necessary to the plot and creation of the scripts. That is what makes his soundtracks some of the best in history.
While many have considered "8 Mile" to be Eminem's biography pic, it goes a little deeper into the psychology behind what makes a great rapper and a superstar. As a matter of fact, this film is about the struggle to get where you want to be and not giving up.
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There was nothing like watching "Dazed and Confused" and thinking about all of the times people could have died and how wild the first day of summer was for teens in the 1970s. What made it even greater was the sounds that came with the actions.
You can know all there is to know about music, but that doesn't mean you know a single thing about love. In "High Fidelity," we see Rob Gordon visit the ghosts of girlfriends past to figure out what he's doing wrong.
In one of the first mainstream films to expose the fact that no one has everything together and being an adult is hard, "Waiting to Exhale" shows us that friendship is more important than posing as perfect.
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Some coming of age films are about the first day of summer. This one is about the last day of summer. It shows us that when you're bored, just hop in the car and trouble will find you.
The 1990s were about getting in touch with who you were, even if the dating scene was nearly impossible. "Singles" shows us the music of the times as it applied to the drama of attempting to get a straight answer from a date.