25 iconic songs that were written specifically for a film

If you’ve watched the heartbreaking, infamous movie Titanic (and even if you haven't), you’ve likely heard of this gut-wrenching track by Celine Dion. “My Heart Will Go On,” written for the film, has won numerous awards. It’s also one of Dion’s most popular hits.

Lana Del Rey’s “Young and Beautiful” is one of her biggest hits. The melancholic ballad was written specifically for The Great Gatsby in 2013. However, it quickly became a fan-favorite, detailing the complexities of aging and insecurities about the potential impermanence of love.

“Lose Yourself” is the theme song of Eminem's semi-biographical film, 8 Mile. The hip-hop track is said to be a narrative account of Eminem’s life. The song had a major cultural impact and has reached great commercial success.

Hannah Montana: The Movie was a life-changing film for many pre-teen fans in their time (myself included). However, “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus, written for the movie, grew to be a notable track in and of itself. Not to mention, listening to the lyrics as an adult just hits different. 

“Happy” by Pharrell Williams is an incredibly, well, happy song. However, many don’t realize it was written specifically for the movie Despicable Me 2. It quickly became one of the artist’s most famous tracks.

Did you know the infamous, beautiful song “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” was written for the popular 1998 sci-fi film? That’s right. This track is one of Aerosmith’s most famous hits, but it was originally featured in Armageddon. It goes down as one of the most emotional love ballads from the ‘90s. 

This might age me, but I remember singing karaoke versions of this song in my bedroom when I was a teenager. “A Thousand Years” is a deeply emotional love song that was originally written for the beloved Twilight. Christina Perri’s emotive voice powerfully delivers the sentimental lyrics, known and adored by many.

I have yet to meet a single person who doesn’t like the song “Iris” by Goo Goo Dolls. I have also yet to meet anyone who knew the track was written specifically for the romantic fantasy film City of Angels. This iconic rock ballad has gone down as the band’s most famous hit.

Released in 1985, “Don't You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds is still a popular track today. However, did you know that the song was originally written for the iconic ‘80s movie, The Breakfast Club? 

This heartbreaking tribute was written specifically for the movie Furious 7,  in honor of the late actor Paul Walker. “See You Again” is an incredibly emotional yet gorgeous song about remembering someone who has passed and longing to see them again — to tell them about everything they’ve missed. Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth’s collab will live on forever.

By far the band’s most popular hit, “Take My Breath Away” by Berlin is an ‘80s classic. However, it was actually created specifically for the movie Top Gun. This synth-pop/soft rock track is still well-known decades later.

If you’re a fan of The Lion King (who isn’t?), you likely know the powerful ballad “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” Composed by Elton John and performed in the film by Joseph Williams, Nathan Lane, Sally Dworsky, Ernie Sabella, Kristle Edwards, this song moved viewers to tears. It’s still an incredibly popular track to this day.

I don’t know about you, but I can’t help but dance any time “Can't Stop The Feelin’” by Justin Timberlake comes on. It’s no surprise, however, that this hit was made for the family film/musical Trolls. The song’s catchy beat sets the perfect vibe for the movie.

This powerful song, created specifically for the movie Pocahontas, reflects the themes portrayed in the film. Lines like, “You think you own whatever land you land on / The Earth is just a dead thing you can claim / But I know every rock and tree and creature / Has a life, has a spirit, has a name” are incredibly thought-provoking. The values of respect for nature and the interconnectedness of all living beings are evident in the emotional delivery of this song.

Every woman can relate to this gut-wrenching ballad by Billie Eilish. Written specifically for Barbie, “What Was I Made For?” reflects on the expectations and pressures put on women as individuals and as a collective. The track won the Grammy for Song of the Year and the Grammy for Best Song Written for Visual Media.

Adele’s “Skyfall” is the theme song for the 2012 James Bond film of the same name. The track was specifically composed for the movie but achieved great success and traction outside of it, too. It’s gone down as an iconic single, which makes sense given it’s part of the iconic James Bond franchise. 

If you haven’t worked out to “Eye of the Tiger” before, you’re definitely missing out. This song was written specifically for the third Rocky movie and used as the legendary theme song. It goes down as Survivor’s most popular hit.

Okay, so “Let It Go” was obviously written for the popular children’s movie, Frozen. However, it became so well-known that kids (and adults, really) everywhere would break out into song for the entire year following its release. Without even realizing it, you likely know every word to the chorus, whether you want to or not.

“The Power Of Love” is one of Huey Lewis & The News’ most popular songs, if not the most popular. It was also written for the infamous 80s film Back to the Future. However, due to a lack of experience and a bit of insecurity, Huey Lewis was apparently initially hesitant to write the song for a movie, as he’d never done so before. Thankfully, he decided to pursue the idea, which ended up being a major success for the band.

"You'll Be in My Heart" by Phil Collins really set the tone for the film Tarzan. This incredibly emotional and heartwarming song was perfectly executed by the talented Phil Collins. In the movie, it plays over a montage of baby Tarzan with Kala, his adoptive mother, who raises him, which only adds to the sweetness of the scene.

Written specifically for the Pearl Harbor soundtrack, “There You'll Be” by Faith Hill is a beautiful pop/country ballad. The song became a major worldwide hit after its release in 2001. To this day, this song is commonly used as a tribute to those who have passed away.

Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper’s “Shallow” won the hearts of many fans. The song was featured and written for the infamous film, A Star Is Born. It became a chart-topping hit and even won two Grammys.

While “I Will Always Love You” was originally written by Dolly Parton, the most popular version is Whitney Houston’s cover. The reimagined pop/R&B ballad was produced specifically for the movie The Bodyguard. Who knew it would quickly become one of the most legendary love songs ever recorded?

This popular Paramore song is a fan-favorite. However, many don’t realize that “Decode” was actually written exclusively for Twilight. The emo/alt-rock hit did a great job of painting the emotional tension between the main characters, Bella and Edward.

Many fans of both Taylor Swift and Zayn Malik were ecstatic to hear of the artists’ collab, and they weren’t let down. “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” was written for the smutty movie, Fifty Shades Darker. The song itself has a sultry energy, and the voices of the two pop singers blend beautifully.