Best Musical Moments in Film

Being an avid music fan and film geek, I have taken the time to recognize some of the most random, awkward, and hilarious moments where film and music have coupled. Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, Jared Leto…Van Damme?

Click more to check out a list of some of the best musical moments in film within recent memory.

Over the years, we have witnessed some of our favorite artists cross over into the film medium, such as Jack White (Cold Mountain), Kris Kristofferson (Blade), Justin Timberlake (Alpha Dog), and yes, a slab of Meatloaf here or there (Fight Club).

We also shouldn’t forget those unexpected musical numbers, which can be totally awesome (Billy Madison), or make you want to throw your entire repertoire of movie goodies at the screen (Spiderman 3).

Here’s a list which honors these moments.

BILLY MADISON

Never has an unexpected moment felt so right than Adam Sandler’s musical masterpiece in Billy Madison. A hot chick drenched in water (white t-shirt mind you), an Evangelic house-maid and a clumsy clown teamed up to produce some serious movie magic. O’DOYLE RULES!!

KICKBOXER

Ready to get uncomfortable? This 1989 action-flick, starring Jean Claude Van Damme, showcased a truly awkward scene where our hero gets drunk in a Thai bar, attempts to do a little shimmy, then proceeds to beat the living hell out of a few angry locals (can you really blame them?). We are also gifted with a serious shot of man-splits that could either be considered badass or downright wrong.

FIGHT CLUB

Not only is this one of my favorite movies of all time, but David Fincher’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s mind-trip offers roles from both Jared Leto (30 Second To Mars) AND Meatloaf (Meatloaf). Fincher is no stranger to providing some wickedly good music in his movies, appropriately using The Pixies “Where is My Mind” to wrap up this piece, and opening the equally superb Se7en with NIN’s “Precursor” version of “Closer.” I don’t wanna spoil anything kids, but both these dudes end up getting seriously effed up.

“Did I just see a man’s…?” Yes, you most certainly did.

BEAU TRAVAIL

Now, I’m Sure 99.9% of you have never seen, nor heard of this French classic. Nonetheless, the last scene is one of the coolest endings you’ll find in cinema. Here we find a French Legionnaire get down (and I mean down) to Corona’s “Rhythm of the Night,” a guilty pleasure I might add. The real meaning behind this is debatable, but most critics agree this is an allusion for suicide. Happy times!!

SOUTH PARK

OK, so I’m not talking about a movie here, but can we really talk about random musical moments without listing Radiohead’s guest appearance on South Park? Cannibalism, salty tears, and Thom Yorke giving one of South Park’s biggest bullies a taste of his own medicine can simply be regarded as classic television. I mean, what would YOU do if Thom York called you a “baby?”

AMERICAN PSYCHO

I dare you to find a more hilariously macabre musical moment than the scene where Christian Bale turns our old friend Jared Leto into a human LEGO set.

Nothing like spinning some Huey Lewis and the News whilst hacking away at your co-workers with an axe.

RESERVOIR DOGS

I’m saving the best for last, and in my opinion, there is no one better than integrating good music into their films than Quentin Tarantino.

“What can Mr. Brown do for you?”

Before Travolta and Thurman twisted their socks in Pulp Fiction, Michael Madsen busted a move, and an ear, to Stealers Wheel’s “Stuck in the Middle.” Cool, gory, and funky… in other words, euphoric.

Film is rich with history, and there’s no doubt I’ve left many moments off this list. What’s your favorite random musical moment in film? Lemme know below.

Phone-Op Derek