our favourite soundtracks
- 3shotcine
- Aug 10, 2024
- 6 min read
Music - it makes you feel a whirlwind of emotions that could paint an image, terrify you when you least expect it to, and open your eyes to a world that’s both dark and light at the same time. The fun thing about all of that is - it stays with you.
Here’s some of our team’s favourite soundtracks (outside our non-mainstream niche) that have made us remember those important finite moments, that made us love these movies. So try to check them out! Who knows what gem of an experience you’re going to have listening to these soundtracks - they might just be the defining factor to push you to blindly go into a film, and experience a whole new universe.
Danis’ Picks
The Leftovers (2014-2017)
created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perotta
music by Max Richter
Epic. Beautiful. Downright Tragic. Hopeful. These are some of the words that epitomises the soundtrack to this one in a million show, that could somehow combine an interesting sci-fi premise whilst maintaining such an intense exploration of philosophical ideals. Max Richter is the Goat.
Tracks to check out:
And Know The Place For The First Time
Dona Nobis Pacem 2
She Remembers
Mid90s (2018)
directed by Jonah Hill
music by Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross
Look, if you ever get bored or tired of listening to the dark synthesized soundscapes that Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross are constantly producing for films they’ve worked on, then well, hopefully this might change your mind or the minds of their critics. Honestly, once you’re done listening to their original production for this film, check out the other cool 90s inspired soundtrack of the film. Dope stuffs.
Tracks to check out:
The Start of Things
Further Along
Finding a Place
If Beale Street Could Talk (2018)
directed by Barry Jenkins
music by Nicholas Brittell
I think if there ever was a sound that could capture this subtle feeling of imagining your dreams and your love for life, even with all the hardships that you got going on in the present, then this film’s score could very well be that sound.
Tracks to check out
Agape (of course)
Eden (LES)
Keepers of the Keys and Seals
Arrival (2016)
directed by Denis Villeneuve
written by Eric Heisserer and Ted Chiang
music by Jóhann Jóhannsson
It’s one of the best experimental film scores out there, so yeah I love this to bits.
Tracks to check out:
Heptapod B
Arrival
Decyphering
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
directed by Kenneth Lonergan
music by Leslie Barber
If you love choral music, a classical arrangement in scores and a combination of pianos and strings to create a full-blown melancholic theme, then definitely check this out.
Tracks to check out:
Manchester Minimalist Piano and String
Plymouth Chorale
Manchester by the Sea Chorale
Komal’s Picks
Call Me By Your Name (2017)
directed by Luca Guadagnino
music by Robin Urdang
most impactful tracks to me:
Hallelujah Junction - 1st movement - , by John Adams
Une barque sur l’ocean from Miroirs, by André Laplante
Mystery of Love, by Sufjan Stevens
Juno (2007)
directed by Jason Reitman
music by Mateo Messina
omg indie movie vibe gilerrrr:
Pizza, New York Catcher, by Belle and Sebastian
Anyone Else but You, by Michael Cera, Elliot Page
Up the Spout, by Mateo Messina
side note, check out Clay Pigeons by Michael Cera!
Monkey Man (2024)
directed by Dev Patel
music by Jed Kurzel
every song on this album goes hard, but check out:
The Kid, by Jed Kurzel
Naam Mera, by Sneha Khanwalker, Lazer X
Restaurant, by Jed Kurzel
Zeff’s Picks
Bladerunner (1982)
directed by Ridley Scott
music by Vangelis
In this soundtrack, Vangelis invents the quintessential soundscape of the future dystopia of a thousand mysteries. The dark synth sounds of the 80’s are the great movers of these pieces, sometimes accompanied with piano. The grim universe of the noir detective thrust upon the burden of the very distant future can be heard, felt, enjoyed vividly. Blade Runner and its soundtrack will remain my forever favourites, its aesthetics and creative sensibilities, both visual and musical are a part of me for ill or good.
Blade Runner Blues
The Prodigal Son Brings Death
Tears In Rain
Oppenheimer (2023)
directed by Christopher Nolan
music by Ludwig Göransson
Christopher Nolan’s take on the American Prometheus could not hope to be accompanied by anything better. Ludwig Göransson’s work is fantastic, hopeful, uplifting, and at the same time dystopian, grim, and thoughtful. Some tracks can be described as the joy of discovery, and some as the horror of what man may make of it. Hearing the soundtrack and seeing both the opening and ending to this cinematic genius in theatres was an indescribable feeling.
Can You Hear The Music
Destroyer of Worlds
What Have We Done
The Northman (2022)
directed by Robert Eggers
music by Robin Carolan, Sebastian Gainsborough
Dark, gritty, inescapably heroic; the vibes the soundtrack of this movie gives off perfectly suits the needs of the storytelling and the narrative itself. Akin to listening to Skalds of old tell the sagas of heroes long past around a great fire in the mead hall. Although more of modern sounding than accurate, this soundtrack cinematically feels Viking, and feels right.
The King
The Land of the Rus
Make Your Passage/Valhalla
Sophia’s Picks
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011)
directed by Bill Condon
music by Alexandra Patsavas
Endtapes - The Joy Formidable
Turning Page - Sleeping At Last
I Didn’t Mean It - The Belle Brigade
From Now On - The Features
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 (2014)
directed by Francis Lawrence
music by Lorde
Scream My Name - Tove Lo
Meltdown - Stromae, Lorde, Pusha T, Q-Tip, HAIM
Dead Air - CHVRCHES
Yellow Flicker Beat - Lorde
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014)
directed by Marc Webb
music by Hans Zimmer
It’s On Again - Alicia Keys, Kendrick Lamar
Song For Zula - Phosphorescent
Honest - The Neighbourhood
Shekinah’s Picks
Last Night in Soho (2021)
directed by Edgar Wright
music by Steven Price
This soundtrack can only be described as: music for the people who believe they were born in the wrong era. If you’re an old soul (like me) you’ll love how the scores in this film influence each daunting, insane scene in a way that is more daunting and insane than the last.
A World Without Love - Peter And Gordon
You’re My World - Cilla Black & Anya-Taylor Joy
I’ve Got My Mind Set On You - James Ray
Black Panther (2018)
directed by Ryan Coogler
music by Ludwig Göransson & Kendrick Lamar
I cannot begin to describe the experience of witnessing Kendrick’s genius in the cinema for the first time ever. If this soundtrack didn’t impact you significantly at some point, I’ll try my best to not judge you (it’ll be pretty hard, though).
Pray For Me - The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar
All The Stars - Kendrick Lamar, SZA
Busan Car Chase - Ludwig Göransson
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before (2018)
directed by Susan Johnson
music by Joe Wong
To be young and in love in New York City indeed. If you’d like to be transported to an alternate universe where the infamous Middle Child Syndrome is taken seriously, take a deep dive into this movie’s soundtrack and her sequels!
I Like Me Better - Lauv
Lovers - Anna of the North
Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Tears for Fears
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse (2023)
directed by Joaquim Dos Santos, Kemp Powers and Justin K. Thompson
music by Daniel Pemberton & Metro Boomin
The most impactful part of this movie was Metro Boomin’s artistry. Miguel O’Hara’s [redacted] came in a very close second. A thousand Oscars would not be enough to compensate Mr. Boomin for his contribution to this movie. Additionally, Dominic Fike’s redemption arc has never looked this beautiful. I could not recommend this movie more!
Am I Dreaming - Metro Boomin, A$AP Rocky, Roisee
Calling - Metro Boomin, Swae Lee, NAV, A Boogie Wit da Hoodie
Mona Lisa - Dominic Fike
Guggenheim Assemble - Daniel Pemberton
That's the end of this roundup! Tell us what you think of our picks, and then tell us yours!
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