Who doesn’t love some good 90s soundtracks? These four albums were even better than the movies they were made for, and some of them are still jams today.
Please keep in mind that this list is entirely based on opinion and aggregate reviews of the films mentioned. If you’re a fan of some of these films and not the biggest fan of their soundtracks, we totally get it!
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1. ‘Batman Forever’ (1995)
Who isn’t a fan of the campier days of superhero flicks? While this writer (and many others) loves this 1995 DC film, Batman Forever got pretty mixed reviews when it was released. Many critics loved the visuals and the film’s soundtrack, but some criticized how big of a departure the film was from previous entries in the franchise.
This soundtrack is loaded with great songs, from “One Time Too Many” by PJ Harvey to “Bad Days” by The Flaming Lips.
2. ‘Street Fighter’ (1994)
While this action film didn’t impress critics or audiences (the IMDb page for Street Fighter is abysmal), it does boast one of the coolest 90s soundtracks ever. It’s a solid hip-hop soundscape full of great tracks, from “Something Kinda Funky” by Rally Ral to “Straight To My Feet” by MC Hammer. It’s a product of its time, and it’s quite a bit of fun to listen to decades later.
3. ‘Waiting To Exhale’ (1995)
Alright, I actually like this movie. Angela Bassett and Whitney Houston are amazing in it. Sadly, though, this 1995 romantic comedy-drama got pretty mixed reviews upon its release. Quite a few critics noted that it was a story about naive, pretty people with very small problems. It’s hard to disagree with that, but it’s a sweet little film nonetheless.
That being said, the soundtrack to Waiting To Exhale is on a different level. The album is loaded with incredible music primarily performed by some of the most talented women of the 1990s, from “Why Does It Hurt So Bad” by Whitney Houston to “It Hurts Like Hell” by Aretha Franklin.
4. ‘Above The Rim’ (1994)
Remember Above The Rim? No? You’re not alone. This is a pretty stark example of 90s soundtracks that are way more memorable than their films. The 1994 sports drama Above The Rim had pretty lukewarm reviews, with many claiming Tupac Shakur’s stellar performance made it tolerable.
That soundtrack, though. It’s full of top-notch West Coast hip hop and gangsta rap tunes. It’s like a time capsule from 1994, and we’re not complaining.
Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images
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