6 of the Greatest Classic Rock Moments in Movies

A film’s soundtrack can be the difference between a so-so flick and an enduring fan favorite, and we’ve rounded up six of the greatest classic rock moments in movies that have firmly placed these films in the latter category. With its driving guitar riffs, powerful drums, memorable melodies, and ability to induce nostalgia, classic rock is the perfect musical vehicle for filmmakers to hammer their point home.

Whether it’s highlighting the gory climax of a slasher film or playing over a cult classic comedy, these iconic movie moments prove that no matter how good your cast is, the right song at the right time is the cherry on top of any successful movie.

“Bohemian Rhapsody” in Wayne’s World

One of the most iconic classic rock moments in movie history is, unsurprisingly, from a movie about two rock lovers from Aurora, Illinois: Wayne Campbell and Garth Algar from the 1992 cult-classic comedy Wayne’s World. You likely already know the scene we’re talking about: Wayne, Garth, and their pals riding in the car, listening to Queen’s magnum opus “Bohemian Rhapsody” on cassette tape.

From Mike Meyers and Dana Carvey’s ridiculous interpretations of Freddie Mercury’s operatic vocalizations to the oft-imitated headbanging section near the track’s end, this Wayne’s World scene is far and away one of the most memorable musical movie moments.

“White Room” in Joker

Todd Phillips and Scott Silver’s 2019 psychological thriller Joker follows Joaquin Phoenix as an out-of-work clown who quickly descends into a nihilistic, violent mental state. Screenwriter Silvers, of course, based the critically divisive film on the Batman franchise, choosing to focus on the series’ makeup-laden, giggly villain.

Without giving up too many spoilers, the film utilizes Cream’s classic track “White Room” at just the right moment. The storyline has dissolved into total chaos, the streets of Gotham City are in a frenzy, and here comes Phoenix’s Arthur Fleck, his makeup a mess and his smile unsettling, as Jack Bruce sings the Cream song’s opening lines.

“Don’t Fear the Reaper” in X

Blue Öyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper” has always possessed a sense of sugar-coated uneasiness—even the song’s title is an obvious reference to death. But the Blue Öyster Cult classic took on a whole new meaning of sinister when horror director Ti West included the track during a particularly gory scene in X.

True to the horror film format, X teases audiences with the potential for violence until one shockingly harrowing moment occurs, opening the blood, er, floodgates. “Don’t Fear the Reaper” ushers in this moment perfectly, forever changing the way you hear this rock hit.

“You Never Can Tell” in Pulp Fiction

Quentin Tarintino’s movies are full of iconic imagery and music, and his 1994 film Pulp Fiction is certainly no exception. One of the most memorable scenes in the film is when Uma Thurman’s Mia Wallace and John Travolta’s Vincent Vega participate in a twist contest at a 1950s-themed diner called Jack Rabbit Slim’s.

The image of Thurman and Travolta twisting, barefoot, to Chuck Berry’s 1964 track “You Never Can Tell” is a perfectly strange juxtaposition from the rest of the show’s crime and drug narratives. It’s a less obvious choice than Chubby Checker’s “Twist and Shout,” which adds to the scene’s unexpected nostalgia.

“Vienna” in 13 Going On 30

If we’re willing to make the concession that Billy Joel is a classic rock artist, albeit a more pop-centric, ballad-heavy one, then the inclusion of his melancholy song “Vienna” in the 2004 rom-com 13 Going on 30 deserves a spot on this list. The song is a heartstring-tugger in its own right, but the film’s storyline elevates the emotions even further.

At the time that “Vienna” enters the film’s soundtrack, Jennifer Garner’s Jenna Rink has learned the error of her ways in wishing her youth away (hence the movie’s title). Slow down, you crazy child, you’re so ambitious for a juvenile, becomes all the more poignant as an adult-Jenna cries to herself in her childhood home.

“Don’t You Forget About Me” in Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is a 1985 John Hughes classic and includes tracks like Wang Chung’s “Fire in the Twilight” and Jesse Johnson and Stephanie Spruill’s “Heart Too Hot To Hold.” But in terms of memorability, the rest of the soundtrack pales in comparison to the closing track: Simple Minds’ “Don’t You Forget About Me.” 

Even the title alone conjures images of John Bender, clad in his trench coat, flannel, and fingerless gloves, walking across the football field with his fist in the air. The song acts as a perfect bow to the movie’s end, with its opening chords beginning as the teens part ways, irrevocably changed by that one fateful day in Saturday detention.

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