It’s hard to think of a director who so perfectly incorporates the music of his youth better than Cameron Crowe. Hell, his magnum opus, Almost Famous, is centered around that very idea. The songs that spoke to you as you were coming of age. The glory years, so to speak. Coming-of-age, family, romance, and people in their 20s figuring their lives out are all themes that Crowe explores, with popular songs utilized to express them. That 15-year-old whose passion for music resonated with Rolling Stone magazine would never lose that light inside of him, and it’s clear that his best films contain needle drops that make the message of each story hit home.
1. Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Sean Penn
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Judge Reinhold
Robert Romanus
Brian Backer
Phoebe Cates
Ray Walston
Scott Thomson
Vincent Schiavelli
Amanda Wyss
D.W. Brown
Forest Whitaker
One of the most iconic films of the 1980s was based on a book written by a 24-year-old Crowe. It would then be adapted into a feature film in 1982, with the movie version lacking a specific plot or big-name stars. With barely any marketing effort by the studio, the film became a sleeper hit via word of mouth, launching the careers of young actors such as Jennifer Jason Leigh, Eric Stoltz, Judge Reinhold, Nicolas Cage, Forest Whitaker, and Sean Penn.
Nothing screams more 80s feel-good vibes than when Jackson Browne’s “Somebody’s Baby” first comes on in Fast Times. Penn’s Jeff Spicoli, a laid-back stoner surfer stumbling out of a retro minivan full of marijuana smoke, will always elicit chuckles. These teenage characters and their intentions, while albeit naughty at times, are still genuine and pure. Young, dumb, and probably a bit too interested in sex for their own good.
Check out the full Fast Times at Ridgemont High soundtrack here.
2. Say Anything...
John Cusack
Ione Skye
John Mahoney
Lili Taylor
Pamela Adlon
Jason Gould
Loren Dean
Johnny Green
Jeremy Piven
Patrick O'Neill
Don Wilson
A humorous yet ultimately serious romantic drama for teenagers. John Cusack, Ione Skye, and John Mahoney star in this touching story of a good-hearted underachiever pursuing a valedictorian good girl concerning her stubborn divorced father. In his attempts to win over her love, her father encourages her to break up with him, which, of course, leads to absolute heartache. Cheap Trick, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Depeche Mode all shine in the film’s soundtrack, but there is one artist whose song captures the spirit of what Crowe is trying to say.
Can you name a more iconic 80s teen movie moment than Cusack’s Lloyd Dobler holding up the boombox playing Peter Gabriel’s “In Your Eyes” outside of the love of his life’s house? Ferris Bueller singing The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” in front of a parade crowd, maybe, but it’s hard to beat just how romantic this scene is and that it’s an iconic 80s tune. Love wins in the end. A cynic may claim that’s false, but when we find out Mahoney’s Jim Court doesn’t quite live up to his righteousness, the hopeful in all of us beg to differ.
Check out the full Say Anything... soundtrack here.
3. Singles
Bridget Fonda
Campbell Scott
Kyra Sedgwick
Matt Dillon
Sheila Kelley
Jim True-Frost
Bill Pullman
James Le Gros
Ally Walker
Tom Skerritt
Jeremy Piven
Taking his passion for music into the early 90s, Crowe was able to effectively capture the grunge scene phenomenon that was happening at the time in Seattle, Washington. While I wish Kurt Cobain had not turned down the chance to have a Nirvana song featured in the movie, it’s understandable that a love story would not fit the brand that his band was going for at the time (though let’s be real here, a movie featuring Seattle and grunge isn’t complete without that particular band that you may have heard of). A group of Gen X’ers falls in and out of love while aspiring as musicians living in an apartment block (hence the sign “Singles” promoting single-bedroom apartments).
Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, Soundgarden, and The Smashing Pumpkins shine in this grunge fest of a soundtrack on display. Matt Dillon, Bridget Fonda, Kyra Sedgewick, Campbell Scott, and Bill Pullman, among others, round out the familiar cast of relatable characters. Dillon’s Eddie Vedder-esque character admires Alice in Chains as they perform “Would?” and “It Ain’t Like That” during a live concert scene. Singles and their soundtrack effectively helped promote the grunge genre into the mainstream while being more influential than you think on a little television show entitled Friends.
Check out the full Singles soundtrack here.
4. Jerry Maguire
Tom Cruise
Renée Zellweger
Cuba Gooding Jr.
Kelly Preston
Jerry O'Connell
Jay Mohr
Regina King
Bonnie Hunt
Jonathan Lipnicki
Todd Louiso
Jeremy Suarez
We think of Mission: Impossible and Top Gun whenever Tom Cruise’s name is brought up (or the Church of Scientology); however, his run in the 80s and 90s when he was working with big-time directors such as Oliver Stone, Rob Reiner, Sydney Pollack, Paul Thomas Anderson, and the late Stanley Kubrick is one to be admired. My personal favorite has to be his work with Crowe in this 1996 sports romantic drama classic. Renee Zellweger, Cuba Gooding Jr. (in an Oscar-winning performance), Kelly Preston, Bonnie Hunt, Regina King, and young Jonathan Lipnicki all chew up the scenery in this knockout punch of a movie.
While Jerry Maguire’s soundtrack leans more reliant on Nancy Wilson’s (Crowe’s wife at the time) remarkable score, there are multiple needle-drop moments worth noting. From Jerry singing Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” in his car to Bruce Springsteen’s serene “Secret Garden” punctuating an emotional moment, the film is full of memorable music moments. Paul McCartney’s “Singalong Junk,” an instrumental version of his classic melancholic tune, is expertly used as Jerry and Dorothy become intimate. Even the most jaded of individuals can appreciate how tender, heartfelt, and flat-out sexy the scene is.
Check out the full Jerry Maguire soundtrack here.
5. Almost Famous
89%
90
7.9
Patrick Fugit
Billy Crudup
Kate Hudson
Frances McDormand
Jason Lee
Zooey Deschanel
Michael Angarano
Anna Paquin
Fairuza Balk
Philip Seymour Hoffman
Noah Taylor
John Fedevich
An individual such as myself mustn’t be too biased here, as this is my all-time favorite movie, but you’d have to be a real bore to be unable to appreciate this delightful coming-of-age musical drama. It’s the kind of film this site bases itself on, celebrating the very best music moments in movies, and it is the culmination of Crowe’s illustrious career. Patrick Fugit’s acting debut as William Miller is iconic, and he is supported by heavyweights such as Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Zoey Deschanel, Anna Paquin, Noah Taylor, and the late Phillip Seymour Hoffman as the unforgettable rock music critic Lester Bangs.
This is simply too stacked of a soundtrack to name just one singular moment. The first 15 minutes are magical, transitioning scenes between Simon & Garfunkel’s “America” into The Who’s “Sparks” flawlessly. Led Zeppelin’s “That’s the Way” and “Tangerine” serve as a mid-road trip moment and the film’s closer, respectively. Nancy Wilson penned the song “Fever Dog” for the fictitious band Stillwater featured, and it’s a legitimate banger. It’s hard not to ultimately choose Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” as the peak of the movie. Our group puts their frustrations aside to sing this utterly melodic tune. Feel the music and keep on rollin’.
Check out the full Almost Famous soundtrack here.
6. Vanilla Sky
Tom Cruise
Penélope Cruz
Cameron Diaz
Kurt Russell
Jason Lee
Noah Taylor
Timothy Spall
Tilda Swinton
Michael Shannon
Delaina Mitchell
Shalom Harlow
Oona Hart
While romance is ultimately infused in this venture, Crowe tries his hand at a science-fiction psychological thriller with this 2001 feature. Cruise is back in the mix, with Penelope Cruz, Cameron Diaz, Jason Lee, and Kurt Russell tearing up the scene. The story tackles nepotism, as Cruise’s David Aames inherits a large publishing company from his father. He leaves the company to his trusted associates while living as a playboy in Manhattan. A love triangle between two women leads to jealousy and an eventual car crash, forcing David to get facial surgery.
Nancy Wilson would once again take over the score of this film, evoking the spirit of Brian Wilson during his Pet Sounds era with The Beach Boys. R.E.M., Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, and Bob Dylan are among the artists featured on the soundtrack. Paul McCartney’s “Vanilla Sky,” written for the movie, would receive an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song, and it is the perfect encapsulation of the weird yet comforting fever dream that this film is. It’s more offbeat than his other works, but the Crowe touch is there through and through, both in his ability to incorporate popular music into such a twisted vision and how love will make us do crazy yet courageous things.
Check out the full Vanilla Sky soundtrack here.
7. We Bought a Zoo
Matt Damon
Scarlett Johansson
Thomas Haden Church
Colin Ford
Maggie Elizabeth Jones
Angus Macfadyen
Elle Fanning
Patrick Fugit
John Michael Higgins
Carla Gallo
J.B. Smoove
Stephanie Szostak
All of Crowe’s movies include family dynamics, but this is the one that depicts it head-on, particularly the father-son relationship. Matt Damon plays a widowed father who purchases a zoo with his family in a difficult attempt to prepare the zoo for its reopening to the public. His son Dylan, against the idea of moving away from his friends, becomes more reclusive while being increasingly resentful of his father. He goes against his brother's and his son’s wishes to sustain the family that he had created with his deceased wife. Scarlett Johansson, Thomas Haden Church, Elle Fanning, and Colin Ford are among this capable cast. Such a complex main character arc would require deeper music.
This act of courage from a father to bring his grieving family together encapsulates the totality of Crowe’s career. His special ability to incorporate memorable songs into these films is uniquely shown in his utilization of the talent of Jónsi, lead singer of the Icelandic band Sigur Rós. Crowe had remained in collaboration with the band since featuring their music on Vanilla Sky, and his constant listening to their music while making We Bought a Zoo ultimately made him make this wise decision. He could’ve gone with Eddie Vedder, Neil Young, or a more popular American artist for the soundtrack, but he stuck to his guns and followed his heart. “Sinking Friendships” perfectly suits the emotional memories scene in the film.
Check out the full We Bought a Zoo soundtrack here.