Why Movies Don’t Make Hit Songs Anymore (And 5 New Tracks That Prove Music Still Rules)
What’s up friend!? Welcome back to Songs That Don’t Suck, where every week I listen to hundreds of newly released songs so you don’t have to. I’m your host, Mark—and before we get to this week’s picks, let’s talk about something else that kinda sucks these days…
Movies. 🍿😬
More specifically: the complete collapse of the once-sacred bond between movies and massive hit songs.
🎶 When Movies and Music Ruled Pop Culture Together
There was a time—kids, gather ‘round—when a movie couldn’t hit theaters without dragging a chart-destroying song along with it.
The ’80s were basically a masterclass in soundtrack dominance:
- “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” – Dirty Dancing
- “Take My Breath Away” & “Danger Zone” – Top Gun
- “Footloose” – Footloose
- “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” – The Breakfast Club
- “The Power of Love” – Back to the Future
- “Eye of the Tiger” – Rocky III
These weren’t just movie songs—they were cultural events.
The ’90s? Just as stacked:
- “I Will Always Love You” – The Bodyguard
- “My Heart Will Go On” – Titanic
- “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” – Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
- “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” – Armageddon
- “Gangsta’s Paradise” – Dangerous Minds
- “Kiss from a Rose” – Batman Forever
And let’s not forget movies that were basically soundtrack-first experiences:
Singles, Purple Rain, The Crow, Reality Bites, Empire Records…
📉 So… What the Hell Happened?
Fast-forward to today and the pipeline is basically dry.
Sure, we still get incredible scores (shoutout forever to Hans Zimmer), but pop and rock songs tied to movies? Sparse doesn’t even begin to cover it.
A few recent examples tried:
- “Hold My Hand” by Lady Gaga – Top Gun: Maverick
- “I’m Just Ken” – funny, sure, but not exactly culture-shifting
- The Barbie soundtrack, which honestly did a great job thanks to Dua Lipa and Billie Eilish
But even those moments felt like flashes of lightning, not long-term cultural strangleholds.
Why?
Because radio died, attention spans shrank, and algorithms replaced shared experience.
📊 A few brutal stats:
- Billboard #1 hits once accounted for 20% of all chart-toppers—now it’s under 2%
- Google searches for movie soundtracks dropped from 60M+ (2004) to ~15M (2025)
- Movies & TV still ranked 3rd in music discovery (33%) in a 2021 YouGov survey—behind streaming and radio, but ahead of social media 🤯
Culture didn’t disappear.
It just fragmented.
🎵 This Week’s Songs That Don’t Suck
Enough doom. Let’s get to the good stuff.
1️⃣ I Like You — The Cardinals
Warm, gentle, and weird in the best way. Accordion-led vibes, understated drums, and vocals that land somewhere between Neutral Milk Hotel and The Decemberists. A rare sound that actually feels human.
2️⃣ Leona Street — Pool Kids
I flirted with this song for a year before committing. Worth the wait. Headphone nerds: listen to how the vocals bounce between channels—absolutely brilliant production on top of a killer indie-pop groove.
3️⃣ Fangtooth — Weathership
Moody, dark, and textured. Detuned guitars (or baritone?) give this a weighty feel while the vocals stay controlled and restrained. Alternative rock with depth and patience.
4️⃣ Wait (Hatchet Gets a New Hide) — Formal Speedwear
This one stopped me in my tracks. Talking Heads. Devo. Actual risk-taking.
In an era of modeling amps and preset culture, this song is a reminder: your fingers matter more than your plugins.
5️⃣ London, Out There — The New Cut
Technically 4/4… spiritually unhinged. The rhythm section makes the song feel like it’s floating outside of time, like an avant-garde jazz band that accidentally discovered post-punk.
A perfect closer.
❤️ Final Thoughts
Movies may not be launching chart-dominating hits anymore—but music itself is far from dead. You just have to dig a little deeper.
Thanks again for listening, my friend.
Go support these artists, share the show, and let’s keep pumping those podcast discovery numbers up. 🚀🎶
