Top 10 2000s Movie Soundtracks
The 2000s have officially become nostalgic, and nothing better encapsulates that nostalgia than the ten best movie soundtracks of the decade.
The 2000s are known for signature fashion trends, a diverse range of pop music, and a myriad of memorable film and TV shows. Where all of the distinctive features of the 2000s often culminate are in the most beloved films of the era.
Whether it's the pastel period piece Marie Antoinette, '70s nostalgia capsule Almost Famous, indie sleaze-esque Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist, or the first enstallment of the Twilight saga, the most iconic films of the decade have equally iconic soundtracks. Discover ten of L'OFFICIEL's best below to help craft the quintessential 2000s playlist.
Almost Famous dives into the nostalgia of the rock-n-roll era during the 1970s, with an appropriate classic rock soundtrack to match. You can find a plethora of hits from the decade's biggest bands, like Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Fleetwood Mac, and The Velvet Underground. With Kate Hudson as the adored muse Penny Lane, the film offers a look into the glamorous and complex groupie lifestyle.
Best Songs: "Tangerine" by Led Zeppelin, "Future Games" by Fleetwood Mac, and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" by Jimi Hendrix.
Juno, starring Elliot Page and Michael Cera, is one of the most notable independent movies of the 2000s with its grungy characters and indie-alt soundtrack. A quirky film about an unplanned teen pregnancy, Juno is a perfect mix of complicated drama, coming of age, and romance.
Best Songs: "Superstar" by Sonic Youth, "Anyone Else but You" by The Moldy Peaches, and "Sea of Love" by Cat Power.
Among the world's most well-known blockbusters, Kill Bill Vol. 1 is a revenge-driven, martial arts film from legendary director Quentin Tarantino. With iconic characters like protagonist The Bride (Uma Thurman), schoolgirl assassin Gogo Yubari (Chiaki Kuriyama), and the "queen of the Tokyo Underworld" O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu), there is never a dull moment — which is further amplified by the cinematic soundtrack and score.
Best Songs: "Bang Bang" by Nancy Sinatra, "That Certain Female" by Charlie Feathers, and "Twisted Nerve" by Bernard Herrmann.
Perhaps the most quotable film of the noughties, Mean Girls is a genre-defining "chick flick" with an unforgettable plot and cast. The teen drama, with star actresses like Lindsay Lohan and Rachel McAdams, perfectly paints the picture of American teen life with its school cliques, dating trials, and slutty Halloween costumes. The timely soundtrack is straight out of a 16-year-old's iPod Nano.
Best Songs: "One Way or Another" by Blondie, "Pass That Dutch" by Missy Elliott, and "Milkshake" by Kelis.
A Sofia Coppola classic, Marie Antoinette stars Kirsten Dunst as the Austrian-born royal in her rise and fall as the teenage queen of France. Noted for its flamboyant, over-the-top Rococo aesthetic, the 19th-century period piece is also juxtaposed by its 21st-century soundtrack; somehow making the youthful character of Marie Antoinette more realistic and relatable.
Best Songs: "Hong Kong Garden" by Siouxsie Sioux and the Banshees, "What Ever Happened?" by The Strokes, and "Ceremony" by New Order.
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist is famous for its soundtrack for the simple fact it's the core of the film's plot. Based on the David Levithan and Rachel Cohn novel by the same name, the hipster love story stars Michael Cera and Kat Dennings, and their navigation of the indie rock scene of the late 2000s.
Best Songs: "Ottoman" by Vampire Weekend, "Xavia" by The Submarines, and "Lover" by Devendra Banhart.
The Royal Tenenbaums, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Owen Wilson, is one of Wes Anderson's first (of many) critically-acclaimed films. The Royal Tenenbaums, which follows the drama within a family of prodigies, is known for a variety of signature Wes Anderson elements; perfectionist cinematography, whimsical characters, and of course, a dynamic soundtrack.
Best Songs: "Needle in the Hay" by Elliott Smith, "Stephanie Says" by The Velvet Underground, and "These Days" by Nico.
The Twilight films, based on the book saga by Stephanie Meyer, took the teen world by storm upon its release in 2008. The film, starring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson, still remains as the standard vampire love story into the 2020s following its resurgence in popularity on TikTok. As the film has been loved by a generation, Twilight's soundtrack is also adored by default.
Best Songs: "Decode" by Paramore, "Eyes on Fire" by Blue Foundation, and "15 Step" by Radiohead.
8 Mile, starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, and Brittany Murphy, follows the rise in fame of a white rapper in Detroit. Though 8 Mile is a semi-autobiographical film about Eminem's life, the soundtrack is full of songs by hip-hop's most prominent artists, from 50 Cent to Nas.
Best Songs: "Lose Yourself" by Eminem, "8 Miles And Runnin'" by Jay-Z & Freeway, and "Love Me" by Obie Trice, 50 Cent, & Eminem.
An unrequited hipster love story, 500 Days of Summer is a self-aware romantic comedy about how the main characters, played by Zooey Deschanel and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, fall in and, subsequently, out of love. A song by The Smiths is what initially binds the two, and music continues to both drive the plot and support the dynamism of the movie.
Best Songs: "Quelqu'un m'a dit" by Carla Bruni, "Please, Please, Please Let Me Get What I Want" by The Smiths, and "Here Comes Your Man" by Pixies.
