Special Report

Most Popular Movie Soundtracks of All Time, According to Billboard Data

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

Music has gone along with cinema since the beginning – originally in the form of live orchestras or a theater organist accompanying silent movies. When the first sound films were released, the sound was music – not dialogue.  

The first commercially released movie soundtrack was that for the 1937 Disney animated classic “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” put out in the form of an album of 78 rpm disks in 1938. Soundtrack albums became popular on a large scale in the 1940s, and they haven’t stopped since. Many movies have distinguished themselves with memorable soundtracks over the years, often featuring hit songs that either made their performers stars or embellished their fame. (These are the most popular songs originally written for movies.)

To determine the most popular soundtracks of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data for movie soundtracks on the Billboard 200 album charts. Soundtracks were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 200 points, a week at No. 2 worth 199 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 200 worth one point. Billboard data is current through the week of March 18, 2022. The biggest song on each soundtrack album is based on the total number of plays on Spotify.

Soundtracks from films from six decades appear on our list, 19 of which reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 list. 

Thirteen movie soundtracks from the 1960s are represented. The year 1964 alone gave us four: “Goldfinger,” “Zorba the Greek,” “Mary Poppins,” and “My Fair Lady.” The following year was represented by three films: “The Sound of Music,” “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” and “Dr. Zhivago.” Another noteworthy year was 1994, featuring soundtracks from “The Lion King,” “Forrest Gump,” and “Pulp Fiction.”

Click here to see the most popular movie soundtracks of all time, according to Billboard data

Soundtracks from Prince’s “Purple Rain” and “Saturday Night Fever” occupied the top position on the Billboard 200 for 24 weeks each, the longest stays at No. 1 of any soundtrack on our list. 

“Moana,” the animated Disney film about female empowerment, stayed in the Billboard 200 for an unparalleled 316 weeks. Another Disney animated movie about girl power, “Frozen,” also made the top 10 and was on the Billboard 200 for 178 weeks, with its sequel, “Frozen II” remaining there for 90 weeks. (Here’s a list of the best original songs from Disney movies.)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

40. The Jazz Singer (1980)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 7 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 115 weeks
> Biggest song: “America” (Neil Diamond)

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Courtesy of United Artists

39. Goldfinger (1964)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 70 weeks
> Biggest song: “Goldfinger” (Shirley Bassey)

Courtesy of International Classics

38. Zorba the Greek (1964)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 26 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 79 weeks
> Biggest song: “Theme From Zorba the Greek” (Mikis Theodorakis)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

37. Camelot (1967)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 11 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 87 weeks
> Biggest song: “Camelot” (Fiona Fullerton, Richard Harris)

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Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

36. Frozen II (2019)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 90 weeks
> Biggest song: “Into the Unknown” (Idina Menzel, AURORA)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

35. City of Angels (1998)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 77 weeks
> Biggest song: “Iris” (The Goo Goo Dolls)

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

34. Space Jam (1996)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 82 weeks
> Biggest song: “I Believe I Can Fly” (R. Kelly)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

33. Top Gun (1986)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 94 weeks
> Biggest song: “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” (Otis Redding)

Courtesy of United Artists

32. Alice’s Restaurant (1969)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 17 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 99 weeks
> Biggest song: “Alice’s Restaurant Massacre” (Arlo Guthrie)

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Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

31. Flashdance (1983)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 78 weeks
> Biggest song: “Maniac” (Michael Sembello)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

30. Pretty Woman (1990)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 91 weeks
> Biggest song: “Oh, Pretty Woman” (Roy Orbison)

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Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

29. Forrest Gump (1994)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 5 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 94 weeks
> Biggest song: “Sweet Home Alabama” (Lynyrd Skynyrd)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

28. 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 24 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 120 weeks
> Biggest song: “Also sprach Zarathustra” (Richard Strauss)

Courtesy of Allied Artists Pictures

27. A Man and a Woman (1966)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 10 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 93 weeks
> Biggest song: “Un homme et une femme” (Francis Lai)

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

26. A Star Is Born (2018)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 4 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 109 weeks
> Biggest song: “Shallow” (Lady Gaga, Bradley Cooper)

Courtesy of Summit Distribution

25. Twilight (2008)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 95 weeks
> Biggest song: “Supermassive Black Hole” (Muse)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

24. The Lion King (1994)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 10 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 89 weeks
> Biggest song: “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” (Elton John)

Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

23. Funny Girl (1968)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 12 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 108 weeks
> Biggest song: “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Barbra Streisand)

Courtesy of Miramax

22. Pulp Fiction (1994)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 21 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 107 weeks
> Biggest song: “Let’s Stay Together” (Al Green)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

21. Coyote Ugly (2000)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 10 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 104 weeks
> Biggest song: “Need You Tonight” (INXS)

Courtesy of CBS

20. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 6 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 106 weeks
> Biggest song: “Christmas Time Is Here – Vocal” (Vince Guaraldi Trio)

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Courtesy of Universal Pictures

19. Pitch Perfect (2012)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 126 weeks
> Biggest song: “Bellas Finals: Price Tag/Don’t You (Forget About Me)/Give Me Everything/Just The Way You Are/Party In The U.S.A./Turn The Beat Around” (The Barden Bellas)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

18. Pure Country (1992)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 6 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 129 weeks
> Biggest song: “I Cross My Heart” (George Strait)

Courtesy of Vestron Pictures

17. Dirty Dancing (1987)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 18 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 97 weeks
> Biggest song: “Hungry Eyes” (Eric Carmen)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

16. Trolls (2016)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 125 weeks
> Biggest song: “CAN’T STOP THE FEELING!” (Justin Timberlake)

Courtesy of United Artists

15. West Side Story (1961)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 3 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 104 weeks
> Biggest song: “America” (Betty Wand, George Chakiris, Johnny Green, Suzie Kaye, West Side Story Orchestra)

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Courtesy of Columbia Pictures

14. The Big Chill (1983)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 17 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 161 weeks
> Biggest song: “My Girl” (The Temptations)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

13. Guardians Of The Galaxy (2014)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 146 weeks
> Biggest song: “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” (Marvin Gaye, Tammi Terrell)

Courtesy of Warner Bros.

12. Purple Rain (1984)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 24 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 167 weeks
> Biggest song: “Purple Rain” (Prince)

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Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

11. Beaches (1988)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 3 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 176 weeks
> Biggest song: “Wind Beneath My Wings” (Bette Midler)

Courtesy of Paramount Pictures

10. Saturday Night Fever (1977)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 24 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 137 weeks
> Biggest song: “Stayin’ Alive” (Bee Gees)

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Courtesy of Disney Channel

9. High School Musical (2006)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 108 weeks
> Biggest song: “Breaking Free” (Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Pictures

8. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 112 weeks
> Biggest song: “I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow” (The Soggy Bottom Boys, Dan Tyminski)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

7. Frozen (2013)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 13 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 178 weeks
> Biggest song: “Let It Go” (Idina Menzel)

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Courtesy of Warner Bros.

6. My Fair Lady (1964)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 4 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 111 weeks
> Biggest song: “I Could Have Danced All Night” (Marni Nixon)

Courtesy of Buena Vista Distribution Company

5. Mary Poppins (1964)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 14 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 122 weeks
> Biggest song: “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” (Julie Andrews, Van Dyke, The Pearlie Chorus)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

4. The Greatest Showman (2017)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 190 weeks
> Biggest song: “This Is Me” (Keala Settle, The Greatest Showman Ensemble)

Courtesy of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

3. Doctor Zhivago (1965)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 157 weeks
> Biggest song:Interior Student Café” (Maurice Jarre)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

2. Moana (2016)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 2 (for 1 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 316 weeks
> Biggest song: “How Far I’ll Go” (Alessia Cara)

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Courtesy of Twentieth Century Fox

1. The Sound of Music (1965)
> Peak position on Billboard 200: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total time on Billboard 200: 238 weeks
> Biggest song: “Do-Re-Mi” (Angela Cartwright, Charmian Carr, Debbie Turner, Duane Chase, Heather Menzies, Irwin Kosal, Julie Andrews, Kym Karath, Nicholas Hammond)

 

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