Whether you grew up sobbing to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” or doing pushups with Rocky Balboa to “Eye of the Tiger,” everyone has a soundtrack that imprinted itself into their mind. The artists who feature on movie soundtracks play a pivotal role in cultivating the world of a film. From underscoring iconic scenes to ushering us out as the credits roll, music taps into our emotions beyond an actor’s performance or director’s vision. Here are six original soundtrack songs that expand our appreciation of the movies they’re part of.

‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1’ (2014)

Though there are more popular additions to the “Hunger Games” soundtrack canon — from a folky Taylor Swift tune to the newest yearning ballad from Noah Kahan — Charli xcx’s “Kingdom” on the soundtrack for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1” is a unicorn of her discography. Charli sings on top of a stripped-down piano loop, exploring themes of captivity and longing: “Shadows in my head don’t need no light / They stay through the night.” The emotional track features some of her most expansive, raw vocal work, which pairs nicely with a random, brief feature from Duran Duran’s Simon Le Bon. The song’s poignant interpretation of the film’s themes is especially ironic considering Charli revealed that, when she wrote “Kingdon,” she had never seen a “Hunger Games” movie and only had a plot summary from Lorde to go off.

— Amelia Knust, Arts Editor

‘Romeo + Juliet’ (1996)

I don’t think there’s a more 1996 moment than 21-year-old Leonardo DiCaprio with a cigarette behind his ear, brooding on the ruinous steps in Baz Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet” while Radiohead’s “Talk Show Host” plays. But a close second is the needle drop of the band’s “Exit Music (For a Film)” during the end credits. After Luhrmann sent the band the final 30 minutes of the film, frontman Thom Yorke was immediately inspired by the image of Claire Danes’ Juliet holding a Walther P5 Compact pistol to her head during the couple’s infamous death scene. While the title may be on the nose, its crescendo from a simple acoustic ballad to distorted, atmospheric droning perfectly encapsulates the most tragic ending in literature.

— Ellie Miller, Music Editor

‘Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse’ (2023)

Pairing a hip-hop track with orchestral instrumentals fits perfectly within the mesmerizing animated film “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.” The trap beats on “Am I Dreaming,” coupled with a string quartet sample, make you want to groove while the soulful vocals tug at your heartstrings — just like protagonist Miles Morales’ (Shameik Moore) turbulent race against fate in the film. The lyrics mirror Miles’ turmoil as he bounces between being a normal high schooler and New York City’s Spider-Man: “I feel beaten / But I can’t give up / I’m still fightin’ / I don’t feel I’ve lost.” Playing over the end credits, the song leaves a lasting, hopeful view of Miles’ journey and the insurmountable fight awaiting him in the “Spider-Verse” trilogy’s finale, set to be released in 2028.

— Ina Kim, Contributing Writer

‘Good Will Hunting’ (1997)

At 28 years old and still fresh to fame, Elliott Smith found himself in a historic Oregon townhouse watching an unreleased film with Robin Williams, Matt Damon and five of his own songs. “Good Will Hunting” finds much of its intimacy in Smith’s plucking, acoustic guitar and whispered vocals. He was recruited by director Gus Van Sant, who admired his fellow Portland creative. After watching the film, Smith gave Van Sant permission to use songs he had recently recorded and even wrote the flourishing “Miss Misery,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for best original song. With lyrics like “I know you’d rather see me gone / Than to see me the way that I am,” Smith draws on the same vulnerability, connection and growth that Will Hunting (Matt Damon) grapples with throughout the film.

— Kennedy Payton, Contributing Writer

‘Twilight’ (2008)

Paramore’s “Decode,” with its intense guitar riffs and a driving 2000s drumbeat, encapsulates the betrayal that Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart) feels with moody vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) throughout the “Twilight” film series. Lead vocalist Hayley Williams was a fan of the novel and pushed to be included on the movie soundtrack. She eventually wrote this dark song, a departure from the band’s typical bright, pop-punk energy. Williams repeatedly belts “How did we get here? / When I used to know you so well” over brash electric guitars and relentless drums. As the song plays over the end credits, it cements the film’s brooding atmosphere and leaves the audience reeling from the romance and tension between Bella and Edward.

— Jaya Pally, Contributing Writer

‘The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes’ (2023)

Filled with plot details directly from “The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,” Olivia Rodrigo’s haunting folk ballad “Can’t Catch Me Now” is written from the perspective of one of the film’s leads, Lucy Gray Baird (Rachel Zegler). The track reiterates the failure of Lucy’s relationship with Coriolanus Snow (Tom Blyth) and her omnipresence in his life, as he descends into the dictator of the original film quartet. In the song’s outro, Rodrigo sings, “Yeah, sometimes the fire you founded / Don’t burn the way you’d expect.” Through a blend of quietly eerie vocals and vengeful lyrics, Rodrigo masters the enduring, emotional power consistent across the franchise’s soundtracks.

— Aratrika Banerjee, Contributing Writer

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