5 Songs That Weren’t Hits Until They Showed Up in a Movie

The right song can be the perfect companion for a certain scene in a movie, helping to elevate it and make it even more memorable—and sometimes, a song resonates with audiences so much, it takes on a new life. Plenty of songs have enjoyed a new life thanks to movies, and a few have gone from relative obscurity to chart-toppers.

”I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers

Scottish sibling duo The Proclaimers released “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” as a single in 1988, and although it was a hit in the UK, it didn’t top the charts in the US until it was featured in the movie Benny and Joon five years later. It ultimately peaked at No. 3 and was the duo’s biggest hit.

“Lust for Life” by Iggy Pop

After Iggy Pop recorded “Lust for Life” in 1977, it was only released as a single in two countries—The Netherlands and Belgium. But nearly 20 years later in 1996, it was featured in the marketing materials for and the soundtrack to the movie Trainspotting. It was re-released as a result, and that time, it hit No. 26 in the UK.

“Pretty in Pink” by The Psychedelic Furs

The Psychedelic Furs’ hit “Pretty in Pink” was originally released in 1981 as a single from their second album, Talk Talk Talk. Five years later, in 1986, the movie Pretty in Pink was named after the song, although the film’s plot and the song’s lyrics are very different. The band re-recorded the track for the movie, and the new version became a huge hit.

“Kiss from a Rose” by Seal

Seal’s hit “Kiss from a Rose” will perhaps always be associated with Batman Forever, but it was first released in 1994 on Seal’s self-titled album. It was also featured in The NeverEnding Story III before director Joel Schumacher insisted on including it over the end credits of Batman. It not only became a huge hit after the film’s release, but it also earned Seal Grammy Awards for Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.

“Truth Hurts” by Lizzo

Lizzo’s career-making hit “Truth Hurts” didn’t chart at all after it was released in 2017. But after the song was featured in the movie Someone Great in 2019, it debuted at No. 50 on the Billboard Hot 100 and eventually made its way to No. 1. It success was also fueled by its popularity on TikTok.