The Most Iconic Movie Songs From the 2000s That Defined the Decade

When properly integrated, music transcends its status as a fragment of a film and evolves into an integral part of the movie itself. Such songs don't merely accompany scenes — they characterize them, making regular events more iconic. Whether they mark a punch-the-air action scene or a saddening heartbreak, these songs indelibly define the movies they feature in. Let's look at some of the most iconic movie songs from the 2000s that have left a lasting impression on pop culture.

With the release of the 2002 film 8 Mile, Eminem dropped the single "Lose Yourself," which became a cultural anthem that encapsulated the determination, urgency, and ambition of an underdog. The song's beat, pounding rhythm, and lyrics captured the story of B-Rabbit, who was a struggling rapper. He battled self-doubt and poverty, reflecting the struggles Eminem himself faced in his early days.

"Lose Yourself" was a huge commercial success. It contributed to the sale of more than three million copies of the 8 Mile Soundtrack. The song also won Eminem an Academy Award for Best Original Song and received two GRAMMY awards for Best Rap Song and Best Male Rap Solo Performance. This had an immediate and lasting impact on hip-hop and pop culture. To this day, twenty years after its release, "Lose Yourself" remains one of the most popular Eminem songs and continues to play in sports, film, and motivational contexts.

The 2001 movie Amélie owes its charm to the captivating music composed by Yann Tiersen. The soundtrack consists of gentle tunes led by accordion and toy piano notes, capturing the essence of Paris as seen through the eyes of its inquisitive and good-natured heroine. The soundtrack further exposed European sounds to the global audience, propelling Amélie to global prominence. 

Director Jean-Pierre Jeunet had been very impressed by the work of Tiersen before their collaboration. He had even bought the musician's entire back catalog before inviting him to work on the movie. Tiersen composed original material that fused French folk music with classical music. His decision to use exotic instruments such as the banjo, mandolin, and harpsichord highlighted the elements of texture and playfulness.

The Requiem for a Dream score by Clint Mansell needs no introduction. It's the modern definition of emotional intensity and auditory awkwardness. The main theme of the film, "Lux Aeterna," is a blend of classical and electronic melody, which creates the impression of gradual tension and eventual breakdown. As the movie plunges into the issues of addiction and despair, the music reflects the psychological breakdown of its characters with the same intensity.

Within a short period, "Lux Aeterna" turned out to be more than a film cue. Its baleful construction and haunting strings earned it popular use in trailers of all genres. Examples include The Da Vinci Code, I Am Legend, Sunshine, and Babylon A.D. The score by Mansell redefined what film music could sound like in the new millennium. His layering of repetition and minimalist structure brings out emotion as sound, amplifying the unsettling atmosphere captured by director Aronofsky's vision.

Almost Famous by Cameron Crowe is a love letter to rock music. Its soundtrack is a major component in bringing the narrative to life. Taking place in the 1970s, the movie showcases the golden age of rock through a curated selection of classic songs. Tracks such as "Tiny Dancer" by Elton John help shape the emotional highlights of the movie as they depict memorable moments through their melodies.

The soundtrack introduced young listeners to a diverse range of musical icons, including The Beach Boys, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. Their songs capture the optimism, rebellion, and unfettered creativity of the early seventies. They serve as a backdrop to the protagonist's journey of discovery through the ups and downs of life on tour with a fictional rock band.

The Garden State Soundtrack by Zach Braff was a defining moment in the indie music of the early 2000s. The album was carefully selected and crafted by Braff himself. It has a certain atmosphere of emotional truth and self-reflection that resonates well with listeners. The lineup comprises artists such as The Shins, Coldplay, Zero 7, and Thievery Corporation. The soundtrack also brought a tide of indie and alternative music to the ears of many.

The album won a GRAMMY Award for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media and achieved Platinum status without releasing any standalone singles. It was also the era of digital music discovery, and Garden State demonstrated how a soundtrack could become a personal mixtape. The inclusion of The Shins, with their song "New Slang," became a cultural reference point for the emotive power of a song in the proper cinematic setting.

In Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola incorporates music as an extremely important element in the narration. The music is from various artists, including My Bloody Valentine, Air, Phoenix, and The Jesus and Mary Chain. This mix provides a dreamy and detached tone that reflects the emotional aura of the characters in the film. The music is accompanied by the splendor of Tokyo's neon lights. This setting captures the feeling of wonder, as well as loneliness, that characterizes the experience of a foreign place.

Songs such as "Just Like Honey" are utilized in crucial moments, including the emotional closing scene of the film. The quiet, introverted nature of the main character and the shyness of their relationship are portrayed in the soft, atmospheric sounds of shoegaze and indie rock. Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine contributed original material, adding a hazy, immersive tone to the soundtrack.

This music received overwhelmingly positive reviews, earning a Metacritic score of 84 out of 100. It also contributed to reviving interest in the shoegaze genre, highlighting its emotional depth and sound effects. 

The soundtrack to O Brother, Where Art Thou? was a surprising pop culture phenomenon that renewed interest in bluegrass, folk, and Americana music. The album, produced by T-Bone Burnett, is a compilation of traditional American songs that resonates well with critics and mainstream listeners. The most influential of these was the song "Man of Constant Sorrow." The track is synonymous with the mood and style of the film.

This soundtrack reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200, sold over eight million units in the United States, and was certified eight times Platinum. It also received the GRAMMY Award for Album of the Year, an unusual honor for a film score album. This music catapulted the long-overlooked roots music genre to the forefront, leading to the creation of the Americana Music Association.

Moulin Rouge! is a refreshing new take on the movie and musical genre since it combines contemporary pop songs with an old-time Parisian setting. Baz Luhrmann reimagined the jukebox format and applied it to present-day pop hits, resulting in a dramatic love story that weaved in comic and tragic moments. Given the theme of Bollywood musicals, Luhrmann wanted to develop a movie that was colorful, dramatic, and undeniably theatrical.

Songs such as "Elephant Love Medley" and the chart-topping "Lady Marmalade" cover became immediate hits. They featured artists such as Elton John, Nirvana, and Madonna coming together in startling and thrilling mashups. This soundtrack had commercial and critical success, going double Platinum and receiving GRAMMY nominations.

The musical boldness of the film helped restore interest in the genre, establishing a blueprint for subsequent movie musicals and Broadway adaptations. The Broadway production premiered in 2019 and won 10 Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Moulin Rouge! remains a source of inspiration, both on stage and on screen.

The score by Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard in The Dark Knight changed the sound of the superhero genre. By abandoning the big themes of heroic music, the score is much deeper, darker, and more psychologically based. This approach perfectly suited director Christopher Nolan's vision of Gotham City in the movie. Perhaps the most memorable is the Joker theme in the song "Why So Serious?" It creates a sense of tension by using a rising note in a distorted string arrangement.

Zimmer and Howard create a soundscape that's both melodic and moody. They've dedicated endless hours to exploring the limits of orchestral sound, creating new instruments, and experimenting with textures. Zimmer, in particular, was keen to construct the soundscapes that left an impression and characterized the cinematography.

The soundtrack is an important element in the tone of The Dark Knight, adding suspense and increasing emotional depth. Since then, its unique style has impacted the composition of music for action and superhero movies. The emphasis shifted to the ambiance and psychological level.

These soundtracks, which defined some of the most iconic movies of the 2000s, made the decade what it was. The right combination of groundbreaking musical decisions led to unforgettable cinematic scenes. Some of these songs and scores continued to play in the minds of the audience even after they left the theaters. On some occasions, the score outlived the life span of the films themselves and evolved into key parts of the musical landscape. The interaction between film and music in this period has left indelible cultural markers that are still used and praised today.