1. Minions
I know, it's a kids film and not exactly the most artistic work to ever come to the silver screen. Despite the rather amusing childish slapstick antics of those adorable yellow rascals there is actually a great deal of great iconic classic rock from the 1960's that plays throughout it. This of course has a great deal to do with the fact that it takes place in London in 1968. It spans from multiple songs by The Beatles to The Who to The Kinks to The Monkees to Donovan, to The Turtles, to countless other 60's classics. Quite frankly I think they put all those songs in to give the adults that got dragged by their kids to the movie something to keep them entertained. Regardless, I think it worked for me.
2. Heavy Metal
In 1981 a rather odd though visually striking animated anthology film that had multiple different stories told that were all loosely tied together by a few recurring plot points was put out. It wasn't exactly everybody's cup of tea but it had some of the best hard rock/heavy metal artists involved in its soundtrack. It had the likes of Sammy Hagar, Black Sabbath (with Ronnie James Dio on vocals) actually putting out a new song just for the movie, Blue Oyster Cult, Journey, Cheap Trick, Devo, and several other big names putting their musical touch on the score. To be honest, I think most of us who have watched the film watched it for the music and interesting visual stimuli (if you catch my drift).
3. Rocky Horror Picture Show
Who doesn't love to see a film about a fabulous sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania strutting about a castle in the middle of the night performing to a captive audience? Everything musically in the film was written by play write Richard O'Brien who also played the roll of the character Riff Raff. The music is pretty lively and has a lot of that old 50's rockabilly feel to it, though there are some more ballad-like tender moments in the soundtrack as well. Regardless, this film has had countless generations doing the Time Warp again and again. Bit of random trivia: this is actually the movie where Meatloaf got his big debut as a performer.
4. Flash Gordon
Although this film from the 80's was a major cheesy dud the one saving grace it did have was that the entire soundtrack was written and performed by Queen. Not really surprising considering how big of a sci-fi fan guitarist Brian May is. Plus, even though the movie wasn't that great you can't really beat the epicness of that scene where Flash is flying to the rescue while that iconic "FLASH! Ahhhh....!!" plays in the background. The music will get you pumped and rooting for our hero despite the fact it's a stupid movie.
5. Across the Universe
This movie is entirely filled with Beatles classics redone and reinterpreted by other artists all while in the context of a film that highlights a great deal of the counter culture movement of the 1960's. I have to say, many of the songs are quite well done and come very close to the same level as the originals. The movie is definitely a great big love letter to multiple generations' worth of fans of the Fab Four. Granted, not all of the songs are placed all that well in the film but the ones that are do an astronomically good job where they are. Revolution was probably my favorite segment of the whole movie. Watch for yourself and you'll see what I mean.
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