The fact that the Fifty Shades of Grey soundtrack has become the fastest-selling multi-act soundtrack since 2005 isn't a huge surprise, considering the franchise's huge success. What is surprising is that the soundtrack is actually really good, despite the fact that both the book and the movie have been universally panned by critics. The soundtrack is a mix of cool slow jams, featuring original music by Beyoncé, Sia and Ellie Goulding.
"We were thinking of artists that would be in everyone's own little personal playlist as they were reading the books," said Tom Mackay, EVP and general manager, West Coast at Republic. "They had to be able to convey a vibe that was sensual and soulful, a certain taste, texture, and tenor."
This got us thinking about all of the horrible movies that have spawned some really amazing soundtracks. Check out our roundup of favorites below.
Romeo + Juliet [1996]
When you ask most people about this Baz Luhrmann film they respond with a comment about how much they liked the soundtrack. That's because it's really the only thing in this film to get enthusiastic about. Combining alt-rock music by Radiohead and Garbage with more upbeat songs like "Love Fool" by The Cardigans and "You and Me Song" by The Wannadies, the music fit perfectly with the modern California setting— even if the story didn't.
Saturday Night Fever [1978]
Sure, the movie was good but the soundtrack was amazing. This album perfectly encapsulates the 70s disco club culture and is basically an ode to the Bee Gees greatest hits. Featuring songs like "Stayin' Alive," "How Deep Is Your Love," "Night Fever," "You Should Be Dancing" and "Jive Talkin," this record transcended the soundtrack genre to become one of the best and biggest records of the 70s.
The BodyGuard [1992]
This movie was just okay, but the soundtrack features Whitney Houston at her best.
Reality Bites [1994]
This soundtrack introduced Lisa Loeb's "Stay" into the world. So that in and of itself is reason enough for this soundtrack to earn a spot on the list. If you were an aimless post-grad in the 90s you may have digged this movie. For everyone else the soundtrack, with its established hits from U2, The Knack, and Squeeze and newer jams from Dinosaur Jr. and Juliana Hatfield Three, was really the shining star.
Empire Records [1995]
On Rotten Tomatoes it states "Despite a terrific soundtrack and a strong early performance from Renee Zellweger, Empire Records is mostly a silly and predictable teen dramedy." Which pretty much sums it up. There's not too much to love about this coming-of-age movie that tells the story a group of record employees. But the mid-90s alt-rock selection, featuring songs from Gin Blossoms, The Cranberries, Better Than Ezra, Edwyn Collins, and Evan Dando, makes this soundtrack a zeitgeist in its own right.
Elizabethtown [2005]
Remember this movie? Wait, do we want to remember this movie? This horrible romcom that features Kirsten Dunst and Orlando Bloom has two redeeming qualities: It introduced the term manic pixie dream girl to the world and it also had a great selection of rock music. The album has music by Nancy Wilson, Tom Petty, Elton John, Ryan Adams and My Morning Jacket.
Marie Antoinette [2006]
This movie was very pretty but not very complicated. Sophia Coppola's postpunk, New Wave soundtrack, featuring music from New Order, The Strokes and The Cure, was definitely anachronistic but added a much-needed complexity into this plotless biopic.
All of The Twilight Movies
Just like the Fifty Shades Of Grey franchise that it inspired, The Twilight movies were pretty bad. But the films' soundtracks were a saving grace, mostly because they had a surprising mix of musicians that you wouldn't have necessarily suspected to be on a Twilight album. Thom Yorke, Bon Iver, the Killers, St. Vincent and Muse are all featured on this cool compilation of songs.
The Great Gatsby [2013]
This movie is divisive among critics and moviegoers alike. Some people enjoyed the over-the-top tactic that Baz Luhrmann took while other's thought it was all spectacle with no reality. But either way, there's no denying that the soundtrack is definitely stronger than the movie. Executive produced by Jay-Z, the soundtrack brought us Lana Del Ray's haunting song "Young and Beautiful" as well as cool covers of U2 and Amy Winehouse songs.
