6 Movie Soundtracks That Hit All The Right Notes

Plus, a sneak peek into the soundtrack of the highly-anticipated To All The Boys: Always and Forever.

( Madison Rosenfield / Rowdy Magazine Online Writer )

The beauty of a soundtrack is simple: it tells a story of its own while perfectly complementing the film. But not every soundtrack does a great job of this.

Ever wondered why certain movie soundtracks just hit different? The following three characteristics may be why:

1. The relatability: A good movie soundtrack just makes you feel seen. Like the kind of tracks you can play curled up on a rainy day and feel like the lyrics were written specifically for you (trust me, we’ve all been there).

2. The feels: The music makes you feel more emotional than the movie’s dialogue or plot itself. Bonus points if it makes you feel like the main character in your own coming-of-age film.

3. The way it matches the film: When the soundtrack perfectly fits what’s going on in the film —and hold's the cheesiness — it's *chef's kiss.

At a point when online streaming is at an all-time high, Netflix is uniquely poised to deliver the ultimate film, complete with the ultimate soundtrack. Enter upcoming and highly-anticipated trilogy finale, To All The Boys: Always And Forever.

On Jan. 14th, Capitol Records did us all a favor when it announced the track list of the final To All The Boys movie. The film’s soundtrack is far from discordant; It’s complete with a refreshing mingling of both pre-existing tracks and original compositions by Gen Z-favorites like FLETCHER, The Greeting Committee, Jordan Suaste and more. You can pre-save the soundtrack and get a sneak peek of the killer tracklist here.

To get hype for To All The Boys: Always And Forever’s Feb. 12th release date, might I recommend staying in, cozying up to a large bowl of popcorn and logging onto Netflix? Not to mention you’ll be ~lowering your COVID-19 infection risk~ in the process.

To help you choose a good movie, here’s a quick round-up of some of the other Netflix Originals with the most satisfying soundtracks to get ya started:

Marriage Story

The film’s incredibly poignant soundtrack hits the nail on the head. While your eyes will be glued to Adam Driver and his, er, passionate performance, your ears will be drawn to the sweet sweet sounds of artists like Cat Power in the trailer, and Randy Newman’s brilliantly composed original score in the actual film. Marriage Story’s soundtrack is a triumph in my book, and each track delicately transports viewers to a place as emotional and heart-wrenching as the divorce proceedings we watch throughout the film.

Alex Strangelove

With a blend of indie, dance, jazz, and more, Alex Strangelove’s soundtrack adds even more personality and depth to a beautiful film about discovering and feeling comfortable with yourself and your sexuality. The B-52’s, Slowdive, Japanese Breakfast, and WATERS are definite highlights of this coming-of-age film’s spectacular soundtrack.

The Kissing Booth

This is a total guilty pleasure movie in the best possible way (Jacob Elordi, anyone? 😩)! With a nice musical mix (shoutout Run by Vampire Weekend, my personal favorite), this film’s soundtrack hits in all the right places and is able to captivatingly convey the excitement, butterflies, and raw emotion that often characterizes young love.

To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before / To All The Boys: P.S. I Still Love You

To be as prepared as possible for To All The Boys: Always and Forever, the first and second installments of this trilogy based on the YA series by Jenny Han are definite must-watches. The movies' indie-heavy tracks make watchers even more deeply connected to Lara Jean Covey and her romantic trials and tribulations. Hell, you could bop out to Marina's About Love and cry to Ashe's Moral of the Story sans Netflix. (Peep Ashe's reappearance in the third movie's soundtrack. Ugh, she's gonna hit us in the feels again.)

Dude

Punchy hip-hop and R&B tracks are a centerpiece in this youthful film detailing the last week of high school for a close-knit group of four friends. Songs from Duckwrth, Awkwafina, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne and more, provide the vibes and totally set the mood in Dude.

Dolemite Is My Name

Eddie Murphy’s larger-than-life performance in this 2019 dramedy is equally matched by its funky and fresh soundtrack. With each track (from some heavy hitters like Kool & The Gang, and Sly and The Family Stone), you can expect to be suddenly transported right to the ‘70s. Just don’t forget your platforms!

Next time you’re watching your favorite movie — or any of the recommendations above -- keep an eye out for those three characteristics of a good soundtrack. Happy watching (and listening)!

Madison Rosenfield is an Online Writer at Rowdy Magazine. When she's not going down internet rabbit holes at 2 AM, she can usually be found curating the perfect Spotify playlist, celebrating her Jewish heritage, crafting, watching coming-of-age films, or taking action in support of causes she cares about. You can find her at @madisonrosenfield on Instagram or @madisonleahh on Twitter to get a deeper look at her passions and perspectives.