Soundtracks to listen to right now if you missed them earlier

Soundtracks you missed

Some movies have really great music, but people don’t talk about them much. These soundtracks may not be from big films or famous composers, but they still sound amazing.

Some are quiet and slow, while others are fun, dark, or different. They can surprise you with how good they are. This post shares soundtracks that many people missed or forgot about.

If you didn’t hear them before, now’s a great time to listen. These soundtracks deserve more love and attention than they got.

Timecrimes” (2007) – Eugenio Mira

Eugenio Mira made the music for the 2007 Spanish sci-fi movie Timecrimes (Los cronocrímenes), which was directed by Nacho Vigalondo.

The music uses eerie sounds and only a few instruments, which match the movie’s feeling of fear and things going wrong. If you missed this soundtrack when the movie first came out, it’s worth listening to now.

Some of the best songs are “Binoculars,” “Scissors,” “Getting It,” and “Backfire.” The soundtrack is available as a special vinyl edition.

Draumalandid” (2010) – Valgeir Sigurðsson

Valgeir Sigurðsson made the music for the 2010 documentary Draumalandið (Dreamland). The soundtrack is known for its emotional and atmospheric style. It uses both soft and powerful music to match the film’s focus on the environment.

The soundtrack features contributions from Bedroom Community label-mates. Some key tracks are “Grýlukvæði,” “Dreamland,” and “Past Tundra.” The soundtrack is available on streaming platforms and also released as a physical edition.

Mary Magdalene” (2018) – Hildur Guðnadóttir & Jóhann Jóhannsson

Hildur Guðnadóttir and Jóhann Jóhannsson made the music for the 2018 film Mary Magdalene. The soundtrack is praised for its style, which is different from the usual loud biblical music.

Guðnadóttir focuses on Mary’s perspective, while Jóhannsson captures Jesus’s spiritual presence. Some memorable tracks are “Cana,” “The Dress,” “Crucifixion,” and “Resurrection.” The music fits the film’s themes and mood perfectly. It is also one of Jóhannsson’s last works before his death.

Old Joy” (2006) – Yo La Tengo

Yo La Tengo made the music for the 2006 film Old Joy, directed by Kelly Reichardt. The soundtrack is known for its calm, simple sounds. It was the first part of a compilation album called They Shoot, We Score (2008), but got its vinyl release by Mississippi Records in February 2025.

The Old Joy EP has six tracks, including “Leaving Home,” “Getting Lost,” and “End Credits.” The music mixes soft guitar, bass, and drums, with help from guitarist Smokey Hormel. The soundtrack is available on streaming platforms and vinyl. It’s a relaxing and powerful experience.

“Contact” (1997) – Alan Silvestri

Alan Silvestri made the music for the 1997 film Contact, directed by Robert Zemeckis. The soundtrack mixes orchestral sounds with soft electronics. It’s known for its tone, especially the main theme.

Some of the best tracks include “Ellie’s Bogey,” “Good to Go,” “Media Event,” and “Small Moves.” If you missed it before, it’s easy to listen to now. The soundtrack remains a great choice for anyone who loves thoughtful sci-fi music.

“A Divorce Before Marriage” (2016) – I Like Trains

I Like Trains released the album A Divorce Before Marriage in 2016 as the official soundtrack for their documentary. The album has 11 tracks and lasts about 64 minutes. Some of the songs are “Bethesda,” “Tennyson,” “Wharfe,” and “North.”

The music follows the band’s post-rock and atmospheric style and the soundtrack is available on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, and it was also released as a physical CD. If you missed it earlier, it’s worth listening to now, especially if you like cinematic and reflective soundtracks.

“The Guest” (2014) – Steve Moore

Steve Moore composed the music for the 2014 film The Guest, directed by Adam Wingard. The soundtrack is known for its real 1980s-style synth sound, made with vintage instruments for an authentic retro feel.

The score album was first released on Bandcamp in May 2015, then on vinyl by Mondo. It includes tracks like “Title,” “David,” “The Guest,” “After School,” and “Bar Fight.” The album also has songs by artists like Clan of Xymox and Annie.

“We Bought a Zoo” (2011) – Jónsi

Jónsi, the lead singer of Sigur Rós, made the music for the 2011 movie We Bought a Zoo, directed by Cameron Crowe. The album came out on December 13, 2011, from Columbia Records. It has 15 tracks and is about 51 minutes long.

Key songs include “Why Not?,” “Boy Lilikoi,” “We Bought a Zoo,” “Hoppípolla,” and “Gathering Stories.” The soundtrack got good reviews and fits the movie’s moods. “Gathering Stories” was shortlisted for an Oscar and won a BMI Award.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” (2015) – Daniel Pemberton

Daniel Pemberton made the music for the 2015 movie The Man from U.N.C.L.E., directed by Guy Ritchie. The soundtrack mixes cool 1960s spy sounds with a modern twist. Pemberton used fun instruments like bass flute, Spanish guitar, accordion, harpsichord, and Hammond organ.

He worked closely with Ritchie while editing the movie. The music was released by WaterTower Music on August 7, 2015. There’s a deluxe edition with bonus tracks and a limited vinyl version.

It has 24 tracks by Pemberton plus songs by Roberta Flack, Nina Simone, and Louis Prima. Critics loved it. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Music, and vinyl.

“Forbidden Planet” (1956) – Louis and Bebe Barron

The Forbidden Planet (1956) soundtrack was made by Louis and Bebe Barron. It was the first movie score made completely with electronic sounds. They built special circuits and used early tape recorders to make what they called “electronic tonalities.”

The Musicians’ Union didn’t let them call it “music,” so it couldn’t win an Oscar. The strange, space-like sounds were new and amazed people. Each sound came from circuits that acted like living things. At first, the studio didn’t release their version, but now it’s a cult classic.

“Secretary” (2002) – Angelo Badalamenti

Angelo Badalamenti made the music for Secretary (2002). The soundtrack feels dreamy, dark, and a little strange, which fits the movie’s style. It has 12 tracks, including Badalamenti’s score and songs like Leonard Cohen’s “I’m Your Man” and Lizzie West’s “Chariots Rise.”

Lionsgate Records released the album in 2002, and it runs about 40 minutes. You can hear it on Spotify, and Apple Music, or buy it on CD. If you missed it before, this soundtrack is special and worth hearing now.

“The Ghost Writer” (2010) – Alexandre Desplat

Alexandre Desplat made the music for The Ghost Writer (2010), a movie directed by Roman Polanski. The soundtrack has 17 tracks and is about 42 minutes long. It was released by Varèse Sarabande on February 23, 2010.

The music feels mysterious, kind of like Bernard Herrmann’s scores for old Hitchcock movies. Key tracks include “The Ghost Writer,” “Chase on the Ferry,” and “The Truth About Ruth.” It’s on Spotify, Apple Music, CD, and vinyl. The score won the César Award for Best Music Written for a Film.

“The Rum Diary” (2011) – Christopher Young

Christopher Young made the music for The Rum Diary (2011). The soundtrack was released by Lakeshore Records on December 20, 2011. It has 24 songs and lasts about 1 hour and 11 minutes.

The album includes Christopher Young’s original music and songs by Dean Martin, Johnny Depp, Patti Smith, and JD Band.

Key tracks include “Volare (Nel Blu Di Pinto Di Blu)” by Dean Martin, “Rum Diary,” “Chenault,” and “The Mermaid Song” by Johnny Depp and Patti Smith. You can listen to the full album on Spotify and Apple Music.

“The Nice Guys” (2016) – Various Artists

The Nice Guys (2016) has two main soundtracks. The first is the original score by John Ottman and David Buckley, released on May 13, 2016, by Lakeshore Records. It has 18 tracks and runs about 44 minutes, with music inspired by 1970s TV and movies.

The second album has 15 classic 1970s songs from artists like The Temptations, Kool & The Gang, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bee Gees, Kiss, and Al Green. Both albums are on Spotify and Apple Music.

“Charlie Bartlett” (2007) – Various Artists

The Charlie Bartlett (2007) soundtrack mixes original music by Christophe Beck with songs from different artists. It was released by Lakeshore Records on July 31, 2007, and has 24 tracks that run about 47 minutes.

The album includes Beck’s music, pieces of movie dialogue, and songs by Hard-Fi, Curtis Mayfield, The Subways, Spiral Beach, and Tom Freund.

Some songs in the movie but not on the album include music by Eels and Controller which reminds us how soundtracks can sometimes become as memorable as the films themselves-much like the stories behind movies that bankrupted Hollywood studios.

“Heathens” by Twenty One Pilots

“Heathens” by Twenty-One Pilots is a big song from the Suicide Squad (2016) soundtrack. It came out on June 16, 2016, as the first single. Tyler Joseph wrote and produced the song with Mike Elizondo.

The music mixes rap rock with a dark movie feel, which fits the film’s style. “Heathens” reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 and got three Grammy nominations.

If you missed it before, you can listen to it now on all major music platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube while also keeping an eye on the most highly anticipated country album releases of 2025, which promise an exciting year for country music.

Which hidden film soundtrack do you think more people should discover?

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This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.