# Horrible movies with really great original soundtracks **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [October 4, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718 "2022-10-04T19:50:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/1 "2022-10-04T19:50:30Z")
Let’s name horrible movies but had really great soundtracks. _Xanadu_ always comes top of mind when I think of this list. It had a budget of $20 million and only $23 million box office receipts. I believe it was one of the original contenders for a Razzy. However, the soundtrack reached #2 in the UK and #4 in the US, and reached double platinum and produced 5 top 20 singles. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Xanadufilm.jpg/220px-Xanadufilm.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d4/Xanadufilm.jpg/220px-Xanadufilm.jpg) Number 2 on my list is _Purple Rain_. While it was much more profitable, $7 million budget and $70 million box office, the movie was more of a reflection of Prince’s success and stardom, than the merits of the screenplay or the acting. The soundtrack album reached #1 on multiple charts and was 13x platinum in the US. It won grammy’s and an oscar. [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7b/Purple_Rain_%28film%29.png/220px-Purple_Rain_%28film%29.png) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7b/Purple_Rain_%28film%29.png/220px-Purple_Rain_%28film%29.png) ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/2 "2022-10-04T19:56:06Z")
I would not say _The Black Hole_ is horrible, exactly. It is definitely uneven, but it has occasional high points sprinkled in here and there. Overall, though, it’s pretty much a whiff. That said — the score by John Barry is solid gold, just aces from beginning to end. It’s so good it occasionally fools you into thinking the movie is better than it is. ---
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/3 "2022-10-04T19:59:18Z")
**Young Einstein** , what was supposed to be Yahoo Serious’ big break in America. Incredibly stupid and not particularly funny movie, but a great selection of 80s Aussie alternative acts on the soundtrack. Unfortunately the soundtrack album also includes dialog snippets, which made the vinyl version a drag, but made the skip button a much loved feature on the CD version. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/4 "2022-10-04T20:04:26Z")
_Boogie Nights_ has a fabulous soundtrack, but isn’t all that horrible. Some people thought it was really good. _Heavy Metal-_ better soundtrack than film \*Batman & Robin \* ditto Streets of Fire" Bad film, good music. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/5 "2022-10-04T20:09:05Z")
I know some may consider this “blasphemous” but enjoyed some of the songs from _Grease 2_. (I actually enjoyed the movie as well but I know some people consider it horrible.) ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.winston_oboogie/32/2945_2.png) [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Winston_OBoogie)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/6 "2022-10-04T20:16:46Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > Number 2 on my list is _Purple Rain_. While it was much more profitable, $7 million budget and $70 million box office, the movie was more of a reflection of Prince’s success and stardom, than the merits of the screenplay or the acting. Now, I’m going to disagree with you - I don’t think this fits the topic because the movie wasn’t horrible. Acting was pretty good - especially considering that the lead actor was a musician; I don’t remember the script being horrible or the directing being bad. No, it wasn’t up for Best Picture, but I wouldn’t say it was horrible. Back on topic, my example is always Blues Brothers 2000. Pretty much the same plot as the Blues Brothers, with some of the things being very contrived and pushed in there. Acting was mediocre at best. But the music… there is some abolutely FANTASTIC music in there. Blues Travlers “Maybe I’m Wrong”; Blues Brothers “Funky Nassau”; and my favorite - Blues Brothers (vocals by Dr. John) “Season of the Witch”. Slow, bluesy version. Much creepier than Donnovan. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/ysScVi-wvuc/maxresdefault.jpg "Season Of The Witch") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysScVi-wvuc) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/7 "2022-10-04T20:19:21Z")
> [@Dr.Winston\_OBoogie](#): > > Back on topic, my example is always Blues Brothers 2000. Oh gawd yes. Mind you- the original _Blues Brothers_ with a _fabulous_ soundtrack, had a plot that could be written on a cocktail napkin… in lipstick. ---
**Author:** ![Redcanoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b487fb/32.png) [@Redcanoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Redcanoe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/8 "2022-10-04T20:24:17Z")
Last Action Hero ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/9 "2022-10-04T20:35:07Z")
I love _Conan the Barbarian_, but Basil Polidouris’ music is what elevates it above B-movie status. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/10 "2022-10-04T20:42:35Z")
_[Empire Records](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Records)_, a 1995 film about a Delaware music store; 31% on Rotten Tomatoes and a commercial flop but I remember songs from the soundtrack getting constant airplay on 1990s rock stations. ---
**Author:** ![teelabrown](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/teelabrown/32/8412_2.png) [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/11 "2022-10-04T20:45:09Z")
The original _Casino Royale_ was a chaotic mess of a movie, but it had some great Herb Alpert tunes in the soundtrack. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/12 "2022-10-04T20:56:11Z")
I don’t know if it was “horrible”, per se, but The Final Countdown was certainly forgettable… aside from having a really awesome song. ---
**Author:** ![Jaycat.again](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat.again/32/11525_2.png) [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/13 "2022-10-04T21:02:39Z")
[![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aEaMRaHmEKY/maxresdefault.jpg "Tom Waits - "Old Boyfriends"") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEaMRaHmEKY) ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/14 "2022-10-04T21:08:38Z")
“With Honors”. A forgettable tragedrama with Joe Pesci playing Robin Williams in a Tom Hanks role. The soundtrack is a wonderful 90s-alternative time capsule. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/15 "2022-10-04T21:23:12Z")
I think the 1980 [Flash Gordon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flash_Gordon_(film)), original soundtrack by Queen, gets the prize for Greatest Disconnect: either the worst film with a good soundtrack, or the best soundtrack for a bad film. > [@GargoyleWB](#): > > “With Honors”. A forgettable tragedrama with Joe Pesci playing Robin Williams in a Tom Hanks role. That is a brilliant description! Oh, and a lot of people probably know or remember Madonna’s song [Live to Tell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_to_Tell), but how many remember or saw [At Close Range](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/At_Close_Range), the Sean Penn vehicle it was used in? Also, **Dewey**? _ **I’m bringing Rex his lunch!!!** _ ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/16 "2022-10-04T22:07:07Z")
The [Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band movie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sgt._Pepper%27s_Lonely_Hearts_Club_Band_(film)) was an awful film, but the soundtrack gave us such gems as Aerosmith’s version of “Come Together”, and “Got to Get You Into My Life” by Earth, Wind and Fire ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/17 "2022-10-04T22:18:32Z")
I liked The Commitments but the soundtrack was still better. Agree with Purple Rain. Very likely to be true for any commercial movie sort of about The Beatles but not made by them not a documentary. But didn’t see that movie about the dude who goes back in time or something and then sings all their songs. Maybe it was better than I thought. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/18 "2022-10-04T22:51:41Z")
judgment night which mixed gangsta rap with hard rock/heavy metal with gangsta rap and inspired a lot of interesting projects … like body count and others although I stilll say disorder is about the original gulf war … ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/19 "2022-10-04T23:45:12Z")
Vic Mizzy’s soundtrack to _The Ghost and Mr. Chicken_. Everybody recognizes “The Haunted Organ” even if they’ve never seen the Don Knotts film. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/PPad47e8gNI/hqdefault.jpg "The Haunted Organ Theme - The Ghost and Mr. Chicken Soundtrack") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPad47e8gNI) ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2022, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718/20 "2022-10-04T23:50:17Z")
_Red Zone Cuba_ is generally considered to be one of the worst movies ever made, but its theme song, sung by John Carradine himself, is oddly haunting. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CSSi5R3Ja6o/maxresdefault.jpg "John Carradine - Night Train to Mundo Fine - Movie Theme") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSSi5R3Ja6o) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/horrible-movies-with-really-great-original-soundtracks/972718.md?page=2)