'Titanic' (1997)
'Despicable Me 2' (2013)
Pharrell Williams, "Happy"
Just like the chipper minions of "Despicable Me 2," this song sometimes sparks an eye roll or two due to its overwhelming exuberance, but also has the undeniable ability to spark, well, happiness in its audience. "Happy" hit 13.9 million sales and streams combined worldwide in 2014, becoming the most successful song of the year.
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Photo via Universal Pictures/Photofest
'The Breakfast Club' (1985)
Simple Minds, "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
Played in the opening and closing credits of the classic Brat Pack flick, this song reached the top of the charts in 1985. As the anthem of the movie that's emblematic of the '80s as a whole, "Don't You (Forget About Me)" more or less represents an entire decade. Since then, it's been used in TV shows and movies like "American Pie," "Not Another Teen Movie," "Scrubs" and "30 Rock."
Photo via Universal Pictures/Photofest
'Footloose' (1984)
Kenny Loggins, "Footloose"
It's only appropriate that a movie about a teen who brings dancing and rock music to a stifled small town features a song that's become iconic. "Footloose" reached No. 1 on the Billboard chart and is recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the top cinematic songs ever.
Photo via Paramount Pictures/Photofest
'The Graduate' (1967)
Simon & Garfunkel, "Mrs. Robinson"
From the classic 1967 movie about a college grad who's seduced by an older woman, "Mrs. Robinson" was the first rock song ever to take home a Grammy Award for Record of the Year. Since then, it's been covered by artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, the Lemonheads and Bon Jovi.
Photo via Embassy Pictures Corporation/Photofest
'Saturday Night Fever' (1977)
Bee Gees, "Stayin' Alive"
An anthem of the disco era, "Stayin' Alive" is on numerous top-songs lists, including VH1's 100 Greatest Rock Songs and All-Time 100 Songs from Time magazine. Since 1977, when the song was featured in the John Travolta flick about a champion disco dancer, it's become incredibly well-known—so much so, in fact, that when paramedics learn CPR, they're taught to time their compressions to its beat.
Photo via Paramount Pictures/Photofest
'Rocky III' (1982)
Survivor, "Eye of the Tiger"
With four unmistakable beginning beats, "Eye of the Tiger" is still used in sports arenas everywhere to hype up crowds at important moments, just like it hyped up Rocky Balboa in the third installment of his series. Director Sylvester Stallone actually wanted to license Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" for the movie, but when Queen declined, Survivor was given a shot. Their song wound up taking home a 1982 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance.
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Photo via MGM/Photofest
