10 Best Uses Of Bruce Springsteen’s Music in Movies

Legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen has made a career writing thought provoking songs that strike at the heart of the American experience. Managing to capture a story within his words while simultaneously delivering exciting rock music, the songs of “The Boss” are a perfect fit for film soundtracks.

Whether it was music from his albums in films such as Blinded by the Light, or compositions written for a film like in Jerry Maguire, Bruce’s music is incredibly versatile. The versatility of his tunes has made them instantly recognizable whether they are on the radio or the silver screen.

Risky Business (1983)

While many of Bruce’s songs are used in films for their lyrical content, occasionally songs are added to soundtracks solely because they are catchy tunes. Risky Business featured one of Tom Cruise’s best non-action roles as a teenage boy who is left to his own devices when his parents go out of town. His exploits quickly land him in hot water that requires him to make a lot of money fast.

Springsteen’s breakout hit “Hungry Heart” is jammed onto a soundtrack featuring music from noted rockers like Bob Seger and The Police. Despite being simple window dressing, the artful lyrics and classic Americana music fits well as an artistic representation of Cruise’s All-American teenage character.

Cop Land (1997)

The beauty of Springsteen’s music is that both his hits and B-sides work as perfect additions to any film. Cop Land is about a New Jersey suburb populated exclusively by police officers. Slowly a naive cop begins to learn the deep connections between the police and the mafia.

Cop Land dug deep into the Springsteen catalog and retrieved a few small songs that pack a large punch. The film features several scenes of a character who gets emotional while listening to the songs “Stolen Car” and “Drive All Night.” The songs work perfectly within the film because they have a sad and nostalgic feeling which reflects the character’s mental state.

Roger & Me (1989)

Occasionally, the music of Springsteen and the subject matter of the film that it is featured in synch up perfectly, and in the case of Roger & Me, it was a match made in heaven. The controversial documentary classic from Michael Moore follows the filmmaker as he tries in vain to interview the president of General Motors after the company laid off thousands of workers in Moore’s home state of Michigan.

“My Hometown” is a lament on the loss of one’s youth and birthplace and reflected Springsteen’s own view of his New Jersey hometown. As an accompaniment to the documentary, the song simultaneously adds to the message of the politics as well as gives the central theme a poetic spin.

High Fidelity (2000)

In a film where music plays such a big part, it was only natural that The Boss would not only lend a song but make a cameo as well. High Fidelity follows a heartbroken record store owner who decides to reconnect with all of his ex-girlfriends in an attempt to solve his romantic woes.

To add punctuation to Rob’s heartbreak, the song “The River” is used to perfection. Standing as one of Springsteen’s most heart-wrenching ballads, the song is the story of a man whose relationship slowly falls apart through the many complicated twists and turns of his life. The song is also a hilarious juxtaposition as the story of the song dwarfs the melodrama of Rob’s quest for love.

The Wedding Singer (1998)

Despite being featured in a side-splitting comedy, Bruce’s music still manages to pack a strong punch when used correctly. The Wedding Singer follows a down-and-out wedding entertainer who pines for a waitress despite the fact that they are both engaged to be married to someone else.

The Wedding Singer allowed Adam Sandler to show his range as a performer by not only acting in the film but singing songs as well. Sandler’s take on Bruce’s “Hungry Heart” is not only a rousing rendition of the song but is used as a perfect illustration of the character’s feelings at that moment. Like the character in the song, Robbie is stuck in a situation and wants nothing more than to escape it.

Jerry Maguire (1996)

While many films found success with established Springsteen songs on their soundtracks, Jerry Maguire once again gave The Boss a chance to pen another classic. The film follows a moralistic sports agent who is fired from his firm and decides to go into business for himself with only one client sticking with him.

While Springsteen is known for his charged lyrics that evoke images of the American heartland and the struggles of average people, he has also flexed his creative muscles in penning classic love songs. “Secret Garden” was written for the film and is used brilliantly as a love ballad to illustrate Jerry and Dorothy’s relationship. Though “Secret Garden” failed to live up to other Springsteen hits, it is still an illustration of his lyrical mastery.

Blinded By The Light (2019)

While many films have featured rock classics in their soundtracks, few films have focused on one artist as exclusively as Blinded by the Light. The film follows a teenager in 1980s England who escapes the hardship of his daily life through the power of Springsteen’s music and the community that he finds among other fans.

Based on a true story, the film is a heartwarming tale that also happens to perfectly encapsulate what makes Springsteen’s music great. Despite being the quintessential American rocker, Springsteen’s theme of hope in the face of darkness resonates with people around the world. The film is chock full of Springsteen even down to the title which is drawn from one of Bruce’s early hits.

The Wrestler (2008)

In one of the best sports movies of all time, Bruce Springsteen managed to write a classic tune that not only captured the themes of the film but summarized his career as well. The Wrestler follows Randy “The Ram,” a washed-up wrestler who continues to perform when not working his day jobs. With his health on the decline, Randy attempts to take one last shot at wrestling glory.

Simply titled “The Wrestler” Springsteen’s song graces the ending credits of the film and serves as morose punctuation to the story. Drawing comparisons between a life of performing in a ring and more traditional work, the song captures the essence of Springsteen’s oeuvre. In many ways, Randy “The Ram” is the story of the working people of the world who give their bodies to their craft.

Philadelphia (1993)

Philadelphia allowed Bruce Springsteen to not only pen an Oscar-winning movie song but one of the best songs he has ever written. The film follows a lawyer who is fired from his firm when they learn he is suffering from AIDS. In an attempt to fight the wrongful dismissal, the lawyer hires a homophobic representative who is the only person who will take the case.

The lyrics of “Streets of Philadelphia” are obscure enough that the song fits well with the film and also stands alone. Shedding his usual rock theatrics, Bruce offers a stripped-down composition that lends itself to the gravity of the situation in the story and allows the listener to more easily focus on the important lyrics.

Mask (1985)

Though it took decades for viewers to see the intended version of the film, Springsteen’s music was always the first choice for director Peter Bogdanovich’s classic film. Mask tells the story of Rocky Dennis, a young man who suffers from a severe facial deformity, and his biker mother as they struggle to lead a normal life.

Though the theatrical cut of the film featured music from Bob Seeger, the film was made with Springsteen’s music in mind and it wouldn’t appear until the director’s cut was released. Used as an anchor to the story, “Badlands” represents Rocky Dennis’ plight with its themes of restlessness and the desire to escape hardships. Like Rocky himself, the song is also hopeful despite the long odds that the characters are up against in the song.

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