The 10 Best Uses Of Jimi Hendrix Songs In Movies

Described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as “arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music,” Jimi Hendrix is one of the most talented and iconic musicians who ever lived. Rolling Stone magazine has ranked him as the greatest guitarist of all time and the sixth greatest musician of all time. Hendrix was one of the foremost pioneers in bringing psychedelic musical stylings into rock ‘n’ roll.

Hendrix headlined Woodstock, possibly the most legendary music festival ever put on, and all three of his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s studio albums have been ranked among the best ever produced. Unsurprisingly, Hendrix’s music has attracted the attention of some filmmakers who have used his songs to create memorable movie moments.

10 “All Along The Watchtower” In Watchmen

The greatest music moment in Zack Snyder’s stylish film adaptation of Watchmen is when Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” plays over the opening credits montage that recaps the story’s alternate history.

But a close second is when Jimi Hendrix’s cover of Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” plays right before the movie’s climactic sequence.

9 “If 6 Was 9” In Point Break

Kathryn Bigelow’s buddy cop gem Point Break stars Keanu Reeves as FBI agent Johnny Utah, who’s sent undercover with a gang of bank-robbing surfers and becomes so enamored with their charismatic leader Bodhi, played by Patrick Swayze, that he can’t bring himself to turn him in.

During a party scene at Bodhi’s place — crucial to Utah and Bodhi’s bonding that hinders the investigation — “If 6 Was 9” by Jimi Hendrix plays in the background.

8 “Purple Haze” In White Men Can’t Jump

When Wesley Snipes’ character first meets Woody Harrelson’s character in the classic basketball comedy White Men Can’t Jump, he’s astounded by his stereotypical “whiteness.”

So, he’s surprised to learn that Harrelson’s character is a Hendrix fan when he’s riding in his car and he blasts “Purple Haze” from the stereo. Snipes asks him why he likes Hendrix and he simply says, “I like to listen.”

7 “The Star-Spangled Banner” In Cars

One of the most memorable supporting characters in Pixar’s Cars — one of the studio’s weakest films, but still a cut above the average animated fare – is a hippie 1960 Volkswagen Transporter bus named Fillmore, who blasts Hendrix all day. The part was played by legendary standup comic George Carlin before he passed away.

Fillmore plays Hendrix’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” every morning, much to the chagrin of his neighbor Sarge. When Sarge complains about the music being too loud, Fillmore says, “Respect the classics, man! It’s Hendrix!”

6 “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” In Almost Famous

Jimi Hendrix’s “Voodoo Child (Slight Return)” plays in Cameron Crowe’s music industry drama Almost Famous as the fictional band Stillwater leaves behind the bus and heads to the plane.

Since it revolves around a rock-obsessed young writer, Almost Famous contains tracks by a ton of revered artists: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, the Who, Rod Stewart, Simon & Garfunkel, Elton John, David Bowie — the list goes on.

5 “Machine Gun” In A Serious Man

The Coen brothers’ darkly comic masterwork A Serious Man has biblical parallels to the story of Job as mild-mannered teacher Larry Gopnik’s life falls apart spectacularly over the course of a disastrous week.

Throughout the movie, the Coens used Hendrix’s “Machine Gun” — a song whose message is to have no fear — to highlight Larry’s incessant misfortune.

4 “All Along The Watchtower” In Forrest Gump

There are a few common soundtrack picks to play over scenes from the Vietnam War, like “Fortunate Son” by Creedence and “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield.

Jimi Hendrix’s psychedelic cover of the Bob Dylan masterpiece “All Along the Watchtower” is another example. Robert Zemeckis played it over the montage of Forrest fighting in Vietnam in Forrest Gump’s revisionist review of 20th-century history.

3 “The Wind Cries Mary” In Pirate Radio

Since it tells the story of a pirate radio station playing rock ‘n’ roll classics from the middle of the ocean, Pirate Radio has a soundtrack to die for — and all the songs are diegetic.

Character Bob plays Jimi Hendrix’s beloved hit “The Wind Cries Mary” on the air after learning that Carl is his son.

2 “If 6 Was 9” In Easy Rider

Jimi Hendrix and Easy Rider, one of the first New Hollywood movies to challenge conventions and reinvent American cinema, are a match made in heaven because they’re both monuments of the counterculture movement.

Hendrix’s “If 6 Was 9” plays on the soundtrack after Jack Nicholson joins Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper on their motorcycle trip across America. The lyrics are pretty apt: “White-collar conservatives flashing down the street / Pointing their plastic finger at me.”

1 “Foxy Lady” In Wayne’s World

Since it’s a movie about metalheads, there are a ton of classic music moments in Wayne’s World, from singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” in the car to meeting Alice Cooper himself backstage.

Jimi Hendrix’s classic “Foxy Lady” plays when Garth is trying to build up the courage to talk to a girl he likes and disappears into a sexually charged daydream.

About The Author

Ben Sherlock
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Ben Sherlock is a writer, comedian, independent filmmaker, and Burt Reynolds enthusiast. He writes lists for Screen Rant and features and reviews for Game Rant. He’s currently in pre-production on his first feature (and has been for a while, because filmmaking is expensive). You can catch him performing standup at odd pubs around the UK that will give him stage time. Previously, he wrote for Taste of Cinema, Comic Book Resources, and BabbleTop.

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