10 iconic alt ’90s movie soundtracks

10 Things I Hate About You’s soundtrack is packed with some of the best alternative offerings of the '90s, from the ska-punk of Save Ferris to the alt-rock stylings of the Cardigans, Semisonic, and Sister Hazel. Letters to Cleo, who appeared in the film in several scenes, including the club Kat (Julia Stiles) goes to and the prom, also offered two exceptional covers: Nick Lowe’s “Cruel To Be Kind” and “I Want You to Want Me” by Cheap Trick. The band famously played the latter on top of the school's rooftop overlooking the Puget Sound during the end credits in a very expensive scene director Gil Junger went ahead with without approval from Disney. It couldn't be a more perfect choice, though, as it immediately evokes memories of Kat and Patrick’s (Heath Ledger) undeniable chemistry and charming love story. It's simply impossible to not smile when listening to this soundtrack, and the same can be said for the film and its mastery of teen romantic comedy. 

When most people think of the Batman Forever soundtrack, Seal's “Kiss from a Rose” tends to come to mind, and for good reason — the song is a classic that put the now-iconic artist on the map. The music video also features a montage of select scenes from the film, as well as Seal performing atop a Gotham tower in front of the famous bat signal. However, the remainder of the soundtrack also contains a compelling dose of classic ‘90s alternative tracks from a diverse range of artists. Whether it’s songs like “8” by Seattle emo pioneers Sunny Day Real Estate or alt-rock darlings Mazzy Star’s “Tell Me Now,” the Batman Forever soundtrack perfectly reflected the grit and occasional wit of the DC film. Other standout tracks include “Smash It Up,” a super-charged rendition of '70s English punk group the Damned, as performed by SoCal rockers the Offspring — as well as “The Riddler,” an original by Wu-Tang Clan alumni Method Man about the film’s main antagonist (Jim Carrey).

Can’t Hardly Wait was a generation-defining teen rom-com, and an incredible who's-who of '90s stars. The high school graduation film not only features an impressive ensemble, but a soundtrack that encapsulates the vibe of a house party and all of those senior year feelings. The soundtrack for Can’t Hardly Wait (which is named after the Replacements’ song of the same name) kicks off with Third Eye Blind’s aptly titled anthem “Graduation,” and also includes songs like Smash Mouth’s “Can’t Get Enough of You Baby,” blink-182’s punk directive “Dammit,” and Missy Elliot's “Hit 'Em wit da Hee” featuring Lil Kim and Mocha — capturing that unadulterated graduation party energy. While Charlie Korsmo's iconic cover of Guns N' Roses' "Paradise City" as sci-fi-loving nerd Lichter might not make it on the tracklisting, the original glam-rock hit sure does. It's up to you to decide whether Axl Rose has what Lichter has, though.

"As if" there could be a more monumental teen movie than Amy Heckerling's Clueless! Not only did it boast an incredible cast, timeless wardrobe, and a multitude of on-screen moments that shaped pop culture, but it also featured an expertly curated soundtrack. The Clueless soundtrack features an eclectic mix of both prominent acts like Coolio (cue your best "Rolling with the Homies" impression), Counting Crows, and Radiohead, and then-emerging acts like the Mighty Mighty Bosstones (who make a cameo in the film), Smoking Popes, and the Muffs, giving them a major platform at the time. While many have covered Kim Wilde’s legendary '80s hit “Kids in America” over the years, ‘90s pop-punkers the Muffs made the classic song their own and a key element of the beloved film. Put this one on and you'll feel just like Cher and Dionne riding with the top down through the Valley.

While the MCU may rule the box office these days, few superhero movies have ever been as cool as Alex Proyas' moody, supernatural film The Crow. A standout for its goth aesthetics, the release was also mired in terrible real-life tragedy, due to the untimely passing of its star Brandon Lee, who died accidentally in an on-set mishap. Now, The Crow has amassed a devoted cult following and remains as innovative as ever, and its soundtrack is no exception. The Crow soundtrack features a host of moody and visceral tracks from the Cure, the Jesus and Mary Chain, Helmet, Rage Against the Machine, and Stone Temple Pilots, to name a few. It also includes a handful of notable covers that have since become fan-favorites, including Nine Inch Nails’ rendition of Joy Division’s “Dead Souls” and Rollins Band’s take on Suicide’s “Ghostrider.” The Crow soundtrack is a dark collection of some of the best industrial, hard rock, and post-punk that the ‘90s had to offer.

There's no doubt how formative — and steamy — this high-school-set version of Dangerous Liaisons was for a generation of teens. And while the outstanding cast featuring Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Phillipe, Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Selma Blair are busy toying with each other's emotions, the movie's soundtrack manages to cast its own spell on you. Cruel Intentions’ soundtrack features everyone from the legendary Fatboy Slim to alt radio mainstays Counting Crows and Marcy Playground — and even Britpop pioneers Blur and the Verve, who supplied their 1997 smash hit “Bittersweet Symphony” for the film's iconic finale. While one of the more underrated groups featured, Skunk Anansie’s ballad “Secretly” is undoubtedly one of the most impactful songs on the soundtrack, due in large part to frontwoman Skin's commanding vocal style. 

Rule No. 1: If you're going to set a film in a record store, it has to feature an exceptional soundtrack. Thankfully, Allan Moyle's 1995 coming-of-age hit Empire Records understood the assignment. With songs from Better Than Ezra, the Cranberries, and Gin Blossoms, Empire Records’ soundtrack felt like the intersection of indie rock plucked straight from the college radio circuit and a subtle homage to some of the decade’s best, yet nicher, artists. One of the greatest moments on the soundtrack comes from the Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando in his rendition of Big Star’s “The Ballad of El Goodo,” which showcases his signature, crooning vocal style drenched in somberness. While Empire Records didn't impress at the box office, the film and its soundtrack have since become cult classics, and rightfully so.

Good Will Hunting, the 1997 drama directed by Gus Van Sant and written by co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, was undoubtedly a major launching pad for all parties involved. It was also huge for a then-little-known singer-songwriter by the name of Elliott Smith, who provided six songs for the soundtrack. Whether it was the raw fingerpicked guitars and evocative vocals on “Angeles” or the pop-ballad “Miss Misery,” Smith’s songwriting craft was simply unmatched and provided the perfect ambiance for the soundtrack. The film's success catapulted Smith from the humble indie-rock circuit of Portland, Oregon to fame, and even the stage for the 1998 Academy Awards where "Miss Misery" earned the late singer who died at 34 years old in 2003 a nomination for Best Original Song. 

In 1999, at the tail end of an already stacked decade of rom-coms, Never Been Kissed starring Drew Barrymore was released and won over hearts everywhere. Even if the movie's plot about a reporter going undercover as a high schooler and falling for a teacher doesn't necessarily hold up, Barrymore's charm certainly does, and so does the movie's youthful, romantic soundtrack. It features several standout tracks from established artists, including R.E.M. and the Smiths, as well as groups that were just emerging at the time like Jimmy Eat World and Semisonic. In fact, it was Jimmy Eat World’s “Lucky Denver Mint” from the soundtrack and their acclaimed 1999 LP Clarity that put the beloved emo quartet on the map, long before their success on the radio with “The Middle” in 2001. To this day, it's hard to not think of the last scene in which Barrymore’s character Josie “finally” gets her first kiss whenever the Beach Boys’ “Don’t Worry Baby” comes on. 

The ‘90s will always be synonymous with the grunge scene, so it would be remiss to not mention the 1992 cult classic Singles that single-handedly captured the spirit of the movement. Singles was shot on location in Seattle, the birthplace of the scene when it was just starting to blossom, and features on-screen cameos from genre legends, including Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, and Alice in Chains, as well as an equally influential soundtrack. The soundtrack contains several songs from the aforementioned groups, as well as select tracks from the Smashing Pumpkins, Screaming Trees, and the Replacements frontman Paul Westerberg, among others. For certain music fans, it's essentially a unique time capsule of a better time.