4 of the Best Rock Needle Drops in Film

A lot goes into making a great film. Great acting, great writing, and great directing are all important facets of a powerful movie. However, music is also a contributing factor to filmmaking. Having the right needle drops can make or break a movie moment. Below, revisit four times that rock music helped to underscore a memorable moment in film.

4 of the Best Rock Needle Drops in Film

1. The Doors’ “The End” in Apocalypse Now

Few movies drop you in the sh** quicker than Apocalypse Now. With the help of the Doors’ “The End,” Francis Ford Coppola orients the viewer into the hazy, explosive-ridden jungle of Vietnam. The melancholy, often haunting song was the perfect choice for this classic rock needle drop.

This is the end, beautiful friend
This is the end, my only friend
The end of our elaborate plans
The end of everything that stands

2. The Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Toward the end of Ferris Bueller’s day off, he sings along to the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” in the middle of a sprawling parade. This early Beatles cut is just the ticket to set the fun-loving, irreverent tone this scene calls for.

Well, shake it up, baby, now (shake it up baby)
Twist and shout (twist and shout)
Come on, come on, come, come on, baby, now (come on baby)
Come on and work it on out (work it on out)

3. Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” in Armageddon

Though “I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing” isn’t a needle drop in the traditional sense, it is one of the most memorable rock moments in film. Aerosmith‘s power ballad has the same melodrama as its accompanying film, Armageddon. The stakes are high throughout the entire movie, but keeping this song in mind while watching adds something bittersweet.

I don’t wanna to fall asleep
‘Cause I’d miss you baby
And I don’t wanna miss a thing
‘Cause even when I dream of you

4. Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” in Almost Famous

Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” brings people together. It’s impossible not to sing along to this timeless hit. That fact was proven in Almost Famous. The titular scene sees all the characters downtrodden on a tour bus. The only thing that lifts their spirits? Joining in for a round of “Tiny Dancer.”

Hold me closer, tiny dancer
Count the headlights on the highway
Lay me down in sheets of linen
You had a busy day today

[RELATED: The Album That Transformed Elton John’s Career]

(Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)