Best Needle Drops of the Last 15 Years

Music in film plays just as important of a role as cinematography does. But, combining the two along with a compelling story behind it invokes a feeling that sticks with you once the credits begin to roll.

A needle drop is when a song (typically with an overpowering vibe) begins to play over a sequence of the film.

Needle drops are one of my favorite aspects of film, and when they’re done right, they make for a standout scene.

Before you read on, I am giving a spoiler warning as there will be context to the needle drops that may be crucial to the plot/characters' fate.

“Civil War” - “Breakers Roar” by Sturgill Simpson

Kirsten Dunst leads the team of photographers consisting of newcomer Cailee Spaeny, Wagner Moura, and legend Stephen McKinley Henderson. Their mission is to interview the president but in order to do that, they must trek through a war-torn United States.

At one point, they have a run-in with mercenaries where our characters don’t seem safe until Henderson’s character, Sammy, tokyo drifts into the mercenaries and provides our photographers with an escape. Sadly, he gets shot and is swiftly ushered into the back seat as they try to make it to their next safe zone.

Queue Breakers Roar.

This needle drop provided such a grueling yet beautiful scene as Sammy is bleeding out in the backseat but is looking out the window, which he knows are his last moments. The characters drive through a forest fire with the emotional backing of Sturgill Simpson's lighthearted yet heavy track, and it invokes a bittersweet feeling that amplifies the film's execution by a mile.

“Hunt for the Wilderpeople” - “The Partisan” by Leonard Cohen

Now, this needle drop may be a bit biased.

The Partisan is a song very close to my heart and to hear it in any type of media is enough to tug at my heartstrings. But, Taika Waititi’s “Hunt for the Wilderpeople” delivers it best.

Ricky (Julian Dennison), a defiant orphan, is on the run from child services with his foster uncle (Sam Neill) in the New Zealand bush.

The track plays during a long tracking shot of the two, accompanied by dog “Tupac,” traversing through the lush wilderness and evading child services.

This needle drop is very impactful just because of how heavy of a song Leonard Cohen wrote whilst perfectly matching the overall vibe of the movie.

Not much else to say.

Definitely check out Leonard Cohen’s work.

“As my gaze fell upon the stormy seas, I wept …and soon the skies followed” - “I Get Along Without You Very Well (Except Sometimes)” by Chet Baker

Samuel Starck Sjøen dropped one of my favorite needle drops back in 2022 and it has slowly become a part of my morning routine.

The short film brings black and white shots of a rainy wilderness, with the rain playing just as much of a character as Heath Ledger’s Joker in “The Dark Knight.”

With no dialogue throughout, you hear the subtle keys of Chet Baker’s track that perfectly complement the film. It adds a sense of serenity to the shots of a path getting increasingly more muddy, or raindrops trickling off a broken log.

This dream-like song is a short and sweet needle drop that could definitely make any good day better.

“Palm Springs” - “Cloudbusting” by Kate Bush

A time loop starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti.

Can it get any better?

Yes! Not only does this film needle drop the aforementioned Leonard Cohen track, but it also hits its climax with the emotionally uprising Kate Bush track.

Nyles (Samberg) and Sarah (Milioti) become trapped in a time loop, stuck at Sarah’s sister's wedding. After covering nearly all philosophical topics and attempts to escape, Sarah eventually finds a way out but only after Nyles had burned his bridge with her.

Nyles then meets her before she escapes the time loop and confesses his love in one really long sentence full of grammatical errors. The two then escape the time loop together to the heavy hitter of a song, “Cloudbusting.”

The part that really hits for me is the choir’s verse at the climax of the song as they are about to finish the ritual to escape, giving each other one last kiss before dwelling into the unknown.

“Big Time Adolescence” - “Hey Moon” by John Maus

Mo (Griffin Gluck), a high school underclassman, has a close bond with his older sister's ex-boyfriend Zeke (Pete Davidson), a mid-twenties burnout. But Mo looks up to Zeke as a major role model. The film follows Mo and Zeke’s adventures leading to Mo maturing and realizing who Zeke really is.

During the opening credits, it shows a younger Mo hanging out with Zeke and all of his friends in a parking lot which is when John Maus’s “Hey Moon” begins to play. The slow and emotional song overlays shots of Mo and Zeke in the parking lot whilst the number of Zeke’s friends dwindles over the years.

This song really fits the scene not just because of the calm and hopeful beat, but the lyrics match the relationship our protagonists have and even so, summarize the plot of the entire movie.

“Aftersun” - “Under Pressure” by Queen, David Bowie

Now this might be the most emotional of them all.

Calum (Paul Mescal) and his 11-year-old daughter Sophie (Frankie Corio) take a vacation in Turkey. Sadly, these would be the last good memories Sophie has of her father as he struggles with depression and addiction. Throughout the film, there are flashing sequences which are later revealed to be an adult Sophie in a nightclub.

Dancing was a major character of this film as Calum was always trying to persuade Sophie to dance with him.

At the end of the film, there is an intense sequence in the nightclub where Sophie sees Calum dancing vigorously to a heavier rendition of Queen and David Bowie’s “Under Pressure.” It is unclear whether she is trying to embrace her father or fight him as she is so conflicted about her father's abandonment which makes the needle drop work so well.

This film is a modern masterpiece, a slow-burning emotional joyride, and a great cry with a beautiful use of a needle drop.

“Palo Alto” - “Champagne Coast” by Blood Orange

The holy grail of needle drops.

The house party you never went to but reminisce about.

The circle of people surrounding you at 17 years old.

This is nostalgia.

Palo Alto focuses on a group of teenagers in Palo Alto, California just trying to live in the ways they know. I would highlight a certain character’s arc like what I’ve done in the ones before, but this needle drop is different.

The beginning of the movie shows a house party in which our cast is bonding over drinking, smoking and other things teenagers typically do at house parties. The first couple beats of “Champagne Coast” kick off the house party acclimating us into the vibe Gia Coppola portrays, and it’s perfect. We see them playing “never have I ever,” awkward small talk with kids they have known since the third grade and the classic looking across the room at the classmate their crushing on.

This needle drop is beautiful because the song perfectly encapsulates the angst and nostalgia teenhood carries. It’s difficult to even describe this song because it’s so one of one.

Blood Orange has mastered that sound as his discography is filled with angsty music, and a great example of that would be how the score to the film “Challengers” was. A film fueled by energetic connections scored by, yep, you guessed it: Blood Orange. He has truly mastered this sound and for Gia Coppola to utilize “Champagne Coast” in such a critical way makes this a perfect needle drop.


Leo Weisfelner is a third-year majoring in telecommunications. To contact him, email lhw5076@psu.edu.