The 20 best 2000s film soundtracks

A movie about a guy who owns a record store should have a stellar soundtrack. That's the case with the film version of this Nick Hornby novel, starring John Cusack and Jack Black. The best part about this album is the deeper cuts from legendary artists like The Kinks ("Ev'rybody's Gonna Be Happy "), Bob Dylan ("Most of the Time "), and Stevie Wonder ( "I Believe (When I Fall in Love It Will Be Forever"). Plus, more contemporary numbers — or contemporary for the time — from The Beta Band ("Dry the Rain") and Stereolab ("Lo Boob Oscillator").

When it comes to sports-related movies, Love & Basketball is underrated. The R&B and hip-hop-fueled soundtrack follows along the same underappreciated lines, though it cracked the top 50 on the Billboard 200 albums chart. Perhaps the star of the show is the Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock classic "It Takes Two." Though Angie Stone's version of "Holding Back the Years" and Al Green's "Love and Happiness" are both well placed. Bilal's "Soul Sista" reached No. 18 on the Billboard R&B Singles chart.

We know how Cameron Crowe loves his music and makes the soundtrack a vital plot of his movie scripts and storylines. With Almost Famous, the stream of quality classic rock is endless. Front and center is Elton John's "Tiny Dancer," which is responsible for perhaps the most memorable moment in the film. Other highlights include Simon & Garfunkel's "America," "Simple Man" by Lynyrd Skynyrd, and the original "Fever Dog" (written by Heart guitarist and Crowe's then-wife Nancy Wilson) from fictional film band Stillwater.

The O Brother soundtrack was so good that it won the Grammy for Album of the Year. In addition, the film's most memorable track, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow," was the Grammy winner for Best Country Collaboration with Vocals, and "O, Death" by Ralph Stanley won the same award for Best Male Country Vocal Performance. Renowned musicians Alison Krauss, Emmylou Harris, and Gillian Welch also contributed to the soundtrack. Of course, the Soggy Bottom Boys might be one of the best fictional groups.

There's plenty of star power on the soundtrack to the live-action movie version of the popular animated series and fictional band. Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds produced a soundtrack that included writing contributions from Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne), Jane Wiedlin (Go-Go's), Adam Duritz (Counting Crows), Matthew Sweet, Berry Gordy Jr. and Letters to Cleo singer Kay Hanley, who was the musical voice of Rachael Leigh Cook's Josie.

The initial installment of the American Pie franchise is still the best movie of the series. However, when it comes to a solid collection of well-known or under-the-radar pop-punk tracks, the American Pie 2 soundtrack takes the cake (pun intended). On the official soundtrack, 3 Doors Down's "Be Like That" and "Fat Lip" by Sum 41 were relatively popular tunes, but Green Day's "Scumbag" and "Blink-182's "Everytime I Look for You" were reinforced by the movie. Then there is the bevy of massive popular tracks like "Semi-Charmed Life,"  "Want You Bad," and "Hash Pipe," which were featured in the film but not on the soundtrack.

There's somewhat of a love/hate relationship with Mark Wahlberg in this guilty pleasure rock flick. Remember when Wahlberg was a hip-hop star? Well, the wonders of production helped with those Marky Mark days. When it came to Rock Star, Wahlberg's Steel Dragon vocals on quality originals "We All Die Young" and "Stand Up" were done by former Steelheart frontman Miljenko "Mike" Matijevic. His raspier, alternative singing on "Colorful" near the end of the movie was credited to The Verve Pipe's Brian Vander Ark. Those made-for-the-movie tracks, mixed with pop-metal classics "Lick It Up," "Wild Side," and "Livin' on a Prayer," make for a rather enjoyable soundtrack experience.

The importance and love for hip-hop tie together this romantic comedy starring Taye Diggs and Sanaa Lathan. Paced by the single "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)," performed by Erykah Badu and Common, which reached No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100, the soundtrack cracked the top 20 on the Billboard  200 albums chart. Jill Scott, Angie Stone, Mos Def, and Mary J. Blige can be found on the album — and a remix of Eric B. & Rakim's classic "Paid in Full."

In the spirit of Purple Rain, 8 Mile was inspired by aspects of the life of rapper Eminem, whose signature tune "Lose Yourself" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The soundtrack debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. 50 Cent, Obie Trice, Macy Gray, and Nas are some of the other prominent rap, hip hop, R&B, and pop artists included on what's long been considered one of the best soundtracks of all time.

A member of the Christopher Guest family of "mockumentaries," A Mighty Wind is an ode to the world of folk music. In this case, the stable of fictional artists — The Folksmen, The New Main Street Singers, and Mitch & Mickey — signed by producer Irving Steinbloom, who come together for a tribute concert to their late boss. Guest and fellow regulars Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Eugene Levy penned most of the film's music. McKean and real-life wife Annette O'Toole wrote the movie's most memorable tune, "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow," which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

The vibe from the soundtrack of the first Kill Bill film is all over the place. And...we love it. Co-produced by film writer and director Quentin Tarantino and Wu-Tang Clan stalwart RZA, the soundtrack features dialogue from the movie, interspersed with instrumental numbers (notably the movie's unofficial theme " Battle Without Honor or Humanity"), and dusties like Nancy Sinatra's sultry "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)."

More from the pop-punk sect. The soundtrack to this entertaining teen, wannabe sex-romp comedy about a recent high school graduate, Scotty Thomas, trekking across Europe to find a female pen pal includes some pretty creative covers — The Who's "My Generation" (Chapeaumelon), "99 Red Balloons" (Goldfinger) , and "Du" (David Hasselhoff). Meanwhile, Jet's signature hit "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" and the underrated "Scotty Doesn't Know " by Lustra, which features a Matt Damon cameo in the film, add to the fun.

Sure, there is quite a bit of film dialogue on the Napoleon Dynamite soundtrack, but that's just one reason to love it. However, the soundtrack is littered with some gems from the 1980s: "I Want Candy " (Bow Wow Wow), "Only You " (Yaz), "Forever Young" (Alphaville), and "The Promise" (When in Rome). Not to mention Jamiroquai's "Canned Heat," during Napoleon's memorable dance scene and Sparklemotion's above-average cover of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time."

One of the more underappreciated aspects of this classic Will Ferrell is the comedy. It brought renewed attention to the Starland Vocal Band's "Afternoon Delight." But the original Anchorman soundtrack is filled with plenty of other pop, rock, and R&B hits from the 1970s. Like "That Lady" from The Isley Brothers or "Ride Captain Ride" from Blues Image, or Neil Diamond's "Cherry, Cherry." As a bonus, Ron Burgundy provides intros for the tracks. 

Garden State is Zach Braff's baby in every sense. Writing, directing, starring. He even hand-picked the songs on the movie's soundtrack, which won a Grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for a Motion Picture, Television, or Other Visual Media. Braff told IGN: "Essentially, I made a mix CD with all of the music that I felt was scoring my life at the time I was writing the screenplay." Featuring a heavy indie and alternative vibe, the soundtrack brought notable attention to The Shins ("New Slang" and "Caring Is Creepy"). Other highlights include Remy Zero's "Fair" and "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" by former Men at Work frontman Colin Hay.

The Walk the Line soundtrack is obviously a Johnny Cash greatest hits package, with help from his eventual wife, June Carter. While that's grounds enough to be on this list, the fact that actors Joaquin Phoenix (who portrayed Cash) and Reese Witherspoon (delivering an Oscar-winning performance as Carter) provided vocals for those songs only adds to the overall brilliance of the movie and soundtrack. Not to mention, fellow actors Tyler Hilton (Elvis Presley), Shooter Jennings (playing his father Waylon Jennings), Waylon Payne  ( Jerry Lee Lewis), and Johnathan Rice (Roy Orbison) also sang for their parts.

If Glen Hansard is going to star in a movie, then, of course, he'll provide the music for the soundtrack. Much like the dependable Irish singer/songwriter, the soundtrack to this Irish romantic comedy, which won the 2007 Independent Spirit Award for Best Foreign Film, probably doesn't quickly come to mind when talking soundtracks from the 2000s. However, it was nominated for a Grammy Award, and "Falling Slowly," performed by Hansard and co-star Markéta Irglová, won the Oscar for Best Original Song.

This comedy-of-age comedy-drama, written by popular blogger Diablo Cody, directed by Jason Reitman, and starring Elliot Page, was lauded for its honest plot and creatively quirky dialogue. The indie-heavy soundtrack added to the success of the film. Page and co-star Michael Cera deliver a touching version of The Moldy Peaches' "Anyone Else but You." A band featuring the folksy Kimya Dawson, who also contributed several standout numbers like "Tire Swing," "Loose Lips," and "Tree Hugger" (with Antsy Pants).

Music was a major part of the Twilight film franchise. However, the soundtrack to the first installment might be the most accessible in terms of mainstream marketability. Muse, Linkin Park, Perry Farrell, and Collective Soul are among the prominent artists who contributed to the project. Meanwhile, Paramore's "Decode" was a Top 40 hit and nominated for a Grammy Award. Twilight star Robert Pattinson co-wrote and performed the track the raspy acoustic number  "Never Think."

The only thing that comes close to matching Joseph Gordon-Levitt's brilliant performance in this lauded romantic comedy-drama, which featured a frustratingly annoying effort from Zooey Deschanel, is the music. Two soundtracks were released from the film, the first of songs included in the movie and another of the original score. The former is a hodge-podge of rock, pop, alternative, and bluesy/soulful numbers. Highlights include Wolfmother's "Vagabond" and Meaghan Smith's cover of the Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man."