The roles of the music supervisors tend to get overlooked by the audience despite the fact that the songs play a huge role in setting up the atmosphere. This is especially true in big franchises, such as the MCU, where every little detail is crucial. Imagine watching a bad-ass fight scene, only to have it ruined by a wrong choice of music. There have been a great deal of memorable songs included as the background music in the MCU's Infinity Saga.
Update August 30, 2023: This article has been updated with even more great songs used in the Infinity Saga of the MCU.
From punctuating profound moments of character development to simply amplifying the exhilaration of an action sequence, these songs stood out. This is a tradition that has carried on in the Multiverse Saga with needle drops like Don McLean's "American Pie" in Black Widow or Latto's "Big Energy" in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law. Here are our picks of the most iconic songs in the MCU's Infinity Saga.
15 Doctor Strange – "Interstellar Overdrive" by Pink Floyd
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At the beginning of Doctor Strange, Stephen Strange is driving his sports car on a curvy road on late, rainy night. In this scene, Pink Floyd's "Interstellar Overdrive" fits the hectic energy of Strange's driving perfectly well. It is so encapsulating that it radiates a feeling of suspense, knowing that something terrible is going to happen due to his reckless driving. In fact, it is that recklessness which is especially palpable in the scenes before his actual accident.
Even inside the hospital, when he fully dives into his role as a doctor, he sometimes makes use of techniques that others do not necessarily approve of. While parts of his bigheaded behavior are justified, at the point of his accident, it comes crashing down on him. However, his unpredictable way of acting, which can be sensed in the energy of the song, marks the starting point of his journey towards his real destiny as the superhero Doctor Strange.
14 Avengers: Endgame – “It’s Been a Long, Long Time” by Harry James & Helen Forest
If the Avengers: Endgame doesn't pull on your heartstrings throughout the whole movie, there's a big chance this song forces you to feel at least a little of emotions. From the snap's aftermath and beloved characters' deaths to superheroes assembling and saving the world—the whole movie is an emotional rollercoaster. And this scene is no different. After the war, Steve (Chris Evans) makes it his mission to return the Infinity stones to their rightful place. But, instead of returning right away, he stays behind to spend his life with Peggy (Hayley Atwell). In fact, the last scene of the movie is them slow-dancing to this song.
13 Captain Marvel – “Just a Girl” by No Doubt
It unfortunately took the MCU 8 years to finally release a movie with a woman lead. No wonder the movie gets so much hate when it's finally told from a woman's perspective, and men find it hard to relate. But, to a lot of women Marvel fans, Captain Marvel means a great deal. Throughout the whole movie, she's constantly told to "control her emotions" and "to not let emotions get the best of her."
This gestures towards the world's largely patriarchal structure that imposes on women the idea that they must be silent, subservient, and secondary. The fact that "Just a Girl by No Doubt starts playing at the same time that Carol fully realizes her power and beats up every bad guy in sight is a wholly empowering moment, both for Carol and womankind.
12 Spider-Man: Far From Home – "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston
Marvel usually makes sure that their movies kick it off with a memorable start, but the beginning of Spider-Man: Far From Home evokes confusion, then sadness, and after that comes a good laugh. Mourning Iron Man, Captain America, Black Widow, and Vision, the two hosts of the school's Midtown News, Betty, and Jason, created an entire slideshow in order to pay the superheros their last respect.
The quality of the slideshow is far from great, which takes away from the meaningfulness of it (although, it is in an entertaining way), and their chosen song, "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, adds a heap of drama.
11 Iron Man – “Iron Man” by Black Sabbath
Iron Man is exactly the one we should be thanking for starting this global MCU phenomenon. The first movie mostly focuses on Tony's (Robert Downey Jr.) playboy and billionaire persona, but as he slowly starts identifying himself as Iron Man, we can clearly observe some personal growth. After he defeats the Iron Monger, he's asked to give a press conference to deny the Iron Man rumors.
But Tony being Tony, he goes against orders and announces that he is indeed Iron Man. "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath starts playing right after, as the ending credits roll. For years "Iron Man" the song was what everyone thought of when they though of the character even though the lyrics have nothing to do with the superhero. Now they are forever linked in a great way.
10 Spider-Man: Homecoming – “Blitzkrieg Bop” by Ramones
Putting "Blitzkrieg Bop" over a montage of Peter (Tom Holland) simply being a friendly neighborhood Spider-Man, is one of the best things the MCU has done. In Spider-Man: Homecoming, the song fits perfectly with the tone of the film as a movie full of youthful energy. It is also a fitting tribute as The Ramones famously did a cover of the classic Spider-Man theme, so it brings everything full circle.
9 Guardians of the Galaxy – "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye
Of course, Guardians of the Galaxy comes right to mind, when thinking about iconic songs in the MCU. When Peter Quill lost his mother, she gave him a gift which he didn't open for a long time. During a specific scene, it becomes clear that he has come to terms with his past, found a new family, and feels as though he has found his place. The time is right to unwrap the gift, a cassette, and with it, the song "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye starts playing.
It is a final goodbye from a mother to a son. Saying how much she loves him and how far that will extend. It also marks a begging for Peter Quill, who has found a new home with the Guardians of the Galaxy. This team will go anywhere together.
8 Captain America: The Winter Soldier – “Trouble Man” by Marvin Gaye
MCU movies in 2014 certainly loved Marvin Gaye. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is when we're first properly introduced to Sam (Anthony Mackie) or The Falcon. As Steve and Sam jog around the same pool and Cap leads with at least ten laps, Sam keeps saying "On your left." Once they get to talk to one another, Sam recommends Steve to listen to Marvin Gaye's "Trouble Man." We don't hear the song until the movie's end when Cap wakes up in the hospital with Sam sitting next to the hospital bed. The song plays in the background on Falcon's iPod. It's safe to say the song represents their underappreciated friendship.
7 Black Panther – “Opps” by Kendrick Lamar
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We can collectively agree that Black Panther has one of the most iconic soundtracks in the MCU Infinity Saga, and the song by Kendrick Lamar certainly stands out. Vincent Staples also adds his undeniable skills to this great beat. "Opps" is used during one of arguably the best scenes in the Black Panther. T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), Nakia (Lupita Nyong'o), Okoye (Danai Gurira), with the help of Shuri (Letitia Wright) chase Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis) across the streets of Busan with the beat accompanying the scene.
6 Iron Man - "Back in Black" by AC/DC
The song that kicked off the MCU. AC/DC's "Back in Black" plays over the beginning scene of Iron Man as audiences are introduced to Tony Stark. This singular song choice sets the tone for the entire MCU as it lets audiences fully into the mindset of Tony Stark, aka the coolest guy in the world. In a fitting tribute, "Back in Black" appears in Spider-Man: Far From Home. It is both a symbol of Tony Stark's legacy following his death, and the song is in both the first and last film in the Infinity Saga.
5 Captain America: The First Avenger - "Star Spangled Man" by The Star Spangled Singers
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The MCU has a lot of great moments, but there are not many original songs for the movies. The Avengers has Soundgarden's "Live to Rise" play over the end credits. Black Panther notably had "All the Stars" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA play over the end credits and "Pray for Me" by The Weekend and Kendrick Lamar in the actual movie, but they tend to stick to songs audiences recognize for the main body of the film.
Yet Captain America: The First Avenger features one of the best songs in the entire MCU, "Star Spangled Man," sung by The Star Spangled Singers in Cap's USO tour and written by Alan Silvestri, and lyrics by David Zippel. The film perfectly captures the 1940s spirit of the character while also narratively playing into the story as a catchy tune. It is a song that should have been nominated for Best Original Song at the Academy Awards that year.
4 Iron Man 2 - "Shoot to Thrill" by AC/DC
Iron Man 2 made the decision to make AC/DC's greatest hits the official soundtrack for the movie. The most notable track to make it into the film is "Shoot to Thrill" by AC/DC, which plays as Tony Stark enters the Stark Expo. While Iron Man 2 might not be fondly remembered, the song's association with Iron Man became iconic and almost his unofficial theme song as it was brought back in The Avengers.
3 Thor: Ragnarok – “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin
It's probably not a controversial opinion, but Thor: Ragnarok is definitely the superior Thor movie. Taika Waititi truly outdid himself. The color scheme, the playlist, and the storyline are top-notch. Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and Loki (Tom Hiddleston) finally join forces to defeat their evil sister Hela (Cate Blanchett) by destroying Asgard. Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" is more than perfect for the final fight scene where Thor showcases his full thunder-driven powers. The song's lyrics essentially talk about Norway and Vikings and perfectly capture the movie's plot.
2 Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 - "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens
Disney
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is one of the most underrated movies in the MCU. It is a deeply moving and more emotional film than the first as it digs deeper into the characters. Like its predecessor, it features an incredible soundtrack, but the use of Cat Steven's "Father & Son" in the very end is the best of the bunch. Playing over the funeral for Yondu, the emotional ballad sets the perfect mood for the film as Star-Lord says goodbye to his dad and sees that in death, people can and will forgive. Rocket's final moment, where he sheds a tear, is very much how the audience was watching this moment play out.
1 Guardians of the Galaxy – “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
An old Walkman, Redbone's "Come and Get Your Love", a long coat and a nonchalant dance in a place where no one can see him, is an exquisite introduction to Peter Quill's (Chris Pratt) character. He does what he wants, is confident with his Star-Lord powers, and, most of all, doesn't think too much of the situation as he tries retrieving one of the Infinity stones. Guardians of the Galaxy's song choices are impeccable and definitely the most catchy ones. The Walkman also symbolizes Quill's human part and the relationship with his mother that was taken away from him. The song became the unofficial anthem for the Guardians of the Galaxy and, fittingly, was the last song in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.