Top 10 Kids' Movies with the Most Fire Soundtracks

Lin-Manuel Miranda struck gold once more with this eclectic soundtrack. Inspired by his research trip to Colombia, the music celebrates the country’s beauty and magic through a diverse range of Latin rhythms. In addition, Miranda’s skillful songwriting and deep dive into relatable emotions and experiences helped us connect with the Madrigal family and its individual members. Of course, the soundtrack found plenty of commercial success too. The songs were a massive hit, with “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” becoming Disney’s biggest Billboard chart-topper in decades, even outperforming “Let It Go.” Meanwhile, Germaine Franco’s score and the stunning “Dos Oruguitas” received Oscar nominations. Needless to say, this is one soundtrack we’ll be talking about for years.

A movie about a singing competition is bound to have a phenomenal soundtrack, and indeed it does. This star-studded cast put their own fantastic spin on some classics. The most joyous part is that there’s something for everyone. The audition scene was a fun way to get through a plethora of great numbers, and it got better from there. Reese Witherspoon and Nick Kroll singing “Shake it Off” was iconic, while Taron Egerton nailed “I’m Still Standing.” And Tori Kelly’s “Don't You Worry 'bout a Thing” was powerful. We also can’t forget Seth MacFarlane’s dulcet crooning! And these were just some of the stand-out tracks. Even Ariana Grande and Stevie Wonder got in on the action with their original single for the film, “Faith”.

Although it wasn't a huge box-office hit, "A Goofy Movie" garnered a cult following, in no small part due to its iconic soundtrack. Per the film's director, Kevin Lima, the character of superstar Powerline was inspired by musicians Bobby Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson. So naturally, the soundtrack has to live up to legends of this stature. And it didn't disappoint. Many ‘90s kids arguably see this as one of the most defining soundtracks of their childhood, and it's still just as banging today. Songs like "Stand Out" and "I2I" are especially beloved by audiences of all ages. Whether the music fills you with nostalgia or you're just now uncovering these magnificent songs, you’re sure to enjoy the ride.

Disney breathed new life into this 1957 classic with a revamped soundtrack that would appeal to contemporary audiences. Thankfully, the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization was pretty open-minded about the changes, thus helping to bring the spectacular music to a whole new audience. The soundtrack is made up of the show's original tracks and some tunes from other Rodgers & Hammerstein musicals that fit the narrative. Some of the numbers were also reworked to further serve the story. "In My Own Little Corner" is the perfect "I Want" song, and "Ten Minutes Ago" still makes us swoon. Meanwhile, "Impossible/It’s Possible” is a powerhouse duet for the ages. The entire "Cinderella" soundtrack is a timeless masterpiece from start to finish.

In a film about Greek deities, gospel music doesn't go amiss, don't you think? Well, that's exactly what directors Ron Clements and John Musker had in mind for "Hercules." And we're "gonna shout it from the mountain tops," it's a whole lot of fun. It isn't necessarily an obvious combination with Disney's classic sound, but it's certainly a unique mix that captured our hearts. "The Gospel Truth" is iconic, and "Zero to Hero" is a total bop. We also defy any Disney fan not to sing along with "I Won't Say (I'm in Love)." The soundtrack proved that it could really "Go The Distance," which incidentally was nominated for a Golden Globe and Academy award.

Songwriter and composer Randy Newman is synonymous with“Toy Story”. Without him, we wouldn’t have the platinum-certified and much beloved “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” And who could forget the gut-wrenching “When She Loved Me” from the second film? He also wrote the music for the third and fourth installments, with highlights including “We Belong Together” and “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away”. The themes in his music perfectly encapsulate childhood, while reminding audiences that getting touch with your emotions is necessary. Newman’s scoring also perfectly sets the mood and tone for each movie, while still making them feel like a cohesive unit. Whether you need to laugh, cry, or dance like nobody’s watching, the “Toy Story” catalog has got you covered.

A twist on the traditional fairytale format, “Shrek” became an instant hit and the first film to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Story aside, we must applaud its stellar soundtrack, bursting with iconic jams. Starting with Smash Mouth’s “All Star” might have seemed like a bold move, but they were just getting warmed up. “Bad Reputation,” “Hallelujah,” and “I’m a Believer” take this soundtrack to the next level. Plus, there are a couple of original earworms in there too, like the Merry Men song and, of course, “Welcome to Duloc.” “Shrek 2” kept the party going with an equally fire song list, including the Fairy Godmother’s “Holding Out for a Hero,” which is absolutely iconic.

Disney’s Renaissance era went out swinging thanks to the extraordinary talents of Phil Collins. He gifted us an alt-rock emotion-filled soundtrack that perfectly served the story’s narrative, yet was just as legendary on its own. He captured our hearts with “Two Worlds,” melted them with “Son of Man,” and blew us away with “Strangers Like Me.” We dare you to make it through the Oscar-winning “You’ll Be in My Heart” without tearing up. In 2021, the music saw a resurgence in popularity on social media. Many users shared their newfound appreciation for the songs, while collectively declaring that Collins had no right to go this hard on a Disney album.

What do you get when you team up Hans Zimmer, Tim Rice, and Elton John? A diamond-certified, best-selling soundtrack to an animated movie. The music fills us with joy, excitement, and heartache, while being purely entertaining. It mixes pop and rock with traditional African music influences to help transport us to the Pride Lands. Unsurprisingly, the score received an Academy Award. “Circle of Life,” “Hakuna Matata,” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” all also received Oscar nominations, with the epic love song taking the win. And we can’t forget that it has arguably one of the most chilling villain songs, too. There’s no denying that “The Lion King” holds its reign as one of, if not the greatest Disney soundtrack of all time.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Chicken Little” (2005)
You Can Hear Countless Iconic Jams in This Movie

“Megamind” (2010)
This Underappreciated Film Has a Rockin’ Soundtrack

“Happy Feet” (2006)
Penguins Singing Classic Jams? Yes Please!

“Trolls” (2016)
This Film Contains More Hits Than We Can Count

“Despicable Me” franchise (2010-)
The Fun & Often Funky Soundtracks Make Us Especially “Happy”

Stephen Schwartz and Hans Zimmer really outdid themselves this time. Every song is so perfectly crafted with just the right sound to drive the story and capture the emotion and unwavering spirit of the Hebrews. "Deliver Us" might just be the best opening to an animated movie you'll ever hear — especially because of Ofra Haza's spine-tingling vocals as Yocheved. Then we have the simply stunning "All I Ever Wanted," the beautifully uplifting "Through Heaven's Eyes," and the tantalizingly dramatic "The Plagues." We could go on and on. The film's powerhouse anthem, "When You Believe," even won the Oscar for Best Original Song. There's not even one track we'd skip; the entire album is simply divine.