Bruce Springsteen’s music has appeared on over 300 movie soundtracks, so pervasive is his influence on rock history and American popular culture. Born in New Jersey in 1949, Springsteen rose to prominence in the early ’70s with the release ofGreetings from Asbury Park, NJ, making him not only a hero to New Jerseyites, but the world at large as his popularity grew to stratospheric heights in the ’80s. Springsteen has long embodied tenets of American identity, with songs about working-class heroes that drew on early Rock ‘n’ Roll and Soul Music influences.
Affectionately known to his fans as “The Boss”, Springsteen acquired the pseudonym from his E-Street Band, as during their early touring days, he was the one tasked with collecting and distributing the band’s payments after a gig. The name has remained fitting for the artist, who has always been clever about licensing the band’s many cinematic songs for use in movies, helping to grow his legend and the band’s popularity as he became one of America’s most iconic rockers.
The following are the 25 greatest uses of Bruce Springsteen songs in film.
Update June 25, 2025: Fans of The Boss will be happy to know that this list has been expanded with more entries by Sean Shuman.
25"Glory Days" in Jerry & Marge Go Large (2022)
Springsteen’s “Glory Days,” a single fromBorn in the U.S.A., appeared in the 2022 Paramount+ exclusiveJerry & Marge Go Large. Based on a true story,Jerry & Marge Go Largefollows the titular married couple, played by Bryan Cranston and Annette Bening, respectively, as they take advantage of a mathematical loophole in the state lottery. However, instead of taking their newfound cash and heading for the hills, the duo opts to revitalize their surrounding community with their winnings.
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“Glory Days,” a song that examines nostalgia from a variety of perspectives, does tie into the events ofJerry & Marge Go Large, albeit in a way that isn’t as biting as it is in its original context. Though the concept of looking back on one’s glory days is seen as more of a nostalgic coping mechanism in the song itself, the song’s placement in the film feels appropriate for our duo’s end goal.
24"State Trooper" in Rust and Bone (2012)
Springsteen’s “State Trooper”, remixed by Danish musician Trentemøller, appears in the 2012 romantic drama filmRust and Bone. The film,starring Marion Cotillardand Matthias Schoenaerts, tells a tear-jerker romance story with a positive, if not bittersweet, conclusion. A man who finds himself at his wit’s end finds love when he encounters a woman who trains Orcas. Despite suffering a tragic loss, the two will find themselves developing feelings for each other the longer they spend their time together.
Though “State Trooper” features a predominantly bleak atmosphere, other tracks on Springsteen’sNebraskaalbum would elicit similar feelings with a smidgen of hope. It feels appropriate when examining the major plot beats ofRust and Bone. Though both of our leads struggle with internal and external turmoils, they may find the inner strength to pull through in the end.
23"I’m on Fire" in Long Shot (2019)
“I’m on Fire” marked the fourth single from Springsteen’s legendary seventh album,Born in the U.S.A.Being a rare instance of Springsteen incorporating synthesizers into one of his tracks, the track is loaded with potential innuendos, making it a perfect pairing for the 2019 romantic comedy filmLong Shot. The film sees Seth Rogen reuniting with a childhood babysitter of his, played by Charlize Theron, only to discover that she’s now the United States Secretary of State. Though the R&B group Boyz II Men is heavily featured both in the film itself and its accompanying soundtrack, “I’m on Fire” makes an appearance alongside Blondie’s “One Way or Another” and The Cure’s “Close to Me.”
22"Pink Cadillac" in Wise Guys (1986)
Though “Pink Cadillac” was originally released as a B-Side of Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark,” it would gain some substantial popularity on the music charts. The titular vehicle even makes an appearance in the 1986 crime comedy filmWise Guys. Despite the title potentially serving as an innuendo, “Pink Cadillac” accompanies this oft-forgotten Brian de Palma film in an entertaining way.
The film itself sees Danny DeVito and Joe Piscopo co-starring as clumsy criminals, with a particular flub leading to a bounty being placed on both of their heads. However, instead of killing each other, the two instead head down to Atlantic City. WhileWise Guysis ultimately regarded as one of Brian de Palma’s weaker films, there’s still some fun to be had with its comedic shenanigans.
21"The Fuse" in 25th Hour (2002)
25th Houris a Spike Lee film that was released in 2002. Based on the eponymous novel by David Benioff, who subsequently provided the film’s screenplay,25th Hourtells a deliberately somber story made all the more tragic by real-world events. A man, played by Edward Norton, lives out his last full day of freedom before he spends seven years in jail for drug dealing.
Though the film focuses on Norton’s character, the depiction ofNew York City post-9/11was seen as a powerfully-melancholic choice, reflecting an era of uncertainty and fear surrounding the future while tying into Norton’s character arc in a meaningful way. The Springsteen song “The Fuse” makes an appearance on the film’s soundtrack, a piece originally released on his reflective 2002 albumThe Rising. As it accompanies the film’s credits, its moody tone and frequent references to a fuse burning out are aptly appropriate for such a solemn story.
20"Out in the Street" in Reign Over Me (2007)
“Out in the Street” was one of Springsteen’s famous early tracks, coming off his 1980 albumThe River, which saw the artist reach the top of the Billboard album chart for the first time. The track was featured inReign Over Me, a rare dramatic role for Adam Sandler, who played Dr. Charley Fineman, a man bereaved by the loss of his family during the World Trade Center attacks.
The film was derided by most critics but had a few powerful scenes, including one where Charley and his buddy Alan (Don Cheadle) rekindle their friendship by tossing back a few beers and jamming on Charley’s drum set along to Springsteen. The scene is diagrammatic of how uplifting The Boss' music was, as Charley uses it to distract from his loss.
19"Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)" in The Heartbreak Kid (2007)
The Heartbreak Kidcame during theheight of the Farrelly Brothers' run of commercially successful comedies, with Ben Stiller playing Eddie Cantrow opposite Malin Åkerman as Lila, a couple who rush into a shotgun wedding before setting off on their honeymoon. Cantrow’s haste to find love starts to backfire when they hit the road together. The scene kicks off with the two singing “Rosalita (Come Out Tonight)”, an uptempo track that has the two happily singing and air-drumming, before Lila’s freak flag starts to fly, annoying the bejesus out of Eddie with some borderline kray kray singing — and hinting at what’s to come.
18"Hungry Heart" in Warm Bodies (2013)
We’re pretty sureWarm Bodiesis the only movie in the paranormal romantic zombie comedy genre, but it’s the only one we need, as R (Nicholas Hoult) and Julie (Teresa Palmer) fall in love despite R being slightly undead. Luckily, R falls for Julie, thanks to his first heartbeat since the zombie apocalypse. Despite eating her boyfriend’s brains, R is nice enough to spare Julie, taking her back to his abandoned airplane fort. Naturally, she’s afraid of him, but the two slowly start to bond, thanks to R’s emo charm and a good ol' Bruce Springsteen record. Julie plays “Hungry Heart” on R’s record player, and we get the requisite falling-in-love-montage to The Boss' sweet sounds.
17"I’m on Fire" in Pig (2021)
Sometimes, a Springsteen cover can be just as powerful as his original recordings in film, with a prime example being Cassandra Violet’s cover of “I’m on Fire” for the Nicolas Cage vehiclePig. Violet’s cover brings the vocals into a much higher register, with a soft acoustic guitar backing her silky voice. The solemn sounds and lyrics are fitting for the film but were lampooned as being slightly creepy by Pete Holmes onCONAN. Give them a google, and you’ll see exactly why.
16"Badlands" in Mask (1985)
Despite the preponderance of Springsteen songs in film, earlier in his career, The Boss was reticent to license songs without a large cut of the soundtrack profits. That became an enormous legal issue during the release ofMask. “Bruce Springsteen was in the back of our minds from the beginning of the film,” said Cher, as he was a favorite of the real-life Rocky Dennis. Several Springsteen songs were slated for the film, but Universal Pictures and Columbia Records couldn’t cut a deal, leadingdirector Peter Bogdanovichto sue Universal for violating his contracted final cut privilege. Bob Seger’s music was instead used for the original release.
Luckily, in 2004, Bogdanovich was finally able to release a director’s cut with the original music, a much more fitting tribute to Rocky Dennis, with a scene featuring “Badlands” showing a perfect marriage of film and soundtrack. The movie is still a tear-jerker to this day, thanks in no small part to Springsteen’s powerful music.
