Movie soundtracks have a fascinating, chart-topping history. Once, a film’s music was almost as anticipated as the movie itself. These iconic compilations didn’t just enhance cinematic experiences; many launched multiple hit songs onto the prestigious Billboard Hot 100. For decades, film scores regularly spun off three or more top 10 singles, making them cultural touchstones.
However, this golden era faded. A significant “drought” followed, lasting nearly three decades. Now, an animated Netflix sensation, KPop Demon Hunters, has shattered that dry spell. It has brought the thrilling phenomenon of multi-hit soundtracks back into the spotlight. This article delves into the rare club of soundtracks that have achieved this feat, celebrating their legacy and the exciting new chapter inaugurated by K-Pop’s global rise.
A Golden Age of Cinematic Sound: The 1970s-1990s
The decades spanning the 1970s, ’80s, and ’90s were a heyday for movie soundtracks. Blockbuster films and their accompanying music were often inseparable. The synergy between film and song was powerful.
Sometimes, music was deeply embedded in the narrative. Think of the disco anthems of Saturday Night Fever or the dance floor rebellion of Footloose. These films practically were their soundtracks. Other times, music superstars made a seamless transition to the big screen. Artists like Prince in Purple Rain or Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard delivered unforgettable performances both musically and dramatically. They supplied memorable songs that topped the charts.
Even actors found unexpected chart success. Patrick Swayze famously made his chart debut with “She’s Like the Wind” from Dirty Dancing. Then there were soundtracks that simply became hit factories. The Beverly Hills Cop franchise is a prime example. Its albums were packed with smash songs, regardless of their direct ties to the film’s plot. These soundtracks didn’t just enhance movie-going; they shaped popular music itself. Many consistently generated three or more top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.
The Long Silence: Decline of Soundtrack Success
As the new millennium dawned, the consistent flow of hit-packed soundtracks began to stall. The vibrant connection between cinematic releases and chart-topping music weakened considerably. By the early 2000s, this once-reliable source of popular hits had largely dried up.
A 2004 Billboard analysis highlighted several reasons for this decline. Market oversaturation was a major factor. Too many soundtracks, perhaps too few truly compelling songs. Filmmakers also struggled. They often tried to force songs into storylines, resulting in awkward placements rather than organic integration. Rising artist fees also complicated the process. Securing top-tier talent for soundtrack contributions became increasingly expensive. This combination of factors led to a significant “drought.” For 28 long years, no soundtrack managed to spin off three or more Hot 100 top 10s. The era of the multi-hit movie album seemed to be over.
Breaking the Drought: KPop Demon Hunters Ignites a New Era
After nearly three decades, the dry spell is definitively over. Netflix’s animated feature, KPop Demon Hunters, has made history. Its original soundtrack has successfully generated three Hot 100 top 10s. This achievement signals a thrilling resurgence for the soundtrack industry. The film, which premiered in June, quickly became Netflix’s most popular original animated project ever.
The KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack is a true phenomenon. It includes HUNTR/X’s “Golden,” which soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. This made them the first all-female K-pop group to achieve a leading single at the top of the chart. “Golden” continues its impressive run, maintaining a strong position at No. 2 with 32.8 million streams and 11.6 million radio impressions in a recent week. It even topped the UK’s Official Singles Chart, demonstrating immense global reach.
The fictional Saja Boys also delivered multiple hits. Their track “Your Idol” surged to No. 4, marking their first-ever Top 5 entry. Another Saja Boys’ song, “Soda Pop,” climbed back into the Top 10, hitting No. 10. The simultaneous presence of these three songs in the Hot 100 top 10 is an exceptionally rare feat. It places KPop Demon Hunters in an elite club alongside only Saturday Night Fever and Waiting To Exhale.
Ian Eisendrath, executive music producer for KPop Demon Hunters, noted the dual impact. He explained that some audiences love the film first, which drives the songs to become hits. Others discover the songs independently, which then leads them to the film. This organic interplay is crucial to its success. The soundtrack’s sustained popularity, even rising in “equivalent album units” weeks after its debut, highlights its deep connection with global audiences and the “global firepower of K-pop.” This phenomenon points to a broader “era of K-everything,” extending K-pop’s influence beyond music into wider cultural trends.
The Elite Club: Soundtracks with Three or More Hot 100 Top 10s
Here’s a look at the exclusive list of soundtracks that have produced three or more Hot 100 top 10 singles, adhering to strict criteria (only songs released as singles directly from the soundtrack are counted):
Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (24 weeks), beginning January 21, 1978
Hot 100 top 10s:
Bee Gees, “Night Fever,” No. 1 (eight weeks)
Bee Gees, “Stayin’ Alive,” No. 1 (four weeks)
Bee Gees, “How Deep Is Your Love,” No. 1 (three weeks)
Yvonne Elliman, “If I Can’t Have You,” No. 1 (one week)
Grease (1978)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (12 weeks), beginning July 29, 1978
Hot 100 top 10s:
Frankie Valli, “Grease,” No. 1 (two weeks)
John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John, “You’re the One That I Want,” No. 1 (one week)
Olivia Newton-John, “Hopelessly Devoted to You,” No. 3
John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John & Grease Cast, “Summer Nights,” No. 5
The Jazz Singer (1980)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 3, February 7, 1981
Hot 100 top 10s:
Neil Diamond, “Love on the Rocks,” No. 2
Neil Diamond, “Hello Again,” No. 6
Neil Diamond, “America,” No. 8
Footloose (1984)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (10 weeks), beginning April 21, 1984
Hot 100 top 10s:
Kenny Loggins, “Footloose,” No. 1 (three weeks)
Deniece Williams, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy,” No. 1 (two weeks)
Ann Wilson & Mike Reno, “Almost Paradise,” No. 7
Purple Rain (1984)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (24 weeks), beginning August 4, 1984
Hot 100 top 10s:
Prince, “When Doves Cry,” No. 1 (five weeks)
Prince and the Revolution, “Let’s Go Crazy,” No. 1 (two weeks)
Prince and the Revolution, “Purple Rain,” No. 2
Prince and the Revolution, “I Would Die 4 U,” No. 8
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (two weeks), beginning June 22, 1985
Hot 100 top 10s:
Glenn Frey, “The Heat Is On,” No. 2
Harold Faltermeyer, “Axel F,” No. 3
The Pointer Sisters, “Neutron Dance,” No. 6
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 8, August 8, 1987
Hot 100 top 10s:
Bob Seger, “Shakedown,” No. 1 (one week)
George Michael, “I Want Your Sex,” No. 2
The Jets, “Cross My Broken Heart,” No. 7
Dirty Dancing (1987)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (18 weeks), beginning November 14, 1987
Hot 100 top 10s:
Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life,” No. 1 (one week)
Patrick Swayze feat. Wendy Fraser, “She’s Like the Wind,” No. 3
Eric Carmen, “Hungry Eyes,” No. 4
The Bodyguard (1992)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (20 weeks), beginning December 12, 1992
Hot 100 top 10s:
Whitney Houston, “I Will Always Love You,” No. 1 (14 weeks)
Whitney Houston, “I’m Every Woman,” No. 4
Whitney Houston, “I Have Nothing,” No. 4
Waiting To Exhale (1995)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 1 (five weeks), beginning January 6, 1996
Hot 100 top 10s:
Whitney Houston, “Exhale (Shoop Shoop),” No. 1 (one week)
Toni Braxton, “Let It Flow,” No. 1 (one week)
Mary J. Blige, “Not Gon’ Cry,” No. 2
Brandy, “Sittin’ Up in My Room,” No. 2
Whitney Houston & CeCe Winans, “Count on Me,” No. 8
Space Jam (1996)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 2, April 5, 1997
Hot 100 top 10s:
R. Kelly, “I Believe I Can Fly,” No. 2
Monica, “For You I Will,” No. 4
Seal, “Fly Like an Eagle,” No. 10
Batman & Robin (1997)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 5, July 12, 1997
Hot 100 top 10s:
Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, “Look Into My Eyes,” No. 4
Jewel, “Foolish Games,” No. 7
R. Kelly, “Gotham City,” No. 9
KPop Demon Hunters (2025)
Billboard 200 peak: No. 2, July 19, 2025
Hot 100 top 10s:
HUNTR/X: EJAE, Audrey Nuna & REI AMI, “Golden,” No. 1 (one week)
Saja Boys: Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee, “Your Idol,” No. 4
Saja Boys: Andrew Choi, Neckwav, Danny Chung, Kevin Woo & samUIL Lee, “Soda Pop,” No. 10
Rare Feat: Soundtracks with Simultaneous Hot 100 Top 10s
Even rarer than simply generating multiple top 10 hits is the achievement of having three songs in the Hot 100 top 10 simultaneously. This specific milestone speaks to an overwhelming cultural impact. Only three soundtracks in history have ever reached this pinnacle:
- Saturday Night Fever (1977): A disco powerhouse that redefined movie music.
- Waiting To Exhale (1995): A star-studded R&B compilation with a record five total top 10s.
- KPop Demon Hunters (2025): The latest, proving its massive, immediate appeal across global charts.
This exclusive club underscores the unprecedented success of KPop Demon Hunters in the modern music landscape.
Criteria for Inclusion: Defining a “Hit Soundtrack”
To ensure accuracy, Billboard employs strict criteria for including soundtracks in this elite list. Only songs released as singles directly from the album and charting on the Billboard Hot 100 are considered. This distinguishes true soundtrack hits from other related successes.
For example, The Beatles’ Help! album had multiple No. 1s. However, “Yesterday” was not on its U.S. tracklist as a single, so the album doesn’t qualify. Similarly, the Miami Vice TV soundtrack included three top 10s, but Tina Turner’s “Better Be Good to Me” was released from her own album Private Dancer a year earlier. These distinctions ensure that only soundtracks genuinely contributing multiple standalone hits are counted.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a soundtrack qualify for multiple Hot 100 Top 10s on Billboard?
A soundtrack qualifies if it has released three or more distinct songs as singles that subsequently charted within the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100. The key is that these songs must be released from the soundtrack album itself. This means tracks released from other albums or singles not directly tied to the soundtrack, even if featured in the film, do not count towards this specific achievement. The list includes 13 such soundtracks, from Saturday Night Fever to the recent KPop Demon Hunters.
Which soundtracks have achieved the rare feat of having three Hot 100 Top 10 hits simultaneously?
Having three songs from a single soundtrack in the Hot 100 Top 10 at the exact same time is an exceptionally rare accomplishment. Historically, only three soundtracks have achieved this unique milestone. These include the disco phenomenon Saturday Night Fever (1977), the R&B powerhouse Waiting To Exhale (1995), and most recently, Netflix’s animated musical KPop Demon Hunters (2025). This concurrent success highlights a soundtrack’s immense and immediate cultural impact.
Why did hit-laden movie soundtracks decline, and what caused their recent resurgence with KPop Demon Hunters?
Hit-laden movie soundtracks saw a sharp decline in the 2000s, largely due to market oversaturation, filmmakers forcing songs into storylines rather than organic integration, and increasing artist fees. This led to a 28-year “drought.” The resurgence, spearheaded by KPop Demon Hunters, is driven by a strong alignment between a popular film and authentic music. The soundtrack’s success with HUNTR/X’s “Golden” and Saja Boys’ “Your Idol” and “Soda Pop” showcases K-pop’s global influence and the ability of a compelling narrative to organically drive music hits once more.
Conclusion
The journey of movie soundtracks on the Billboard Hot 100 is a testament to the enduring power of music and film. From the disco era’s defining anthems to the modern K-pop phenomenon, these collections of songs have consistently captured the public’s imagination. The 28-year drought in multi-hit soundtracks underscored a significant shift in the music industry. However, the groundbreaking success of KPop Demon Hunters proves that the magic of a hit-packed movie album is far from over. It signals a new, exciting chapter where cinematic stories and chart-topping music can once again intertwine, creating unforgettable cultural moments for a global audience.
