Cinvibe
Still from Iron Man 2 (2010)
Soundtrack · by Jordan Okafor

Marvel Soundtrack: Composers, Albums and Songs by Film

The Marvel soundtrack has no single composer: more than 20 composers scored the 34 MCU films in release order, led by Michael Giacchino with six credits and Alan Silvestri with four, including The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). The best known songs come from the three Guardians of the Galaxy albums, Black Panther: The Album and Captain Marvel (2019), and the next score belongs to Avengers: Doomsday, due December 18, 2026.

Image: TMDB

Avengers Composers

Every Avengers Soundtrack and Score

Iron Man (2008)

The Incredible Hulk (2008)

Iron Man 2 (2010)

Thor (2011)

Captain America: The First Avenger (2011)

The Avengers (2012)

Iron Man 3 (2013)

Thor: The Dark World (2013)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014)

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) album cover

Captain America: The Winter Soldier (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Score album · Hollywood Records · April 1, 2014 · 20 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 20 tracks

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015)

Ant-Man (2015)

Captain America: Civil War (2016)

Doctor Strange (2016)

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017)

Thor: Ragnarok (2017)

Black Panther (2018)

Black Panther: The Album (Music From and Inspired By) album cover

Black Panther: The Album (Music From and Inspired By)

Soundtrack album · Aftermath Entertainment · February 9, 2018 · 14 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 14 tracks

Avengers: Infinity War (2018)

Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018)

Ant‐Man and the Wasp: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover

Ant‐Man and the Wasp: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Score album · Hollywood Records · July 6, 2018 · 25 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 25 tracks

Captain Marvel (2019)

Captain Marvel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover

Captain Marvel: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Score album · Hollywood Records · March 8, 2019 · 23 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 23 tracks

Avengers: Endgame (2019)

Avengers: Endgame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) album cover

Avengers: Endgame (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Score album · Hollywood Records · April 25, 2019 · 35 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 35 tracks

Black Widow (2021)

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021)

Shang‐Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album album cover

Shang‐Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: The Album

Soundtrack album · Hollywood Records · September 3, 2021 · 18 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 18 tracks

Eternals (2021)

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022)

Thor: Love and Thunder (2022)

Thor: Love and Thunder: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover

Thor: Love and Thunder: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Soundtrack album · Hollywood Records · July 6, 2022 · 28 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 28 tracks

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022)

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Original Score album cover

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Original Score

Score album · Hollywood Records · November 11, 2022 · 26 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 26 tracks

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Music From and Inspired By album cover

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever: Music From and Inspired By

Soundtrack album · Hollywood Records · November 4, 2022 · 19 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 19 tracks

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023)

Ant‐Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) album cover

Ant‐Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

Score album · Hollywood Records · February 15, 2023 · 22 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 22 tracks

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023)

The Marvels (2023)

The Marvels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover

The Marvels: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Score album · Hollywood Records · November 20, 2023 · 27 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 27 tracks

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)

Captain America: Brave New World (2025)

Thunderbolts* (2025)

The Fantastic 4: First Steps (2025)

The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack album cover

The Fantastic Four: First Steps: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Score album · Hollywood Records · July 18, 2025 · 25 tracks

Cover art via Deezer

Full tracklist, 25 tracks

Songs in the Avengers Movies

  1. Back in Black

    Licensed song

    AC/DC · Iron Man

    Tony Stark rides in an army convoy in Afghanistan, joking with the soldiers while the song plays.

  2. Iron Man

    Licensed song

    Black Sabbath · Iron Man

    Plays over the end credits.

  3. Iron Man (2008 big band version)

    Licensed song

    John O'Brien, Rick Boston · Iron Man

    A big band arrangement of the 1966 cartoon theme plays while Stark is in a casino.

  4. Slept On Tony With Dirt

    Licensed song

    Ghostface Killah · Iron Man

    Plays at a party on Stark's private jet.

  5. Make Way for Tomorrow Today

    Written for the film

    Richard M. Sherman · Iron Man 2

    It plays as the theme of the Stark Expo.

  6. Should I Stay or Should I Go

    Licensed song

    The Clash · Iron Man 2

    Tony Stark starts up the computers in his workshop.

  7. Another One Bites the Dust

    Licensed song

    Queen · Iron Man 2

    It plays during the fight between Tony Stark and Rhodes.

  8. California Love

    Licensed song

    2Pac, Dr. Dre, Roger Troutman · Iron Man 2

    It plays briefly during Tony Stark's birthday party.

  9. Robot Rock

    Licensed song

    Daft Punk · Iron Man 2

    It plays during the fight between Tony Stark and Rhodes.

  10. It Takes Two

    Licensed song

    Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock · Iron Man 2

    It plays during the fight between Tony Stark and Rhodes.

  11. Pick Up the Pieces

    Licensed song

    Average White Band · Iron Man 2

    It plays as Justin Hammer makes his stage entrance.

  12. The Magnificent Seven

    Licensed song

    The Clash · Iron Man 2

    Tony Stark and Happy spar while it plays.

  13. Groove Holmes

    Licensed song

    Beastie Boys · Iron Man 2

    It plays while Tony Stark sits in the Randy's Donuts sign.

  14. Walk

    Licensed song

    Foo Fighters · Thor

    Thor, stripped of his powers, drinks at a New Mexico roadhouse with Selvig, and the song plays again over the closing credits.

  15. Live to Rise

    Written for the film

    Soundgarden · The Avengers

    It plays over the end credits.

  16. Blue (Da Ba Dee)

    Licensed song

    Eiffel 65 · Iron Man 3

    It plays during the opening flashback set in 1999.

  17. Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)

    Licensed song

    Lou Bega · Iron Man 3

    It plays in the background during the 1999 flashback scene.

  18. Jingle Bells (Bombay Dub Orchestra Remix)

    Licensed song

    Joe Williams · Iron Man 3

    It plays while Tony first tries out his Mark 42 armor.

  19. Come and Get Your Love

    Licensed song

    Redbone · Guardians of the Galaxy

    It plays over the opening sequence, as Star-Lord walks and dances across the planet's surface.

  20. Plainsong

    Licensed song

    The Cure · Ant-Man

    Siri plays the song while Yellowjacket and Ant-Man fight inside a briefcase near the end of the film.

  21. Hot Poppin' Popcorn

    Licensed song

    The Wiggles · Ant-Man

    The song plays at Cassie's birthday party.

  22. Left Hand Free

    Licensed song

    alt-J · Captain America: Civil War

    It plays when Peter Parker is first introduced, over shots of his Queens neighborhood, and the Wikipedia soundtrack article says it plays again during the end credit sequence.

  23. Shining Star

    Licensed song

    Earth, Wind & Fire · Doctor Strange

    It plays at the start of Stephen Strange's first surgery scene.

  24. Un Deye Gon Hayd (The Unloved Song)

    Written for the film

    Jimmy Urine · Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

    It plays during the Contraxia scene.

  25. All the Stars

    Licensed song

    Kendrick Lamar, SZA · Black Panther

    It plays over the end credits.

  26. Pray for Me

    Licensed song

    The Weeknd, Kendrick Lamar · Black Panther

    It plays as the main characters walk into a casino in Busan, South Korea, and a house beat kicks in when the fight breaks out.

  27. Opps

    Licensed song

    Vince Staples, Yugen Blakrok · Black Panther

    It plays during a car chase, with Black Panther's claws sparking on the road.

  28. Big Shot

    Licensed song

    Kendrick Lamar, Travis Scott · Black Panther

    It plays as a ship glides across the sky.

  29. The Rubberband Man

    Licensed song

    The Spinners · Avengers: Infinity War

    As the Guardians' ship answers the distress call from the attacked Asgardian ship, the crew inside the Milano sing along.

  30. Just a Girl

    Licensed song

    No Doubt · Captain Marvel

    It plays during the final battle with Starforce, after Carol breaks free of the Supreme Intelligence.

  31. Waterfalls

    Licensed song

    TLC · Captain Marvel

    It plays as Carol and Fury drive to the PEGASUS facility.

  32. Celebrity Skin

    Licensed song

    Hole · Captain Marvel

    It plays over the first set of end credits, before the mid-credits scene.

  33. Only Happy When It Rains

    Licensed song

    Garbage · Captain Marvel

    It plays as Carol rides a motorcycle toward Pancho's bar after leaving the internet cafe.

  34. Whatta Man

    Licensed song

    Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue · Captain Marvel

    It plays after Carol crashes through a Blockbuster store and during her encounter with a security guard at the strip mall.

  35. Man on the Moon

    Licensed song

    R.E.M. · Captain Marvel

    It plays as Carol and Fury travel to Maria Rambeau's home after escaping PEGASUS.

  36. Connection

    Licensed song

    Elastica · Captain Marvel

    It plays briefly while Carol types at an internet cafe.

  37. Smells Like Teen Spirit

    Licensed song

    Think Up Anger, Malia J · Black Widow

    It plays over the opening credits sequence.

  38. Fire in the Sky

    Licensed song

    Anderson .Paak · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It plays as Wong arrives at a San Francisco bar to talk with Shaun and Katy, and it carries through the final moments and into the end credits.

  39. Hotel California

    Licensed song

    Eagles · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Katy sings it during a fight, and it returns in the mid-credits scene when she and Wong sing it together.

  40. Run It

    Licensed song

    DJ Snake, Rick Ross, Rich Brian · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It plays as Shaun fights attackers on a bus and continues as he beats up henchmen.

  41. Swan Song

    Licensed song

    Saweetie, NIKI · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It plays over Xu Xialing's second credits scene and a closing landscape shot.

  42. Lose Control

    Licensed song

    JJ Lin · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It plays as Shaun walks to Katy's home and fades out as he speaks with Mrs. Chen.

  43. In the Dark

    Licensed song

    Swae Lee, Jhené Aiko · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It plays as Katy teases Shaun about his name change and the two arrive in Macau.

  44. Act Up

    Licensed song

    Rich Brian, EARTHGANG · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It opens the present-day sequence as Shaun wakes and gets dressed over views of San Francisco.

  45. Foolish

    Licensed song

    Rich Brian, Warren Hue, Guapdad 4000 · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It plays as Katy drives through San Francisco while Shaun tells a story about his longtime friend.

  46. Old Town Road

    Licensed song

    Lil Nas X · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Shaun and Katy sing it during the karaoke montage.

  47. A Whole New World

    Licensed song

    Alan Menken, Tim Rice · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Shaun and Katy perform it for a few seconds in a karaoke booth.

  48. I Don't Want to Miss a Thing

    Licensed song

    Aerosmith · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    Shaun and Katy sing it as the third song of the karaoke montage.

  49. This Is How We Do It

    Licensed song

    Montell Jordan · Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

    It is heard during the karaoke sequence while Shaun and Katy sleep on a booth couch.

  50. Time

    Licensed song

    Pink Floyd · Eternals

    Plays over the Marvel Studios logo sequence and leads into the first present-day scene.

  51. Feels Like the First Time

    Licensed song

    Foreigner · Eternals

    Plays during the end credits, after the mid-credits scene.

  52. Sugarfoot

    Licensed song

    Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears · Eternals

    Plays during Dane's birthday party.

  53. The End of the World

    Licensed song

    Skeeter Davis · Eternals

    Plays at Phastos's home while he tucks his son into bed.

  54. Only Time

    Licensed song

    Enya · Thor: Love and Thunder

    It plays over the opening of the film.

  55. Lift Me Up

    Written for the film

    Rihanna · Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

    It plays over the end credits, after the film's story has finished.

  56. Con la brisa

    Written for the film

    Foudeqush, Ludwig Göransson · Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

    It plays while Namor takes Shuri on a tour of the underwater kingdom of Talokan.

  57. Laayli' kuxa'ano'one

    Licensed song

    ADN Maya Colectivo, Pat Boy, Yaalen K'uj, All Mayan Winik · Black Panther: Wakanda Forever

    It plays during the end credits.

  58. Creep (Acoustic Version)

    Licensed song

    Radiohead · Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3

    The film opens with this song playing, which sets a much quieter tone than the openings of the first two films.

  59. Intergalactic

    Licensed song

    Beastie Boys · The Marvels

    Plays during an action sequence.

  60. Ratata

    Licensed song

    Skrillex, Missy Elliott, Mr. Oizo · The Marvels

    Plays during Ms. Marvel scenes.

  61. Double Bubble Trouble

    Licensed song

    M.I.A. · The Marvels

    Plays during Ms. Marvel scenes.

  62. Bye Bye Bye

    Licensed song

    *NSYNC · Deadpool & Wolverine

    It plays over the opening credits while Deadpool fights Time Variance Authority officers, with dance breaks cutting into the violence.

  63. Like a Prayer

    Licensed song

    Madonna · Deadpool & Wolverine

    It plays during the big climactic action sequence, in a version reworked with a gospel choir.

  64. Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)

    Licensed song

    Green Day · Deadpool & Wolverine

    It plays over the end credits montage of clips from the Fox-era X-Men and other Marvel films, plus behind-the-scenes footage.

  65. i

    Licensed song

    Kendrick Lamar · Captain America: Brave New World

    Plays over the end credits.

  66. Mr. Blue

    Licensed song

    The Fleetwoods · Captain America: Brave New World

    At the White House summit, the song plays while Thaddeus Ross speaks and sets off men under Samuel Sterns's mind control, including Isaiah Bradley, who start shooting at Ross and other dignitaries.

More songs

Who Composed the Marvel Soundtrack?

Twenty-two composers have scored the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and Alan Silvestri is the name most tied to the Avengers crossover films. The credits run film by film, and Hollywood Records released nearly every album unless noted.

Silvestri scored Captain America: The First Avenger (Buena Vista Records, July 19, 2011, with "Captain America Main Titles"), The Avengers (2012) (May 1, 2012, with "Helicarrier"), Avengers: Infinity War (April 27, 2018) and Avengers: Endgame (April 25, 2019, with "Arrival"). Michael Giacchino scored Doctor Strange (2016) (October 21, 2016, with "Inside the Mirror Dimension") and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (July 18, 2025).

Ramin Djawadi scored Iron Man (2008) (Lions Gate Records, May 6, 2008, with "Mark I") and Eternals (2021) (November 3, 2021, with "Eternals Theme"). Craig Armstrong scored The Incredible Hulk (Marvel Music, June 10, 2008). John Debney scored Iron Man 2 (Columbia: soundtrack April 1, 2010, score July 20, 2010). Patrick Doyle scored Thor (2011) (Buena Vista Records, April 25, 2011, with "Sons of Odin").

Brian Tyler scored Iron Man 3 (April 30, 2013, with "Extremis") and Thor: The Dark World (November 14, 2013). Henry Jackman scored Captain America: The Winter Soldier (April 1, 2014, with "Project Insight") and Captain America: Civil War (April 29, 2016). Tyler Bates scored Guardians of the Galaxy (July 25, 2014, with "Ronan's Theme") and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (April 21, 2017). Danny Elfman scored Avengers: Age of Ultron (April 27, 2015) and Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (May 20, 2022, with "Gargantos"). Christophe Beck scored Ant-Man (2015) (July 17, 2015, with "Theme From Ant-Man"), Ant-Man and the Wasp (July 6, 2018) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (February 15, 2023).

Mark Mothersbaugh scored Thor: Ragnarok (October 20, 2017, with "Ragnarok Suite"). Kendrick Lamar is credited with Black Panther (2018): the score album arrived February 16, 2018, and Aftermath Entertainment released the songs album on February 9, 2018. Ludwig Göransson scored Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (score November 11, 2022; songs album November 4, 2022, led by "Lift Me Up").

Pinar Toprak scored Captain Marvel (2019) (March 8, 2019). Lorne Balfe scored Black Widow (2021) (July 9, 2021). Joel P. West scored Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (September 1, 2021). Nami Melumad scored Thor: Love and Thunder (July 6, 2022). John Murphy scored Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (May 3, 2023). Laura Karpman scored The Marvels (November 20, 2023) and Captain America: Brave New World (February 12, 2025). Rob Simonsen scored Deadpool & Wolverine (July 24, 2024, with "Deadpool Has a Theme"). Ryan Lott scored Thunderbolts* (April 30, 2025).

Popular Songs in Marvel Movies: Film by Film and Our Picks

The signature songs of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are mostly licensed rock, pop and soul tracks, led by the three Guardians of the Galaxy films. A handful were written for a specific film, including "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna, "Make Way for Tomorrow Today" by Richard M. Sherman and "Star Spangled Man" by Alan Menken and David Zippel.

The Iron Man and Avengers Era

Iron Man (2008), directed by Jon Favreau, uses "Back in Black" by AC/DC while Tony Stark rides in an army convoy in Afghanistan and jokes with the soldiers. "Iron Man" by Black Sabbath plays over the end credits, and "Slept On Tony With Dirt" by Ghostface Killah plays at a party on his private jet.

Iron Man 2 (2010) leans hardest on AC/DC, with "Shoot to Thrill" and "Highway to Hell" among its songs. "Make Way for Tomorrow Today" is the theme of the Stark Expo. "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash plays as Stark starts up the computers in his workshop, and "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band plays as Justin Hammer makes his stage entrance. The fight between Stark and Rhodes carries "Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen, "Robot Rock" by Daft Punk and "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock.

Thor (2011) features "Walk" by Foo Fighters, first in a New Mexico roadhouse where the powerless Thor drinks with Selvig, and again over the closing credits. Captain America: The First Avenger (2011) includes "Star Spangled Man". The Avengers (2012) closes with "Live to Rise" by Soundgarden over the end credits, another song written for its film.

Iron Man 3 (2013) opens in 1999, so "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" by Eiffel 65 and "Mambo No. 5 (A Little Bit of...)" by Lou Bega both play in that flashback. Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014) uses "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye.

The Guardians of the Galaxy Mixtapes

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), directed by James Gunn, built the saga's best known set of licensed songs. "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone plays over the opening sequence, as Star-Lord walks and dances across the planet's surface. "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede, "I Want You Back" by The Jackson 5, "Moonage Daydream" by David Bowie and "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell round out the mixtape.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017) uses "Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra, "Father and Son" by Cat Stevens and "The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac. "Guardians Inferno" by The Sneepers and David Hasselhoff was written for the film, as was "Un Deye Gon Hayd (The Unloved Song)" by Jimmy Urine, which plays during the Contraxia scene.

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) opens with "Creep (Acoustic Version)" by Radiohead, which sets a much quieter tone than the openings of the first two films. It also uses "Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and the Machine, "Crazy on You" by Heart and "Badlands" by Bruce Springsteen.

Mid Saga Highlights

Ant-Man (2015) plays "Plainsong" by The Cure, via Siri, while Yellowjacket and Ant-Man fight inside a briefcase near the end. Captain America: Civil War (2016) introduces Peter Parker with "Left Hand Free" by alt-J over shots of his Queens neighborhood. Doctor Strange (2016) starts Stephen Strange's first surgery scene with "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire.

Thor: Ragnarok (2017) features "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin. In Avengers: Infinity War (2018), the crew inside the Milano sing along to "The Rubberband Man" by The Spinners as the ship answers the distress call from the attacked Asgardian ship.

Black Panther (2018), directed by Ryan Coogler, has a separate album, "Black Panther: The Album (Music From and Inspired By)", released by Aftermath Entertainment on February 9, 2018. "All the Stars" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA plays over the end credits. "Pray for Me" by The Weeknd and Kendrick Lamar plays as the main characters walk into a casino in Busan, South Korea, and a house beat kicks in when the fight breaks out.

Captain Marvel (2019) is set in 1995 and has the most scene specific song list in the saga. "Just a Girl" by No Doubt plays during the final battle with Starforce, after Carol breaks free of the Supreme Intelligence. "Waterfalls" by TLC plays as Carol and Fury drive to the PEGASUS facility, and "Only Happy When It Rains" by Garbage plays as Carol rides a motorcycle toward Pancho's bar. "Celebrity Skin" by Hole plays over the first set of end credits, before the mid-credits scene.

Avengers: Endgame (2019) draws on "Dear Mr. Fantasy" by Traffic, "Doom and Gloom" by The Rolling Stones and "Supersonic Rocket Ship" by The Kinks, and it brings back "Make Way for Tomorrow Today".

Recent Films

Black Widow (2021) plays "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Think Up Anger and Malia J over the opening credits sequence.

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) has the busiest scene by scene list. "Run It" by DJ Snake, Rick Ross and Rich Brian plays as Shaun fights attackers on a bus. "Fire in the Sky" by Anderson .Paak plays as Wong arrives at a San Francisco bar, and it carries through the final moments into the end credits. Katy sings "Hotel California" by Eagles during a fight, and it returns in the mid-credits scene when she and Wong sing it together.

Eternals (2021) puts "Time" by Pink Floyd over the Marvel Studios logo sequence, leading into the first present day scene. "The End of the World" by Skeeter Davis plays at Phastos's home as he tucks his son into bed, and "Feels Like the First Time" by Foreigner plays during the end credits, after the mid-credits scene.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness (2022) includes "The Ice Cream Song", performed by Julian Hilliard and Jett Klyne, which was written for the film. Thor: Love and Thunder (2022) fills its list with Guns N' Roses, including "Sweet Child o' Mine", "Welcome to the Jungle" and "November Rain".

Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022) features "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna, written for the film and played over the end credits after the story has finished. "Con la brisa" by Foudeqush and Ludwig Göransson, also written for the film, plays while Namor takes Shuri on a tour of the underwater kingdom of Talokan.

Deadpool & Wolverine (2024) plays "Bye Bye Bye" by *NSYNC over the opening credits while Deadpool fights Time Variance Authority officers, with dance breaks cutting into the violence. "Like a Prayer" by Madonna plays during the big climactic action sequence, in a version reworked with a gospel choir. "Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)" by Green Day plays over the end credits montage of clips from the Fox era X-Men and other Marvel films, and "Slash" by Stray Kids was written for the film.

Captain America: Brave New World (2025) plays "Mr. Blue" by The Fleetwoods at the White House summit while Thaddeus Ross speaks, setting off men under Samuel Sterns's mind control, including Isaiah Bradley, who start shooting at Ross and other dignitaries. The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025) includes "Let Us Be Devoured" by Andrea Datzman, written for the film, along with "Monster Mash" and "Let's Get Lost" by Chet Baker.

Our picks: the best songs in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films (opinion)

These are the Cinvibe writer's own picks, and other fans will order them differently.

  • "Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone, Guardians of the Galaxy. In my opinion it is the best song to open a film in the saga, because Star-Lord dancing across the planet's surface sets the tone in seconds.
  • "Back in Black" by AC/DC, Iron Man (2008). It suits a cocky Tony Stark joking with soldiers in a convoy, and it set the rock soaked tone for the saga.
  • "Creep (Acoustic Version)" by Radiohead, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. Opening a Marvel film this quietly was a bold move, and it works.
  • "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. A song written for the film and placed after the story ends, which gives the credits real weight.
  • "Just a Girl" by No Doubt, Captain Marvel (2019). Putting it in the final battle with Starforce is the most pointed use of a 1990s track in the saga.
  • "Like a Prayer" by Madonna, Deadpool & Wolverine. The gospel choir version turns a climactic fight into a set piece in its own right.
  • "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin, Thor: Ragnarok. A Norse god of thunder and a Led Zeppelin track is about as natural a pairing as the saga has produced.

Facts

FAQs

What songs are used in Marvel movies?

The best known licensed songs include "Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede and "I Want You Back" by Jackson 5 in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), "Immigrant Song" by Led Zeppelin in Thor: Ragnarok (2017), "All the Stars" by Kendrick Lamar and SZA from Black Panther: The Album, and "Come As You Are" by Nirvana in Captain Marvel (2019). "Lift Me Up" by Rihanna belongs to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, and "Like a Prayer" by Madonna to Deadpool & Wolverine.

Who composed the Marvel soundtrack?

No single composer scored the whole MCU. Michael Giacchino scored six films, including Doctor Strange (2016) and the four Spider-Man films, and Alan Silvestri scored four, including The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Tyler Bates, Henry Jackman, Danny Elfman, Brian Tyler, Ramin Djawadi, Laura Karpman, Ludwig Göransson and Christophe Beck also have multiple credits.

Who wrote the music for Marvel?

The film scores are written by the individual composers hired for each film, such as Ramin Djawadi for Iron Man (2008) and Ludwig Göransson for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. The albums are released by Marvel Music and Hollywood Records, as with the Avengers: Endgame soundtrack and the Thunderbolts* soundtrack album.

What song plays in the beginning of Marvel movies?

No single licensed song opens every Marvel movie, because each film has its own composer and its own song choices. For a song led experience, Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and its Awesome Mix Vol. 1 album are the usual starting point.

What Marvel movie has the best songs?

The Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy is built around its songs, with a separate Awesome Mix album for each film, and Awesome Mix Vol. 1 reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 according to TheWrap. Black Panther (2018), Captain Marvel (2019) and Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (2021) also have strong song collections. Our top 10 in the notable songs section is labeled as opinion.

What songs are in The Marvels?

The Marvels (2023), directed by Nia DaCosta, is scored by Laura Karpman and has no notable licensed tracks. For songs from the character's first film, Captain Marvel (2019) features "Come As You Are" by Nirvana, "Just a Girl" by No Doubt, "Waterfalls" by TLC, "Crazy on You" by Heart, "Only Happy When It Rains" by Garbage and "Celebrity Skin" by Hole.