The Greatest “Needle Drops” Ever!

You know that one scene that sets the tone for the movie, thanks to the music.

That is known as a needle drop, and it can make a movie memorable.

Let’s start with an iconic needle drop: Tiny Dancer on the tour bus in Almost Famous. A band on the brink, tensions high, and Elton John’s song saves the day with a sing-along that brings everyone back to center. It’s not just music, it’s therapy.

Then there’s Goodfellas, where Scorsese drops Layla during a montage of dead mobsters. The sweet piano plays over bodies in freezers and dumpsters. Haunting, ironic, and so damn good it’s become legend.

Another classic is in Boogie Nights. “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger—supported by firecrackers, awkward tension, and a guy in a bathrobe—it’s pure brilliance.

Want the full list? It’s packed with genius moments, from all of the above to The Graduate to Do the Right Thing. Check it out on The Hollywood Reporter.

Doug O’Brien