Grab some popcorn and enjoy this Horror Movie Playlist. I have collected thirteen l tie-in songs to classic horror and sci-fi films that are sure to add some groove to your horror movie night. From alternative to rap to psychedelic 60’s rock, there is something for everyone in this eerily eclectic playlist.
From “Ghostbusters” to “The Blob”, some horror theme songs have gained nearly as much notoriety as the film they accompanied. We really need to bring back giving horror and sci-fi releases official tie-in songs. We are missing out on so many outlandish songs – who wouldn’t want a rock ballad themed to MEGAN 2.0? While not all of these songs are official (like DJ Jazzy Jeff’s “A Nightmare on My Street”), all these songs bring back fond memories of some weird and wonderful horror and sci-fi hits. This fun lineup is a perfect backdrop to get in the mood for an evening of frightful flicks.
Grab your cotton candy ray guns and popcorn bazookas! Let’s start this playlist with the high-energy theme from 1988’s Killer Klowns from Outer Space. The Dickies frontman, Leonard Phillips, was not able to see the film before its release, so he wrote the song & lyrics based solely on the title. Miraculously, the song is a perfect fit with the cult-classic film, embodying the fun, whimsy, and dark humor of the film’s clown-like aliens as they terrorize a small town.
To learn more about the backstory and legacy of this track, I recommend this 2023 Dread Central article by Rachel Reeves.
While 1968’s The Green Slime is often considered one of the worst sci-fi films of all time, its title track is a psychedelic ear worm. How can you not enjoy the over-the-top vocal presentation and silly lyrics?
What can it be, what’s the reason?
Is this the end of all the breathin’?
Is it something in your head?
Will you believe it when you’re dead?GREEN SLIME! GREEN SLIME! GREEN SLIME! GREEN SLIME!
Just have fun and dance along. You know I always like to have a bit of a sense of humor with these playlists.
Ten years before The Green Slime underwhelmed audiences, the OG gelatinous alien monster crept, leapt, glid, and slid onto the big screen in 1958’s The Blob. With a bouncy rhythm and beach vibes, the title track warns us to “Beware of the Blob”.
Written by Burt Bacharach and Mack David, this became Bacharach’s first major hit as a composer. “The Five Blobs” were a group of studio musicians lead by Bernie Knee (often credited as “Bernie Nee”). Knee’s voice was overdubbed five times for the iconic vocals but he was not officially credited by the studio.
Released in 1988, “A Nightmare on My Street” is an un-official ode to the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise. While it was considered for inclusion on the franchise’s fourth film, the producers ultimately decided against it. New Line Cinema actually sued the record label for copyright infringement. This resulted in a disclaimer being added to all releases of the song, stating that it was not authorized, licensed, or affiliated with the Nightmare on Elm Street films.
Despite all that, the song is a humorous and catchy love letter to the most fearsome horror icon, Freddy Kreuger.
While everyone knows how to snap their fingers to the iconic Addams Family theme song, MC Hammer’s theme to 1991’s The Addams Family, is less well-known. The track was recorded for the film and included on MC Hammer’s 1991 album, Too Legit to Quit. Despite becoming a top-10 hit in the U.S., the song won a Golden Raspberry Award for “Worst Original Song” in 1992.
The song does not fare well outside of the 90’s – and its Raspberry win suggests it did not do too well back then either! However, this still brings some variety to a horror movie night playlist with something you don’t hear very often.
Alright, I have subjected you to a few outlandish songs, so as we near the halfway point to our list, I am including a familiar favorite. Ghostbusters by Ray Parker, Jr. is a staple on every Halloween playlist. Made for the 1984 comedy-horror Ghostbusters, the song spent three weeks in the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 list in the U.S. The song was even nominated for an Oscar in the “Best Original Song” category.
Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman took the helm for filming the official music video. The video features clips from the movie, the Ghostbusters themselves (Bill Murry, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson) dancing through Times Square, and celebrity cameos including Chevy Chase, John Candy, Danny DiVito, and many more. It is as zany and enjoyable as the song itself!
While 1985’s Tranyslvania 6-5000 was critically panned, the film will always hold a special place in my heart. Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis are such a fantastic paring in every movie they appear in together, and this film has delightful twists on classic monsters from vampires to Frankenstein’s monster to the wolfman.
The film’s title is a play on Glenn Miller’s classic big band arrangement “Pennsylvania 6-5000”, but the theme song leans into its 80’s time period. From an electric guitar solo to pounding synth drums, this song fully embodies the 1980’s and the popcorn horror flicks of the era.
I don’t wanna be buried in a pet sematary
I don’t want to live my life again
Written for the 1989 Stephen King adaptation Pet Sematary, this song of the same name became one of the Ramones’ biggest radio hits. It is quite catchy and encapsulates the themes of both film and novel.
According to the song’s Wikipedia page, Stephen King, a Ramones fan, invited the band to his home one time when they were playing in the area. On that visit he gave Dee Dee Ramone a copy of his novel Pet Sematary and about one hour later Dee Dee had written the lyrics to this song. It has since become a horror playlist favorite, with a multitude of covers.
People say I’m crazy and I make no sense
Relatable lyrics.
The 1980’s were really a golden age of horror rock themes. The next installment on this list comes from 1985’s Fright Night. The song was written by Joe Lamont and performed by J. Geils Band – best known for their hits “Centerfold” and “Love Stinks”. This was the band’s last single; they broke up shortly after filming the music video. It is quite the shame because I bet they could have made a lot more horror rock hits.
Let’s slow things down with this enchanting theme to 1967’s Mad Monster Party. This lesser-known stop-motion animation from Rankin/Bass Productions (creators of holiday classics such as Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman) pays homage to the classic monsters of the 30’s and 40’s. Count Dracula, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Invisible Man, and a slew of other royalty-free versions of fan favorite monsters make appearances in this family-friendly musical horror.
Ethel Ennis’ smooth and sultry vocals make this theme a perfect ballad to snuggle close to that special spooky someone on the couch.
To bridge the gap between the 60’s and 2020’s, this next song is from a modern remake of a classic tv show: Rob Zombie’s 2022 The Munsters. Written by Rob Zombie and Zeuss, and performed by Rob Zombie, this song was nominated for a Hollywood Music in Media Award in the category “Original Song – Streamed Film (No Theatrical Release)”.
The song introduces the odd characters of The Munster family – who are “creepy, coo-coo, and a little insane”. It has a fun and psychedelic sound.
Time to rock out with the title track to 1980’s New Year’s Evil. The producers of the film sent out a call for original song submissions, with a piece written by Roxanne Seeman and Eddie del Barrio being ultimately chosen. The Seattle rock band Shadow was approached to record the track.
To get an authentic sound, the producers had the band perform the song live for a scene in the film, recording the song without overdubbing. That means that if a mistake was made – the whole thing had to be performed and recorded again. The result was an electrifying heavy metal classic that can be heard three times throughout the film – the opening & closing credits and in the scene where the band is playing it live on stage.
You really can’t find a better horror-themed New Year’s Eve song (at least of the time of writing this piece).
All good things must come to an end, but this Horror Movie Night Playlist saves the best for last. This epic anthem was made for 2016’s Sadako vs. Kayako, in which Sadako from The Ring and Kayako from Ju-On face off in the ultimate J-Horror battle.
“Noroi no Shananana” (translated to “The Curse of Syananana”) is performed by the Japanese heavy metal band Sikima-II. The lyrics describe each of the cursed women and their signature attacks – but ultimately, either way you are not making it out of this battle alive. Get up and dance to this energetic and electrifying finale.
Death! Death!
Death has chosen you
Death! Death!
Death is all around you
Inescapable fate
What will be will be
Undeniable curse, it’s no fantasy
It’s your turn, your reality
Did you like it? What songs are on your Horror Movie Night playlist? Let me know on Instagram @EmilyIsHorror
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