For those unfamiliar with the term, a “needle drop” refers to the needle on a record player (which would drop and begin playing music). It’s something that may seem alien to many younger people, but it’s an enduring phrase which simply signifies a time when music starts. To that end, the best needle drop moments in movies are a perfect marriage of song and scene.
What exactly makes a song work in a particular scene often varies. It’s usually either something symbolic which makes the music and the events unfolding onscreen marry up, but sometimes it’s simply a song that perfectly matches the atmosphere of a scene. Either way, getting it just right isn’t always easy, but when it’s achieved, it’s a thing of beauty. Here are 8 of the best needle drop moments in movies.
8. Reinventing The Hero – Spider-Man: Far From Home
The scene:
As the first MCU film after Iron Man death, Spider-Man: Far From Home addresses the hero’s death through the eyes of Peter Parker, who considered him a mentor. Much of the film concerns Peter reluctantly attempting to carry Iron Man’s legacy, leading to a rather egregious lapse in judgement. Forced to face off against the hero and in need of a new suit, Spider-Man rediscovers his impressive engineering abilities, striking out as his own hero while simultaneously following in Stark’s own footsteps.
The song: “Back in Black” by AC/DC
Having AC/DC’s “Back in Black” play over the montage of Peter engineering his new suit is a perfect homage to 2008’s Iron Man. The song was one enjoyed by Tony Stark years before, and helps strengthen the symbolic parallels of Peter Parker’s journey with Stark’s own. Giving the young hero a montage to the AC/DC tune subtly demonstrated how he was honoring his mentor’s legacy while also beginning to stand on his own.