Best Soundtracks of All Time (Certified Sales)

This article ranks the best soundtracks of all time based on certified sales data maintained by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The top ten soundtrack rankings are shared by thirteen soundtracks with collective sales of 136 million units. Units include key formats such as records, cassettes, CDs, and MP3s.

These soundtracks comprise sixteen music genres and subgenres. Four of these soundtracks were recorded by solo artists.

Each soundtrack that follows includes its certified sales, recording artist(s), record label, release date, genre(s), and popular songs.

After reading "Best Soundtracks of All Time (Certified Sales)," return to these links to read "Best Albums of All Time (Certified Sales)," "Best Country Albums of All Time (Certified Sales)," "Best_Hip_Hop_Albums_of_All_Time_(Certified_Sales)," "Best Rock Albums of All Time (Certified Sales)," and "Best R&B Albums of All Time (Certified Sales)."

1. Best Soundtracks of All Time - The Bodyguard

Certified sales: 17x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Whitney Houston
Record label: Arista
Release Date: 11/17/1992
Genre(s): R&B
Popular songs: "I Will Always Love You"; "I'm Every Woman"; "I Have Nothing"

2. Best Soundtracks of All Time - Saturday Night Fever

Certified Sales: 15x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Bee Gees
Record label: RSO
Release Date: 11/1977
Genre(s): Disco
Popular songs: "Stayin' Alive"; "How Deep is Your Love"; "Jive Talkin"; "You Should Be Dancing"

3. Best Soundtracks of All Time - Purple Rain

Certified Sales: 13x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Prince and the Revolution
Record label: Warner Bros.
Release Date: 6/25/1984
Genre(s): Rock, Funk, R&B
Popular songs: "When Doves Cry"; "Let's Go Crazy"; "Purple Rain"


4. Best Soundtracks of All Time - Forrest Gump

Certified Sales: 12x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Epic
Release Date: 6/28/1994
Genre(s): Pop, Rock, Country, Soul, Psychedelic Rock
Popular songs: "Fortunate Son (CCR)"; "California Dreamin' (The Mamas & the Papas)"; "For What It's Worth" (Buffalo Springfield); "Break on Through" (The Doors); "Turn, Turn, Turn" (The Byrds); "Sweet Home Alabama" (Lynyrd Skynyrd); "Against the Wind" (Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band)


5. (tie) Best Soundtracks of All Time - Dirty Dancing

Certified Sales: 11x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: RCA
Release Date: 8/21/1987
Genre(s): Pop, Rock, R&B
Popular songs: "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" (Bill Medley, Jennifer Warnes); "She's Like the Wind" (Patrick Swayze); "Hungry Eyes" (Eric Carmen); "In the Still of the Night" (The Five Satins)


Best Soundtracks of All Time - Titanic

Certified Sales: 11x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Sony Classical
Release Date: 11/18/1997
Genre(s): Adult contemporary, Instrumental
Popular songs: "My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion)


6. Best Soundtracks of All Time - The Lion King

Certified Sales: 10x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Disneyland
Release Date: 5/31/1994
Genre(s): Rhythmic, World Beat, Pop
Popular songs: "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" (Elton John); "Circle of Life" (Elton John)

7. (tie) Best Soundtracks of All Time - Top Gun

Certified Sales: 9x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Columbia
Release Date: 5/13/1986
Genre(s): Rock
Popular songs: "Danger Zone" (Kenny Loggins); "Take My Breath Away" (Berlin); "Heaven in Your Eyes" (Loverboy)

Best Soundtracks of All Time - Footloose

Certified Sales: 9x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Columbia
Release Date: 1/31/1984
Genre(s): Dance, Pop rock
Popular songs: "Footloose" (Kenny Loggins); "Let's Hear it for the Boy" (Deniece Williams)

8. (tie) Best Soundtracks of All Time - Grease

Certified Sales: 8x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Polydor
Release Date: 4/1978
Genre(s): Pop, Rock and Roll
Popular songs: "Grease" (Frankie Valli); "Summer Nights" (John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John); "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John); "You're the One that I Want" (John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John)

Best Soundtracks of All Time - O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Certified Sales: 8x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Mercury Records
Release Date: 12/5/2000
Genre(s): Country, Bluegrass
Popular songs: "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow" (Soggy Bottom Boys & Dan Tyminski)

9. Best Soundtracks of All Time - Waiting to Exhale

Certified Sales: 7x Platinum
Recording artist(s): Various
Record label: Arista
Release Date: 1/14/1995
Genre(s): R&B
Popular songs: "Exhale" (Whitney Houston); "Sittin' Up in My Room" (Brandy); "Not Gon' Cry" (Mary J. Blige); "Let it Flow" (Toni Braxton)

10. Best Soundtracks of All Time - Pure Country

Certified Sales: 6x Platinum
Recording artist(s): George Strait
Record label: MCA
Release Date: 9/15/1992
Genre(s): Country
Popular songs: "I Cross My Heart"; "Heartland"

Source(s):

"Top 100 Albums," Recording Industry Association of America