James Gunn‘s Superman soared into theaters with glowing reviews praising its heart, acting, and authenticity. Gunn is no stranger to superhero films, having directed a total of five, excluding a TV series and a holiday special. But what makes many of his projects so unique is his utilization of needle drops. Needle drops are a point in a movie or show when a pre-existing song is used to enhance the scene and emotion.
As a master of needle drops and his new movie is out, this list will rank his best out of all his superhero movies. This means Peacemaker and Creature Commandos won’t be featured on this list, as they are TV shows. Based on fan opinion and critical acclaim, this list will delve into the best needle drops, evaluating how well they enhance the scene, how iconic the moment is, how entertaining the sequence is, and how original it is.
10
“O-o-h Child” by Five Stairsteps
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
There are too many excellent needle drops to count, meaning some memorable ones will be left out, but this list wouldn’t be right without a few from the first Guardians of the Galaxy. At the end of the film, when Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is trying to distract Ronan (Lee Pace), he sings “O-o-h Child” by Five Stairsteps to divert his attention so they can get the Power Stone and take Ronan down.
This may not technically be a needle drop, and that is why it is placed last here, but this moment was too iconic to leave off this list. It didn’t enhance the emotion, but it served as an unexpected scene that was both hilarious, relevant to the character, and important to the story. It was the perfect way to handle this scene, making it all the more iconic and memorable.
9
“Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
Gunn is a master at opening his movies with needle drops, and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 was yet another masterful intro credit scene. As the members fight a giant alien creature in the background, Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) turns on some speakers and starts jamming out to “Mr. Blue Sky” by Electric Light Orchestra.
There was no importance in including this song, as it only played during the opening credits, but sometimes the most memorable moments become so purely because of their entertainment value. Guardians 2 may not be better than Superman, but it featured a plethora of outstanding needle drops to vibe to, and this one was perhaps the most enjoyable.
8
“5 Years Time” by Noah and the Whale
‘Superman’ (2025)
Despite only recently being released, Superman has already managed to deliver two iconic needle drops, despite the movie focusing on orchestral music. Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) break into a facility when they are met by guards, which Mr. Terrific handles with “5 Years Time” by Noah and the Whale playing in the background.
This entry will briefly describe the scene and relevance, but will avoid direct and essential spoilers. No one expected Mr. Terrific to be a scene-stealer, but he easily became one of the best characters in the film, specifically with this needle-drop scene. His fight sequence against a group of grunts, set to an upbeat tone that made the unforgettable battle even more memorable, was enhanced by the muted sound behind the force field, making this movie one of the most rewatchable Superman movies.
Superman
- Release Date
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July 11, 2025
- Runtime
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130 minutes
7
“Hey” by Pixies
‘The Suicide Squad’ (2021)
Because Gunn has so many incredible needle drops, The Suicide Squad only received one entry on this list, despite having countless memorable moments. One of the best scenes was set to “Hey” by Pixies, where the squad walked out into the rain in dramatic fashion, mentally preparing for the film’s final fight.
The Suicide Squad is one of DC’s best movies of the 2020s, and this needle drop scene was part of why this film was so entertaining. While the scene that follows would be brutal and gory, the few moments walking up to the base were somehow serene and built up the intrigue, potentially being the last time fans saw all of these characters alive.
6
“Creep” by Radiohead
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 had a distinctly different tone compared to the rest of the trilogy, leaning more towards the depressing and emotional side. The film sets the tone right at the beginning with a needle drop playing Radiohead‘s “Creep.” Rocket (Bradley Cooper) walks through the Guardians’ new base, singing the song, and meets Peter in a depressive state.
This needle drop sets the tone for the film, creating a sense of melancholy as the group struggles to adapt to their new home. Quill is an alcoholic, and Rocket is reliving some traumatic memories; “Creep” accentuates both of these moments, making this needle drop a depressing yet brilliant scene that is distinctly different from the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy movies.
5
“Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
Guardians of the Galaxy had two particular songs that became wildly popular again after its release, one being “Hooked on a Feeling” by Blue Swede. Finding themselves in prison, this song plays after a guard plays Quill’s walkman, cuing the montage of them getting used to this new life. This song was already famous, but this movie reintroduced it and got a new generation hooked.
Finding themselves in prison, this song plays after a guard plays Quill’s walkman, cuing the montage of them getting used to this new life.
Song fans may believe this needle drop should be higher simply because the song stuck in everyone’s head after the film. While this song is catchy and iconic, it didn’t elevate the scene enough or showcase as much originality as others. Still, this moment became iconic for a reason, with its sweet groove and melody making this one of the best needle drops in a superhero movie.
4
“We Care a Lot” by Faith No More
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)
Everyone loves an epic slow-motion walk, but none more than Gunn, who has included many of these moments in numerous films, but his best might come from Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. As the group prepares to leave, they realize they need to go back onto the ship, which cues the music, playing “We Care a Lot” by Faith No More.
Like some of the entries on the list, this moment was simply too badass and epic to leave off. Not only does the song feature relevance towards the scene, as it highlights that they do care, but with a certain rebelliousness, but it is also a riveting scene to get fans hyped up. It is the best needle drop in the third film and one of the best in the trilogy.
3
“Punkrocker” by Teddybears
‘Superman’ (2025)
This list has mentioned how Gunn incorporated iconic needle drops into most of his films’ opening credits, but Superman doesn’t feature one. However, Gunn instead saves one of his best needle drops for the end of the film. Playing “Punkrocker” by Teddybears, Superman (David Corenswet) watches a slideshow of his memories with his parents on Earth.
Superman is the last person people expect to be a punk rock fan, despite his claims to the contrary. The end of the film shows Clark reliving his Earth memories with this song playing in the background, reinforcing themes of punk rock, family, legacy, humanity, and purpose. It is a gorgeous and heartfelt ending to an incredible movie, making it one of the best needle drops in one of the best Superman movies.
2
“The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 is arguably the most forgettable in an unforgettable trilogy, but despite being overshadowed, it has one of the best needle drops in cinematic superhero history. When the rest of the Guardians are near death, Quill awakens his god-like powers to defeat his father, Ego (Kurt Russell), freeing them and defeating the main villain.
This second use of “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac mirrors its first scene, when Quill looks at a picture of his father, and the group leaves Nebulla (Karen Gillan). However, this moment is much more epic, emotional, and impactful, helping to reinforce the values of his friends while also recalling his mother. Not only is this needle drop a captivating scene, but its relevance and weight are a highlight of the film.
1
“Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
It was tough choosing between “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and “Come and Get Your Love” by Redbone in the first movie. However, as mentioned, Gunn is a master at opening films with needle drops, and this is arguably the best opening scene in the history of superhero films.
Starting with Star-Lord scavenging in the ruins, this song shifts the vibe as he dances around the temple and sings alongside alien creatures. Everyone remembers this scene because of its memorability and originality, which set it apart from other MCU films. Fans could jam to this opening alongside Star-Lord as the opening credits played. This needle drop boosted the popularity of “Come and Get Your Love” and is now synonymous with Guardians of the Galaxy.
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