Summary

• The Animals' songs featured in iconic films like Perfect Days and influenced key scenes with their powerful, resonant tunes.
• Their music transcends language barriers, as seen in Perfect Days where "House of the Rising Sun" was beautifully sung in Japanese.
• The Animals' music adds depth to movies like Gunpowder Milkshake and Suicide Squad, enhancing climactic scenes with emotive ballads.

Though the frequent use of "House of the Rising Sun" in movies is what The Animals are likely best known for, some of their other great tunes have appeared on the big screen. One of the most prominent bands of the “British Invasion” movement in the 1960s, The Animals made their name with their gritty, blues-inspired sound and the distinctive deep voice of their lead singer Eric Burdon. The band initially suffered from poor management and broke up just a few years into their run, but the original lineup has since been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

As with any great band, The Animals' songs have inspired a few filmmakers to include their music on the soundtracks of their movies. From Martin Scorsese to James Bond to Disney films with plenty of songs, the most memorable uses of The Animals' music in movies showcase the band's biggest hits and even some underrated songs. Some fans might even be surprised that they were listening to The Animals in some of their favorite movies.

Ford V Ferrari (2019)

"Don't Bring Me Down"

Ford v Ferrari is an exciting car movie based on a true story and tells the story of the Ford Motor Company's attempts to compete against the seemingly unbeatable Ferrari in the iconic 24-hour car race, Le Mans in 1966. Matt Damon and Christian Bale star as the underdogs who are hired by Ford to achieve this impossible dream.

With the movie set in 1966, The Animals' song from that year, "Don't Bring Me Down" fits nicely into the soundtrack. The song plays during an early scene in which Bale's character Ken Miles is having his car examined and is being told it doesn't match the requirements for the race. Miles is a character who seems to be always fighting against those in power telling him the rules and this song makes for a fitting theme song for him in this early defiant moment in his story.

Perfect Days (2023)

"House Of The Rising Sun"

Perfect Days is a quiet and beautiful movie by German director Wim Wenders. It is a slice-of-life story following a Japanese man named Hirayam who works cleaning toilets in Tokyo while living his life in tranquility and peace. The movie simply follows him on his daily journeys as he encounters different people that cause him to reflect on his own life.

"House of the Rising Sun" is heard a couple of times in the movie, but it is most memorable during a scene in which a woman sings the song in Japanese. It is a delightful scene as Hirayam and the other patrons of the bar peacefully watch her stellar rendition of the song but it also speaks to the legacy of The Animals' most famous tune which is shown to transcend language and still be effective.

Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

"It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"