What Movie Is This Song From? How to Find Songs From Movies
Movies use two kinds of music: released songs (licensed tracks you can find on Spotify) and the original score written for the film. Which one you heard decides where to look.
1. Identify it in the moment
Watching at home? Open SoundCatch, pick Listen, and hold your phone near the speakers. On a laptop, the SoundCatch Chrome extension works with headphones on.
Hum it after the movie
Still in your head after the credits? Hum it for 10 seconds and get the name.
Hum it now →2. Read the end credits
Every licensed song in a film is listed in the end credits, usually under "Songs" with the title, writers and performers. Pause and scan the list for a title that fits the mood of the scene.
3. Look up the soundtrack
Search [movie name] soundtrack or check Tunefind and WhatSong, which list songs by scene. For a score piece, search the composer's soundtrack album.
4. Hum it later
If you're already home, hum the melody into SoundCatch's Hum mode for about 10 seconds. This works for released songs. For score music, describing the scene in a search usually works better.
5. What movie is this song from?
Going the other way, from a song to the film it's in, takes two steps:
- Get the song's name first. Hum it or play it into SoundCatch and note the exact title and artist.
- Search where it's been used. Search "[song name]" movie or "[song name]" soundtrack. Soundtrack sites such as Tunefind and WhatSong let you search by song and list the films and shows that used it, often down to the scene.
Popular songs often appear in several films, trailers and adverts, so the scene you remember helps you pick the right one.
FAQ
How do I find out what movie a song is from?
Identify the song first, then search "[song name]" movie or look the song up on a soundtrack site like Tunefind or WhatSong, which list every film and show that used it.
How do I find a song from a movie trailer?
Trailers often use different music from the film itself. Search "[movie name] trailer song", since trailer music is widely tracked online.
What if the music has no lyrics?
It's probably the film's original score. Find the official soundtrack album and listen through the track list.
Find your song now
Hum it, play it, or upload a video. Your first song is free, no account needed.
Find my song →Read more: How to Find a Song From a TV Show · How to Find an Instrumental Song (No Lyrics) · How to Find a Song by Humming — No App Needed · All guides
Free music tools: Vocal range test · BPM & key finder · Ringtone maker