19 Best Songs to Use in Your Movie Trailer: Epic Tracks Guaranteed to Hook Viewers

1. Hurt - 2025

Sound: Johnny Cash's gravelly vocals and the song's mournful melody create a powerful sense of vulnerability and despair, perfect for setting a dark and dramatic tone in a movie trailer.

Emotional Impact: The raw emotion in Cash's performance evokes a profound sense of loss and regret, immediately captivating the viewer and setting the stage for a compelling narrative.

Use in Trailers: Its haunting quality makes "Hurt" ideal for trailers depicting themes of redemption, revenge, or the consequences of past actions; consider using it during scenes showcasing internal conflict or moments of profound emotional weight.

2. Protectors of the Earth (Invincible - 2025)

Epic Scope: "Protectors of the Earth" by Two Steps from Hell and Thomas Bergersen boasts a sweeping orchestral score, perfect for establishing a grand, cinematic scale in your trailer.

Intense Build-Up: The track masterfully builds tension through layered instrumentation and dynamic shifts in tempo, culminating in a powerful crescendo that leaves a lasting impact.

Emotional Resonance: Its blend of heroic and slightly melancholic undertones creates a powerful emotional resonance, ideal for evoking a sense of both hope and struggle within a movie trailer.

3. Heads Will Roll (Yeah Yeah Yeahs - 2025)

Driving Beat: "Heads Will Roll" boasts a relentless, propulsive rhythm that builds tension and anticipation, ideal for establishing a scene of escalating drama or suspense in a movie trailer.

Karen O's Vocals: Karen O's powerful and dramatic vocals are instantly recognizable and add a layer of raw emotion, capable of conveying a wide range of moods from fierce determination to unsettling unease.

Dramatic Build: The song's dynamic arrangement, with its escalating intensity and climactic moments, makes it perfect for a trailer that needs to create a sense of urgency and excitement leading to a powerful payoff.

4. The Way (Zack Hemsey)

Driving Rhythm: "The Way" by Zack Hemsey boasts a powerful, propulsive rhythm that builds tension and anticipation, ideal for establishing a sense of urgency or impending action in a movie trailer.

Epic Orchestration: The soaring strings and dramatic percussion create a sense of grandeur and scope, perfectly complementing epic visuals and high-stakes scenes.

Emotional Impact: Its blend of intensity and subtle melancholy allows for both thrilling action sequences and poignant, emotionally resonant moments within a trailer, making it highly versatile.

5. Tom Sawyer (Rush - 1981)

Driving Rhythm: Rush's "Tom Sawyer" boasts a powerful, anthemic rhythm section that builds tension and excitement, perfect for establishing a protagonist's journey or impending conflict in a movie trailer.

Iconic Guitar Riff: The instantly recognizable guitar riff is both memorable and easily integrated into a montage sequence, adding a layer of intensity and classic rock swagger.

Emotional Arc: The song's dynamic structure, from its energetic verses to its soaring chorus, mirrors the emotional highs and lows often present in a compelling film narrative, leaving the audience wanting more.

6. Castle (Halsey)

Sound: Halsey's "Castle" boasts a dramatic, cinematic soundscape, built on soaring strings and a powerful, driving beat—ideal for building tension or underscoring a pivotal scene.

Vocals: Halsey's emotive vocals, capable of both vulnerability and fierce power, add a layer of emotional depth that resonates deeply with viewers, making it perfect for conveying a wide range of feelings.

Emotional Impact: The song's blend of anthemic grandeur and underlying vulnerability creates a powerful emotional arc, making it a versatile choice for trailers that aim for both epic scope and intimate character moments.

7. Lust for Life - 1977

Driving Rhythm: Lust for Life's relentless, propulsive beat creates an immediate sense of urgency and momentum, perfect for building tension in a trailer.

Iggy Pop's Vocals: His raw, visceral vocals add a gritty, edgy quality that can underscore a film's dark or rebellious themes, conveying both danger and excitement.

Iconic Status: The song's instantly recognizable riff and overall energy make it a powerful choice for capturing attention and leaving a lasting impression on viewers – a true cinematic moment waiting to happen.

8. Time - Inception (Music from the Motion Picture)

Sound Design: Hans Zimmer's "Time" boasts a powerful, layered soundscape that builds tension masterfully, perfect for establishing a dramatic mood in a movie trailer.

Emotional Impact: The piece evokes a sense of urgency and impending doom, ideal for showcasing conflict or high-stakes action sequences.

Orchestration: The rich orchestral arrangement, with its soaring strings and pounding percussion, creates a sense of epic scale, fitting for trailers of large-budget films.

9. Blue Monday

Blue Monday

Artist: Sebastian Böhm

Sound: Its melancholic yet driving melody, built on a powerful bassline and punctuated by synth chords, creates a sense of dramatic tension perfect for building suspense in a trailer.

Emotional Impact: The song's inherent mood of pensive longing and underlying unease can effectively foreshadow a film's darker themes or moments of high stakes.

Suggestive Use: Consider using "Blue Monday" during a montage sequence showcasing the protagonist's internal struggle or a scene depicting impending doom; the track's dynamic range offers ample opportunity for impactful editing.

10. Requiem for a Dream (2000)

Emotional Impact: Clint Mansell's "Requiem for a Dream" boasts a haunting, melancholic melody that perfectly captures the desperation and despair often depicted in movie trailers, instantly setting a dark and dramatic tone.

Sound Design: The piece masterfully uses strings and a cello to create a sense of unease and foreboding, building tension and anticipation – ideal for grabbing viewer attention and creating a lasting impression.

Versatility: Its adaptable structure allows for easy integration into diverse trailer styles, from psychological thrillers to intense action sequences, making it a versatile choice for filmmakers.