12 Iconic Rock Songs Influenced by Classic Films

      Here are some classic rock songs influenced by timeless films that we adore. Some connections are clear, while others might surprise you.

      We’re not discussing songs specifically created for classic movies. Instead, we’re looking at instances when an artist watched a film — like the iconic Casablanca mentioned above — and felt so inspired that they went home and crafted an incredible song.

      Ready? Let’s dive into this list of classic rock tracks influenced by beloved classic films.

      Bob Dylan – ‘Motorpsycho Nightmare’ (1964)

      Credit: Paramount Pictures

      Janet Leigh in Psycho. Paramount Pictures© Janet Leigh in Psycho. Paramount Pictures

      This Dylan track from 1964 directly references La Dolce Vita while drawing heavier influence from Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho, even mentioning its lead actor and the film's most renowned scene:

      There stood Rita, looking just like Tony Perkins / She said, “Would you like to take a shower? I’ll show you up to the door / I said, “Oh, no, no, I’ve been through this movie before.”

      David Bowie – ‘Space Oddity’ (1969)

      Credit: C/O

      2001. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer© 2001. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

      Bowie's "Space Oddity," narrating the tale of a doomed astronaut named Major Tom, was inspired by Stanley Kubrick's landmark film 2001: A Space Odyssey, as Bowie shared in the book David Bowie: Starman by Paul Trynka.

      “I was completely stoned at the movie, and it really left an impact on me, especially the trip sequence,” Bowie recounted.

      “Space Oddity” was hastily sent to radio stations to coincide with the moon landing in July 1969. British television even featured the song during its coverage of the event — since apparently, the producers initially didn't realize that the soon-to-be classic rock song revolved around an astronaut stranded in space.

      Creedence Clearwater Revival – “Bad Moon Rising” (1969)

      RKO Radio Pictures – Credit: RKO Pictures

      John Fogerty stated that CCR’s classic hit “Bad Moon Rising” was inspired by a scene from the 1941 movie The Devil And Daniel Webster, which tells the story of a farmer who sells his soul to the devil for success, only to seek the help of lawyer Daniel Webster to break his pact.

      Fogerty was particularly captivated by a scene post-hurricane where trees, homes, and furniture lay scattered across the landscape. Sample lyrics:

      I hear hurricanes a-blowin’ / I know the end is comin’ soon / I fear rivers overflowin’ / I hear the voice of rage and ruin.

      Aerosmith – ‘Walk This Way’ (1975)

      Teri Garr in Young Frankenstein. 20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      Mel Brooks' 1974 film Young Frankenstein was still showing in theaters in 1975 when Aerosmith members went to watch it, drawing inspiration for their hit “Walk This Way” from one of the film’s best jokes, as guitarist Joe Perry shared with The Wall Street Journal in 2014.

      Brooks noted in his memoir, All About Me!, that the joke is a nod to vaudeville, emphasizing that he has reused it multiple times.

      It’s a legendary stage routine from a classic movie that merged into classic rock — and later classic hip-hop, with Run-DMC covering the song — bringing together generations of entertainment.

      Blue Oyster Cult – ‘Godzilla’ (1977)

      Credit: Toho

      Godzilla. Toho©

      Do we really need to justify this one?

      The lyrics include:

      With a purposeful grimace and a terrible sound / He pulls the spitting high tension wires down / Helpless people on a subway train / Scream bug-eyed as he looks in on them / He picks up a bus and he throws it back down / As he wades through the buildings toward the center of town / Oh no, they say, he’s got to go /

      Go go Godzilla, yeah / Oh no, there goes Tokyo / Go go Godzilla, yeah.

      Deep Purple – ‘Why Didn’t Rosemary’ (1969)

      Credit: C/O

      Mia Farrow in Rosemary’s Baby. Paramount Pictures

      This 1969 track from Deep Purple is influenced by Roman Polanski's 1968 film Rosemary’s Baby and the 1967 novel by Ira Levin, exploring the plight of Rosemary (played by Mia Farrow), who becomes pregnant with the devil’s child:

      Why didn’t Rosemary ever take the pill? / Laying there waiting, waiting for the kill / Oh, man won’t do it, but the devil will, yeah.

      Roxy Music – ‘2HB’ (1972)

      Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman in Casablanca. Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      Roxy Music's lead singer Bryan Ferry openly acknowledges the influence of Casablanca on this beautiful