With more than 80 million record sales around the globe and the number 20 spot on the RIAA’s ranking of the bestselling musical artists of all time, it’s safe to say that Van Halen is one of the most popular rock bands in the world. They’ve been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and they were credited with the resurgence of hard rock in the 1970s.
Van Halen’s music has been licensed by a number of filmmakers — including Richard Linklater, who named his college comedy Everybody Wants Some!! after a Van Halen song — for use in their movies.
Updated August 18th by Jessica Jalali
Minions (2015) - "Eruption"
Minions is an adorable and funny movie that takes the viewer through multiple decades, from the Stone Age to the Swinging Sixties. As a result, it may be a surprise to see the 1978 instrumental track "Eruption" in the film's 60s setting. However, it is done in a fun and interesting way.
In the scene, minion Stuart is gifted an electric guitar, and after a few moments to get familiar with it, shreds out a virtuoso-level guitar solo. That guitar solo is "Eruption" which has been regarded as the greatest guitar solo of all time. This scene makes it look like Stuart is the originator of the solo, in a comical twist of historic events.
“Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” In Everybody Wants Some!!
The song that the movie is named after isn’t the only Van Halen track that appears in Richard Linklater’s underrated college comedy Everybody Wants Some!! — “Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” makes an appearance, too.
The song plays at a party where some girls are wrestling in mud. While it doesn’t make as much of an impression as “Everybody Wants Some!!” itself, it’s nonetheless a memorable scene.
Zombieland (2009) - "Everybody Wants Some"
Zombieland cuts between laid-back scenes of comedic discussion and high-octane, creepy scenes where the main characters fight for their lives against ravenous zombies. "Everybody Wants Some" is used expertly in the soundtrack of this movie, fitting in with the irreverent tone of this zombie-comedy hybrid. "Dance the Night Away" is from the 1979 album Van Halen II and one of the group's most popular songs. There is even a movie named after the song, made in 2016 by Richard Linklater.
“Feel Your Love Tonight” In The Green Hornet
Seth Rogen’s superhero comedy The Green Hornet isn’t the greatest movie ever made, but it’s certainly better than its unfortunate reputation would suggest.
Van Halen’s “Feel Your Love Tonight” plays over a montage as the Green Hornet and Kato’s crimefighting antics hit the media and their vigilante justice begins to encroach on the main villain’s turf.
That's My Boy (2012) - "And The Cradle Will Rock"
That's My Boy is about perennial screwup Donny who can't seem to realize that it's not the 80s anymore as he tries to reacquaint himself with his estranged son Todd. Donny was a tabloid fixture in the 80s after he was involved in a sex scandal with his teacher, mirroring the real-life scandal of the Mary Kay Letourneau trial. Given Donny's 15 minutes of fame in the 80s, the movie has a slew of era-related callbacks and cameos, including from Growing Pains dad Alan Thicke and Different Stroke's Todd Bridges. The film's party atmosphere in the film is aided by the Van Halen addition to the soundtrack.
“Jump” In Ready Player One
Steven Spielberg put everything and the kitchen sink in Ready Player One in of pop culture references. Van Halen’s “Jump” plays over the opening scene that introduces the dystopian future version of Columbus, Ohio in 2045, setting the nostalgic tone beautifully.
Wade bumps into a handful of other gamers who like to escape into the Oasis before heading into the virtual universe himself. “Jump” was also used in the movie’s trailers.
Night Shift (1982) - "You Really Got Me"
Starring Michael Keaton and Henry Winkler, Night Shift is a comedy about two morgue workers who turn their macabre workplace into a full-on brothel, where they become pimps. Keaton's character is a zany and manic individual, making every room he walks into chaotic. For some chaotic, fun energy, Van Halen's "You Really Got Me" is particularly apt. The song's pounding drums and power chords aid the film's scenes involving the bombastic character played by Keaton.
“Dance The Night Away” In Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
When Ron Burgundy and his news team are initially hired to report on a 24-hour news network in Anchorman 2, they’re given a timeslot in the middle of the night in which they can’t hope to compete with the primetime reporters for ratings.
However, when they start sensationalizing their stories and reporting on exciting things like car chases, they earn unprecedentedly high ratings. “Dance the Night Away” plays as the team re-enters the studio on top of the world.
“Runnin’ With The Devil” In Little Nicky
Although it became Adam Sandler’s first box office bomb when it hit theaters, a refreshingly dark sense of humor.
Sandler plays the Devil’s son in the movie, so it’s appropriate that Van Halen’s hard-rocking hit “Runnin’ with the Devil” makes an appearance on the soundtrack.
“Edward Van Halen” In Back To The Future
When George McFly is refusing to go to the Enchantment Under the Sea dance at school, effectively ensuring that his son Marty will never exist, Marty appears to him in the middle of the night and claims to be “Darth Vader from the planet Vulcan,” who orders him to take Lorraine to the dance. He wakes him up with a loud guitar lick performed by Eddie Van Halen.
Van Halen wrote and recorded the technically untitled piece specifically for Back to the Future as a favor to record producer Quincy Jones. The tape is labeled “Edward Van Halen,” because Van Halen wouldn’t allow the producers to use the band name.
