James Gunn’sSupermansoared into theaters with glowing reviews praising its heart, acting, and authenticity. Gunn is no stranger tosuperhero films, having directed a total of five, excluding a TV series and a holiday special. Butwhat makes many of his projects so unique is his utilization of needle drops. Needle drops are a point in a movie or show when a pre-existing song is used to enhance the scene and emotion.
As a master of needle drops and his new movie is out, this list will rank his best out of all his superhero movies. This meansPeacemakerandCreature Commandoswon’t be featured on this list, as they are TV shows. Based on fan opinion and critical acclaim, this list will delve into the best needle drops, evaluatinghow well they enhance the scene, how iconic the moment is, how entertaining the sequence is, and how original it is.
10"O-o-h Child" by Five Stairsteps
‘Guardians of the Galaxy’ (2014)
There are too many excellent needle drops to count, meaning some memorable ones will be left out, but this list wouldn’t be right without a few from the firstGuardians of the Galaxy. At the end of the film, when Star-Lord (Chris Pratt) is trying to distract Ronan (Lee Pace),he sings “O-o-h Child” by Five Stairsteps to divert his attentionso they can get the Power Stone and take Ronan down.
This may not technically be a needle drop, and that is why it is placed last here, but this moment was too iconic to leave off this list. It didn’t enhance the emotion, but it served as an unexpected scene that was bothhilarious, relevant to the character, and important to the story. It was the perfect way to handle this scene, making it all the more iconic and memorable.
Guardians of the Galaxy
A group of intergalactic criminals must pull together to stop a fanatical warrior with plans to purge the universe.
9"Mr. Blue Sky" by Electric Light Orchestra
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ (2017)
Gunn is a master at opening his movies with needle drops, andGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2was yet another masterful intro credit scene.As the members fight a giant alien creature in the background, Baby Groot (Vin Diesel) turns on some speakersand starts jamming out to “Mr. Blue Sky” byElectric Light Orchestra.
There was no importance in including this song, as it only played during the opening credits, but sometimesthe most memorable moments become so purely because of their entertainment value.Guardians 2may not be better thanSuperman, but it featured a plethora of outstanding needle drops to vibe to, and this one was perhaps the most enjoyable.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2
The Guardians struggle to keep together as a team while dealing with their personal family issues, notably Star-Lord’s encounter with his father, the ambitious celestial being Ego.
8"5 Years Time" by Noah and the Whale
‘Superman’ (2025)
Despite only recently being released,Supermanhas already managed to deliver two iconic needle drops, despite the movie focusing on orchestral music. Mr. Terrific (Edi Gathegi) and Lois Lane (Rachel Brosnahan) break into a facility when they are met by guards, whichMr. Terrific handles with “5 Years Time” by Noah and the Whale playing in the background.
This entry will briefly describe the scene and relevance, but will avoid direct and essential spoilers. No one expectedMr. Terrific to be a scene-stealer, but he easily became one of the best characters in the film, specifically with this needle-drop scene. His fight sequence against a group of grunts, set to anupbeat tone that made the unforgettable battle even more memorable, was enhanced by the muted sound behind the force field, making this movie one of themost rewatchableSupermanmovies.
Follows the titular superhero as he reconciles his heritage with his human upbringing. He is the embodiment of truth, justice and the American way in a world that views kindness as old-fashioned.
7"Hey" by Pixies
Because Gunn has so many incredible needle drops,The Suicide Squadonly received one entry on this list, despite having countless memorable moments. One of the best scenes was set to “Hey” byPixies, where the squad walked out into the rain in dramatic fashion, mentally preparing for the film’s final fight.
The Suicide Squadis one ofDC’s best movies of the 2020s, and this needle drop scene was part of why this film was so entertaining. While the scene that follows would be brutal and gory, the few moments walking up to the base weresomehow serene and built up the intrigue, potentially being the last time fans saw all of these characters alive.
The Suicide Squad
James Gunn’sThe Suicide Squadacts as a soft reboot for David Ayer’s 2016Suicide Squad.Amanda Waller (Viola Davis) is again recruiting a group of superheroes for a dangerous mission, this time pairing Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman) with Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Bloodsport (Idris Elba), Peacemaker (John Cena), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Ratcatcher 2 (Daniela Melchior), Savant (Michael Rooker), King Shark (Sylvester Stallone), Blackguard (Pete Davidson), and Javelin (Flula Borg).
6"Creep" by Radiohead
‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3’ (2023)
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3had a distinctly different tone compared to the rest of the trilogy, leaning more towards the depressing and emotional side.The film sets the tone right at the beginningwith a needle drop playingRadiohead’s “Creep.” Rocket (Bradley Cooper) walks through the Guardians’ new base, singing the song, and meets Peter in a depressive state.
This needle drop sets the tone for the film, creating a sense of melancholy as the group struggles to adapt to their new home. Quill is an alcoholic, and Rocket is reliving some traumatic memories;“Creep” accentuates both of these moments, making this needle drop a depressing yet brilliant scenethat is distinctly different from the rest of theGuardians of the Galaxymovies.
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
Still reeling from the loss of Gamora, Peter Quill rallies his team to defend the universe and one of their own - a mission that could mean the end of the Guardians if not successful.
5"Hooked on a Feeling" by Blue Swede
Guardians of the Galaxyhad two particular songs that became wildly popular again after its release, one being “Hooked on a Feeling” byBlue Swede. Finding themselves in prison, this song plays after a guard plays Quill’s walkman, cuing the montage of them getting used to this new life. This song was already famous, butthis movie reintroduced it and got a new generationhooked.
Finding themselves in prison, this song plays after a guard plays Quill’s walkman, cuing the montage of them getting used to this new life.
Song fans may believe this needle drop should be higher simply because the song stuck in everyone’s head after the film. While this song is catchy and iconic,it didn’t elevate the scene enough or showcase as much originality as others. Still, this moment became iconic for a reason, with its sweet groove and melody making this one of thebest needle drops in a superhero movie.
4"We Care a Lot" by Faith No More
Everyone loves an epic slow-motion walk, but none more than Gunn, who has included many of these moments in numerous films, but his best might come fromGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3. As the group prepares to leave, they realize they need to go back onto the ship, which cues the music, playing “We Care a Lot” byFaith No More.
Like some of the entries on the list, this moment was simply too badass and epic to leave off. Not only does the song featurerelevance towards the scene, as it highlights that they do care, but with a certain rebelliousness, but it is also a riveting scene to get fans hyped up. It is the best needle drop in the third film and one of the best in the trilogy.
3"Punkrocker" by Teddybears
This list has mentioned how Gunn incorporated iconic needle drops into most of his films' opening credits, butSupermandoesn’t feature one. However,Gunn instead saves one of his best needle drops for the end of the film. Playing “Punkrocker” byTeddybears, Superman (David Corenswet) watches a slideshow of his memories with his parents on Earth.
Superman is the last person people expect to be a punk rock fan, despite his claims to the contrary. The end of the film shows Clark reliving his Earth memories with this song playing in the background,reinforcing themes of punk rock, family, legacy, humanity, and purpose. It is a gorgeous and heartfelt ending to an incredible movie, making it one of the best needle drops in one ofthe best Superman movies.
2"The Chain" by Fleetwood Mac
Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2is arguably the most forgettable in an unforgettable trilogy, but despite being overshadowed, it has one of the best needle drops in cinematic superhero history. When the rest of the Guardians are near death,Quill awakens his god-like powers to defeat his father, Ego (Kurt Russell), freeing them and defeating the main villain.
This second use of “The Chain” byFleetwood Macmirrors its first scene, when Quill looks at a picture of his father, and the group leaves Nebulla (Karen Gillan). However, this moment is much more epic, emotional, and impactful, helping to reinforce the values of his friends while also recalling his mother. Not only is this needle drop acaptivating scene, but its relevance and weight are a highlight of the film.
1"Come and Get Your Love" by Redbone
It was tough choosing between “The Chain” by Fleetwood Mac inGuardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2and “Come and Get Your Love” byRedbonein the first movie. However, as mentioned,Gunn is a master at opening films with needle drops, and this is arguably thebest opening scene in the history of superherofilms.
Starting with Star-Lord scavenging in the ruins, this song shifts the vibe as he dances around the temple and sings alongside alien creatures. Everyone remembers this scene because of its memorability and originality, which set it apart from otherMCUfilms. Fans could jam to this opening alongside Star-Lord as the opening credits played.This needle drop boosted the popularity of “Come and Get Your Love” and is now synonymous withGuardians of the Galaxy.
NEXT:Look Up! James Gunn’s ‘Superman’ Is Far Better Than These 10 Superhero Movies
