3 of the Best Uses of Tom Petty Songs in Film

Tom Petty songs are timeless. They invoke a sense of nostalgia that is hard to beat. Naturally, many filmmakers have opted to include a Petty song or two on their soundtracks. Find our three favorite Petty needle drops, below.

[RELATED: Luke Combs’ Cover of Tom Petty’s “Runnin’ Down a Dream” Chosen as This Season’s SEC Hype Song]

3 of the Best Uses of Tom Petty Songs in Film

1. “Free Fallin'” (Jerry Maguire)

After a particularly high point in Jerry Maguire, Tom Cruise’s titular character attempts to find a song to belt out on the radio. He cycles through a few options, but ultimately lands on Petty’s “American Girl.” This power ballad is tailor-made for belting along to. If you need evidence of that fact, check out the scene, below.

She’s a good girl, loves her mama

Loves Jesus and America too

She’s a good girl, crazy ’bout Elvis

Loves horses and her boyfriend too

2. “I Won’t Back Down” (Barnyard)

Switching to the animated space, the next slot on our list is from the Nickelodeon film Barnyard. Despite the movie’s animal cast and relatively outlandish plot, the addition of Petty’s “I Won’t Back Down” adds an emotional through line that is sure to draw a tear or two. The song passes from a father to a son at the crux of the story. It becomes a rallying cry to overcome any obstacle in the characters’ way. Though Petty likely never guessed his song would be sung by an animated cow one day, it ended up being the perfect needle drop.

No, I’ll stand my ground

Won’t be turned around

And I’ll keep this world from draggin’ me down

Gonna stand my ground

3. “American Girl” (Silence of the Lambs)

Sometimes a filmmaker can use music to throw the viewer off. In Silence of the Lambs, Jonathan Demme uses “American Girl” to set an upbeat tone. That tone is quickly ruined as the music turns sour, letting the viewer know that something is amiss. It’s a brief light moment in this otherwise fear inducing film.

Oh yeah, all right

Take it easy, baby

Make it last all night (Make it last all night)

She was an American girl

(Photo by Theo Wargo/WireImage for Manning, Selvage and Lee)