4 Movie Soundtracks That Became Way Bigger Than The Movie Itself

Saturday Night Fever's Bee Gees soundtrack outlived the film's cultural footprint

"Stayin' Alive," "Night Fever," and "How Deep Is Your Love" made the Bee Gees synonymous with the entire disco era. The soundtrack album spent 24 weeks at number one and sold over 40 million copies — far more culturally dominant today than the plot of the film itself.

Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" overshadowed The Bodyguard entirely

Houston's cover became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with the soundtrack album moving more than 45 million copies worldwide. Decades later, it's a fixture at weddings and funerals far beyond anyone still discussing the movie's story.

"(I've Had) The Time of My Life" became bigger than Dirty Dancing's plot ever was

The film's signature song became an inescapable wedding and celebration staple in its own right, achieving a level of cultural ubiquity that arguably surpasses general awareness of the movie's actual storyline.

Guardians of the Galaxy's Awesome Mix became a chart phenomenon of its own

"Awesome Mix Vol. 1," made up entirely of previously released 70s and 80s songs like "Hooked on a Feeling" and "Come and Get Your Love," became the first soundtrack composed entirely of old songs to top the Billboard 200 in over a decade.