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I recently saw two so-so movies that included Beach Boys tracks: the new "Alfie," which featured "Little Saint Nick," and "50 First Dates," which had "Wouldn't It Be Nice."  It made me wonder if there is a definitive list of Beach Boys tracks used in feature film soundtracks.  The lists at IMDb under Brian's, Carl's, Dennis's names (as composers) seem incomplete (for instance Brian is not listed for either "Alfie" or "50 First Dates.")

The most "obscure" (to the general public) Beach Boys song I'm aware of being on a movie soundtrack is "Feel Flows," which was in "Almost Famous."

My favorite appearance of a Beach Boys song in a movie is "American Graffiti," which plays "All Summer Long" over the closing credits. (The characters also talk about the Beach Boys in the film, which is set in 1962.)

Another incredible one is the finale of Shampoo, which uses Wouldn't It Be Nice to great effect.
WIBN is also used memorably in Roger And Me.
God Only Knows is used wonderfully in Boogie Nights.
Don't Worry Baby is in Never Been Kissed.

"God Only Knows" is used in a  most unsettling manner in 'Enduring Love'.  Stalker-flick - good choice.

"God Only Knows" used at the end of 'Love Actually'.  Good date flick.

A couple horrible ones are When I Grow Up in Look Who's Talking and Surfin' U.S.A. in Teen Wolf.

I thought Wouldn't It Be Nice was used well in Bubble Boy.  :)

A couple BW '88 songs were used in 'Can't Buy Me Love', that cheesy 80's Patrick Dempsey movie. ;)

"This Isn't Love" by Brian was used in the Flinstones  movie (second one I think)

Karen Burdorff on the PSML has been keeping a list for a while now.  It's the most definitive one of which i'm aware...

Both "Lay Down Burden" and "Love And Mercy (IJWMFTT-version)" were used in "Orange County".

Does the meddle in "Top Secret" count?

Hey, don't call that movie cheesy!  At age 17 I loved it!  I don't remember the BW '88 songs from the soundtrack, though.  Do you remember which ones they were?  IMDb lists "Surfin' Safari" on the soundtrack but no other Brian compositions.

If anything, you better be criticizing the songs.

Let this be a lesson to everyone: never, ever criticize Teen Wolf.*


*Criticizing Teen Wolf Too is entirely permissible, and, in fact, encouraged.

What about I Get Around at the beginning?

"Kokomo" is used in the film "Cocktail" with Tom Cruise.  ;)

There's a pair of tragedies for you...

The perfect choice for such a movie.

Actually the most obscure would probably be from one of the most obscure movies of all time, Neil Young's "Journey Through The Past" and his use of Brian Wilson's "Let' Go Away For A While" during the closing credits. Believe it or not, that is where my love for Brian's music all began.

DAMN!!!!!!!!!
I forgot that, the best use of Brian's music in a film by far.

Here's the list - could probably use some updating:

                 
1964 Karen (TV)      
"Karen" performed  by the BB
 
1964  The T.A.M.I. Show    
(The Beach Boys segment was in the theatrical release only, but is now available on the DVD part of Sights & Sounds Of Summer)

1965 The Monkey's Uncle     
"The Monkey's Uncle"

1965 Beach Ball    
"My Buddy Seat" written by Brian Wilson, sung by The Hondells with  background vocals from Brian.

 1965 Girls on the Beach   
"Girls on the Beach"
"Lonely Sea"
"Little Honda"
 
1972 Neil Young's Journey Through  the Past   
"Let's Go Away For Awhile"
 
1973 American Graffiti   
"Surfin' Safari"
"All Summer Long"
 
1975 Shampoo   
"Wouldn't It Be Nice"
 
1978 Almost Summer   
"Almost Summer"
"Sad, Sad Summer"
(the movie version of these two differ greatly from the LP tracks)
“Cruisin’”
"Lady Lynda"

1978 Dead Man's Curve (TV)    
"Surfin'"
 
1979 Americathon     
"It's A Beautiful Day"
 
1980 Hollywood Knights      
“Fun, Fun, Fun"
" Barbara Ann"
“Surfin' USA"
" Surf City"
 
1983 The Big Chill     
"Wouldn't It Be Nice"
 
1984  The Karate Kid     
"(Bop Bop) On the Beach"  written by Mike Love, sung by Mike in movie but not on soundtrack LP.

1984 Top Secret!     
"California Girls"
"Little Honda"
"Surfin' USA"
"Fun, Fun, Fun"
"Hawaii"
"Do It Again"

Note - although these songs are listed in the credits, they are not actually heard in the film: rather they form the basis of the hilarious "Skeet Shootin' USA" medley.

1984  Up The Creek     
"Chasin' the Sky"

1985 A View To Kill     
"California Girls" sung by Adrian Baker

1985 Teen Wolf      
"Surfin' USA"

1985  Weird Science     
"Don't Worry Baby"
 
1986 One Crazy Summer   
"Fun, Fun, Fun"
"Do It Again"
"Wouldn't It Be Nice"
"In My Room"

1986 Flight Of the Navigator    
"I Get Around"

1986 Down and Out In Beverly Hills 
California Girls" (David Lee Roth's version)
 
1987 Back To The Beach     
"Catch A Wave"

1987 Can't Buy Me Love     
"Surfin' Safari"

1987 Good Morning Vietnam     
"I Get Around"
"Warmth Of The Sun"
"Don't Worry Baby"

1987 The New Monkees(TV)    
"Do It Again"

1987 Police Academy 4
"Let's Go To Heaven In My Car"

1987 Telephone      
"Happy Endings"

1987  Disorderlies      
"Wipeout"  (need confirmation that this   was indeed the BB with the Fat Boys version)
 
1988 Alien Nation     
"Surfin' Safari"

1988 Cocktail      
"Kokomo"

1988 Tequila Sunrise     
"Don't Worry Baby" (new version w/Everly Bros.)

1988   Lover Boy       
"Walkin The Line" 
"Melt Away" - both are Brian Wilson
 
1989 Lethal Weapon 2     
"Still Cruisin"

1989 Look Who's Talking
"I Get Around"
"When I Grow Up "

1989 Roger and Me     
"Wouldn't It Be Nice"

1989 She's Outta Control     
"Daddy's Little Girl" - Brian Wilson

1989 Troop Beverly Hills     
"Make It Big" - different mix to LP release
 
1990 Downtown          
"Shutdown"
"I Get Around"
"Catch A Wave"
"Surfin' USA"
"Surfer Girl"

1990 Graveyard Shift     
"Surfin' Safari"

1990   Green Card     
"Surfin' Safari"

1990   My Blue Heaven     
"Surfin'USA"

1990 Problem Child     
"Problem Child"
 
1992 Mighty Ducks     
"Good Vibrations"

1992 Breaking The Rules         
 "Surf City"
 
1993 Theremin: An Electronic Odyssey (TV)
"Good Vibrations"

1994 Forrest Gump     
"Sloop John B"

1994 Greedy      
"Surfin' Safari"

1994 Les Roseaux Sauvages    
"Barbara Ann"

1994  Love Affair     
"Barbara Ann"

1994  My Girl 2      
"Don't Worry Baby"

1994 Bert                     
"Good Vibrations"
" I Get Around"
" Surfin USA"
" Surfer Girl"
 
1995 Bye, Bye Love     
"Don't Worry Baby"
 
1996 Sleepers         
"Wouldn't It Be Nice"
Warmth of The Sun"
"Good Vibrations"

1996 Vegas Vacation     
"Good Vibrations"

1996 Albert Brook's "Mother"   
"In My Room"

1996 Head Above Water         
"Sail On Sailor"

1996 Flipper                                
"Do It Again"
 
1997 Mr. Bean      
"I Get Around"

1997 Toothless (TV)                
"I Get Around"

1997 Boogie Nights     
"God Only Knows"

1997 That Darn Cat               
“Help Me, Rhonda"
 
1998  Rush Hour                 
"Surfin USA"

1999  Outside Providence         
"Little Saint Nick"

1999  Anywhere But Here     
"Surfin' Safari"

1999  Never Been Kissed         
 "Don't Worry Baby"

1999  Three Kings                   
 "I Get Around"
 
2000  Meet The Parents           
 "California Girls"

2000 Almost Famous                 
"Feel Flows"

2000 Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas       
"This Isn't Love" (although not  Brian's version)

2000 What's Cooking?             
 "Wouldn't It Be Nice"
  (parts of this movie were filmed in Hawthorne, CA)
 
2001  Rush Hour 2                   
 "California Girls"

2001 Bubble Boy (video movie)
"?????"

2002  Vanilla Sky                     
 "Good Vibrations"

Wow, Andrew, that's a fantastic list!  :)

It's amazing (and disappointing) to see how many crap movies use BB songs...

I forgot Vanilla Sky! That's an amazing usage.

Absolutely!

I used Cool Cool Water and Day in the Life of a Tree and Can't Wait Too Long and Little Pad in student films I made... Does that count?

About "Vanilla Sky": The new version of "Good Vibrations" would fit soo much better. You know, "...working on my brain".  ;D

Haha!  Very clever!  ;)

Tom Cruise´s wonderful a-capella version of "Little Deuce Coupe" in "War Of The Worlds".

Wasn't Getcha Back used in a film recently? I think it was a cover version...

Not my list - I just posted it. The credit goes to Karen Burdoff.

No, it was the original. Herbie Fully Loaded.

Well people forget too that the BBs themselves cameo in the movie and I'm pretty sure it's the same FB/ BBs version in the movie. Great comedy!

BTW of course HeftySums would know about this!

"CHASIN THE SKY" FROM UP THE CREEK RULES BABY!!!!!

Do you have to write ALL the worst posts ever in one day?

 :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

PWNED!

yr not jealous are ya now...buck up ya namby pamby!!!

Oh God help us. Troll alert.

One of the Superman films (I think III) has a scene with some BB tune playing (that, I forgot, too).

Big help I am :D

I love how Good Vibrations was put to use in VANILLA SKY. Classic!

I have to agree.

"TECH SUPPORT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Three Kings' use of I Get Around was inspired genius.

out of the mind makes a moogie!!!

Never been kissed/ dont worry baby
50 first dates/ wouldnt it be nice
Seifeild episode but I cannot remember the song sh*t...

xoxo
suga

Wouldn't It Be Nice.

people we need to get a petition the Lord with Prayer

Petition the Lord with Prayer

Petition the Lord with Prayer


....and to get up the creek sdntrk officially reissued
i loved the cheap trick title track and vid, along w/ spring Break & get ready.....

 ::)

dont forget Let it Shine was also in Orange County!!

The use of All Summer Long at the end of American Graffiti is really effective because it's used over an epilogue section were we're told what happens to the (fictional) characters on the cusp of adulthood we've just been watching in the film.  And it's sort of 'died in Vietnam' or just quite mundane stuff that really suits the pathos of the song with its happy/sad ambience and "won't be long 'til summer time is through" refrain.  This was the first time I ever heard that song and it was one of the things that really got me a lot more interested in The Beach Boys than I had been up to that point.

I agree wholeheartedly, Sir Rob.  The end of American Graffiti first gives the brief bios of the male characters -- several of which are shockingly tragic after the bittersweet but warm tone of the rest of the movie.  Then the xylophone/glockenspiel intro of "All Summer Long" starts up -- and what is so cool is the way George Lucas, with what must have been a very low budget for credits, had the names of the lead characters and actors appear piecemeal in rhythm with the song.  Then, as the vocals kick in, the credits start scrolling.  This was at a time when most movies had very limited end-credit scrolls, if any (unlike the 4-5 minutes thank-everybody-and-the-caterer's-mom-to-pad-the-official-running-time we see now).  Perfect synthesis of music and visual. 

Plus I love the part of the movie when Mackenzie Phillips and Paul LeMat are riding in LeMat's deuce coupe and the Wolfman Jack plays "Surfin' Safari" on the radio, saying how he thinks the Beach Boys are going to go far.  Mackenzie says the Beach Boys are "boss," but LeMat says he hates surfing music and that rock and roll has been going downhill since Buddy Holly died.  Classic!  Assuming the movie is set in late summer 1962, the use of "Surfin' Safari" is not anachronistic, because it hit the charts in August.

Thanks - it's quite a few years since I've watched that film and you've brought it back to my mind more exactly.

On Three's Company, John Ritter at different times has sung parts of Fun, Fun, Fun (2 separate episodes), and Surfin' Safari. A version of Surfin' Safari was featured on an episode of The Golden Girls.


A pretty good list below:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1274814/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Co_4qOsbo8 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Co_4qOsbo8)

"The Beach Boys are great American music."
"The Beach Boys gonna get you a great ass whoopin."

:lol This scene makes me bust out laughing every time I see it.

:lol
Best movie ever.

Thanks for that!

My kids roared when we watched that scene in the movie! 

Hilarious, even now!   :lol

I'm sure there is plenty to add to the list since these posts.  There have been some nice examples of more obscure tracks I've noticed being used in prominent films.  Ones that come to mind for me include Sail On Sailor in The Departed, River Song in Marley & Me, and Ol' Man River (among others) in The Fantastic Mr. Fox.

I saw it a week ago, very funny scene: [a bunch of night workers are given a task to kill all the rats in the basement of the textile factory. Tackled with hoses, they see] some of rats sliding the water on small woods. There is a tape recorder with Surfin' Safari on. The very 1st "Let's go surfin' now..." begins the rat "surfing", so it seemed like the guys picked this song for laughs. 1 or 2 even sang along. This is the only good moment in the otherwise bad horror flick (about a huge semi-rat/bat).

"Wouldn't It Be Nice" used very effectively in the fantastic but depressing Michael Moore GM "documentary" Roger & Me.

I redbox'ed (is that a verb?) the new movie "No Way Jose" starring Adam Goldberg and was pleasantly surprised to hear the bulk of "Little Bird" featured.

Not a movie, but they played God Only Knows on Coast to Coast the other night.  Also, one morning years ago I was flipping through the channels and Imus was playing the vocal snippet from Don't Talk as lead in music.

I am pretty sure there are some BBs songs, in this new motion picture called 'Love and Mercy'
 :-D :-D :-D

Some years ago I was pleasantly surprised at the theater to hear the BWPS version of Good Vibrations over the end credits of the hilarious "Wild Hogs".

Yesterday, I watched Hotel Transylvania 3 with my family.  Good Vibrations is played near the end.  Spoiler alert:  The villain controls the kraken in his effort to kill all the monsters by playing an evil song but Dracula's son-in-law counters this by playing positive music...  "Good Vibrations" being his first choice.

Can't forget the Old Man River acapella mix in Wes Anderson's 2007 adaptation of Fantastic Mr. Fox. At first I was astonished when I heard it, and then remembered that it's a Wes Anderson film with Randall Poster as music supervisor so of course they're gonna use an alternate version of a bonus track from the Friends-20/20 two-fer.

+1
That particular song has got to be my absolute favourite officially released "obscurity"!

Should also mention that go’s only knows was the theme song for the hbo TV show Big Love that ran for like four seasons about a Mormon polygamous family

You can add Five Summer Stories a MacGillivary Freeman production from 1972. A surfing movie (arguably one of the greatest of all time) which had major cinema release in the USA and Australia and played through to 1975. Use of the Beach Boys tracks were given free of charge by the band and it went a long way to giving the band credibility in the 70s:

Feel Flows
Surfin Safari
Surfin
California Girls
Do It Again
Good Vibrations
Surfs Up
California
Sail On Sailor
The Trader
Long Promised Road