Taylor Swift is known for writing songs that effectively convey emotions and resonate deeply with listeners “All Too Well”. Her poetic lyrics have the uncanny capacity to describe the most complex feelings with the simplest of words. Naturally, her songs seamlessly fit into various moments; both in real and reel life. This includes how her decade-old song “The Way I Loved You” beautifully depicted Belly’s emotions in The Summer I Turned Pretty. Or the “Carolina” for Where the Crawdads Sing. Swifties, ardent fans of Taylor Swift, eagerly embrace any show or movie featuring her songs, instantly making it a favourite. Here’s a list of Taylor Swift songs featured in movies and TV series.
The Eras Tour Movie
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Swift’s global conquest continues, as she wraps up the North American leg of her Eras Tour and announces a full-fledged concert film for North American theatres. Notably, this film has already broken records in pre-sales, surpassing Marvel’s Spider-Man: Far From Home with an impressive USD 26 million in just three hours. It had such an impact that The Exorcist changed its release date to avoid a collision.
American Swifties may now relive one of the most memorable nights of their life. It’s also a silver lining for those unable to obtain the coveted concert tickets. In light of this exciting news, let’s look at films and TV shows with Taylor Swift songs on their soundtracks.
Most noteworthy uses of Taylor Swift’s songs in movies & TV shows
Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version) in Wilderness trailer (2023)
The trailer for the upcoming Amazon Prime thriller series, based on B.E. Jones’ novel of the same name, aired on August 23rd and featured a revenge anthem that couldn’t have been more fitting. “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” was the ideal soundtrack for the show’s plot.
The series follows a married British couple, Liv (Jenna Coleman) and Will (Jackson-Cohen), who have a beautiful new life in New York, and the feeling that their best days are yet to come. Everything comes crashing down when Liv learns about Will’s affair, causing heartbreak and a storm of rage. Revenge becomes her only option, and when Will suggests a trip through America’s gorgeous National Parks to help them reconnect, Liv knows exactly how to make it happen. Wilderness is a compellingly twisted love story in which a dream vacation quickly turns into a nightmare. The trailer’s usage of “Look What You Made Me Do (Taylor’s Version)” effectively conveys the angry and vengeful tone of the series.
The old version of this song also appeared in the third season of the thriller show Killing Eve in episode 7.
Love Story (Taylor’s Version) in The Bear (2023)
Taylor Swift’s iconic country-pop song from Fearless TV sets the tone in Season 2, Episode 7 of The Bear. The tune fills the air as Richie faces a pop quiz during his restaurant staging, and later, he can’t help but sing along on his drive home.
This season of the show is full of Taylor Swift references, owing to Richie’s ex-wife and daughter who are huge Swifties. But what’s more endearing is that Richie appears to have grown appreciative of Swift’s music. The sequence in the car where he eagerly belts out “Love Story” adds a pleasant and lovable touch to the series. Furthermore, the happy tune portrays Richie’s voyage of self-discovery, affirming his newfound passion for the stage. It’s a self-love story.
Carolina in Where the Crawdads Sing (2022)
After reading the book Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, Taylor was so moved that she penned down the song “Carolina”. The instrumental version of the beautifully haunting track plays during the movie capturing the feelings of the lead, Kya. The song missed out on an Oscar nomination but won an MTV Movie & TV Award in the Best Song category.
The Summer I Turned Pretty Soundtrack (2022-)
This is the ultimate show for Swifties, where Taylor Swift’s songs grace the background, every now and then weaving seamlessly into the story. The series revolves around a young girl named Belly and her intricate love triangle with the Fisher brothers — Conrad and Jeremiah.
In the first season, the show kicked off with “Cruel Summer” and ended with the heartfelt “This Love (Taylor’s Version),” finally uniting Belly and Conrad. Along the way, emotional tunes like “The Way I Loved You,” “False God,” and “Lover” graced the scenes.
Following the dramatic first season, Swifties were excited to see which of Taylor’s songs would appear in season 2. Jenny Han did not disappoint, as the show featured nine Swift songs. Even the teaser caught us with a new version of “august” that we can’t get enough of!
The second season’s musical highlights included “Last Kiss” fresh from Speak Now (TV), “Hey Stephen (Taylor’s Version),” “invisible string,” “Back to December”, “Sweet Nothing,” “exile (Ft. Bon Iver),” and “Snow at the Beach,” which added additional drama to Belly and Conrad’s continuous narrative. “Bigger Than The Whole Sky” sets the emotional tone in a touching scenario in which Belly pays a visit to Susannah (her mother’s best friend and Conrad and Jeremiah’s mother) on her deathbed.
Throughout the series, Taylor Swift’s songs find their way into numerous Conrad and Belly scenes, leaving viewers wondering if the pair is Taylor-approved. And in a subtle twist, the song “Delicate (Taylor’s Version)” accompanies a scene featuring Belly and Jeremiah. What’s your take on this? Could it be an Easter egg?
I Don’t Wanna Live Forever for Fifty Shades Darker (2017)
The Fifty Shades franchise boasts a soundtrack filled with captivating songs, and one notable addition is Taylor Swift and English singer Zayn Malik‘s “I Don’t Wanna Live Forever” for the second instalment, Fifty Shades Darker. In this scene, Anastasia and Christian share a moment of leisure on his expansive boat. Christian patiently guides Anastasia in steering the boat, helping her overcome her nervousness. It’s a heartwarming scene that transcends their physical attraction, revealing the sweet and genuine moments they cherish before the story delves into more intense territory later in the film. FYI, it is also the most-streamed song from her discography on Spotify.
Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version) for Spirit Untamed (2021)
“Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” made a comeback in the new animated movie trailer Spirit Untamed. It’s the first re-recorded song from her 1989 TV.
The story starts off with Lucky, a young girl, moving to a tranquil town and creating an unbreakable bond with Spirit, a wild mustang who shares her free-spirited personality. When a callous wrangler threatens to kidnap Spirit and his herd, Lucky and her newfound companions go on a thrilling adventure to save the horse that changed her life forever. The song expresses the beauty of their friendship as well as the delight of the experience. A further example of Swift’s versatility as a musician.
Only The Young for Miss Americana (2020)
Taylor Swift released a candid documentary directed by Lana Wilson following her 2019 Lover tour. Swift’s personal challenges, including battles with mental health and body image, are explored in this intimate documentary, as is her desire to rediscover herself. The film shows her creative journey while making the Lover album.
Swift, in an unexpected turn, discusses the difficulties she experienced in maintaining her “America’s Sweetheart” image, which included refraining from openly expressing her political ideas. In the documentary, however, she bravely delves into political problems and delivers the powerful single “Only the Young.” Swift brilliantly delivers the idea in this song that we cannot turn back time, and that the younger generation holds the key to our future, capable of bringing change and progress. “Only the Young” is a stirring anthem that reflects Swift’s passionate dedication to social and political issues.
Love Story in Letters to Juliet
It’s true! The the classic country love song was adapted for the big screen more than once. Are we truly surprised? It’s a love story set in Verona, Italy, the place that inspired Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. It recounts the journey of Sophie, a young lady played by Amanda Seyfried, who uncovers a letter sent to Juliet asking for love advice. Sophie goes on her own romantic adventure as she becomes engaged in assisting the letter’s author. “Love Story” provides an appropriate emotional backdrop to the film’s themes of love, fate, and the eternal power of classic romance. It’s an excellent pick that elevates the overall cinematic experience and emphasises the film’s basic themes of love and optimism.
exile (ft. Bon Ivor) in You (2021)
In the riveting season 3 finale of You, the haunting strains of “exile” set the scene. A cathartic duet between Taylor Swift and Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. This emotive track is crucial in the episode as Joe (Penn Badgley) deals with a tense circumstance.
Joe carries Love’s (Victoria Pedretti) lifeless body into the kitchen and proceeds to write a fake suicide note in her name in this climatic sequence. The words of the song perfectly reflect the complicated forces at work. The song depicts two former lovers who see each other after a tragic breakup, engaged in a heartbreaking discourse that reflects on their relationship’s demise from opposing viewpoints. This comparison is very similar to Joe and Love’s crumbling marriage in the series. The haunting, melancholy tone of “exile” complements the scene’s dark and tragic nature very well.
Safe & Sound for The Hunger Games
“Safe & Sound” is a hauntingly beautiful song performed by Taylor Swift featuring The Civil Wars. They wrote it for the soundtrack of the 2012 film The Hunger Games. A film series based on the popular dystopian book series of the same name by Suzanne Collins.
The song captures the story’s gloomy and melancholy tone, which is set in a dystopian future in which young tributes from various districts are forced to compete in a terrible televised duel to death. It depicts Katniss Everdeen’s journey as she attempts to safeguard her younger sister, Prim, and herself in the deadly world of the Hunger Games. Taylor Swift’s delicate, melancholy vocals, paired with The Civil Wars’ harmonies, create a spooky and emotive tone that perfectly complements the film’s ambience. It is also one of Taylor Swift’s most underrated songs.
Widest Dreams in Bridgerton
Bridgerton soundtracks have become extremely popular due to their interesting blend of modern music in a period tale. During a montage, the song sets the stage for Daphne and Simon’s honeymoon at Clyvedon Castle. Bridgerton has a talent for transforming contemporary pop songs into lush and graceful classical editions. And this version of “Wildest Dreams” is no exception. This musical choice not only adds to the overall atmosphere but also heightens the intensity and passion of Daphne and Simon’s intimate moments, making it a memorable element of the series.
Seven in Heartstopper
In the season 2 finale of Heartstopper, a song from Taylor Swift’s album folklore gets the spotlight. It serves as the setting for an emotional moment between Darcy and Tara. Darcy opens up about her difficult relationship with her mother in this scene. Eventually leading to a critical moment in which the couple confesses their love for each other. The song gives the ideal musical background as they kiss.
“Seven” is a moving song inspired by one of Swift’s childhood friends who had a difficult upbringing. Its moving lyrics resonate strongly with Darcy’s story throughout the show. The sweetness of the music perfectly compliments the sensitivity of the setting. Moreover, the show’s music supervisor, Matt Biffa, shared on Twitter that Taylor Swift was so moved by the scene that she offered the song for use without demanding a hefty fee.
Crazier for Hannah Montana: The Movie
Taylor Swift wrote and performed “Crazier” for the movie Hannah Montana: The Movie. Miley Stewart (Hannah Montana) returns to her Tennessee hometown and falls in love with Travis Brody, played by Lucas Till. Taylor co-wrote the heartfelt and romantic ballad with Robert Ellis Orrall. The song eloquently conveys the feelings of falling in love, and the tune and lyrics showcase Taylor’s unique country-pop flair.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Taylor Swift song was featured in a Netflix movie?
The song “Only the Young” was featured in Swift’s documentary Miss Americana on Netflix.
Which Taylor Swift song was in the movie The Hunger Games?
Taylor wrote and sang the song “Safe & Sound” for the 2012 The Hunger Games movie soundtrack.
How many movies have Taylor Swift been in?
Taylor Swift has been in a total of 9 movies as of now.
(Main and featured image: @taylorswift/Instagram)