Movies employing music in a great way.

The Big Chill started a revival of 60’s R&B music.

The Blues Brothers has some performances by legends like Ray Charles, Aretha, James Brown and Cab Calloway that are iconic and with them all being gone, precious. Yes, it was a silly comedy but the music was epic. Some of the sound track music without performances is great too, Sam and Dave come to mind.

Another crass but legendary comedy with good music is Animal House. The "Otis Day" performance of "Shout" is fantastic. Sam Cooke is featured heavily.

Edit to add: The Wizard of Oz. That music has become part of the cultural subconscious. 

Apocalypse Now. The music is as much a part of those scenes as the visual. Wagner's Ride of the Valkyrie, Stones' Satisfaction, Doors' The End.

@almarg Don't get me wrong. I wasn't disparaging the Blues Brothers movie. Its high in my top 10 movies. Still makes me laugh out loud. It is priceless.

@slaw "Another version of a tired thread,,,,"

Why respond to it then? Others, including me, are enjoying it.

@ivan_nosnibor Speaking of Star Wars.....an amazing and powerful sound track which was certainly fully integral to the impact of the visual effects. However, I think Williams must have gotten a lot of direct inspiration from Dvorak's New World Symphony.