Famously, early in the band’s career as one of the biggest musical acts in the world, Led Zeppelin refused to license out their songs for use in movies. However, as the years went on and the checks got bigger, they relaxed that policy more and more. Now, Zeppelin tracks can be heard in everything from Almost Famous to Shrek the Third.
Since it’s so expensive to secure a Zeppelin song, filmmakers tend to use the band’s music sparingly. So, when one of their tracks does make an appearance on the big screen, it’s usually because it pairs perfectly with the chosen scene.
Updated on December 16th, 2021 by Ben Hathaway: The permittance of Led Zeppelin songs in movies is rare but almost always noteworthy when it happens, as the band's songs can leave a big impact on audiences when used correctly.
"When The Levee Breaks" In The Big Short (2015)
Based on the book of the same name, Adam McKay's The Big Short revealed the details of how the disastrous 2008 housing market crash came to fruition. With a bit of humor and some memorable celebrity cameos in place, it manages to shed a light on greed in a way that proves enjoyable.
The Big Short technically utilized Zeppelin's "When the Levee Breaks" twice. First was in the film's trailer, where it served as an excellent metaphor for the explosive nature of the 2008 crash. Then, the classic is played over the film's closing credits.
"Good Times Bad Times" In American Hustle (2013)
One of David O. Russell's best movies, American Hustle, followed a wide cast of characters as they participated in ABSCAM: an FBI-led sting operation that led to the downfall of numerous U.S. Congressional representatives as well as other government officials.
"Good Times Bad Times" is one of the most frequently-used songs from Led Zeppelin in movies. However, while it isn't featured in Russell's film itself, it was used very memorably in the trailer. It played over a montage of the film's building events and managed to perfectly hint at the plot's mounting stressors.
"Ramble On" In Our Friend (2019)
In Our Friend, Casey Affleck and Dakota Johnson star as couple Matthew and Nicole Teague. When Nicole is diagnosed with a terminal illness, their friend Dane decides to push his own problems aside and move in with them.
According to Classic Rock & Culture, producer Ridley Scott and director Gabriela Cowperthwaite sent letters to each of the three surviving members of Led Zeppelin. Robert Plant watched the film and felt moved by it. He and his bandmates then worked out a special deal so their songs could be used within the modestly-budgeted indie.
"Communication Breakdown" In Small Soldiers (1998)
Joe Dante's (Gremlins) 1998 actioner Small Soldiers was a movie without a specific audience. It was marketed as a children's film, with Major Chip Hazard and Archer action figures in toy stores across the country. However, while Small Soldiers is a forgotten '90s gem, it's suitable for teenagers at the youngest.
"Communication Breakdown" plays when Kirsten Dunst's Christy is tied to a chair by a group of evil Barbie stand-ins called the Gwendy dolls. It's the perfect fast-paced tune to accompany the film's two protagonists getting a leg up on the enemy.
"Immigrant Song" In Soldier (1998)
While Soldier may not be one of Kurt Russell's best action movies, it has its charms. Technically a spinoff/sequel to Blade Runner (the battles of Tannhauser Gate and Shoulder of Orion are mentioned in both films), the film features Russell as the near-silent Sergeant Todd 3465. When he's betrayed by his superior officers, Todd must kill or be killed.
A brief sound bite from Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" is heard while the film's villain, Caine (Jason Scott Lee), is preparing to go head to head with Todd.
“Immigrant Song” In Shrek The Third (2007)
For the scene in which the princesses band together and storm the castle in Shrek the Third, two songs play on the soundtrack: “Barracuda” by Heart and “Immigrant Song” by Led Zeppelin.
While “Barracuda” is covered by Fergie, the Shrek producers managed to secure the rights to Zeppelin’s original 1970 recording of “Immigrant Song.”
“Ramble On” In Oblivion
It’s far from a perfect movie, but the Tom Cruise-starring sci-fi actioner Oblivion is an underrated gem. Set on a future Earth ravaged by war with aliens, the story follows Cruise’s day-to-day life as a drone repairman.
Things get trippy when he starts to question who he is. In one scene, he plays Led Zeppelin’s “Ramble On” on a record player in his cabin.
“Good Times Bad Times” In The Fighter
The dynamic at the heart of The Fighter is boxer Micky Ward and his half-brother and trainer Dicky Ecklund, played by Mark Wahlberg and Christian Bale, respectively.
Led Zeppelin’s “Good Times Bad Times” plays at a crucial point in their relationship. Dicky is caught trying to steal cars and arrested by the cops, so Micky tries to get him out.
“Immigrant Song” In School Of Rock
Jack Black as Dewey Finn sings “Immigrant Song” in the van on the way back to school after his class lands a spot at the Battle of the Bands by pretending to be terminally ill.
The DVD extras for School of Rock include a video that Black made to send to Led Zeppelin begging them to let director Richard Linklater use “Immigrant Song” in the movie.
“What Is And What Should Never Be” In Silver Linings Playbook
David O. Russell used Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should Never Be” to exemplify Bradley Cooper’s character’s bipolar disorder when he has a breakdown in Silver Linings Playbook and Russell talked about why the choice was made in an interview with IndieWire.
The director is a big Zeppelin fan, having included their songs in The Fighter and the trailer for American Hustle in addition to Silver Linings Playbook.
“Kashmir” In Fast Times At Ridgemont High
When Mark Ratner is asking his friend Mike Damone for dating advice in Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Damone tells him, “When it comes down to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.” Later, when Mark is taking Stacy Hamilton on a date, he plays some Zeppelin.
But he doesn’t play anything from Led Zeppelin IV because the band refused to let any tracks from that album appear in the movie. Instead, they signed off on “Kashmir,” which is actually taken from Physical Graffiti.
“When The Levee Breaks” In Argo
Ben Affleck’s Oscar-winning gem Argo is a tense political thriller chronicling the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis, in which a CIA agent managed to rescue six U.S. diplomats from Tehran by pretending to scout locations for a sci-fi movie.
During the hostage crisis, to pass the time, they play “When The Levee Breaks” on a record player. This is a rare example of diegetic Zeppelin in a movie.
“Tangerine” In Almost Famous
There are five Led Zeppelin tracks in Almost Famous — “The Rain Song,” “That’s the Way,” “Misty Mountain Hop,” “Bron Yr Aur,” and “Tangerine” — but the latter is the most memorable.
It plays over the montage that closes the movie, with Russell making amends with Rolling Stone magazine, Penny jetting off to Morocco, Mrs. Miller finally lightening up, and Stillwater’s star power continuing to rise.
“Immigrant Song” In Thor: Ragnarok
The Norse mythology-themed lyrics of “Immigrant Song” made it a perfect fit for the Thor franchise. When Taika Waititi was pitching his vision for Thor: Ragnarok, he came to Marvel with a series of clips from existing movies that established the comical tone he wanted to create — and he set those clips to “Immigrant Song.”
The track is used twice in the final movie: first, when Thor battles Surtur’s minions before taking on the demon himself in the opening scene, and second, when the God of Thunder triumphantly arrives on the Bifrost to destroy Hela’s armies.
“Stairway To Heaven” In Wayne’s World
There’s a great lampoon of every budding guitarist who ever plucked out the most simplistic riff they could memorize in Wayne’s World. Wayne goes to a music store to try out a guitar.
However, as he plays the opening notes of “Stairway to Heaven,” a clerk directs him to a sign that reads: “NO STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN.” Wayne hilariously quips to the camera, “No ‘Stairway’! Denied.”