Arguably the most popular band hailing from the “Southern rock” subgenre, Lynyrd Skynyrd has over 28 million U.S. record sales under their belts, a spot in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and an inclusion on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time.”

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The band was struck by tragedy in 1977 when a plane crash claimed the lives of lead singer Ronnie Van Zant, guitarist Steve Gaines, and backup singer Cassie Gaines, in addition to injuring the rest of the group. In 1987, the band reformed with surviving family members and it’s been going strong ever since. Skynyrd’s music has been used to create a bunch of memorable movie moments.

“Gimme Three Steps” In Talladega Nights

John C Reilly as Cal talking in Talladega Nights

After making waves with Anchorman, Adam McKay and Will Ferrell decided to satirize the world of NASCAR racing in their next movie, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Gimme Three Steps” plays when Ricky is drinking with his team at his favorite bar, the Pit Stop. The Skynyrd hit sets the stage for an exaggerated culture clash when French F1 driver Girard arrives and swaps it out for jazz on the jukebox.

“That Smell” In Blow

Two characters looking at passports and drinking champagne in Blow

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “That Smell” has been used in a bunch of different movies, including Joe Dirt and Wild Hogs, but its most memorable licensed use is in Blow, Ted Demme’s biopic of cocaine smuggler George Jung.

The movie’s soundtrack contains a handful of classics, like the Rolling Stones’ “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking,” Cream’s “Strange Brew,” and Bob Dylan’s “All the Tired Horses.”

“Tuesday’s Gone” In Happy Gilmore

Adam Sandler yelling at a golf ball in Happy Gilmore

At the beginning of Happy Gilmore, Adam Sandler’s voiceover narration introduces the title character and the story’s conflicts succinctly, detailing his backstory and his grandmother’s financial troubles.

This whole montage is set to the sweet sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone.” The song is also played again later on near the end of the movie.

“Saturday Night Special” In Blue Collar

Zeke and Jerry sitting next to each other and smoking in Blue Collar

Paul Schrader, the writer of Taxi Driver and Rolling Thunder, made his directorial debut in 1978 with Blue Collar, a crime drama about three low-paid workers who decide to rob their local union and instead try to blackmail them when they uncover their corruption.

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In addition to songs by Captain Beefheart and Howlin’ Wolf, the soundtrack features “Saturday Night Special” by Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Call Me The Breeze” In El Camino

Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman in El Camino

When Jesse Pinkman is a few hundred dollars short of Ed Galbraith’s relocation fee in El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, he sets out to collect the other half of the cash he split with the guys from Kandy Welding Company at Todd’s apartment.

At Kandy Welding’s headquarters, Jesse finds the guys having a drug-fueled party with strippers. As he confronts them for a climactic gun duel, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Call Me the Breeze” undercuts the tension.

“Free Bird” In Forrest Gump

Jenny on a balcony in Forrest Gump

There are a bunch of memorable music moments in Robert Zemeckis’ Forrest Gump, from Elvis performing “Hound Dog” with dance moves inspired by Forrest’s leg braces to Jimi Hendrix’s cover of “All Along the Watchtower” playing when Forrest goes to Vietnam.

In one particularly poignant scene, Jenny contemplates suicide on the balcony of an apartment while high on cocaine, set to Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.”

“Simple Man” In Almost Famous

William and Penny in Almost Famous

Cameron Crowe filled the soundtrack of his coming-of-age classic Almost Famous with all kinds of hit songs, from The Who’s “Sparks” to Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” to Led Zeppelin’s “That’s the Way.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Simple Man” plays when Russell talks to teenage Rolling Stone writer William about possibly excising a couple of details from the story.

“Sweet Home Alabama” In 8 Mile

Eminem in 8 Mike with hat and jacket on walking outside

Given that 8 Mile was conceived as a starring vehicle for Eminem to play a struggling rapper in Detroit, most of its musical moments are from its lead character’s own compositions.

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But there’s one memorable scene featuring Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Sweet Home Alabama.” It plays on the radio as Rabbit and Future work on the car and they begin rapping to the tune of the Skynyrd hit with their own lyrics.

“Tuesday’s Gone” In Dazed And Confused

Matthew McConaughey as Wooderson in Dazed and Confused

Richard Linklater’s hangout comedy classic Dazed and Confused has one of the greatest soundtracks of all time, incorporating such hits as Aerosmith’s “Sweet Emotion,” Bob Dylan’s “Hurricane,” Black Sabbath’s “Paranoid,” and Alice Cooper’s “School’s Out.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Tuesday’s Gone” plays toward the end of the movie as the beer bust in the woods winds down and Wooderson heads to the football field to share a joint with some of the high schoolers who aren’t quite ready to call it a night.

“Free Bird” In Kingsman: The Secret Service

The church fight in Kingsman The Secret Service

Without a doubt, the greatest use of a Lynyrd Skynyrd song in a movie is the inclusion of “Free Bird” in the church scene in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Harry Hart is investigating the church where Valentine is testing his mind-control SIM cards.

When the SIM cards are activated and the brainwashed churchgoers rise from their seats around Harry, the opening bars of “Free Bird” kick in. What follows is the most intense, visceral action scene in the movie.

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