The Kinks are one of the most successful rock bands of all time. Five of their singles have made it to the Top 10 on the U.S. Billboard chart and they’ve sold millions of records across the world and been inducted into both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the UK Music Hall of Fame.
Naturally, they’ve attracted the attention of a handful of filmmakers who have licensed their songs to add a new layer to their movies. Wes Anderson, in particular, has utilized a lot of Kinks tracks in his work, but he’s not the only director who’s a Kinks fan.
“You Really Got Me” In Catch Me If You Can
Steven Spielberg’s biopic of con man Frank Abagnale, Jr. is one of his funniest movies, and it’s mostly thanks to the charismatic lead performance by a young Leonardo DiCaprio.
In one scene, Frank is hosting a house party, making the most of the winnings from his cons, and the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me” plays on the stereo.
“Stop Your Sobbing” In Ford V. Ferrari
James Mangold followed up his game-changing superhero neo-western Logan with Ford v. Ferrari, the true story of Ford hiring a designer to come up with a car that will beat Ferrari.
The soundtrack is filled with era-specific classics like “Don’t Try Your Luck” by the Quarrymen, “Stranger in a Strange Land” by the Byrds, “Don’t Bring Me Down” by the Animals, and “Stop Your Sobbing” by the Kinks.
“Father Christmas” In Step Brothers
The Kinks’ “Father Christmas” plays over the end credits of Step Brothers after Dale and Brennan find Chewbacca masks in their new treehouse and Brennan says, “It’s okay that mine’s not movie quality.”
While Step Brothers isn’t strictly a Christmas movie, it does have a section in the middle act set around the holidays. Robert and Nancy announce their divorce at Christmas dinner.
“Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy” In High Fidelity
Since it revolves around characters who work in a record store, High Fidelity is a pretty music-centric movie, and as such, its soundtrack is filled with beloved classics licensed from popular artists.
The Kinks’ “Ev’rybody’s Gonna Be Happy” is just one of them. The movie contains hits by Joan Jett, Elton John, Queen, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, the Velvet Underground, and Stevie Wonder.
“A Well Respected Man” In Juno
Diablo Cody won an Oscar for writing Juno, one of Hollywood’s most sympathetic portrayals of teen pregnancy. Elliot Page stars in the title role, while Michael Cera plays the baby’s father, Paulie Bleeker.
The Kinks’ hit song “A Well Respected Man” plays on the soundtrack when Paulie is getting ready to go out for a run with the rest of the track team.
“Nothin’ In The World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl” In Rushmore
Wes Anderson is clearly a huge Kinks fan because a ton of his movies features the iconic band on their soundtracks. For example, the wordily titled “Nothin’ in the World Can Stop Me Worryin’ ‘Bout That Girl” appears in the director’s coming-of-age comedy Rushmore.
It plays when Herman, played by Bill Murray, is throwing golf balls into the pool as he sulks around his boys’ party and watches his estranged wife with her young male friend.
“Village Green Preservation Society” In Hot Fuzz
Both “Village Green” and “Village Green Preservation Society” appear in Edgar Wright’s pitch-perfect buddy cop homage Hot Fuzz. The latter plays when Nicholas goes on his morning jog and meets a few Sandford residents who strangely already know who he is.
Almost everybody Nicholas passes kindly says, “Morning, Sergeant.” He’s joined by supermarket boss Simon Skinner, who runs alongside him and says, “I’m a slasher...of prices!”
“Supersonic Rocket Ship” In Avengers: Endgame
Although most of the music in Avengers: Endgame comes from Alan Silvestri’s original score, the highest-grossing movie of all time also has a handful of licensed tracks, like the Rolling Stones’ “Doom and Gloom” and Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy.”
When Rocket and the Hulk head to New Asgard to recruit Thor for the Time Heist, the Kinks’ “Supersonic Rocket Ship” plays on the soundtrack.
“I’m Not Like Everybody Else” In God Bless America
Written and directed by Bobcat Goldthwait, God Bless America is a satirical thriller in which a middle-aged man and a teenage girl who have become disillusioned with American culture take up arms to kill bigots and reality TV stars.
“I’m Not Like Everybody Else” by the Kinks plays as Frank takes his new AK-47 to the premiere of American Superstarz.
“Strangers” In The Darjeeling Limited
Wes Anderson’s The Darjeeling Limited takes a harrowing dramatic turn when the brothers see some kids drowning in a river and jump in to try to save them. The Kinks’ “Strangers” plays as the brothers walk through the village in slow motion to the funeral of the kid they couldn’t save.
“This Time Tomorrow” also used in the slow-motion opening as Adrien Brody runs past Bill Murray and boards the train at the last second. The Darjeeling Limited is Anderson’s Kinks-iest film to date: “Powerman” is also on its hit-laden soundtrack.