Warning: This article contains spoilers for The Batman.
Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” charted for the first time when it played over the trailer for Matt Reeves’ The Batman. According to Esquire, this is more than just a soundtrack needle-drop. The song influenced Reeves when he was writing the movie and figuring out his take on Bruce Wayne: “Early on, when I was writing, I started listening to Nirvana, and there was something about ‘Something in the Way,’ which is in the first trailer, which is part of the voice of that character... the truth is that he is a kind of drug addict. His drug is his addiction to this drive for revenge. He’s like a Batman Kurt Cobain.”
Like Led Zeppelin, it’s notoriously difficult to license Nirvana songs to use in film and television productions, because Courtney Love is protective of the rights and only loans the songs out to certain filmmakers. As a result, the iconic grunge band’s hits aren’t thrown around at random. They’ve provided the backdrop for many unforgettable film and TV moments.
“Come As You Are” In Captain Marvel
One of the things that makes Captain Marvel a unique superhero movie is its 1990s setting. The film’s soundtrack evokes this ‘90s setting with nostalgic hits by artists like TLC, Des’ree, and Garbage.
Naturally, with a focus on the artists that defined the music of the ‘90s, this soundtrack found room for a Nirvana track. “Come As You Are” plays at a crucial point in the movie in which Carol confronts her cybernetic overlord, the Supreme Intelligence.
“Scentless Apprentice” In Lost
The most memorable thing from the two-part season 3 finale of Lost, “Through the Looking Glass,” is Charlie’s heartbreaking drowning scene with the “Not Penny’s Boat” warning scrawled on his hand.
But the episode makes great use of Nirvana’s “Scentless Apprentice” when Jack is in his car on the way to John Locke’s memorial service. The song sets a suitably melancholic tone for the scene.
“Breed” In Shoot ‘Em Up
The action-packed Clive Owen vehicle Shoot ‘Em Up is an affectionate homage to the “gun fu” classics of John Woo. It has one goal: to thrill and entertain the audience as much as possible with gunplay, bloodshed, and non-stop carnage.
The soundtrack features “Breed,” one of Nirvana’s hardest-rocking tracks. The fast-paced rhythm paired perfectly with the movie’s all-out high-octane action.
“Territorial Pissings” In Beautiful Boy
Timothée Chalamet and Steve Carell each gave one of the best performances of their careers in Beautiful Boy as young addict Nic Sheff and his father David. The movie explores the strain that addiction places on their relationship.
Nirvana’s “Territorial Pissings” plays while David is driving in the rain, looking for his son. This leads to a poignant flashback of young Nic singing along to the song in David’s car on his way to school.
“Something In The Way” In Jarhead
Before The Batman finally gave it a spot on the charts, “Something in the Way” was used in the soundtrack of Sam Mendes’ bleak war drama Jarhead. Jake Gyllenhaal stars as real-life soldier Anthony Swafford, who has a mental breakdown during military service.
He becomes suspicious of his girlfriend after the other soldiers talk about the pattern of girlfriends being unfaithful while their partners are at war. When he calls her to confront her about her “friend,” Nirvana’s “Something in the Way” underpins the powerful scene.
“The Man Who Sold The World” In Ozark
Netflix’s Ozark was instantly compared to Breaking Bad when it premiered, but its unique setting and well-rounded ensemble have made it stand out on its own.
The most memorable moments in the show are shockingly violent showdowns between drug dealers or intense confrontations between family members. But there’s a quiet, somber, beautiful moment in which Wyatt dreams of his late father and plays Nirvana’s “The Man Who Sold the World” on the guitar.
“Where Did You Sleep Last Night” In Mid90s
Jonah Hill’s brilliant directorial debut, Mid90s, is such an authentic snapshot of its nostalgic historical setting that it’s named after it. In addition to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ original score, Hill filled the soundtrack with hits by artists who were popular in the mid-‘90s, like Pixies, The Pharcyde, and Souls of Mischief.
Unsurprisingly, the soundtrack also features Nirvana. “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” plays when Stevie has his first awkward romantic encounter with a girl.
“All Apologies” In Six Feet Under
Although it’s often overshadowed by the universal praise of The Sopranos and The Wire, Six Feet Under is one of the greatest original drama series in HBO’s history.
In a poignant flashback sequence, Claire remembers talking to Nate on the day that Kurt Cobain died. “All Apologies” plays on the soundtrack as a tearful Nate says, “Kurt Cobain killed himself today. He was just too pure for this world.” Claire says, “His music will live on, right?”
“Something In The Way” In The Batman
“Something in the Way” charted for the first time in 2020 when it appeared in The Batman’s highly anticipated trailer. The song recurs throughout the movie, capturing this Batman’s complex psychology.
Reeves’ use of the song draws parallels between the quintessential brooding loner that is Bruce Wayne and late Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. The song’s “Devonshire Mix” plays over the final montage as Gotham is still recovering from the flood.
The Soundtrack Of Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck
HBO’s 2015 documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck covers Cobain’s life from his 1967 birth to his 1994 suicide, charting his tumultuous childhood, his teenage years, and his rise to fame.
The documentary’s soundtrack is a great album in its own right. Not only is the soundtrack a compilation of just about every song Nirvana ever released; it’s made up of the home recordings from Cobain’s personal collection.