The A Family Affair soundtrack features a wide variety of songs. The Netflix romantic comedy, which became a hit on the streaming platform despite negative reviews that earned it a 41% score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, was helmed by The Bridges of Madison County director Richard LaGravenese from a screenplay by Carrie Solomon. The star-studded cast includes Oscar winners Nicole Kidman and Kathy Bates, Emmy nominee Joey King, The Greatest Showman and High School Musical star Zac Efron, YouTuber Liza Koshy, The Walking Dead: World Beyond star Wes Jetton, and Joy Ride star Sherry Cola.

Netflix’s A Family Affair features a wide-ranging soundtrack that includes songs which reflect the multigenerational story at its center. This includes music from contemporary artists who have had recent hits on the charts as well as songs from more under-the-radar indie musicians as well as stars who are better known from hits from the 1990s, 1980s, and even earlier. Because a substantial portion of the movie takes place during the Christmas season, it also features iconic holiday classics sprinkled throughout, giving the soundtrack an additional amount of depth and texture.

When Every Song On The A Family Affair Soundtrack Plays In The Movie

The Movie Features More Than A Dozen Songs

“I’m Your Man” by Wham! – This song begins playing during the production logos before the movie even begins. The upbeat, jaunty tune underscores the sequence that introduces Zac Efron’s superstar Chris Cole, one of the leads of the A Family Affair cast. The song’s lyrical content highlights that the character is both an incredibly popular star and that he will be the romantic lead of the movie, while the fact that it is a 1988 release highlights the fact that his tastes may stray from women in his own generation.

“Feather” by Sabrina Carpenter – After the introduction of Chris, the movie shifts gears dramatically with this contemporary track from “Espresso” artist Sabrina Carpenter. It plays during the introduction of Joey King’s character Zara Ford, whose lifestyle is almost diametrically opposed to Chris’. The shift in musical tone highlights that juxtaposition, as well as the fact that Zara is considerably younger than Chris’ future love interest, her mother.

“It’s Been a Little Heavy Lately” by Joesef – This song plays quietly at the restaurant where Chris attempts to slow down his relationship with Ashley (Olivia Macklin). The fact that the uptempo song has such downbeat lyrics exemplifies the differing viewpoints of the two characters in the scene, as Ashley is expecting a proposal.

“Believe” by Cher – This 1998 hit occupies an important place in the movie. Chris sings along to the song in the car while Zara is behind the wheel, annoyed. In addition to highlighting their dynamic, it establishes the depths to which Chris’ love life has fallen at the beginning of the movie.

“f**k, i’m lonely” by Lauv feat. Anne-Marie – This song plays during a montage of Chris and his dogs at home alone after Zara quits her job as his assistant. In addition to highlighting how empty his life is without Zara’s professional assistance, it emphasizes how he is also romantically lonely.

“Dreaming” by Blondie – This iconic 1979 song plays while Zara’s mother Brooke (Nicole Kidman) is cleaning the house before she meets Chris. In addition to providing an in-universe reason for Brooke to not hear him entering the house, it highlights the generation gap between her and her daughter, musically linking her more closely with the Wham! song that introduced Chris in the first place.

“Rose Colored Lenses” by Miley Cyrus – This song plays quietly during the scene where Chris and Brooke are bonding while Zara is out of the house. The contemporary nature of the song may serve as a reminder to the audience that Zara is going to be affected by the potential relationship that they are forging.

“Stop This Flame” by Celeste – This funky song plays during Chris and Brooke’s first kiss and subsequent lovemaking, combining sensual overtones with a more lively and fun atmosphere that highlights the comic moment where Zara walks in on the two of them.

“Song for You” by Rhye – This song plays quietly in the background while Zara and her friend Stella discuss a script they are working on.

“Dive” by Olivia Dean – This song plays while Brooke and Chris explore the city on their date. Its musicality and lyrical content underscore the fact that the pair are taking the leap and exploring their relationship in spite of the risks it poses.

“A Woman’s World (Remix)” by Estelle – This song plays while Zara and her friend Eugenie (Liza Koshy) decide to dress up and attempt to infiltrate a gala that Chris is attending. Its themes of female empowerment serve the scene, in which the characters are taking charge of the narrative and attempting to make a major power move.

“Deck the Halls” by Devin S. Norris​​​​​​​ – This is an instrumental version of an oft-covered holiday classic, this song introduces the scene where Brooke and her mother-in-law Leila (Kathy Bates) are having a discussion while decorating the tree.

“The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)” by Angelina Jordan – This iconic holiday song plays while Zara sees her mother and Chris getting along during a seemingly private romantic moment. Its slightly melancholy tone underscores her feelings, but the iconic Christmas imagery helps accentuate how her heart is opening up to the possibility of the pairing.

“Present Without a Bow” by Kacey Musgraves (feat. Leon Bridges) – This song plays shortly before the A Family Affair ending, during the montage leading into the New Year where all three main characters are shown reeling in the wake of the major fight that occurred a few scenes before. Despite the jingle bells in the song, its lyrics emphasize the loneliness that the trio feels while disconnected from one another.

“Love On” by Selena Gomez – This is the first song that plays over the closing credits of the movie. Its triumphant nature celebrates the fact that the central couple have reunited, with the help of Zara, who has finally accepted their relationship. It is also the last song to be featured on the soundtrack, as the rest of the credits feature selections from the movie’s original instrumental score.

Where To Listen To The A Family Affair Soundtrack

The Soundtrack Does Not Have An Official Streaming Release

At the time of writing, the pre-existing songs featured in A Family Affair have not been gathered in an official soundtrack that has been published on streaming platforms. However, the songs can be listened to on the individual artists’ pages on platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, and Apple Music. The instrumental score for the movie, which was composed by Only Murders in the Building‘s Siddhartha Khosla (who is known for founding the group Goldspot), is also available as an official 14-track release on streaming platforms and can also be purchased at a price generally ranging between $8.99 and $11.99.