Ready Player One Soundtrack Guide: Every Song & When They Play

Ready Player One is full of 1980s nostalgia, and the film’s soundtrack plays a significant role in this. The 2018 Steven Spielberg movie is set in a futuristic time when humanity prefers a virtual world to a real one. It focuses on the media of the past, from movies, TV shows, video games, and, of course, music. Therefore, as Wade Watts, AKA Parzival, searches the OASIS for Halliday’s Easter egg, he is accompanied by an excellent soundtrack featuring some of the biggest hits of the late 20th century.

Speilberg’s Ready Player One, based on the book of the same name by author Ernest Cline, follows a teenager in the year 2045 who hopes to change his life by winning a video game contest. The founder of this contest, James Halliday, grew up in the 1980s and, therefore, had a deep love for the media of that age. Though born well into the 21st century, Parzival and his friends developed an encyclopedic knowledge of this time, including popular songs and artists. Therefore, from Van Halen to Twisted Sister, the Ready Player One soundtrack includes many of the greats.

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Here’s every song in Ready Player One by the order they appear in the movie:

When Every Song On The Ready Player One Soundtrack Plays In The Movie

“Jump” by Van Halen – The opening scene of Ready Player One sees the camera pan over the trailer park (which is several towers of stacked up mobile homes and campers fittingly called “The Stacks“) in which Wade Watts lives. While a voiceover from Wade introduces himself and explains his living situation, the song “Jump” by Van Halen plays over the scene.

“Everybody Wants To Rule the World” by Tears for Fears – As “Jump” phases out, the song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” by Tears for Fears takes its place. This is when narrator Wade introduces James Halliday and Ready Player One‘s central Easter egg hunt, which he organized within the OASIS before his death. By no coincidence, Tears for Fears is noted to be one of Halliday’s favorite bands in the Read Player One book.

“I Hate Myself for Loving You” by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts – The familiar sound of Joan Jett & The Blackhearts begins playing as narrator Wade introduces audiences to the evil employees of Innovative Online Industries, who are typically called “Sixers” in Ready Player One. The song continues into the start of the race for Halliday’s first key, ending as the cars take off in hopes of finally crossing the finish line.

“Faith” by George Michael – George Michael’s “Faith” plays as Wade enters the Halliday archives and the Curator is introduced. This is a fitting song placement since Wade had just been discussing his determination to win Halliday’s contest despite his many disadvantages compared to other Gunters. Then, as he again peruses the archives, Wade is ultimately able to figure out that he must go backward to win Halliday’s race.

“Stand On It (Single B-side – 1985) by Bruce Springsteen – After successfully obtaining Halliday’s first key by winning the race, Wade is awarded more money than he has ever had or seen in his life. This inspires him to go on a shopping spree, accompanied by Bruce Springsteen’s upbeat hit, “Stand On It” from 1985.

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“One Way Or Another” by Blondie – Becoming the first person to progress in Halliday’s contest made Wade’s avatar, Parzival, too famous to show his face publicly without being mobbed. He learned this during his first outing after winning the race, fittingly accompanied by the Blondie song “One Way or Another.” Of course, the music choice here foreshadows that Parzival’s fans aren’t the only ones looking for him—the Sixers have begun to take some interest as well.

“Can’t Hide Love” by Wind, Earth & Fire – After Art3mis asks Parzival on a date, the song “Can’t Hide Love” by Wind, Earth & Fire begins to play while the love-struck boy tries to figure out how to dress his avatar for the event. The romantic piece continues as Aech reminds Parzival that Art3mis might not be a girl at all and that dating in the OASIS wasn’t a good idea.

“Blue Monday” by New Order – As Parzival enters the club for his date with Art3mis, “Blue Monday” by New Order plays. The song continues as fans mob Parzival to take pictures, and while he and Art3mis find one another and begin their flirtatious banter. As they jump into the zero-gravity dance floor, the New Order song continues until Parzival chooses another song to dance to.

“Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees – On the dance floor at the club, Parzival starts up the classic Bee Gees song, “Stayin’ Alive,” which triggers a floating disco-dance floor to appear under his feet as he begins tossing out moves from the dance movie Saturday Night Fever. The song continues playing as the couple enjoy their date until Wade ruins it by confessing his feelings for Art3mus and the Sixers’ attack, abruptly ending the dance party.

“Midnight the Stars and You” by Al Bowlly – Though the other songs featured in Ready Player One are from the 1980s and 1970s, the number that plays during the zombie ballroom scene goes back a few more decades. In the Shining-inspired key trial, Art3mis figures out that they must try to dance with Kira Morrow to get the second key. To set the scene for the romantic and vintage ballroom, the 1934 song Al Bowlly song “Midnight the Stars and You” begins to play.

“We’re Not Gunna Take It” by Twisted Sister – Since the Sixers blocked off access to Halliday’s final trial and the location of the Easter egg, Wade put together an OASIS call-to-arms, inspiring Gunters everywhere to fight. As the armies charged against one another, Twister Sister’s rebellious anthem, “We’re Not Gunna Take It,” plays out.

“You Make My Dreams Come True” by Daryll Hall & John Oates – The ending of Ready Player One saw Parzival and Art3mis—or Wade and Samantha—in each other’s arms in the real world, taking a break from the OASIS after their victory against the Sixers and Nolan Sorrento. Their kiss brings on the song “You Make My Dreams Come True” by Daryll Hall & John Oates, and this number carries Ready Player One into the credits.

Where To Listen To The Ready Player One Soundtrack

The soundtrack for Ready Player One, which includes the classic 1970s and 1980s tunes above and the original score from Alan Silvestri, serves as the perfect combination of nostalgia and futuristic excitement. So, audiences of this 2018 film, which has made its way to Netflix’s Top 10 in 2024, can listen to these classic tunes on repeat and feel just as nostalgic for decades past as James Halliday himself. The soundtrack is available to stream or purchase on the following web services:

• Apple Music
• Spotify
• Amazon
• YouTube

Ready Player One

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Thriller

Action

Adapted from Ernest Cline’s novel of the same name, Ready Player One follows Wade Watts, an orphan who desperately wants to win a seemingly-impossible video game competition that would see him win ownership of the OASIS, a sophisticated virtual reality game that had revolutionized modern life. Helped by his friends and racing against time to find the hidden clues before the OASIS is claimed by an evil conglomerate, Wade’s love of the game is put to the test.   

Release Date

March 29, 2018

Director

Steven Spielberg

Cast

T.J. Miller , Hannah John-Kamen , Lena Waithe , Mark Rylance , Mckenna Grace , Letitia Wright , Ben Mendelsohn , Ralph Ineson , Simon Pegg , Olivia Cooke , Tye Sheridan

Runtime

2h 20m

Writers

Eric Eason , Zak Penn , Ernest Cline

Budget

155–175 million

Studio(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributor(s)

Warner Bros. Pictures