Warning: Major spoilers for Novocaine ahead!

The soundtrack for 2025’s Novocaine is an eclectic mix of pop and rock that matches the ever-shifting energy of the fun action-comedy narrative. Starring Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder, Novocaine follows a young man with a congenital disorder that prevents him from feeling pain as he tries to rescue the girl he loves from bank robbers who take her hostage. Novocaine‘s soundtrack acts as a great emotional backdrop for everything from car chases to intimate moments, mixing different music genres and artists to align with the story.

Not surprisingly, the soundtrack for Novocaine included a few songs whose тιтles align with the movie’s content. R.E.M.’s classic “Everybody Hurts” starts off the movie, for example, leaning into the movie’s core concepts of pain, both internal and external. It’s an entertaining mix that also appeals to viewers of all ages, as everyone from Gen X to Gen Z will recognize at least a couple popular artists on the soundtrack. As fun as the ironic and energetic songs in the soundtrack are, the softer, deeper tracks might be more impactful.

When Every Song On The Novocaine Soundtrack Plays In The Movie

10 Major Songs Play During The Movie

“Everybody Hurts” by R.E.M.: As mentioned, the all-time American rock classic from R.E.M. kicked off the movie, and played over the opening credits. It continued as Jack Quaid’s character Nathan Caine got up, prepared for work and drove in to the office, all the while providing glimpses of the precautions he takes not to injure himself, like putting tennis balls on sharp table edges.

“Silver Bells” originally by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans: The Andy Williams rendition of this Christmas classic plays in the background of Nate and Sherry’s (Amber Midthunder) conversation over lunch at a diner. It’s an exposition for both Sherry and the audience, as it’s the most in-depth explanation of Nate’s condition, congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis.

“Casual” by Chappell Roan: The ultra-popular pop singer’s 2022 single plays in the venue for Sherry’s art show when Nate first enters and finds Sherry. It continues to play as they talk, and she reveals that she has her own paintings up at the show, one of which she sells. It became a sleeper hit in 2024 when Roan’s popularity skyrocketed, and was one of seven songs that Roan had in the Billboard Top 100 simultaneously.

“So H๏τ You’re Hurting My Feelings” by Caroline Polachek: Another sleeper hit that blew up on TikTok in 2022 (well after its 2019 release), Caroline Polachek’s new-wave indie pop single plays while Nate and Sherry are at the bar of the art show venue. They’re approached by someone Nate went to school with, which leads to both of them comparing their own unpleasant histories with pain.

“This Is Gonna Hurt” by Dirty Nice: With one of the more on-the-nose song тιтles on the Novocaine soundtrack, Dirty Nice’s “This Is Gonna Hurt” plays while the frat bro character from Nate’s past is chatting Sherry up at the bar. While Nate is at first devastated, it’s revealed that Sherry was tricking him into taking a painful ghost pepper-infused sH๏τ, resulting in physical agony for his old bully instead of emotional pain for Nate.

“Mist Of A Dream” by Birdlegs & Pauline: This classic smooth R&B track from married duo Sidney “Birdlegs” Banks and his wife Pauline was first released all the way back in 1964, but it’s the perfect song for the scene it’s used in. The silky-sweet and soulful tune is the backdrop to Nate and Sherry’s discussion of pain vs. pleasure in his apartment, and continues through their first intimate encounter.

“I Believe In A Thing Called Love” by The Darkness: The 2003 single from English rock band The Darkness is a true anthem and representation of early 2000s rock, and its high-energy vibe perfectly matches its position in the movie. It acts as the soundtrack for Nate waking up after his life-changing night with Sherry, and Novocaine positions it as the inverse of “Everybody Hurts”, playing it over Nate once again preparing and going into work, but with a skip in his step and smile on his face this time.

“Parsifal – Act II: Grausamer! Fuhlst Du Im Herzen” by Richard Wagner: The German opera song is playing in the tattoo parlor that Nate visits in an attempt to get information about Ben, the robber he sH๏τ, based on a tattoo on his arm. The German opera is a gag about how the tattoo artist, who iniтιтally appears friendly, is actually a neo-Nazi, as evidenced by his swastika neck tattoo.

“You’re The Inspiration” by Chicago: The 1984 soft rock classic is used ironically based on its тιтle. While it’s an obvious reference to Nate’s affection for Sherry, it’s used while the robber Andre is torturing Nate in his ᴅᴇᴀᴅ brother’s house. Nate is forced to pretend to be in pain to stall for time until Roscoe can come save him, so he (unconvincingly) acts as though Andre pulling out his fingernails actually hurts.

“Power Lines” by Telekinesis: The upbeat 2013 song from American indie rock band Telekinesis plays over the end of Nate’s visit with Sherry in jail and the movie’s end credits. It matches the movie’s positive ending, and the lyrics even match the movie’s plot pretty well with its discussion of a couple on the run and destined for failure.

Where To Listen To Novocaine’s Soundtrack

The Official Soundtrack Releases The Same Day As The Movie

The up-and-down soundtrack for Novocaine is certainly worth revisiting, especially for fans of rock and pop from different eras. Officially тιтled Novocaine (Music from the Motion Picture), the movie’s soundtrack will release on major streaming platforms on the same day the movie officially releases, Friday, March 14th. You can find the album on your preferred platform here, and download it directly onto your device once it becomes available.