WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for Materialists.

Celine Song’s 2025 romantic drama Materialists has a great soundtrack that supports the complex and sprawling love triangle of Dakota Johnson’s matchmaking expert Lucy. A follow-up to 2023’s breakthrough hit Past Lives, Materialists takes place in the busy streets of Manhattan as Lucy struggles to determine her understanding of love despite working in a luxurious dating business. Essentially a human dating app, Lucy has an eager clientele who entrust her and her company, Adore, to set them up on dates based on individual preferences, with the promise of finding the loves of their lives.

Johnson leads the cast of Materialists alongside Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans, who both play virtually opposite love interests for Lucy. While Materialists is full of quiet and tender moments between Lucy, Pascal’s wealthy businessman Harry, and Evans’ pᴀssionate ex-boyfriend John, there are a surprising number of great songs that appear throughout the film, which also features an original score by composer Daniel Pemberton.

When Every Song On The Materialists Soundtrack Plays In The Movie

“Manhattan” by Cat Power – This song plays at the very beginning of the movie, following the introductory prehistoric scene. The protagonist, Lucy, is introduced walking confidently through the streets of Manhattan, which is appropriately the тιтle of the song.

“Got It Bad” by LEISURE – This song plays as Lucy enters a party at the beginning of the movie, celebrating her ninth pair of clients getting married. Lucy makes a speech to her coworkers about never giving up on their customers’ matchmaking journeys.

“Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond – This classic song plays during the wedding reception for the crying bride, who Lucy helped overcome her fear of getting married on her wedding day.

“So Young” by The Ronettes – This song plays when Lucy gives Harry her business card and slow dances with him at a wedding. It marks the beginning of their romance in the film.

“You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory” by Johnny Thunders – This song plays on the car radio as Lucy is being driven home by John in his old car. John turns up the volume and asks Lucy if she remembers this song, which she does.

“Le temps de l’amour” by Françoise Hardy – This song plays when Lucy and Harry hook up for the first time in Harry’s $12 million penthouse apartment.

“I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City” by Harry Nilsson – This song plays during the funny and gross scene in which John steps on his roommate’s used condom. John flips out on his roommate and rushes to look presentable to meet Lucy outside.

“Oh! Sweet Nuthin'” by The Velvet Underground – This classic song, written by Lou Reed, plays toward the final act of Materialists.

“That’s All” by Baby Rose – This song plays toward the end of the film at the crashed wedding in upstate New York as Lucy and John slow dance.

“My Baby (Got Nothing At All) by Japanese Breakfast – This song plays at the very end of the film as the credits play over a long take of New York City’s Clerk’s Office, which is also known as the Marriage Bureau. John and Lucy are shown tying the knot along with dozens of other engaged couples.

“In Spite Of Ourselves (feat. Iris DeMent)” by John Prine – This song plays over the second half of the end credits to the end of the long take of the New York City Clerk’s Office. You can see the actors who played the prehistoric couple at the very end before the film fades to black.

Where To Listen To Materialists’ Soundtrack

Listen To The Official Playlist On Spotify

The official soundtrack of Materialists, which primarily features the musical score by Daniel Pemberton, can be streamed on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and YouTube. The Materialists’ official playlist, which features all of the songs listed above, can be found on Spotify. The song by Japanese Breakfast was made exclusively for the film.

Celing Song noted that music has been an integral part of her writing process from the ideation stage. In an interview with For the Record, Song revealed that she “shared with all my department heads early in preproduction.” She also remarked on how “music is in the DNA of the film from the script phase” and she writes with music on in the background, often playing one song on repeat. For Materialists, that song was “Andalucia” by John Cale, which does not play in the film itself but lives at its core beneath the frame.

Source: For the Record