
The Big Short Soundtrack (2015): Every Song
The Big Short Soundtrack (2015): Every Song & When It Plays in the movie
The Big Short is a fast-paced biographical comedy-drama that tracks a small group of eccentric, forward-thinking financial opportunistic investors who detect the impending collapse of the United States housing bubble in the mid-2000s. Realizing the structural instability of the subprime mortgage market, they decide to "short" the housing market by betting against the entire American economy. As their bold and highly criticized predictions begin to materialize, these outsiders navigate a corrupt financial system, exposing the staggering greed, blindness, and systemic fraud of major Wall Street banks before the catastrophic 2008 global financial crisis unfolds.
Adam McKay’s 2015 biographical comedy-drama The Big Short captures the greed and manic energy of Wall Street leading up to the 2008 financial crisis with a diverse, fast-paced soundtrack. Featuring an elegant, piano-based score by Nicholas Britell, the film juxtaposes institutional financial collapse with heavy metal, mid-2000s pop, and alternative hip-hop.
One of the film's most defining musical elements is eccentric hedge fund manager Michael Burry's (Christian Bale) obsession with heavy metal. Burry's intense focus is soundtracked by him blasting Mastodon’s 'Blood and Thunder' and Metallica’s 'Master of Puppets' in his office, culminating in a scene where he lets out his frustration by playing drums to Pantera’s 'By Demons Be Driven'.
Soundtrack & Songs List
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Blood and Thunder
Mastodon
Scene Context: Michael Burry is listening to music on his computer while reviewing violations reported by the SEC regarding mortgage brokerage firms.
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The Dopeness
Scene Context: Actress Margot Robbie provides an explanation of mortgage-backed securities and subprime loans.
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Money Maker
Scene Context: Burry exits Goldman Sachs following the completion of a successful deal.
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Burning Up
Ladytron
Scene Context: At a restaurant, Randall informs Jared's friend about selling $200 million worth of credit swaps derived from mortgage bonds to Burry.
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Lithium
The Polyphonic Spree
Scene Context: Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley present their investment strategy to the audience.
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Tú Y Tu Mirar… Yo Y Mi Canción
Los Ángeles Negros
Scene Context: Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley are dining at Ben's residence.
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Lágrimas Negras
Barbarito Torres
Scene Context: Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley discover a crocodile in the swimming pool.
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Scene Context: Burry plays a song loudly in his office while Lawrence Fields and his associate enter.
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Crazy
Gnarls Barkley
Scene Context: Mark Baum and his companions discuss loan details with two mortgage brokers.
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Milkshake (Radio Mix)
Scene Context: Mark Baum engages in conversation with an exotic dancer regarding her loan situation.
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Scene Context: Ben Rickert secures an ISDA Master Agreement for Charlie Geller and Jamie Shipley, enabling them to proceed with trading activities.
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District Divided
Darkest Hour
Scene Context: Burry experiences a personal crisis in his office.
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Scene Context: The group arrived in Las Vegas.
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Scene Context: The second musical performance occurs when the group arrives in Las Vegas.
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That's Life
Nick d'Egidio
Scene Context: The third song plays as the group arrives in Las Vegas.
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Danke Schoen
Wayne Newton
Scene Context: Baum and his team arrive at the American Secularization Forum in Las Vegas.
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You Know What
N.E.R.D
Scene Context: Jamie discusses housing bonds with a woman at the pool.
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Scene Context: Baum discovers that components of CDO B are included in CDO A, which are then incorporated into CDO C, causing Baum's anger.
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Scene Context: Baum realizes that the global economy is set to collapse.
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By Demons Be Driven
Scene Context: Burry plays drums in the basement while listening to a song.
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Eye of the Beholder
Scene Context: Michael Burry is reviewing emails from investors at Scion Capital while listening to music on his computer.
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Bring On the Day
Vaughan Penn
Scene Context: The scene is featured briefly in the recap segment at the beginning of each episode of "The Hills," which Charlie is viewing on television.
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Scene Context: Charlie receives a call from Jamie regarding a class-action lawsuit filed against Bear.
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Rockin' In the Free World
Scene Context: Jared begins by narrating that hundreds of bankers and rating agency executives were incarcerated, only to reveal later that this information was false.
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When the Levee Breaks
Scene Context: THE BIG SHORT Ending Credits Music
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The Big Short (Music from the Motion Picture)
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Boring Old Banking
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Lewis Ranieri
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America's Number One Industry
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Glass Eye
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Mouseclick Symphony Mvmt 1
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Does It Make You Bored
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The Dopeness
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I Love My Job
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Truth Is Like Poetry
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Jamie & Charlie & the Sec Girl
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Shorting the Aa
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Redemption at the Roulette Table
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I Offered Him Money
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Restricting Withdrawals
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New Century
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To Kathy's Office
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15 Billion
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I Say When We Sell
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Smells Like Sheep
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The Big Short Piano Suite
The Big Short Trailer Songs
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When the Levee Breaks
Scene Context: The Big Short Trailer Music
The soundtrack also frames the era's corporate hubris, utilizing Gorillaz’s 'Feel Good Inc,' Gnarls Barkley's 'Crazy,' and Ludacris's 'Money Maker.' From Kelis's 'Milkshake' during a crucial strip club interview to Nicholas Britell's own beat-heavy track 'The Dopeness' scoring Margot Robbie's famous bathtub explanation, the song choices ground the film firmly in the mid-2000s.
Main Cast
- Steve Carell Mark Baum
- Christian Bale Michael Burry
- Ryan Gosling Jared Vennett
- Brad Pitt Ben Rickert
- Marisa Tomei Cynthia Baum
- Melissa Leo Georgia Hale
- Hamish Linklater Porter Collins
- John Magaro Charlie Geller
- Rafe Spall Danny Moses
- Jeremy Strong Vinny Daniel
Official Trailer
Music Team
Soundtrack Crossovers
Complete Soundtrack List - All Songs Played in the Movie
| Song Title | Artist | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Blood and Thunder | Mastodon | Song |
| The Dopeness | Nicholas Britell | Song |
| Money Maker | Ludacris, Pharrell Williams | Song |
| Burning Up | Ladytron | Song |
| Lithium | The Polyphonic Spree | Song |
| Tú Y Tu Mirar… Yo Y Mi Canción | Los Ángeles Negros | Song |
| Lágrimas Negras | Barbarito Torres | Song |
| Master of Puppets | Metallica | Song |
| Crazy | Gnarls Barkley | Song |
| Milkshake (Radio Mix) | Kelis | Song |
| Feel Good Inc | Gorillaz | Song |
| District Divided | Darkest Hour | Song |
| The Phantom of the Opera | Andrew Lloyd Webber | Song |
| Blockbuster Night Pt. 1 | Run The Jewels | Song |
| That's Life | Nick d'Egidio | Song |
| Danke Schoen | Wayne Newton | Song |
| You Know What | N.E.R.D | Song |
| Neptune | Nicholas Britell | Song |
| Sweet Child O' Mine | Guns N' Roses | Song |
| By Demons Be Driven | Pantera | Song |
| Eye of the Beholder | Metallica | Song |
| Bring On the Day | Vaughan Penn | Song |
| When I Grow Up | The Pussycat Dolls | Song |
| Rockin' In the Free World | Neil Young | Song |
| When the Levee Breaks | Led Zeppelin | Song |
| Boring Old Banking | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Lewis Ranieri | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| America's Number One Industry | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Glass Eye | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Mouseclick Symphony Mvmt 1 | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Does It Make You Bored | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| The Dopeness | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| I Love My Job | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Gully | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Truth Is Like Poetry | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Jamie & Charlie & the Sec Girl | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Shorting the Aa | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Vegas | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Neptune | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Redemption at the Roulette Table | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| I Offered Him Money | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Restricting Withdrawals | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| New Century | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| To Kathy's Office | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| 15 Billion | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| I Say When We Sell | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| Smells Like Sheep | Nicholas Britell | Score |
| The Big Short Piano Suite | Nicholas Britell | Score |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who composed the music for The Big Short?
The score for The Big Short was composed by Nicholas Britell.
How many songs are in the soundtrack for The Big Short?
There are 49 songs featured in the soundtrack for The Big Short. SeekerTune lists all of them with detailed scene descriptions.
What are the genres of The Big Short?
The main genres for The Big Short include Comedy, Drama.





