American Psycho Soundtrack: Every Song & When It Plays

The American Psycho soundtrack boasts some classic rock and pop hits from the 1980s. Songs by New Order and Genesis have even become synonymous with the movie, given the crucial scenes in which they play. Based on the novel by Bret Easton Ellis and directed by Mary Harron, American Psycho revolves around a New York City banker who doubles as a serial killer at night. Rather than delving into familiar psychological thriller tropes, the highly quotable American Psycho takes a darkly comic approach as it decodes the consumerism and toxic masculinity that drives its twisted lead character, Patrick Bateman.

Music plays a chief role in American Psycho, given that Patrick has quite an interesting playlist. Despite the dark, homicidal things brewing in his mind, he listens to cheery songs while walking to the office. When he has visitors at his home, Patrick can also flaunt his record collection and break into monologues about various music groups and the solo careers of their members. Like most movies set in the ’80s, American Psycho features the music of the era, but the movie’s soundtrack also almost entirely represents the tastes of its protagonist.

All Songs In American Psycho In Order

Over 20 Classic Pop & Rock Songs Feature In The Movie

When Exactly Each Song Plays In American Psycho

Many Of The Songs’ Lyrics Hilariously Contrast The Movie’s Dark Themes

“True Faith” by New Order – This 1987 synth-pop classic opens the American Psycho soundtrack and is the first non-score music that plays in the movie. The scene is a nightclub where Patrick and his friends drink and dance. This moment also reveals Patrick’s misogynistic attitude as he bad-mouths a bartender.

“Suicide” by John Cale – This solo track from The Velvet Underground’s John Cale plays during Patrick’s narration as he tells the audience about his daily workout and skincare routine. Cale also composed the original score for American Psycho.

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“Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves – This pop hit serves as a bright contrast to the other grimy tracks on the American Psycho soundtrack. It plays during Patrick’s entry scene in the office as he moodily listens to the song on his Sony Walkman. The scene has gone on to become a popular meme template, and an Instagram account called Patrick Bateman Walking to Music is solely dedicated to his entry into the office set to different songs.

“Simply Irresistible” by Robert Palmer – Patrick still listens to music on his headphones when he’s in a cab with his fiancee, Evelyn. The song he’s listening to is English rock singer Robert Palmer’s Grammy-nominated single “Simply Irresistible.”

“Paid In Full” by Eric B. & Rakim – The lead single off the eponymous album by hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim can be heard playing when Patrick and Evelyn enter a restaurant.

“Music for 18 Synths” by Sheldon Steiger – This classic minimalist work is one of the most recognizable songs from the American Psycho soundtrack. It eerily plays in the background when Bateman delivers a speech on equal rights, feminism, and consumerism.

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“Secreil Nicht” by Mediaeval Baebes – True to their name, the British ensemble Mediaeval Baebes have a discography rich in medieval-era-inspired classical ballads. One such track, “Secreil Nicht,” plays in the scene right after dinner when Patrick withdraws cash from an ATM and follows his friend’s fiancee, Courtney, down the street.

“I Touch Roses” by Book of Love – This synth-pop love song can be heard playing when Courtney and Patrick get inside a cab, revealing their affair.

“Everlasting Love” by Crispin Merrell – The touch of romance in the American Psycho soundtrack continues as this 1967 soul-pop love song plays when Patrick and Courtney have dinner at a restaurant.

“Deck the Halls” by O G M Orchestra – Evelyn’s Christmas party opens with the classic Christmas carol “Deck The Halls” in a rendition by O G M Orchestra.

“Joy to the World” by O G M Orchestra – The Christmas party continues with another Christmas carol performed by O G M Orchestra.

“Ya Llegaron A La Luna” by Santiago Jimenez, Jr. – When Patrick has dinner with his co-worker Paul Allen at a Cajun-style restaurant, Tex-Mex songs can be heard at the venue. One of them is accordionist Santiago Jiminez, Jr.’s soothing folk number “Ya Llegaron A La Luna.”

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“Cuatro Milpas” by Francisco Gonzalez – The American Psycho soundtrack includes another Spanish-language track during Patrick and Paul’s dinner scene: “Cuatro Milpas” by Los Lobos founding member Francisco Gonzales.

“Hip to Be Square” by Huey Lewis & The News – Patrick is an avid listener of ’80s pop rock bands, as is evident from his record collection, which he flaunts in front of Paul. The first song that Patrick plays for his guest is what he describes as the “catchy” single “Hip to Be Square.” The scene is significant for Patrick’s lengthy critique of Huey Lewis’s career and the hidden meanings behind this particular track. In the middle of the song, Patrick dons a raincoat and lifts his ax for a scene that defines the movie.

“The Lady in Red” by Chris De Burgh – The abundance of ’80s love songs in the American Psycho soundtrack doesn’t stop as he listens to “The Lady in Red” while sitting in his office.

“If You Don’t Know Me By Now” by Simply Red – When Patrick invites two sex workers, Christie and Sabrina, to his apartment, he sets a lively mood by playing Simply Red’s cover of the R&B hit “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.”

“In Too Deep” by Genesis – Much like what he did with Paul, Patrick delivers another music history lesson for Christie and Sabrina as he comments on Phil Collins’s career this time. The needle drop in this scene is “In Too Deep” by Collins’s band, Genesis.

“Sussudio” by Phil Collins – Another Collins song, this one from his solo album No Jacket Required, plays while Patrick has sex with Christie and Sabrina.

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“Pump Up the Volume” by M/A/A/R/S – As Patrick snorts cocaine in a nightclub bathroom, this bass-heavy hip-hop/house track plays. The song is unique as the only single by the collective M/A/A/R/S, making the group a one-hit wonder.

“What’s On Your Mind? (Pure Energy)” by Information Society – The latter half of the American Psycho soundtrack includes more electronic-influenced tracks. After Patrick is done snorting the white powder, he gets out of the washroom as the dance hit “What’s On Your Mind? (Pure Energy)” plays in the club. The heavy beats go in tandem with Patrick’s drugged state of euphoria.

“Red Lights” by Curiosity Killed The Cat – This funk-inspired pop track plays when Patrick is entertaining Christie and Elizabeth in Paul Allen’s apartment.

“The Greatest Love Of All” by The London Philharmonic Orchestra – While Patrick tells Christie and Elizabeth about his appreciation for Whitney Houston and specifically her cover of “The Greatest Love Of All,” this orchestral version plays during the scene.

“Try to Dismember” by MJ Mynarski – MJ Mynarski, another accomplished film composer, also appears on the American Psycho soundtrack as his composition “Try to Dismember” plays when Patrick breaks up with Evelyn.

“Something in the Air (American Psycho Remix)” by David Bowie – Following the shocking ending of American Psycho, a remix of David Bowie’s 1999 single “Something In The Air” plays as the end credits roll.

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“Who Feelin’ It (Philip’s Psycho Mix)” by Tom Tom Club – The second song to play during the American Psycho end credits is also a remix, of Tom Tom Club’s “Who Feelin’ It.”

“Watching Me Fall (Underdog Remix)” by The Cure – The American Psycho soundtrack continues belting out hits in the end credits with another remix, this one of The Cure’s “Watching Me Fall.”

“Trouble” by Daniel Ash – The final song in the closing credits is “Trouble” by British alt-rocker Daniel Ash. American Psycho ends up offering quite an interesting mix of rock, pop, and dance numbers for its shocked viewers.

Why The American Psycho Soundtrack Is Unavailable

Huey Lewis Didn’t Like The Movie’s Use Of “Hip To Be Square”

The soundtrack album American Psycho: Music From The Controversial Motion Picture, which features both the licensed songs used in the movie and John Cale’s original score, is officially out of print. Right before its initial release in 2000, copies of the soundtrack album were pulled from distribution because Huey Lewis suddenly denied the inclusion of “Hip to Be Square” after learning of its use in the movie (via MTV News).

A new version of the soundtrack was released in 2006 without several tunes represented, and even that version has become unavailable. Currently, the American Psycho soundtrack album is only unofficially found on music streaming platforms such as Spotify. Each of the songs featured in the movie can be streamed individually, while users have also created their own American Psycho soundtrack playlists.

Why The American Psycho Soundtrack Is So Important To The Film

Patrick Bateman Uses Songs To Change His World

In many movies, directors choose music that might fit the scene’s mood or pick out songs that they love and want to hear in their movies. However, for American Psycho, the songs were added for a very different reason. The songs used in this movie were all inspired by Patrick Bateman’s characteristics and remain authentic to the specific moment in his life that is playing out on the screen.

While Huey Lewis was unhappy with “Hip to Be Square” playing as it did in the movie, that was also vitally important to the moment. Seeing Patrick talk about how great Huey Lewis and the News are before he brutally murders Paul Allen shows his disconnect from reality. The lyrics to the song play into how Bateman sees himself, even as he takes each lyric and sees them as a window into his soul. It also shows how he is struggling to want to succeed while also dealing with his murderous rage.

The music also plays a strong role throughout the movie as Bateman listens to his headphones and his favorite songs, once again seeing himself in the lyrics before he undertakes his murderous rampage. Patrick uses the songs to both understand his surroundings and to morph and change them to fit what he wants the world to look like. American Psycho also uses many instrumental tracks, which help show the changing personality of the serial killing protagonist, allowing all the music to help tell the story rather than superficially play over it.

Based on the book of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis, American Psycho follows Patrick Bateman (Christian Bale) an investment banker in New York in 1987 who leads a double life as a serial killer. As investigators circle Bateman after the disappearance of a colleague, he finds himself trapped in a spiral of murder and excess, unable to stop himself from giving in to his increasingly dark urges. Also stars Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Justin Theroux, and Reese Witherspoon. 

Release Date

April 14, 2000

Director

Mary Harron

Runtime

101 minutes

Distributor(s)

Lionsgate