If it seemed like you were seeing and hearing a lot about film soundtracks more than ever in 2018, it's because you absolutely were.
As highlighted in ARIA's end of year charts released today, three soundtracks for Hollywood feature films featured in the top ten albums of 2018.
The Hugh Jackman-led The Greatest Showman soundtrack came in at #1 despite being released in December 2017, while Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born and the Bohemian Rhapsody soundtracks placed at #3 and #5 respectively; both were released in October last year.
Overall, The Greatest Showman soundtrack spent 49 weeks in the top ten last year and is the first soundtrack since Moulin Rouge in 2001 to top the end of year charts.
Meanwhile, the hype surrounding Bohemian Rhapsody, which this week won Best Film - Drama at the Golden Globes (as well as Rami Malek taking out the Best Actor - Film - Drama category for his critically-acclaimed portrayal of Freddie Mercury) has also helped Queen's 1981 Greatest Hits record to place at #8 on the chart.
If that wasn't enough, prior to today's list Queen had not had a year-end top ten album this century and now have two; adding to that, only they, Ed Sheeran and Eminem have three albums in this year's top 100.
See the full list here.
It would appear that film soundtracks are having a resurgence of sorts; just like this year, three film soundtracks featured in the 2017 end of year charts (Moana #5, Trolls #6 and Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 #9).
Earlier this year, the Mamma Mia sequel soundtrack also debuted at #1 while the Black Panther soundtrack at #2.
All up, ten soundtracks feature in this year's list, nine of which placed in the top 50 - The Greatest Showman (#1), A Star Is Born (#3), Bohemian Rhapsody (#5), Black Panther (#20), Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again! (#22), Guardians Of The Galaxy (#24), Moana (#28), Guardians Of The Galaxy 2 (#43), The Greatest Showman: Reimagined (#50) and Suicide Squad (#68).
The success has continued into the new year as well. After taking out #1 and #2 on the Albums chart to kick off 2019, midweek figures suggest Bohemian Rhapsody and A Star Is Born will again battle it out for top spot this weekend.
With both films expected to feature throughout several categories at next month's Oscars, it's likely both soundtracks will continue to challenge for #1 on the Albums chart for at least the next few weeks.
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