From the Golden Globe winning original score of “Challengers” to the Grammy darling “BRAT” by Charli XCX, Electronic Dance Music, or EDM, has seen a huge resurgence in media and pop culture. Even indie movies like “The Substance” have dipped their toes into this percussion based phenomenon. But how was this polarizing music genre created, and why do we suddenly care about it in 2025?

The creation of Electronic Dance Music is largely credited to Delia Derbyshire and her work on the 1963 rendition of the “Doctor Who” theme song. EDM quickly became a staple in 1970s clubs, with emerging movements like Disco and Euro-dance relying on its percussive and electronic nature. The “Father of Disco,” Giorgio Moroder, furthered EDM by producing multiple hits for 70s superstar Donna Summers (“I Feel Love” and “Hot Stuff”) and rocker chic Blondie (“Call Me”). 

The rave culture of the 1990s saw subgenres start to develop out of EDM, with the most popular being House and Techno. Despite its popularity, the rave side of EDM was largely ignored in the United States. Instead, raves were embraced by countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany. But by 1998 Madonna fully brought rave style EDM to the United States with her hit album “Ray of Light.” 

The 21st century witnessed the global spread of EDM as Youtube and other social media websites rose to prominence. EDM artists like Skrillex, David Guetta and Avicii began playing stadium tours, combining Electronic Dance Music with intense visual experiences like flashing lights, bright videos and pulsing crowds. Finally, in January of 2013, Billboard created the Electronic/Dance Music chart, cementing EDM as a respected and popular genre. 

Since then, EDM has wormed its way into the soundtracks of some of the hottest movies of the past 12 months. The film “Challengers” is certainly the most prominent example, having won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score – Motion Picture.

The score, composed by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross, is a riveting listen that works as a support to tense scenes in “Challengers” as well as being a motivating gym playlist. Tracks like “Challengers: Match Point”  kept audiences on the edge of their seats during the final scene, successfully ending the ultimate tennis match with a bang.

Another great example of EDM in recent movies is “The Substance,” which was composed by Benjamin Stefanski (AKA Raffertie). As a body horror film with liminal dialogue, the soundtrack for “The Substance” does a lot of heavy lifting in creating an unsettling atmosphere and separating the lives of the two main characters. 

Try to watch “The Substance” home alone and not jump at any of the cues in the score. As someone who has attempted this myself, I assure you that the jarring and inorganic sounds in the song similarly titled “The Substance” will have you so absorbed in the movie that even the smallest change will feel monumental. 

So why is EDM suddenly apparent in so many popular movies? To put it plainly, viewers love it.

According to The People Platform, women between ages 18-34 made up the largest demographic of moviegoers in the first half of 2024 at 30%. Men of the same age range follow closely behind at 23%, showing how Gen Z and Millennials are the largest overall audience at theatres across the United States.

Coincidentally, these statistics align with Gen Z’s love of EDM in general. The most obvious example is the defining summer album 0f 2024, Charli XCX’s Grammy winning album, “BRAT.” Whether you were bumping your favorite song (“360” is my track of choice) or wearing neon green, everyone remembers where they were when the  remix album “Brat and It’s Completely Different but Also Still Brat” dropped. 

BRAT was the ultimate antithesis of the “clean girl” aesthetic. Gone was the slicked back ponytail and simple makeup. Messy hair and smudged makeup was in and fully embraced by a younger generation who just wanted to have fun. 

The EDM album is loud and obnoxious – and proud of it. Young women are often instructed to be docile and agreeable, but BRAT gave them the freedom to break free from those societal norms. Messy, raunchy, and self aware, BRAT was (and still is) a chance for young women to express themselves authentically through music. 

“BRAT” was critically acclaimed as well, receiving the Grammy for Best Dance/Electronic Album, Best Recording Package and Best Dance Pop Recording for “Von Dutch.” Rolling Stone even bestowed “BRAT” its top honors, naming it the Best Album of 2024.

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A younger generation of moviegoers combined with an EDM centered pop culture has led to this spark of Electronic Dance Music in recent films, particularly films focused on women and the female experience. 

Wherever party culture goes, EDM follows, and I certainly would not be surprised (or displeased) to see EDM continuing to dominate movie scores and soundtracks.  

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