- An American Werewolf in London: Sam Cooke's cover of "Blue Moon" plays during the iconic transformation scene.
- Innerspace: Cooke's version of "Twistin' the Night Away" plays when Jack and Tuck are drinking and having fun one night.
- Malcolm X: Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come" plays as Malcolm is on his way to the Audubon Ballroom, where he was ultimately assassinated.
- One-Trick Pony: Sam Cooke is mentioned while the band members are listing dead rock stars.
- In the original novel version of The Commitments, one of the songs the band performs is Cooke's "Chain Gang".
