Movie soundtracks were not always as advanced as we know them today. Back in the years when "silent films" were the norm, theater operators were only given cue cards so that they could play music at predetermined parts of the film. When record players were unavailable, some of the sound effects were even performed live, either by individual singers or by an orchestra.

The first "real" movie soundtracks emerged around the time when talkies (non-silent films) began to be made. The technology that enables the integration of music into the movie reel began to be used and developed, and soon after, movie soundtracks became a popular industry by themselves.

Movie soundtracks these days are designed for high-tech movie houses that have equipment and environmental qualities that pass new cinema-specific standards. New developments in sound, such as tonal and spatial circuitry, timbre matching, bass management, and re-equalization, are now used to give moviegoers a better auditory experience. Most theaters are equipped with special equipment to control background noise from air conditioning units, exhaust fans, projectors, and transformers. They are also designed for maximum room acoustics so that reverberation and sound isolation is controlled, and sound reproduction is kept at optimal levels.

Movie soundtracks are available separately from movie DVDs or VCDs, but there are some cases when they are given as a bonus to DVD or VCD buyers. Soundtracks these days usually come with a bonus video - oftentimes a behind-the-scenes look at how the movie or songs were made, or a special feature about the artist.

The biggest-selling soundtracks of the 1970's to the early 1990's were mostly single-artist projects, but this trend is starting to fade. Most movie soundtracks are now compilations of different singles from different performers. Pop music is usually used, especially for movies with younger themes.