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Prince Ruled The Movies Like He Did Music

"Purple rain/Purple rain..."

Prince was a musician and a performer of the highest order. But he also made a lasting mark in film history.

During his career, he starred ("Purple Rain"), he directed ("Under the Cherry Moon"), and composed soundtracks that made great films memorable ("Batman," "Pretty Woman").

It's rare that an artist can have so much influence in different mediums. But Prince did.

Here are a few movies that show how much Prince meant on the silver screen:

Prince's major cinematic debut was "Purple Rain." In the film, he starred as "The Kid," a musician who leaves an abusive home life to embark on a career path destined for stardom.

The Albert Magnoli-directed film was a major box office hit, grossing US$80 million worldwide. Its soundtrack produced songs such as "When Doves Cry."

The film won Best Music, Original Song Score at the 1985 Academy Awards.

Prince's second film, "Under the Cherry Moon," was a less successful effort which saw him star as a man who falls in love with a woman (Kristin Scott Thomas) he was supposed to scam out of money.

He directed the film, but it only netted him Golden Raspberry Awards for worst acting and directing.

Prince produced nine tracks for Tim Burton's 1989 adaptation of the "Batman" comic. One of them was "Batdance," which spawned a cheesy video in which the artist dressed up as the Joker.

Another was "Partyman," which provided background music for a scene in which the Joker (Jack Nicholson) wreaks havoc at a Gotham museum.

In one of the most iconic scenes from Garry Marshall's 1990 romantic comedy, escort Vivian (Julia Roberts) can be heard singing Prince's "Kiss" in the bathtub as the businessman who falls for her (Richard Gere) can only laugh.

Baz Luhrmann's 1996 adaptation of the classic Shakespearean love story had a beautiful soundtrack to match its gorgeous imagery.

In one scene, a church choir, led by vocalist Quindon Tarver, sings an moving version of Prince's "When Doves Cry" as Romeo visits Father Laurence.

The 2006 family film "Happy Feet" tells the story of a penguin who can't sing the way most of his species can. But he sure knows how to dance.

The opening scene shows penguins singing a funky rendition of "Kiss." Prince also composed an original track for the animated film, "The Song of the Heart," which won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

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