Which R.E.M. song was written for the 1999 film 'Man on the Moon'?

“The Great Beyond” was written for the 1999 film Man on the Moon. R.E.M. created the song for the Andy Kaufman biopic, whose title came from the band’s earlier 1992 song “Man on the Moon.” It was included on the film’s soundtrack and released as a single in 1999.

The song was written by Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe. Its connection to the film is especially direct: the soundtrack version ends with dialogue from the movie, while the radio single is edited and omits the bridge. Background lines in the unedited recording also echo lyrics from “Man on the Moon,” reinforcing the Kaufman theme.

“The Great Beyond” became a substantial international success. It reached No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart in January 2000, making it R.E.M.’s highest-charting single in Britain. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media. The other options are songs from R.E.M.’s regular catalog, not the film’s newly written theme.