The phrase “we can be heroes” shows up in a few different movie‑related ways, mainly tied to David Bowie’s song “Heroes” and some modern covers or similarly titled tracks.

Key songs behind “we can be heroes”

  • David Bowie’s classic rock song “Heroes” (1977) is the original source of the lyric “we can be heroes, just for one day,” and it has been reused in a lot of film and TV soundtracks over the years.
  • A notable modern cover is used in the Netflix family movie We Can Be Heroes (2020), where a character performs Bowie’s “Heroes” in a key emotional scene.

“We Can Be Heroes” on Netflix

  • We Can Be Heroes is a superhero kids’ movie on Netflix about the children of captured superheroes who have to save their parents and the world.
  • In the film, the “we can be heroes” moment comes when a character sings Bowie’s “Heroes,” underscoring the theme that even kids can step up and become heroes when it counts.

Bowie’s “Heroes” in other movies

The specific line “we can be heroes” is from Bowie’s song, which has appeared in many films, so you’ll often hear that lyric in different contexts.

Some notable examples include:

  • Moulin Rouge! (2001) – “Heroes” is used as part of the film’s musical collage style.
  • Antitrust (2001) – features the song in its soundtrack.
  • The Parole Officer (2001) – another 2001 film that uses “Heroes.”
  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) – the original track plays in an iconic tunnel scene, making the “we can be heroes” line especially memorable.
  • Jojo Rabbit (2019) – uses the German version “Helden” at the end, which still includes the same core “heroes” idea.

Because the song is so popular, there are also montage videos online that compile “every time ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie is played in movies and shows,” highlighting how often that “we can be heroes” line turns up in pop culture.

Sound‑alike: “Heroes (We Could Be)”

  • A different, modern pop song sometimes confused with Bowie’s is “Heroes (We Could Be)” by Alesso, a dance track built around the idea “we could be heroes.”
  • This track has been used in family and animated contexts online and in edits related to films like Smurfs: The Lost Village , tying into feel‑good “anyone can be a hero” vibes, though it is a separate song from Bowie’s “Heroes.”

Why it keeps trending

  • The “we can be heroes” line taps into an uplifting theme: ordinary people becoming something greater for a moment, which fits perfectly with coming‑of‑age stories, superhero films, and inspirational scenes.
  • Between classic uses (like Perks of Being a Wallflower) and newer family‑friendly hits (like We Can Be Heroes on Netflix), the phrase keeps resurfacing in discussions, playlists, and forum threads about hero songs in movies.

TL;DR:
When people talk about “we can be heroes” song in movies , they usually mean David Bowie’s “Heroes” and its covers, especially the emotional performance in Netflix’s We Can Be Heroes , plus its many uses in films like Moulin Rouge! , The Perks of Being a Wallflower , and Jojo Rabbit.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.