The Oldsmobile is notable for having inspired several popular songs:
- "In My Merry Oldsmobile", a 1905 song with music by Gus Edwards and lyrics by Vincent P. Bryan; the song enjoyed a second round of popularity in the 1920s. This music is available in a short cartoon with same name, by Fleischer Studios
- "This Is Your Daddy's Oldsmobile," a 1990 song by Ray Stevens
- "Rocket 88", a 1951 song by Ike Turner said by many to be the first rock and roll record.
- "You're Gonna Get Yours" from Public Enemy's 1987 debut album Yo! Bum Rush The Show, an ode to the Ninety-Eight.
- "455 Rocket", a 1997 song by Kathy Mattea
- Elliott Smith's song "Condor Ave." from album Roman Candle (album) begins with the line, "She took the Oldsmobile out past condor avenue."
- A line in the Wreckers song "My, Oh My" goes, "This parking lot used to be a field, I parked here in my Oldsmobile."
Oldsmobile cars can also been seen in several popular movies:
- No Country for Old Men (film) (2007) - Chirgurh (Javier Bardem) is driving an early 1980s green Cutlass Supreme Brougham Sedan when he is hit by another car at an intersection, breaking his arm in a compound fracture.
- Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Clint Eastwood's character, Frank Dunn, drives a beat-up early 1980s Oldsmobile Ninety Eight Sedan.
- 8 Mile (2002) - Jimmy "B. Rabbit" Smith Jr. (Eminem) drives a barely running 1974 Delta 88.
- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978) A stretch Toronado Limo is used
- The Blues Brothers (1980) - During the famous chase scene inside the Dixie Square Mall, the Blues Brothers skid through the windows of an Oldsmobile showroom filled with 1980 models. As they pull away, Elwood remarks, "New Oldsmobiles are in early this year."
- Any Which Way You Can (1980) - When Clint Eastwood arrives in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, for the big fight, his opponent and friend William Smith is driving a brand-new, red 1980 98 Regency sedan which is featured prominently in the end of the film.
- The Great Muppet Caper (1981) - Though one is not featured in the film, Kermit, Gonzo, Fozzie, and Miss Piggy are in a very fancy restaurant, and when Kermit glances at the menu, he gasps, and when Miss Piggy asks "What?", Kermit says, "Oh nothing, it's just sort of amusing that the roast beef is the same price as an Oldsmobile."
- Cheaper By The Dozen (2003) - Tom Baker (Steve Martin) gives his son Charlie (Tom Welling) a well-worn early 1980s Olds Cutlass Supreme.
- A Christmas Story (1983) - Ralphie says, "Some men are Baptists, others Catholics, my father was an Oldsmobile man."
- Sudden Impact (1983) - Clint Eastwood's co-star and real life girlfriend Sondra Locke squeals the front tires while driving away in a then-new Olds Firenza hatchback.
- Lethal Weapon (1987) - Murtaugh drives a 1986 Oldsmobile Delta 88. 1985 Oldsmobile 98 Regency is seen as the villain's vehicle.
- The Dead Pool (1988) - Clint Eastwood's character, Harry "Dirty Harry" Callahan, is pursued by a remote controlled bomb disguised as a radio controlled car through hilly San Francisco in a 1985 Oldsmobile 98 Regency .
- Lethal Weapon 2 (1989) - Murtaugh is driving his wife's brand new Custom Cruiser station wagon, which is slowly and methodically destroyed throughout the movie.
- Groundhog Day (1993) - An 1992 Olds Eighty Eight is briefly involved in a chase of Phil Conners (Bill Murray) who is driving a Chevrolet pickup.
- Turner and Hooch (1989) - this comedy stars Tom Hanks as a police officer who is in charge of a dog that destroys the interior of Hank's character's 1989 Oldsmobile 88 Royale Brougham.
- King of New York (1990) - A 1978-80 Ninety Eight Regency is used as an undercover vehicle by crooked NYPD narcotics where they pursue Frank White (Christopher Walken) in a mid-1980s Cadillac Fleetwood limousine. The Ninety Eight was totalled.
- The Hunt for Red October (1990) - Alec Baldwin can be seen getting out of a dark-colored early 1980s 98 Regency just before he enters the White House briefing.
- The Dark Half (1993) - The villain, George Stark (played by Timothy Hutton), is seen driving a jet-black 1966 Toronado in several scenes.
- Demolition Man (1993) - Set mostly in the year 2032, a bright red 1970 Olds 442 is discovered by police officers John Spartan (played by Sylvester Stallone), Lenina Huxley (played by Sandra Bullock) and Alfredo Garcia (played by Benjamin Bratt) in the slums beneath San Angeles. Using an old elevator, the car bursts up through the floor of a modern-day Oldsmobile dealer, and Stallone's character drives it out of the showroom onto the street, beginning an extensive car chase scene. Many other GM cars and concept vehicles were used in the film including the GM Ultralite, which was featured prominently. Ironically, since Oldsmobile folded in 2004, the Oldsmobile dealer set in the year 2032 is now an anachronism. The dealer was also still using the early-90s version of the Oldsmobile logo, which was replaced only 3 years after the release of the film.
- Get Shorty (1995) - John Travolta's character is incredulous at being given an Oldsmobile Silhouette minivan for a rental instead of his requested Cadillac, to which the rental clerk responds, "You got the Cadillac of minivans," a line oft-repeated outside of the movie.
- Fargo (1996) - late 1980s Oldsmobile cars including the Cutlass Ciera and Ninety-Eight Regency Brougham were featured, as William H. Macy's character was general manager of his father-in-law's Oldsmobile dealership.
- Memphis Bleek (2003) - 'Round Here' music video produced by Def Jam.
- Common (2005) - The Corner (song) music video features a blue 1980s Oldsmobile 88. He even raps "So we can cop clothes & roll in a Rolls / Now I roll in a "Olds" with windows that don't roll.
- Kingpin (1996) - Roy Munson's car is a Cutlass convertible that he received new when he left home, but after several years pass, the car is in very questionable shape.
- The X-Files (1998) - an Oldsmobile Intrigue was heavily used by the characters as part of a promotional tie-in between General Motors and the movie's producers. Earlier on in the series, Oldsmobile Cutlass Cieras were featured.
- That 70's Show (1998-2006) features a 1969 Oldsmobile Vista Cruiser driven by lead character Eric Forman, and many scenes take place in or around "the Vista Cruiser".
- The A-Team (1982-1985) In the early seasons of the show, a character named Amy Amanda Allen drives an Oldsmobile Firenza hatchback.
- Reindeer Games (2000) - a 1989 or 1990 Cutlass Ciera sedan is used as a getaway vehicle.
- According to Jim (2001-) Jim's best friend, Andy, drives an Intrigue.
- The Matrix Reloaded (2003) - many Oldsmobiles are used as cameo vehicles, especially during the famous highway chase scene. Even though the characters never drive an Oldsmobile in the film, there was interaction between Oldsmobiles in the scene. There is one part when Agent Johnson jumps on top of the front of an Aurora, completely destroying the front end and causing the car to do a front flip and land on its roof. Another scene involves the Twins gunning down an Intrigue and shoving it into the divider wall, causing it to do a barrel roll and land on its roof.
- Cars (2006) Piston Cup Championship Sportscaster Bob Cutlass, voiced by Bob Costas, is a 1999 Aurora.
- Sam Raimi, the film director, tends to feature a yellow 1973 Oldsmobile Delta 88 as a cameo in many of his films, particularly the Evil Dead films where it is driven by main character Ash. This vehicle was personally owned by Raimi.
- An Oldsmobile 88 is featured on the cover art and opening sequence of the video game Driver 2.
- Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny (2006) A Blue 1987 Cutlass Supreme sedan is used in the Car chase scene, and is also referenced in one of the songs during the movie
