Used as film music well before the sound film era, becoming a cliché to illustrate horror and villainy. Its first uses in sound film included the 1931 film Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the 1934 film The Black Cat.
It was not until the 20th century that its popularity rose above that of other organ compositions by Bach. That popularity further expanded, for instance by its inclusion in Walt Disney's Fantasia, until the Toccata and Fugue in D minor came to be considered as the most famous work in the organ repertoire.