Musicals have a reputation for being overly peppy, but movies such as “Cabaret” break the stereotype by showing a more serious side. “Labyrinth” and “Help!” open windows into the creative minds of famed rock legends, while “Spinal Tap” pokes fun at them through a group of egocentric, spandex-clad musicians. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” endures as a cult classic.

• Labyrinth
• Cabaret
• This is Spinal Tap
• Help! (United Kingdom)
• The Rocky Horror Picture Show

If you enjoy fairytales but are bored of Cinderella, try one of these movies out. “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and “Edward Scissorhands” are must-see classics for Tim Burton fans; “Chocolat” is literally the sweet tale of a woman and her daughter who, by opening a chocolate shop, shake the moral foundations of a small French village. The Parisian title character of “Amélie” both amuses and endears with her well-intended antics. “Pan’s Labyrinth” revolves around a girl living in 1944 fascist Spain who encounters an enchanted world, where she discovers that she must complete three gruesome tasks in order to see her real father.

• The Nightmare Before Christmas
• Edward Scissorhands
• Chocolat
• Le Fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (France)
• Pan’s Labyrinth (Mexico)

Drama is a versatile genre that covers a wide variety of topics. “Rory O’Shea” deals with disability through the story of two quirky, fiercely independent friends. The depiction of drug addiction in “Requiem for a Dream” has inspired many students to stay clean. “C.R.A.Z.Y.” is the story of a boy conflicted between his father’s ideals, his own identity and his bizzare connection to David Bowie. “Everything is Illuminated” is both hilarious and poignant, recounting a young Jew’s search for his family roots. “The Squid and the Whale” realistically portrays the consequences of divorce.

• Rory O’Shea Was Here (Ireland)
• C.R.A.Z.Y. (French Canada)
• Requiem for a Dream
• Everything is Illuminated
• The Squid and the Whale

Itching for an adrenaline rush? “Se7en” and “Memento” are sure to provide it with their chilling portrayals of deeply troubled killers. For the most part, “Silence of the Lambs” is slower, but its eerie characters are unforgettable. “Munich” is a spy thriller filled with political undertones and characters driven by a desire for vengeance. “Donnie Darko,” while somewhat confusing, is a great rent for those who only want to get a little creeped out.

• Silence of the Lambs
• Memento
• Se7en
• Donnie Darko
• Munich

Humor comes in many forms, from social commentary to plain madness. Lovers of political humor will go for “Dr. Strangelove”; for a slightly sillier viewing experience, rent “Zoolander” or Monty Python’s “Life of Brian.” For those craving some 80’s-style absurdity, “Bill & Ted” will satisfy—and provide a vaguely accurate history lesson to boot. “Office Space” dryly recounts the woes of a group of miserable office workers yearning to break free from The Man.

• Dr. Strangelove
• Zoolander
• Life of Brian (United Kingdom)
• Office Space
• Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure