10 Best Musical Scenes In Movies

Donnie Darko almost feels like a movie that just has to be seen to be believed. The film's convoluted ride through Jake Gylenhaal's innermost psyche is both a great portrayal of the adolescent 80's mindset while also being a stark look at the otherworldly forces beyond your control.

Given the dark subject matter laced throughout the film, fans were prepared for not the cheeriest of endings. In an attempt to save his love interest, Donnie finds out that the only way to keep her from being murdered is to go back in time and sacrifice himself by having the plane from the beginning of the film crash into his house, ending his own life. Once Donnie accepts his fate with a cynical laugh, Gary Jules' "Mad World" begins to play as the family comes to terms with what has happened.

In terms of capturing the spirit of the movie, "Mad World" is one of the ideal choices, with its origins as a Tears for Fears song matching the movie's 80's aesthetic to a tee. As we settle into the melancholy of Jules' vocals as the scene plays out, the entire song goes from being a subdued piano ballad to the sound of one's mind deteriorating.