In the new movie, Adult World, a college graduate (Emma Roberts) has some trouble figuring everything out on the path to becoming a poet. Desperate for cash, she takes a job at an adult bookstore and takes workshops with her favorite author/mentor Rat Billings (John Cusack). Though he's no champion of adulthood, she forces him to find his way, even as he reexamines his own life. 

And so the student becomes the master. Here's some of John Cusack's roles in order his character's level of despondence. 

Being John Malkovich
Role: Craig Schwartz 
Choice Line: "Consciousness is a terrible curse. I think. I feel. I suffer."

Craig is so dissatisfied with his own life, that he literally crawls into the mind of another human being and refuses to leave on his own. Craig Schwartz was horribly, horribly dissatisfied with his puppeting career, which is probably because he chose a career in puppeting. 

High Fidelity
Role: Rob Gordon
Choice Line: "Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?" 

What's more depressing than making a list of your worst break-ups? Probably having to compete with Tim Robbins for the woman that maybe-kinda-sort-idunno-man-could-be-the-one. 

Must Love Dogs
Role: Jake
Choice Line: "The Universe is designed to break your heart, right?"

Believing he's finally got a shot at true love, our Sad Puppyman is heartbroken when it looks like he's lost again. Jake rejects himself before Sarah gets the chance. 

Say Anything...
Role: Lloyd Dobler
Choice Line: "She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."

For most of this movie, Lloyd didn't care about anything. Anything, that is, except for winning the affections of Diane. 

2012
Role: Jackson Curtis
Choice Line: "I certainly eat more cereal now."

Granted, the world was ending, but Jackson managed to be the most melancholic upbeat divorced dad alive. He had to keep everyone alive and positive, even though they were being screwed over at every turn. Kudos, man. Kudos. 

Tapeheads
Role: Ivan Alexeev 
Choice Line: "Negativity festers in you, man."

He was definitely the most positive of the unlucky duo. His cheerfulness in the face of despair became his own level of sadness.