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Donnie Darko

Play trailer 1:35 Poster for Donnie Darko R In Theaters Oct 2 1h 53m Drama Sci-Fi Fantasy Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
88% Tomatometer 125 Reviews 80% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
In a funny, moving and distinctly mind-bending journey through suburban America, one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager is about to take Time's Arrow for a ride. After surviving a freak accident, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins to explore what it means to be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny.
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Donnie Darko

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Richard Kelly's debut feature Donnie Darko is a daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas and intelligence and featuring a remarkable performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as the troubled title character.

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Cast & Crew

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Richard Kelly

Director

Jake Gyllenhaal

Donnie Darko

Jena Malone

Gretchen Ross

Drew Barrymore

Ms. Karen Pomeroy

James Duval

Frank

Maggie Gyllenhaal

Elizabeth Darko

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Critics Reviews

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Justin Chang Los Angeles Times 03/31/2017
The movie feels perfectly timed to coincide with our nation's latest flirtation with the apocalypse. Go to Full Review Tara Brady Irish Times 01/10/2017
5/5
Donnie Darko rightly made a star of Gyllenhaal. Go to Full Review Nigel Andrews Financial Times 12/29/2016
The script makes variable sense, but so does life. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy Mar 22
3.5/4
Like Being John Malkovich and 2001: A Space Odyssey and too few others, this is one of those mind-melting cinematic achievements. Go to Full Review Paul Kanieski KSQD Community Radio 07/21/2023
Jake Gyllenhaal, with an impish grin that exudes boyish charm, gives a breakout performance as Donnie Darko. Go to Full Review Erick Estrada Cinegarage 03/29/2023
One of the best homages to Back to the Future. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Logan Bushaw 03/27/2025 MORE RE-RELEASES PLEASE See more rylee 03/23/2025 i love this movie so much. 🤍 See more K G @KatyG-S Jul 28 One of a kind to be on the thriller movie list. It might feel too underrated, but something is not really underrated when I saw Jake Gyllenhaal, the world of thrillers is home to him after I saw him in "The Day After Tomorrow". And he will always be that one: That one is the protagonist, who is feeling something wrong & must do something before it is too late. In this case, a random fantastical thing he keeps imagining; a man in a scary rabbit costume... This flash implies something to him, a warning to him, that in time, the world will end (the date is October 31st). That is where we get the origin story of why he became malicious. Did anyone see Seth Rogen & Jerry Trainor in there? Highlight to seeing "The Evil Dead" in it. I should watch "Primer" next See more Cristopher luis R @RT71373402 Jul 28 Una joya que no fue valorada en su tiempo por el atentado del las torres gemelas See more David H @rivrocks Jul 26 What a weird little movie. Some good performances, but it's just a little too random. Mr. Kelly's undoubtedly profound deep thoughts got lost in the conceptual quagmire. See more Alex G @RT15582241 Jul 19 So I will get hate for this but Donnie Darko isn't that good. It's fun to see how many of today's stars are in it. The script is mid. The acting is pretty solid. I am not sure what people love about it, but it was fine. See more Read all reviews
Donnie Darko

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Donnie Darko

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Donnie Darko

A scene from the film "Donnie Darko." A scene from the film "Donnie Darko." A scene from the film "Donnie Darko." View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis In a funny, moving and distinctly mind-bending journey through suburban America, one extraordinary but disenchanted teenager is about to take Time's Arrow for a ride. After surviving a freak accident, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) begins to explore what it means to be alive, and in short order to be in love, he uncovers secrets of the universe that give him a tempting power to alter time and destiny.
Director
Richard Kelly
Producer
Sean McKittrick, Nancy Juvonen
Screenwriter
Richard Kelly
Distributor
Newmarket Film Group
Production Co
Adam Fields Productions, Flower Films, Pandora Cinema, Gaylord Films
Rating
R (Some Drug Use|Language|Violence)
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Oct 26, 2001, Wide
Rerelease Date (Theaters)
Oct 2, 2026
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 25, 2017
Box Office (Gross USA)
$205.8K
Runtime
1h 53m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital, Dolby SR, Surround, Dolby Stereo, Dolby A
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)
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