Donnie Darko

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Donnie Darko

R

2001

1h 53m

Drama

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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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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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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Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

03/31/2017

The movie feels perfectly timed to coincide with our nation's latest flirtation with the apocalypse.

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Tara Brady

Irish Times

01/10/2017

5/5

Donnie Darko rightly made a star of Gyllenhaal.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

12/29/2016

The script makes variable sense, but so does life.

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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.

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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.

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Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

03/29/2023

One of the best homages to Back to the Future. [Full review in Spanish]

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Logan Bushaw

03/27/2025

MORE RE-RELEASES PLEASE

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rylee

03/23/2025

i love this movie so much. 🤍

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Globert G.

@GloBertGliedner 2d

My friend Jack told me this was a good one. A recommendation from him is usually a trail worth following. Not this time. It was so late the night had near spent itself and morning was pacing just beyond the windows when we put the thing on. Drew Barrymore was the lone bright lantern in that wilderness, charming enough to turn pixie dust into sand and sand back again. But the movie staggered on through one strange scene after another and left us staring at the screen like travelers who’d taken a wrong trail in the desert. When it was over I had but one thought. What the f*#k was I watching?

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Oaklee D

@ODie63 5d

I really wanted to like this one and I tried really hard but this just wasn't for me.

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Miles M.

@kb14iscool Jun 13

One of my favorites if not my favorite. This eye opening experience will have you questioning the ending far before you finished it.

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Brendan T.

@JackTheSipper712 Jun 10

Good movie, hard to follow at times but still really good

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Richard Kelly

Director

Jake Gyllenhaal

Donnie Darko

Jena Malone

Gretchen Ross

Drew Barrymore

Ms. Karen Pomeroy

James Duval

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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): Mar 31, 2017
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)