Donnie Darko

2001, Fantasy/Sci-fi, 1h 53m

118 Reviews 250,000+ Ratings

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. Read critic reviews

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Movie Info

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.
  • Rating:
    R (Some Drug Use|Language|Violence)
  • Genre:
    Fantasy, Sci-fi
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Richard Kelly
  • Producer:
    Sean McKittrick, Nancy Juvonen
  • Writer:
    Richard Kelly
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $205.8K
  • Runtime:
  • Distributor:
    Newmarket Film Group
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby Stereo, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby Digital, Dolby SR
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Scope (2.35:1)

Cast & Crew

Jake Gyllenhaal
Donnie Darko
Jena Malone
Gretchen Ross
Drew Barrymore
Ms. Karen Pomeroy
James Duval
Frank
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Elizabeth Darko
Mary McDonnell
Rose Darko
Holmes Osborne
Eddie Darko
Katharine Ross
Dr. Lilian Thurman
Patrick Swayze
Jim Cunningham
Noah Wyle
Dr. Monnitoff
Daveigh Chase
Samantha Darko
Arthur Taxier
Dr. Fisher
Stuart Stone
Ronald Fisher
Alex Greenwald
Seth Devlin
Joan Blair
Mystery Woman
Fran Kranz
Passenger
David St. James
Bob Garland
Rachel Winfree
Shanda Riesman
Richard Kelly
Director
Richard Kelly
Screenwriter
Sean McKittrick
Producer
Nancy Juvonen
Producer
Hunt Lowry
Executive Producer
Casey La Scala
Executive Producer
Steven Poster
Cinematography
Alec Hammond
Production Design
April Ferry
Costume Design
Eric Strand
Film Editing
Sam Bauer
Film Editing
Michael Andrews
Original Music
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Critic Reviews for Donnie Darko

All Critics (118) | Top Critics (22) | Fresh (102) | Rotten (16)
Full Review… Tara Brady Irish Times Full Review… Nick Schager Lessons of Darkness Full Review… Peter Travers Rolling Stone Full Review… Lisa Alspector Chicago Reader Full Review… Todd McCarthy Variety Full Review… Alan Morrison Empire Magazine Full Review… Stephen Silver Tilt Magazine Full Review… Rafael Paz Butaca Ancha Full Review… Mike Massie Gone With The Twins Full Review… Erik Anderson AwardsWatch Full Review… Rachel Wagner rachelsreviews.net Full Review… PJ Nabarro Patrick Nabarro
View All Critic Reviews (118)

Audience Reviews for Donnie Darko

  • Sep 23, 2016
    A great chilling piece of psychologically thrilling cinema
    Kameron W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 11, 2016
    Donnie Darko is an inventive cult classic. It's concept is smart and Jake Gyllenhaal delivers a great performance, however, not all aspects of the story really mesh together. Darko deals with time travel, the apocalypse, and death in a cold and clinical way. There is no doubt that even when I was scratching my head at how the feature wrapped up, I couldn't deny the thought provoking themes delivered with such daring. So while Donnie Darko is a hard movie to embrace, it is also a difficult movie to shake off and has earned its status as a cult classic. Rating: 66
    Bradley J Super Reviewer
  • Mar 11, 2016
    It's hard to review this movie after only one viewing because Donnie Darko seems like the type of film that improves with repeat viewings. That being said, the plot can seem a bit confusing at times, but the acting, especially by Jake Gyllenhaal, carries the load of this cult classic. If you haven't seen this movie, you're doing yourself a disservice!
    Ben B Super Reviewer
  • Apr 17, 2015
    Sometimes I doubt your commitment to sparkle motion.
    Gimly M Super Reviewer
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