Donnie Darko

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Donnie Darko

R

In Theaters Oct 2

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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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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Justin Chang

Los Angeles Times

Mar 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

Jan 10, 2017

5/5

Donnie Darko rightly made a star of Gyllenhaal.

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Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Dec 29, 2016

The script makes variable sense, but so does life.

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

Mar 22, 2026

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

Jul 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

Mar 29, 2023

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

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Logan Bushaw

Mar 27, 2025

MORE RE-RELEASES PLEASE

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rylee

Mar 23, 2025

i love this movie so much. 🤍

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Peter M

@RT04383917 1 day ago

In my top 10. Will give detailed review later.

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Jasmine W

@jasniquejewels Aug 31, 2026

one of the best psychological thriller films oat. donnie darko is really good and finding the meaning of the concepts my perspective changes with every rewatch. this made me laugh way more than it should of.

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Cinema S

@cinema_sensei Aug 23, 2026

This constantly had me questioning what was real and what was actually happening. The mix of time travel, alternate realities, mental illness, and teenage alienation creates a genuinely mind-bending sci-fi experience. The VFX can look cheap or a little silly today, but considering it came out in 2001, that never bothered me much. The atmosphere, mystery, and ambitious concept kept me fully engaged. It's complicated and not every idea is perfectly explained, but that's also part of what made the experience so interesting for me.

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Remington B

@RemingtonBallenger Aug 23, 2026

Donnie Darko is one of my favorite movies I’ve ever watched. From beginning to end, I was completely invested, and I genuinely enjoyed every second of it. It’s one of those movies that doesn’t just entertain you—it actually makes you stop and rethink life, time, reality, and the choices we make. The story, atmosphere, characters, and mystery all come together in a way that kept me thinking long after the movie ended. There are so many things to interpret and question, which makes it a movie I feel like I could watch multiple times and still notice something new. It even had me going out of my way to watch other peoples opinions on YouTube, to try and fully rap my head around this wonderful movie. Overall, Donnie Darko left a huge impression on me. It made me think differently about life while still being an incredibly entertaining movie. Definitely one of my all-time favorites and a movie I’ll never forget. 10/10 would recommend

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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): 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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