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Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, Mary McDonnell, Holmes Osborne, Maggie Gyllenhaal ... see more see more... , Drew Barrymore , Patrick Swayze , Katharine Ross , James Duval , Noah Wyle , Daveigh Chase , Beth Grant , Arthur Taxier , Stuart Stone , David St. James , Seth Rogen , Gary Lundy , Ashley Tisdale , Jolene Purdy

Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a bright and charming high-school student who also has a dark and willfully eccentric side; he does little to mask his contempt for many of his peers and enjoys challenging... read more read more... the authority of the adults around him. Donnie is also visited on occasion by Frank, a monstrous six-foot rabbit that only Donnie can see who often urges him to perform dangerous and destructive pranks. Late one night, Frank leads Donnie out of his home to inform him that the world will come to an end in less than a month; moments later, the engine of a jet aircraft comes crashing through the ceiling of Donnie's room, making him think there might be something to Frank's prophesies after all. The rest of Donnie's world is only marginally less bizarre, as he finds himself dealing with his confused parents (Mary McDonnell and Holmes Osborne), his college-age sister (Maggie Gyllenhaal), his perplexed analyst (Katherine Ross), a rebellious English teacher (Drew Barrymore), a sleazy self-help expert (Patrick Swayze), and the new girl at school who is attracted by Donnie's quirks (Jena Malone). Donnie Darko was the first feature film from writer and director Richard Kelly; Drew Barrymore, who plays teacher Karen Pomeroy, also lent her support to the project as executive producer. A director's cut played in select theaters on a limited basis in the summer of 2004, featuring original music cues and trimmed scenes originally in Kelly's first cut of the film. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

77% liked it

29,532,807 ratings

Critics

85% liked it

108 critics

R, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: Richard Kelly (II), Richard Kelly

Release Date: January 19, 2001

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DVD Release Date: March 19, 2002

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Stats: 868,571 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (868,571)

  • fb1378820053
    April 10, 2012
    fb1378820053
    A beautiful, Complex, mind bending film. Donnie Darko is so different strange and fantastic it may require multiple viewings to really get behind this film. Jake Gyleenhall is yet again fantastic as "Donnie", the soundtrack is also fantastic. A near perfect directional debut from... read more Richard Kelly. While it may off flopped at the box office even with it's hollywood cast, Donnie Darko is a film that will go down in cinematic history.
  • superclerk25
    March 19, 2012
    superclerk25
    excellent
  • fb1463751009
    March 10, 2012
    fb1463751009
    A lot of people praise this "underrated" movie, but the way I see it, it is way too confusing for even the most observant people. I looked up the meaning behind everything through multiple forums, and I saw that it was way too overcomplicated for a movie to portray some sort of i... read morenteresting idea. The follow-up to the ending is dreadfully meaningless at times and boring. Please stop praising this movie when you don't understand what the movie means.
  • LoughnerWasLucid
    February 1, 2012
    LoughnerWasLucid
    keep hearing its good
  • helpahorse
    January 31, 2012
    helpahorse
    This movie is gold. Pure genius. Total mindfuck. I had to think a little bit.
  • fb100000883534329
    January 27, 2012
    fb100000883534329
    This film messed me up in the head... in the ood way. When you see a film that makes you question reality as much as this, it should go doen in history as the best cult film ever!
  • fb733768972
    December 9, 2011
    fb733768972
    The story, the acting by the entire cast (Jake Gyllenhaal in particular), and the dialogue is absolutely mesmerizing. The film is told through present time, past time, and a time that is left up to you to decipher. This is a story that follows a troubled young boy as he imagines ... read morecreatures and has a very two-sided perspective on life. There are moments that will have you chuckling, moments that will have you star-struck in fear, and moments that are just too strange and over-intense to handle. This psycological thriller is definately "THE" best of it's kind, and it will easily hold a spot in my top 10. I absolutely adore "Donnie Dark" and I wish more films were told in perspective such as this. This film is pure hollywood genius!
  • fb1033186916
    November 4, 2011
    fb1033186916
    Remarkably brilliant and mind boggling but the intelligent premise of the plot itself would only strike interest to those who tend to do more than just watch the film itself. This movie is cleverly original full of random concepts that'll leave you thinking which is probably the ... read moreproblem to it. There's too much going on all at the same time, but nonetheless, this movie is worth watching and going the extra mile in researching.
  • aSpaceCowboy
    October 30, 2011
    aSpaceCowboy
    [new review coming soon]

    This film really spoke to me... or: at least it DID anyway. It showed me how someone's choices can affect our lives. It's use of foreshadow was quite a shock. So much was going on in this movie that you'd probably need to take a second glance at it to fu... read morerther understand it. I tend to avoid movies with this sort of plot style, but i made an exception after realizing what this movie was all about. The way it was shown and symbolized was beyond what i could have imagined. Unfortunately, the major flaw of this film - the acting - made me loose interest.

    I give this any such credit with the score provided by Michael Andres. His feel on cult , film-noir, mystery, horror, is all captured with a simple thread of notes. it's bone chilling and spine tingling - as an uproot scholar with minimal terms and an ruse for cliches might resort with. On the other hand, his lacking balance of either posture nor fitting heir made small infliction on the 'rounds. Still, to justify it's intent for dramatic them of sci-fi, He accomplished a beautiful score. The redone version of Mad World with vocals by Gary Jules revolutionized new ways of music critic. E for Effort: No A, no F; just exemplary
  • fb576007796
    October 25, 2011
    fb576007796
    The only good movie Richard Kelly has ever made.

View All Donnie Darko Reviews

Critic Reviews

Lisa Alspector
June 8, 2007
Lisa Alspector, Chicago Reader

Kelly is a supple and courageous storyteller, boldly free-associating as he mixes parody and satire with earnest psychodrama and coming up with plot points no one could anticipate. Full Review

Todd McCarthy
June 8, 2007
Todd McCarthy, Variety

Donnie Darko has plenty of problems. But most stem from a young filmmaker overswinging on his first time up to the plate and hitting a deep fly out rather than a home run. Full Review

Loren King
January 25, 2002
Loren King, Boston Globe

Shows plenty of promise, but it's somewhat self-involved and won't appeal to audiences who like a straightforward -- even if fantastical -- narrative. Full Review

Lisa Schwarzbaum
November 6, 2001
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly

Excitingly original indie vision. Full Review

Andrew O'Hehir
October 31, 2001
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon.com

A stunning technical accomplishment that virtually bursts with noise, ideas and references. Full Review

Bob Graham
October 26, 2001
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

If this movie ever figured out what it wanted to be when it grows up, it would be a terrific one. Full Review

Michael Atkinson
October 26, 2001
Michael Atkinson, Mr. Showbiz

A captivating dark vision. Full Review

Lou Lumenick
October 26, 2001
Lou Lumenick, New York Post

An engaging, time-tripping Holden Caulfield.

Roger Ebert
October 26, 2001
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

This set-up and development is fascinating, the payoff less so. Full Review

Desson Thomson
October 25, 2001
Desson Thomson, Washington Post

It flutters, like a mischievous butterfly, above the despairing hands of easy description. Full Review

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Facts

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    • Frank: 28 days...6 hours...42 minutes...12 seconds...that is when...the world will end...
    • Donnie Darko: What's the point of living if every living creature dies alone?
    • Donnie Darko: I think you're the fucking Antichrist.
    • Karen Pomeroy: I don't think that you have a clue what it's like to communicate with these kids. We are losing them to apathy... to this prescribed nonsense. They are slipping away.
    • Donnie Darko: I don't want to be alone...
    • Donnie Darko: You are such a fuck ass.
    • Elizabeth Darko: Did you just call me a fuck ass? You can go suck a fuck!
    • Donnie Darko: Tell me Elizabeth, how exactly does one suck a fuck?
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Donnie Darko Trivia

  • Which actor played the part of Donnie in Donnie Darko?  Answer »
  • What name do these all share? The name of the dog on Men In Black. Tom Cruise's name in Magnolia. The name of the bunny in Donnie Darko.  Answer »
  • What actor played Donnie's older sister in Donnie Darko?  Answer »
  • In "Donnie Darko" what goes after this dialogue "Why do you wear that stupid bunny suit"?  Answer »
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