Donnie Darko

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Donnie Darko

R

2001

1h 53m

Drama

Sci-Fi

Fantasy

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

Tomatometer

124 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

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

Mar 31, 2017

Full Review

Tara Brady

Irish Times

Donnie Darko rightly made a star of Gyllenhaal.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 10, 2017

Full Review

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

The script makes variable sense, but so does life.

Dec 29, 2016

Full Review

Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

Jake Gyllenhaal, with an impish grin that exudes boyish charm, gives a breakout performance as Donnie Darko.

Jul 21, 2023

Full Review

Erick Estrada

Cinegarage

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

Mar 29, 2023

Full Review

Stephen Silver

Tilt Magazine

Rewatching it now it's shocking how much it anticipated about life today. (20th anniversary)

Rated: 4/5

Oct 29, 2021

Full Review

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Logan Bushaw

MORE RE-RELEASES PLEASE

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/27/25

Full Review

rylee

i love this movie so much. 🤍

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/23/25

Full Review

Matt W.

Interesting movie that ends up a bit romance and sci-fi.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/01/25

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Ryan H

After talking with a giant bunny rabbit named Frank, A schizophrenic named Donnie becomes obsessed with time travel and the end of the world. This movie was trippy with deeper meanings and mysteries.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/27/25

Full Review

Jakub B

Watched at 41. WFF for the first time on big screen. Amazing! But dvd directors cut add addition layer to this movie.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/18/25

Full Review

Alexa J

I'm sorry, but I personally feel like the movie is trying too hard to be deep. Sure, it's a bit layered and definitely complex, but it's confusing and the ending didn’t make much sense to me. Some might interpret this as a lack of understanding or even intelligence on my part, but overall, I wouldn’t call it a bad movie.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

10/18/25

Full Review

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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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Elizabeth Darko

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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)

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