Donnie Darko (2001)

Donnie Darko rating: IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic

IMDb8/10· 906K votes

Rotten Tomatoes88%

Metacritic88%

TMDb7.8/10· 14K votes

With 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, backed by 8/10 on IMDb and 88/100 on Metacritic, critical reception of this film has been very positive.

About Donnie Darko

After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.

Cast of Donnie Darko

• 

  Jake Gyllenhaal

  as Donnie Darko

• 

  Jena Malone

  as Gretchen Ross

• 

  James Duval

  as Frank

• 

  Drew Barrymore

  as Karen Pomeroy

• 

  Beth Grant

  as Kitty Farmer

• 

  Maggie Gyllenhaal

  as Elizabeth Darko

• 

  Mary McDonnell

  as Rose Darko

• 

  Holmes Osborne

  as Eddie Darko

• 

  Noah Wyle

  as Prof. Kenneth Monnitoff

• 

  Katharine Ross

  as Dr. Lilian Thurman

• 

  Patrick Swayze

  as Jim Cunningham

• 

  Daveigh Chase

  as Samantha Darko

Donnie Darko facts

Budget

$4.5M

Box office

$7.5M

Collection

Darko Collection

Our take on Donnie Darko

Richard Kelly's 2001 film blends comedy, drama, fantasy and mystery around a troubled teenager who, after narrowly surviving a bizarre accident, is haunted by visions of a large, unsettling rabbit that goads him toward a string of crimes. It's a deliberately strange, mood-heavy piece that leaves much to interpretation, trading clean answers for atmosphere, dread and dark humor. The tone slips between suburban unease and something more otherworldly, and its puzzle-box structure invites rewatching. This one suits viewers drawn to ambiguity and cult oddities rather than tidy resolution. If you like films that linger and provoke debate, and don't need every thread neatly tied, it's worth seeking out.