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Donnie Darko
CAST & DIRECTOR
Directed by Richard Kelly. With Jake Gyllenhaal, Jena Malone, James Duval.
7.8/10
MOVIHERO RATINGWHAT IT'S ABOUT
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.
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7.8/10
MOVIHERO RATINGYOUR WATCHLISTAfter 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.
MAKE THE CALL
Does this belong in your night?
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RELEASE SNAPSHOT
Release snapshot for Donnie Darko.
MoviHero lists January 19, 2001 as the release date for Donnie Darko. Richard Kelly is the listed director. The listed cast includes Jake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko, Jena Malone as Gretchen Ross, James Duval as Frank, Drew Barrymore as Karen Pomeroy. A trailer and 5 stills are available on this page.
Release dateJanuary 19, 2001
GenresDrama · Mystery · Fantasy
Runtime1h 54m
DirectorRichard Kelly
CastJake Gyllenhaal as Donnie Darko, Jena Malone as Gretchen Ross, James Duval as Frank, Drew Barrymore as Karen Pomeroy
TrailerAvailable on this page
Images5 stills
BEFORE YOU PRESS PLAY
Is Donnie Darko right for tonight?
Pacing, attention and emotional impact are estimates from the current MoviHero Watch Profile, not verified scene-by-scene reviews.
How much time should I set aside?
Donnie Darko runs 1h 54m. Allow extra time for breaks.
Is it slow or fast?
The current MoviHero pacing estimate is 4/10: a more patient pace.
Is it a good choice when I am tired?
The attention estimate is 6/10. Expect to follow the story rather than use it as background viewing.
How emotionally intense is it?
The emotional-impact estimate is 7/10, suggesting a moderate emotional load. This does not tell you whether the ending is happy or sad.
CHANGE ONE THING
Like this, but...
These share a listed genre with Donnie Darko. Profile differences are estimates, not a guarantee of the same story or mood.
But shorterFashion House2026 · 1h 30m
24 minutes shorter (1h 30m). Shared genre: drama, mystery.
But less emotionally intenseFuxi: Four Tales of Feasting2026 · 2h 15mEstimated emotional impact: 5/10 versus 7/10. Shared genre: drama, fantasy.
But less demandingThe Goodie Bag2026 · 7mEstimated attention required: 4/10 versus 6/10. Shared genre: drama, fantasy.
MOVIE RATING
MoviHero Rating
MoviHero Rating: 7.8/10 from 13,911 votes. Updated Nov 2, 2026.
Rating data supplied by TMDB, shown on a 10-point scale. MoviHero audience ratings are calculated separately from scores submitted here.
MOVIHERO AUDIENCE RATING
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WHAT WATCHING IT FEELS LIKE
Watch Profile
Seven estimates of the viewing experience, based on the stored Watch Profile. These are separate from the movie rating and are not verified scene-by-scene assessments.
Pacing4/10
Emotional Impact7/10
Mind-Bending8/10
Scary1/10
Violence3/10
Rewatchability6/10
Attention Required6/10
VIEWER REVIEWS
What viewers say about Donnie Darko
Selected viewer reactions, in their own words. These excerpts reflect individual opinions, not an overall verdict.
Viewer reaction
“A complete mind-bender of a movie that put Jake Gyllenhall on the map, introduced the creepiest rabbit costume of all time, and may make you…”
Viewer reaction
“Interesting movie with several readings. As with 2001: A Space Odissey, it is needed a reading of the actual explanation for the events to fully…”
Viewer reaction
“A strange film, with a strong visual impact and a script with wild theories, but which fulfills its objective very well and is enjoyable to…”
More reactions (1)
Viewer reaction
“Jake Gyllenhaal is the eponymous teenager who just doesn't really fit in.”
Selected review excerpts supplied by TMDB. Opinions belong to their original authors.
WORDS THAT STAY WITH YOU
Memorable lines
Reveal a line containing a spoiler
“Donnie Darko? What the hell kind of name is that? It's like some sort of superhero or something.”
A CLOSER LOOK
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CAST & CREW
The people who make it land.
CHARACTERS IN THIS MOVIE
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Reviewed MoviHero character guides connected to this movie.
SIMILAR GENRES & STORY THEMES
Keep the night going.
7.3/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEWhen Wine Meets Coffee
2026·Drama · Mystery · Comedy · Fantasy · Romance
7.4/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEFashion House
2026·Drama · Mystery
7.3/10
MOVIHERO ESTIMATEThe Goodie Bag
2026·Drama · Comedy · Fantasy