Donnie Darko: Jake Gyllenhaal’s Sci-Fi Cult Classic Leaving Netflix Soon

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If you want to see Jake Gyllenhaal’s early hit sci-fi film on Netflix, you’ll need to watch it soon! It’s leaving the streaming service on January 18th.

The story follows a troubled teen who starts seeing a large rabbit named Frank. After Frank rescues the teen from a dangerous accident, he begins to subtly influence him to carry out a series of bizarre acts.

Although the plot summary might seem strange, it doesn’t fully capture the depth of Donnie Darko. This 1980s film beautifully portrays the challenges of adolescence and first love, all within a complex and intriguing science fiction mystery.

Honestly, the story might not be fully clear even after the movie ends. Often, the ending leaves audiences trying to figure out exactly what events led up to it, without giving everything away.

Director Richard Kelly released a director’s cut of Donnie Darko in 2004, hoping to more closely match his initial vision for the film. While intended to clarify things, many fans—including me—believe this version reveals too much, diminishing the original film’s suspenseful and intriguing atmosphere and slowing down the story. Some added scenes even change the meaning of important plot points, making viewers question their understanding of the original narrative.

Donnie Darko Is a True Cult Classic

I have to say, even though Donnie Darko tackles some really heavy themes, it actually got a pretty good reception when it first came out. And it’s held up! As of today, it’s sitting pretty at 88% on Rotten Tomatoes, and they’ve even given it that “Certified Fresh” badge – a definite sign it’s a movie worth checking out.

Despite positive reviews, the movie didn’t do well at the box office, and the timing likely played a role. Originally planned for a limited release in late 2001, Donnie Darko proved difficult to promote after the September 11th attacks due to its storyline involving a plane crash. It earned just over $517,000 in theaters, despite costing $4.5 million to make.

Despite initially being a bit confusing for some viewers, Donnie Darko gained a dedicated following through positive word of mouth. People were drawn to its dark atmosphere and complex sci-fi story, and the fact that it wasn’t easy to understand actually made it more appealing. With several returns to theaters, the film has now earned $7.5 million at the box office.

Kelly wrote and directed Donnie Darko, which was his first time directing a film. The movie starred Jake Gyllenhaal alongside his sister, Maggie Gyllenhaal, who played Donnie’s sister Elizabeth. Other cast members included Jena Malone, Drew Barrymore, Mary McDonnell, Katharine Ross, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, and Seth Rogen.

A follow-up film to Donnie Darko, called S. Darko: A Donnie Darko Tale, was released in 2009. This movie centers around Donnie’s younger sister, Sam, again played by Daveigh Chase. However, Chase and producer Adam Fields were the only people involved from the original film, as director Richard Kelly didn’t participate and no longer owned the rights to Donnie Darko.

The film S. Darko was mostly disliked by both critics and fans of the original, reflected in its very low ratings on Rotten Tomatoes – both critics and general audiences gave it a score below 20% positive. Despite this negative reception…

Although Richard Kelly wasn’t involved with S. Darko and has even said he dislikes it, he hasn’t ruled out revisiting Donnie Darko. He’s been talking about his own idea for a Donnie Darko sequel since 2017, and as of 2023…

Kelly explained that she’s still processing and learning from her experiences with the film, and there’s a lot she can’t discuss yet. She anticipates continuing to analyze it indefinitely, unless someone asks her to stop. She also feels there are still hidden layers to the movie that she’s discovering, and she’d love the opportunity to revisit Donnie Darko with a proper visual effects budget to realize some previously impossible ideas.

You can watch Donnie Darko on Netflix until January 18th. If you prefer, it’s also available to rent or buy digitally (PVOD) and on DVD/Blu-ray, including a 4K UHD version from Arrow Video.

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2026-01-10 03:14