‘Donnie Darko’ at 25: was Richard Kelly cursed by the success of his debut?

Richard Kelly’s Donnie Darko is marking 25 years as a cult favourite, while its director has not made a feature film since 2009. The article considers whether the debut’s success made it difficult for Kelly to match its impact, arguing that his later ambition failed to find the same audience.

Made on a $4.5 million budget, the film was Kelly’s first feature and drew on memories from his childhood and adolescence. Its cinema release came soon after 9/11, when adverts showing a plane crash were withdrawn, yet its blend of science fiction, horror and teen drama helped it endure. Kelly’s next film, Southland Tales, cost $17 million and earned $374,743; The Box made $33 million against a $30 million budget but had little cultural impact.