# ‘Donnie Darko’: THR’s 2001 Review

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/donnie-darko-thrs-2001-review/
- Published: 2026-10-26T16:12:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T07:11:57+00:00
- Original publisher: The Hollywood Reporter
- Original article: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/donnie-darko-review-movie-2001-1236740027/
- Topics: Film

## Key points

- *Donnie Darko* blends teenage angst, satire and paranormal events.
- The review praised its humour but found the story confusing.
- The film made just over $8 million worldwide.

## Summary

Richard Kelly’s *Donnie Darko*, starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jena Malone, opened in cinemas on 26 October 2001 after its Sundance debut. The original review describes a darkly comic story of teenage alienation and suburban life, whose mix of satire and paranormal elements appealed to some viewers but left others baffled.

The film follows Donnie, a troubled and gifted teenager who hears voices and sees a frightening rabbit called Frank. He clashes with parents, teachers, bullies and other authority figures, while the story combines black comedy, teenage angst and supernatural events. The reviewer praised its sharp humour and inventive style but said its increasingly complex narrative ultimately became confusing; the film earned just over $8 million worldwide.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.