Editing Donnie Darko (section)

==Reception==
===Critical reception===
[[File:Jake Gyllenhaal detail.jpg|thumb|[[Jake Gyllenhaal]] was praised for his [[Breakthrough role|breakthrough performance]].]]
The [[review aggregator]] website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reported that 87% of critics gave the film a positive review based on 119 reviews, with an average rating of 7.6/10. The site's critics consensus reads, "Richard Kelly's debut feature ''Donnie Darko'' is a daring, original vision, packed with jarring ideas and intelligence and featuring a remarkable performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as the troubled title character."<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web |title=Donnie Darko (2001) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/donnie_darko |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]}}</ref> [[Metacritic]] gives the theatrical version of the film a weighted average score of 71 out of 100 based on 21 reviews, which indicates "generally favorable" reviews.<ref name="MC">{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/donnie-darko |title=Donnie Darko Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=August 8, 2019}}</ref>

[[Andrew Johnston (critic)|Andrew Johnson]] cited the film in ''[[Us Weekly]]'', as one of the outstanding films at Sundance in 2001, describing it as "a heady blend of science fiction, spirituality, and teen angst".<ref>''Us Weekly'', 2/21/2001, p. 36.</ref> Jean Oppenheimer of ''New Times (LA)'' praised the film, saying, "Like gathering storm clouds, ''Donnie Darko'' creates an atmosphere of eerie calm and mounting menace—[and] stands as one of the most exceptional movies of 2001."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/park_city_2001_review_donnie_darko_plays_with_the_time_of_our_lives |title=PARK CITY 2001 REVIEW: Donnie Darko Plays with the Time of Our Lives |author=Andy Bailey |date=2001-01-21 |work=[[Indie Wire]] |access-date=2012-08-31}}</ref> Writing for ABC Australia, Megan Spencer called the movie "menacing, dreamy and exciting" and noted "it could take you to a deeply emotional place lying dormant in your soul".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/review/film/s702145.htm|title=Donnie Darko: triple j film reviews|author=Megan Spencer|date=2002-10-15|publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] gave the theatrical version of the film two and a half stars out of four, but later gave the director's cut three stars out of four.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donnie Darko: The Director's Cut |url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/donnie-darko-the-directors-cut-2004 |author=Roger Ebert |access-date=2012-08-31 |work=Chicago Sun-Times|author-link= Roger Ebert }}</ref>

Other critics like Sam Adams called the movie an apparent "big mess", citing incoherent plot, sloppy writing, and an uneven tone. Adams also took issue with the "seemingly irrelevant" but oft-referenced setting in a suburban America in the 1980s, claiming that it "serves as another example of the movie's struggle to find identity".<ref>{{cite news |last1=Adams |first1=Sam |title=Screenpicks: Donnie Darko |work=City Paper |date=16 May 2002 |page=45 |id={{ProQuest|362587083}} }}</ref> Another review from the ''San Antonio Current'' lauds the build-up, citing vast build of mysteries with compelling characters, but claims the movie's ending "leaves much to be desired", calling it cheap and anti-climactic.<ref>{{cite news |title=Donnie Darko |work=Current |date=24 April 2002 |page=23 |id={{ProQuest|362544091}} }}</ref> The film has been praised for its [[1980s nostalgia]].<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/jan/29/donnie-darko-reboot-richard-kelly Cool, creepy and full of pop nostalgia: Donnie Darko is ripe for a reboot]. The Guardian. 29 January 2021.</ref><ref>[https://screenrant.com/movies-stranger-things-1980s-nostalgia-vibe/ 9 Movies Guaranteed To Give You The Same 80s Nostalgia As Stranger Things]. ScreenRant. 18 June 2022.</ref><ref name=COS17/><ref>[https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/donnie-darko-anniversary How one mind-blowing indie sci-fi movie predicted Stranger Things in 2001]. Inverse. 20 February 2024.</ref>

===Accolades===
{{Anchor|Awards|Accolades}}
* 2001: [[Richard Kelly (filmmaker)|Richard Kelly]]'s ''Donnie Darko'' script won "Best Screenplay" at the [[San Diego]] Film Critics Society. ''Donnie Darko'' also won the "Audience Award" for Best Feature at the [[Sweden]] Fantastic Film Festival. The film was nominated for "Best Film" at the Sitges Film Festival and for the "Grand Jury Prize" at the [[Sundance Film Festival]]. The film was nominated for three [[2001 Independent Spirit Awards|Independent Spirit Awards]] including Best First Feature, Best First Screenplay and Best Male Lead for Gyllenhaal.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzHlWK2UeWQ 17th Spirit Awards ceremony hosted by John Waters - full show (2002) | Film Independent on YouTube]</ref>
* 2002: ''Donnie Darko'' won the "Special Award" at the [[Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films]]'s [[28th Saturn Awards]]. The movie also won the "Silver Scream Award" at the [[Imagine Film Festival|Amsterdam Fantastic Film Festival]]. The film was also nominated for the "Best Breakthrough Filmmaker" at the Online Film Critics Society Awards.<ref>[https://ofcs.org/awards/2001-awards-5th-annual/ 2001 Awards (5th Annual)|Online Film Critics Society]</ref>
* 2005: ''Donnie Darko'' ranked in the top five on ''[[My Favourite Film]]'', an [[Australia]]n poll conducted by the [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritefilm/ |title=My Favourite Film |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=2012-08-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827035046/http://www.abc.net.au/myfavouritefilm/ |archive-date=August 27, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* 2006: ''Donnie Darko'' ranks #9 in FilmFour's ''[[50 Films to See Before You Die]]''.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/567497/c4-relaunches-film4-50-films-die-countdown/ |title=C4 relaunches Film4 with '50 films to see before you die' countdown |author=Joanne Oatts |date= 2006-07-03 |publisher=[[Brand Republic]] |access-date=2012-08-31}}</ref>

; Other awards
* #14 on ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''{{'}}s list of the 50 Best High School Movies.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.listsofbests.com/list/14066-entertainment-weekly-s-50-best-high-school-movies|title=50 Best High School Movies|date=2006-09-15|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120815080156/http://www.listsofbests.com/list/14066-entertainment-weekly-s-50-best-high-school-movies|archive-date=August 15, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
* #2 in ''[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]''{{'}}s "50 Greatest Independent Films of All Time" list.<ref name="empireonline.com"/>
* #53 in ''Empire'''s "500 Greatest Movies of All Time" 2008 poll.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>