13 Best Movies Like Donnie Darko

Donnie Darko,” a unique sci-fi thriller released in 2001, initially flopped at the box office but transformed into one of the most iconic cult classics of the 21st century. The reason for its enduring popularity lies partly in its distinctiveness. Unlike any other film out there, “Donnie Darko” tells the story of a troubled teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal) who receives apocalypse warnings from an individual dressed as a rabbit (James Duval).

If you’re seeking cinematic journeys akin to “Donnie Darko”, there are several films with distinctive viewpoints that share some of its enchanting elements. Be it puzzling enigmas, teenage turmoil, eerie ambiance, or a blend, the subsequent 13 movies resonate with aspects of “Donnie Darko” and are strongly suggested for fans of this film. Remarkably, half of these films were directorial debuts – the creative expressions of artists eager to pour their heart into one movie, unsure if they’d get another chance to direct.

The less-known direct-to-video sequel of “Donnie Darko,” titled “S. Darko,” which might have escaped your notice, is not featured here, as it’s generally considered subpar and many prefer to disregard its existence.

Southland Tales

Richard Kelly, the director, has made just two films following “Donnie Darko”, namely “Southland Tales” (2006) and “The Box” (2009). These subsequent films didn’t fare well with critics and audiences upon their initial release. However, as is often the case with ambitious and passionate projects, “Southland Tales” has garnered some dedicated supporters over time. Whether you end up adoring it or despising it, it’s worth watching for its audacious ambition and unique vision.

Describing the storyline: This tale encompasses World War III, temporal distortions, radical Neo-Marxist groups, biblical prophecies from the Book of Revelation, and a disjointed screenplay penned by amnesiac actor Boxer Santaros (Dwayne Johnson) and adult film star Krysta Now (Sarah Michelle Gellar), blurring the lines between fiction and reality. It’s a complex, captivating narrative (part of a larger multimedia saga, with the first three chapters published as comics, and this part being Chapters 4-6). Quite a tangled web!

In its cast of B-list celebrities and “Saturday Night Live” stars, direct criticisms of the Bush administration, and a musical sequence featuring Justin Timberlake under the influence while miming to The Killers’ “All These Things That I’ve Done,” the movie “Southland Tales” has become an uncanny representation of the 2000s. By magnifying the issues of the era, “Southland Tales” foreshadowed the future where politics and popular culture would intersect. Certain aspects of the film are genius, while others are deliberately absurd, but what ties it all together is that the cast acknowledges the humor. Do you recall when Dwayne Johnson used to act seriously?

I Saw the TV Glow

Jane Schoenbrun acknowledges Richard Kelly as a significant influence on her directorial style, and her upcoming 2024 film “I Saw the TV Glow” mirrors the ambiance of “Donnie Darko” more closely than any recent movie. Unlike “Donnie Darko,” which explored suburban detachment in the 1980s, “I Saw the TV Glow” delves into similar themes within a ’90s context. The film critiques nostalgia for the period’s pop culture to create a narrative revolving around the discovery and denial of identity.

High school students named Owen (Justice Smith) and Maddy (Jack Haven) find common ground through a TV show called “The Pink Opaque,” which has elements similar to “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” When Maddy flees her abusive home, it coincides with the cancellation of “The Pink Opaque.” Years later, they meet again, and Maddy delivers a dire message about their perceived world. This movie, titled “I Saw the TV Glow,” keeps viewers guessing and is particularly impactful for LGBTQ+ audiences. It was one of the top movies in 2024.

Eraserhead

In light of David Lynch’s recent passing, it seems particularly fitting to recognize the significant influence his work has had, especially on the film “Donnie Darko.” This article serves as a recommendation for his entire body of work, but we’ll be focusing specifically on “Eraserhead,” his groundbreaking 1977 debut. This movie introduced the world to Lynch’s distinctive style and eventually became a regular feature in the midnight movie scene.

For those new to “Eraserhead” after enjoying “Donnie Darko”, remember that Lynch’s unusual elements in “Darko” are more like puzzles to solve. However, “Eraserhead” is meant to be experienced emotionally rather than logically understood. With its bizarre scenes such as bleeding chicken dinners, radiator concerts, exploding planets, and terrifying baby-like monster, it can be interpreted in multiple ways, perhaps best fitting the genre of a horror film about parenthood. But refrain from seeking official explanations since when asked about why he named “Eraserhead” his “most spiritual film”, Lynch simply said, “No.

Waking Life

At the 2001 Sundance Film Festival, alongside “Donnie Darko,” Richard Linklater’s movie “Waking Life” debuted. This film features an undetermined protagonist (portrayed by Wiley Wiggins) who finds himself in a vivid dream. The storyline is not rigid, instead, it traces his quest to awaken and discover a way back to reality through profound dialogues with various intriguing characters. What sets the movie apart are its stunningly surreal visuals, achieved using a digital version of rotoscoping – a method where animators draw over live-action footage.

The movie “Waking Life” offers diverse viewpoints on life’s purpose and the essence of reality. Not everyone will find themselves in agreement with all the characters (a heads-up for those sensitive to sudden surprises, as a pre-fame Alex Jones is featured in one scene). However, the film’s thought-provoking questions create an intellectually stimulating and mind-bending experience. It challenges the boundaries of what a movie can be. Later, Richard Linklater would revisit rotoscope animation with “A Scanner Darkly,” an adaptation of Philip K. Dick’s work, which is another excellent choice for fans of “Donnie Darko.” He also created the semi-autobiographical 1960s reminiscence piece titled “Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood.

Synecdoche, New York

If you’re searching for unique films that straddle the line between amusing and unsettling, delving into the works of Charlie Kaufman could become your next fascination. Known for penning the screenplays for thought-provoking, high-concept films like “Being John Malkovich,” “Adaptation” under director Spike Jonze, and “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” for Michel Gondry, Kaufman’s distinctive style is unmistakable. In 2008, Kaufman ventured into directing with his own script for “Synecdoche, New York,” and as you might expect, the outcome was distinctly characteristic of Kaufman’s work.

In a more light-hearted approach, “Synecdoche, New York” stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as Caden Cotard, an intense theater director whose life is unraveling in a complex, lengthy stage production. Interestingly, the play within this play is also being restaged, while chaos unfolds outside. It’s a mind-bending tale that some critics deemed pretentious, but Roger Ebert hailed it as the top film of the 2000s. Once you connect with its themes about life and death, they tend to linger in your thoughts.

Coherence

In the movie “Donnie Darko,” time travel is explored through multiple parallel realities called “Tangent Universes.” The independent film “Coherence,” released in 2013, further complexifies this idea of a multiverse. Before the multiverse became popular in mainstream movies like the Marvel Cinematic Universe and “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “Coherence” managed to create its intricate plot on a budget as small as $50,000 compared to the production costs of “Donnie Darko,” which ranged from 4.5 million to 6 million dollars.

As a fellow enthusiast, I’d encourage you to experience this captivating tale for yourself. The narrative unfolds amidst a dinner gathering among friends, with a celestial event – a comet passage – serving as the unexpected backdrop. To give a hint without spoiling it, this is a brilliant blend of science fiction, boasting a meticulously structured plot and an engaging, spontaneous feel. The cast, featuring Nicholas Brendon from “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and Lorene Scafaria, director of “Succession”, delivers performances that are both fun and improvisational. This production serves as a beacon for aspiring filmmakers, demonstrating the art of crafting a compelling story with minimal resources.

Nightcrawler

If your appreciation for the movie “Donnie Darko” is significantly influenced by Jake Gyllenhaal’s captivatingly eerie debut performance, then you should definitely check out “Nightcrawler” to witness more of Gyllenhaal’s chilling acting abilities. In Dan Gilroy’s 2014 thriller, Gyllenhaal plays Louis “Lou” Bloom, a morally bankrupt individual who discovers an unusual profession as a nightcrawler, where he scavenges for and sells footage of accidents, disasters, and crime scenes to news stations.

Lou’s relentless pursuit of sensational footage, often at the expense of others’ safety and with seemingly no repercussions for his questionable actions, creates a tense viewing experience that raises concerns about the ethics of television journalism in America. Despite his distasteful behavior, Louis Gyllenhaal’s captivating performance leaves you unable to tear your eyes away from him. Notably, his acting garnered nominations for many prestigious awards, except for an Oscar; “Nightcrawler” received only one Academy Award nomination, for the screenplay written by Gilroy.

Pi

In Darren Aronofsky’s movies, from the addicts in “Requiem for a Dream” to the ballerinas in “Black Swan,” characters strive for transcendence but ultimately face self-destruction. The template for all his future tragic tales can be traced back to his 1998 debut film, “Pi.” This low-budget thriller in black and white follows a mathematician with mental health issues (Sean Gullette) who searches for the secrets of the universe through numbers, but is unsettled by the revelations he uncovers.

In the early 2000s, Darren Aronofsky nearly took up a screenplay penned by Richard Kelly, inspired by Kurt Vonnegut’s novel “Cat’s Cradle.” With Leonardo DiCaprio on board as producer, this project seemed promising, but it ultimately didn’t take flight. The reason might have been that, as Kelly explained to Uncut, adapting the intricate novel was challenging. Both Aronofsky’s films “Pi” and “Donnie Darko” navigate the border between brilliance and insanity, making it understandable why Kelly and Aronofsky found each other appealing for a collaboration, despite the potential risks of straying too far into madness with the “Cat’s Cradle” movie.

Dark City

The films “Donnie Darko” and “Dark City,” directed by Richard Kelly and Alex Proyas respectively, have sparked numerous discussions about which version – the theatrical or director’s cut – is superior. For “Donnie Darko,” the theatrical release maintains a sense of mystery, whereas the director’s edition provides more clarity. In contrast, for “Dark City,” the theatrical cut initially lays out the premise through expository dialogue, while the director’s cut allows viewers to unravel the storyline alongside the amnesiac protagonist John Murdoch (Rufus Sewell).

Regardless of which version you choose to watch, “Dark City” offers an exhilarating journey, taking strong cues from German expressionism and film noir for its captivating visuals and intricate plotline. Filmed in Australia around the same time as “The Matrix,” and with some members of the same crew, “Dark City” didn’t achieve the same blockbuster success as that other thought-provoking sci-fi film from the turn of the millennium. However, much like the other films on this list, it has garnered a loyal cult following in the years since its debut.

The End of Evangelion

To fully understand and appreciate “The End of Evangelion,” it’s essential to watch its precursor, “Neon Genesis Evangelion.” Watching them in the correct order will ensure a coherent viewing experience. Not only is “Evangellion” hailed as one of the greatest anime series ever made, but its finale movie is often considered superior to “Donnie Darko” in portraying teen angst-driven apocalypses on screen. So, it’s worth putting in some effort and watching the original show first!

As a dedicated gamer diving into the world of “The End of Evangelion”, I can’t help but identify with Shinji Ikari, a character who, despite his initial intentions to save the world, finds himself in such a pit of isolation and despair that he almost welcomes the catastrophic Third Impact. The aftermath of his actions is a burden he must bear for eternity. For anyone who’s delved into the intricate religious and Jungian symbolism of “Donnie Darko”, this anime offers a rich, chilling playground filled with haunting imagery and intense psychodrama. The vivid, terrifying visions crafted by its animators will linger in your nightmares for years to come.

Inception

In contrast to the other films on this list previously mentioned, Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” doesn’t fit the category of a cult film – it’s a high-budget blockbuster that grossed an impressive $839 million globally and is generally well-received. Despite its mainstream success, “Inception” has served a similar purpose as “Donnie Darko,” nurturing the cinematic tastes of budding film enthusiasts by introducing them to more thought-provoking content than what is commonly produced in Hollywood.

The bond between Christopher Nolan and the movie “Donnie Darko” is more profound than it initially appears. Following the triumph of his film “Memento”, which shares similarities with “Donnie Darko” in terms of storyline, but lacks its sci-fi elements, Nolan and his producer wife Emma Thomas managed to convince Newmarket Films to distribute “Donnie Darko”. They even offered a suggestion for editing to director Richard Kelly to make the film’s impending doom more understandable. This suggestion mirrored what makes Nolan’s films effective: while they play with time and, in the case of “Inception”, multiple dream and reality layers, they also provide enough guidance to keep viewers on track throughout the story.

The Last Temptation of Christ

On Halloween, Donnie takes Gretchen (Jena Malone) to a cinema screening an unusual double bill of “The Evil Dead” and “The Last Temptation of Christ.” The connection between Martin Scorsese’s controversial 1988 biblical epic isn’t merely for humor. Although differing in genre and tone, the tales of “Donnie Darko” and “The Last Temptation of Christ” share a deeper similarity than their surface differences might suggest.

In both stories, Donnie Darko and Jesus, portrayed by Willem Dafoe, face similar predicaments where they are destined to die for the greater good of their worlds. Both characters are presented with temptations to avoid their sacrificial roles, only to eventually embrace their messianic duties. In the movie “Donnie Darko,” this alternate reality is depicted as the Tangent Universe, while in “The Last Temptation of Christ,” it’s a vision conceived by Satan (Leo Marks) that Jesus experiences on the cross.

2001: A Space Odyssey

We’ll wrap up our list of suggestions with a timeless masterpiece from cinema history – “2001: A Space Odyssey”. At first glance, it might seem strange to compare “2001” with “Donnie Darko”, as they share fewer narrative and thematic similarities than “Darko” does with other movies on this list. However, the impact and influence of “2001” cannot be overstated – its success has paved the way for films like “Donnie Darko” and all those listed here.

Among the films I hold closest to my heart, “2001: A Space Odyssey” by Richard Kelly stands out as a true masterpiece. In an interview with Rotten Tomatoes, I couldn’t help but express my admiration for this groundbreaking cinematic journey by Stanley Kubrick in 1968. I find it to be a work that lays the foundation for so much, and it speaks profoundly about our species in ways that few other films have managed. Frankly, I’m not sure if any filmmaker has ventured into uncharted territory quite like Kubrick did with this film.

2001: A Space Odyssey, spanning from the early stages of human evolution to an exploration beyond infinity that heralds a fresh era, carries a strong caution about artificial intelligence along the way. This groundbreaking film has been instrumental in shaping every art-house sci-fi production since, particularly those that thrive on mystery and stimulate thoughtful discussions. If you’ve ever left a movie puzzled, wondering what it all meant, then you can thank 2001: A Space Odyssey for the intrigue!

2025-02-09 23:07