High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Donnie Darko is a 2001 American psychological thriller film written and directed by Richard Kelly and starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Patrick Swayze, Noah Wyle, Drew Barrymore and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Although Donnie Darko was not a major box office success (grossing just over $4.1 million against a budget of $4.5 million), it has since developed a large cult following and has received significant critical acclaim. The film won the award for "Best Screenplay" at the Catalonian International Film Festival and was also ranked at #9 on FilmFour`s 50 Films to See Before You Die.