From SlashFilm · Witney Seibold · · 1m
Donnie Darko: 25-Year Box Office Flop
Richard Kelly's 2001 sci-fi film flopped at box office despite cult following.
In brief
Richard Kelly's 2001 sci-fi film flopped at box office despite cult following. Donnie Darko earned $7.5 million on a $4.5 million budget and flopped initially but gained cult status after 25 years. Originally reported by SlashFilm.
Donnie Darko's box office failure
Donnie Darko earned only $7.5 million at the box office on a $4.5 million budget.
2001 release timing
The film released on October 26, 2001, just months after 9/11.
Time travel and schizophrenia
Donnie suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and sees a man in a bunny costume.
Cult following emerges
Goth kids and sci-fi fans embraced the film after its initial box office failure.
Director's cut release
A 21-minute director's cut was released in 2004, earning an additional $3.7 million.
Sequel and director's decline
A sequel called S. Darko was released in 2009 but criticized for lacking Richard Kelly's involvement.
Richard Kelly's later work
Kelly's subsequent films like Southland Tales and The Box flopped despite ambitious sci-fi themes.
The bottom line
Donnie Darko earned $7.5 million on a $4.5 million budget and flopped initially but gained cult status after 25 years.
