History Trivia / DonnieDarko

* BigNameFan: Creator/ChristopherNolan, just off of directing ''Film/{{Memento}}'', liked the movie enough to convince Newmarket Films to distribute it (which distributed Memento). Had he not stepped in, it would have gone straight to Creator/{{Starz}} and debuted on cable.

* DawsonCasting: Sort of. Creator/JakeGyllenhaal was nineteen playing a sixteen-year-old. Maggie Gyllenhaal was twenty-three - though it's not stated exactly what age Elizabeth is supposed to be. Averted with Jena Malone, who was still a teenager.

** Donnie's sexual fantasies in the original script were to be about Creator/AlyssaMilano. For "legal reasons" it had to be changed to Creator/ChristinaApplegate.

* InvisibleAdvertising: Not, for once, because the studio was trying to sabotage the movie, but because between the small budget and the [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents unfortunate timing]] of the release of a movie in which a jet engine falling into a house is a key plot point within two months of 9/11 there was neither the resources nor the will to widely promote the movie no matter how much buzz it had gotten at Sundance.

* InvisibleAdvertising: Not, for once, because the studio was trying to sabotage the movie, but because between the small budget and the [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents unfortunate timing of the release of a movie in which a jet engine falling into a house is a key plot point within two months of 9/11]] there was neither the resources nor the will to widely promote the movie no matter how much buzz it had gotten at Sundance.

* AcclaimedFlop: Its theatrical run was not very financially successful, largely attributable to its [[AudienceAlienatingPremise unusual, difficult-to-market premise]] and the fact that it was given a [[ScrewedByTheNetwork limited theatrical run]] because it came out [[DistancedFromCurrentEvents shortly after 9/11]]. Critics reacted well to it, however.

* InvisibleAdvertising: Not, for once, because the studio was trying to sabotage the movie, but because between the small budget and the unfortunate timing of the release of a movie in which a jet engine falling into a house is a key plot point within two months of 9/11 there was neither the resources nor the will to widely promote the movie no matter how much buzz it had gotten at Sundance.

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/SethRogen in his first ever movie role as Ricky, one of [[ThoseTwoBadGuys the two bullies]] who harass Donnie and Gretchen [[spoiler: and cause Gretchen to be run over by Frank.]]

* RetroactiveRecognition: Creator/SethRogen in his first ever movie role as Ricky, one of [[ThoseTwoBadGuys the two bullies]] who harrass Donnie and Gretchen [[spoiler: and cause Gretchen to be run over by Frank.]]

* AcclaimedFlop: Its theatrical run was not very financially successful, largely attributable to its [[AudienceAlienatingPremise unusual, difficult-to-market premise]] and the fact that it was given a [[ScrewedByTheNetwork limited theatrical run]] because it came out [[TooSoon shortly after 9/11]]. Critics reacted well to it, however.

* BigNameFan: Christopher Nolan, just off of directing Film/{{Memento}}, liked the movie enough to convince Newmarket Films to distribute it (which distributed Memento). Had he not stepped in, it would have gone straight to Creator/{{Starz}} and debuted on cable.

* {{Corpsing}}: Beth Grant made Richard Kelly laugh so much when reading her line "he told me to forcibly insert these cards into my anus!" He had to leave the set.

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: While the film did dismal business in American theaters, it became a SleeperHit in the UK; an [[http://www.theguardian.com/film/2004/jul/30/2 article]] in ''The Guardian'' upon the release of the director's cut claims that said success cemented its cult status. There is a documentary on the Director's Cut DVD all about its popularity in Britain.

* BigNameFan: Christopher Nolan, just off of directing Film/{{Memento}}, liked the movie enough to convince Newmarket Films to distribute it (which distributed Memento). Had he not stepped in, it would of gone straight to Creator/{{Starz}} and debuted on cable.

* DoingItForTheArt: Creator/DrewBarrymore liked the project so much that she stepped in with her production company to finance it - effectively saving it from being released direct to video. She also took a small role as Karen Pommeroy.

* {{Corpsing}}: Beth Grant made Richard Kelly laugh so much when reading her line "he told me to forcibly insert these cards into my anus!" he had to leave the set.

* ActorInspiredElement: Creator//NoahWylie deciding his character was diabetic (watch for the Jolly Rancher candies).

* DoingItForTheArt: Drew Barrymore liked the project so much that she stepped in with her production company to finance it - effectively saving it from being released direct to video. She also took a small role as Karen Pommeroy.

* ReCut: The Director's Cut greatly alters the pacing of the film, adding deleted scenes and new special effects, and switching the soundtrack of the movie around. Author Richard Kelly regards this version not as a director's cut (this title was the publisher's idea) as he considers the theatrical version just fine in its own right. Instead, to him the new version is a special edition of sorts.

* ThrowItIn:
** Noah Wylie deciding his character was diabetic (watch for the Jolly Rancher candies).
** Donnie correcting Gretchen was due to Creator/JenaMalone struggling to pronounce Dr Kenneth Monnitoff's name.

* DawsonCasting: Sort of. Jake Gyllenhaal was nineteen playing a sixteen-year-old. Maggie Gyllenhaal was twenty-three - though it's not stated exactly what age Elizabeth is supposed to be. Averted with Jena Malone, who was still a teenager.

** Richard Kelly originally wanted Tim Robbins for Eddie Darko. Vince Vaughn was also the first choice for Donnie, but declined since he was almost thirty. Mark Wahlberg expressed interest in playing Donnie too, but only if he could give the character a lisp.

** Donnie's sexual fantasies in the original script were to be about Creator/AlyssaMilano. For "legal reasons" it had to be changed to Christina Applegate.

** Richard Kelly originally wanted Tim Robbins for Eddie Darko. Vince Vaughn was also the first choice, but declined since he was almost thirty.

* DawsonCasting: Thankfully averted. The producers initially wanted, [[WTHCastingAgency of all people]] Creator/MarkWahlberg and ''Creator/VinceVaughn'' to play Donnie.

* ThrowItIn: Noah Wylie deciding his character was diabetic (watch for the Jolly Rancher candies).
* VindicatedByVideo: The film's cult really grew once it hit video, and with the internet becoming more commonplace led to various message boards and fan sites being created. Home video sales eventually led to the film making it's money back and spurred the creation of the (contested) DirectorsCut.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: Creator/MaraWilson was apparently given a script to read for a role in the movie, but was evidentally [[http://www.avclub.com/article/mara-wilson-sickness-induced-reason-she-hates-gary-211227 freaked out]] over the MindScrew of a script at a time she was already physically ill in her hotel room in England, and evidentally passed on the role as a result.
** And now she plays The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home in the equally {{Mind Screw}}y ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale''.
** Richard Kelly originally wanted Tim Robbins for Eddie Darko.

* ReCut: The Director's Cut was later released on DVD to mixed reception.

* DawsonCasting: Thankfully averted. The producers initially wanted, [[WTHCastingAgency of all people]] Mark Wahlberg and ''Vince Vaughn'' to play Donnie.

* StarMakingRole: This is the film that launched Jake Gyllenhaal's career.

* HeyItsThatGuy:
** Donnie's mother is played by Mary [=McDonnell=], who later played Laura Roslin in ''Series/{{Battlestar Galactica|2003}}''. Of course, this is just singling out one actor...
** Oh hey, it's [[Series/DrakeAndJosh Crazy Steve]]! In a movie with a crazy protagonist.
** Also, Seth Rogen plays the bully's sidekick in his first film performance.
** Also, Ashley Tisdale, as a girl with a fat sister.
** [[{{Series/Dollhouse}} Topher Brink]] is Frank's clown passenger!
** Don't forget Creator/DrewBarrymore as the teacher!
** Or [[Series/{{ER}} Doctor John Carter]] as the other teacher.
** [[Film/TheGraduate Katharine Ross]] as Donnie's psychotherapist.
** Samantha is Daveigh Chase. Yes, you just heard [[WesternAnimation/LiloAndStitch Lilo]] say "fucktard."
*** While at the same time, and being equally surreal, seeing [[Film/TheRing Samara Morgan]] do a dance routine.

** Oh hey, it's [[DrakeAndJosh Crazy Steve]]! In a movie with a crazy protagonist.

** And now she plays The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives In Your Home in the equally {{MindScrew}}y ''Podcast/WelcomeToNightVale''.