* 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 shortly after 9/11. Critics reacted well to it, however.
* ActorInspiredElement:
** Creator/JakeGyllenhaal was the one who suggested his sister Creator/{{Maggie|Gyllenhaal}} play Elizabeth Darko.
** Creator/NoahWyle deciding his character was diabetic (watch for the Jolly Rancher candies).
** Creator/PatrickSwayze wore his own clothes from TheEighties for the film.
* BasedOnADream: Possibly. Frank may have been based on a dream Richard Kelly had, but he's unsure if he instead came from his love of ''Literature/WatershipDown''.
* BreakawayPopHit: Gary Jules' stripped down, SofterAndSlowerCover of Music/TearsForFears' "Mad World" is arguably more popular than the film it came from.
* CaliforniaDoubling: Set in Virginia, filmed in California.
* {{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.
* DawsonCasting: Sort of. Creator/JakeGyllenhaal was nineteen playing a sixteen-year-old. Creator/MaggieGyllenhaal was twenty-three - though it's not stated exactly what age Elizabeth is supposed to be. Averted with Creator/JenaMalone, who was still a teenager.
* DeletedScene: An alternate ending, where [[spoiler: Donnie dies by being impaled on a post]].
* DistancedFromCurrentEvents: The original advertising material featured a crashing plane. Opening close to September 11 2001, naturally this was all pulled, resulting in the film tanking at the box office due to lack of advertising. It gained its audience when it was released on DVD, becoming a runaway hit and attracting cult attention.
* DyeingForYourArt: Patrick Swayze frosted his hair for the part.
* ExecutiveMeddling: Subverted. The studio tried to pressure Richard Kelly to remove the 80s setting and place the film in more contemporary times. He ultimately couldn't find a way to make the story work without setting it in TheEighties.
* 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.
* LifeImitatesArt: The film was shot in twenty-eight days - the exact amount of time the story covers.
* OneHitWonder: Richard Kelly directed two other movies afterwards, but they both got poor reviews and aren't well remembered today. Likewise, the soundtrack's most famous song, the cover of "Mad World", is Gary Jules' only claim to fame and composer Michael Andrews' only chart presence.
* OneTakeWonder: The shot of the jet engine falling into Donnie's room was done in one take.
* OrphanedReference: Donnie compares Jim Cunningham to ''{{Film/CHUD}}'', reflecting that he and Gretchen were supposed to see it originally in the movie theatre scene (see below).
* PlayingAgainstType: Creator/PatrickSwayze, known for playing smooth heroic types, as a sleazy motivational speaker [[spoiler:who is also a child molester]].
* ProducedByCastmember: On the set of ''Film/CharliesAngels2000'', Creator/DrewBarrymore and Richard Kelly agreed that her production company, Flower Films, would produce this film for $4.5 million (and that Barrymore would play Miss Pomeroy). Kelly says that if Barrymore hadn't stepped in, the movie would have either gone straight to video or cable television via Starz.
* RealLifeRelative: Brother and sister Donnie and Elizabeth Darko are played by brother and sister Jake and Creator/MaggieGyllenhaal.
* ScrewedByTheLawyers:
** 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.
** In the movie theater scene, Richard Kelly originally intended to have Donnie and Gretchen going to see ''Film/{{CHUD}}''. However, there were problems with finding out who owned the rights to the movie. Finally, Creator/SamRaimi came to the rescue by allowing Kelly to use and distort footage from ''Film/TheEvilDead1981'', free of charge.
** Some songs featured in the movie were substitutes for songs which the makers wanted, but were denied the rights. The dance performance was performed to "West End Girls" by Music/PetShopBoys, and Music/DuranDuran's "Notorious" was re-dubbed in post-production. Music/{{U2}}'s "MLK" in the final scene, was substituted with Music/GaryJules' cover of the Music/TearsForFears song "Mad World" instead.
* StarMakingRole: This is the film that launched Creator/JakeGyllenhaal's career and brought his sister Creator/{{Maggie|Gyllenhaal}} to wider attention.
* ThrowItIn:
** The Halloween setting was simply because it was when Richard Kelly started writing the script. Likewise, the twenty-eight day significance was because that's how long it took to write the script.
** Donnie correcting Gretchen was due to Creator/JenaMalone struggling to pronounce Dr Kenneth Monnitoff's name.
* TypeCasting: Beth Grant in the 2000s was often cast as grumpy or antagonistic old ladies like Kitty Farmer.
* 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 its money back and spurred the creation of the (contested) DirectorsCut.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen:
** Well out of his teens, Creator/VinceVaughn reportedly turned down the part of Donnie due to his age. Creator/MarkWahlberg was interested in the part, but apparently was only willing to play the part with a lisp. Creator/JasonSchwartzman was attached for a long time as Donnie, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.
** Creator/MaraWilson was apparently given a script to read for a role in the movie, but was evidently [[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 passed on the role as a result.
** Richard Kelly originally wanted Creator/TimRobbins for Eddie Darko.
** The first draft of the script had Donnie waking up in a shopping mall rather than golf course.
* WordOfGod: According to the commentary by Richard Kelly, the Man in the Red Jogging Suit is an agent from the FAA, which was so confused by the jet engine event that they sent agents to monitor the family members. The Mystery Woman, seen during Sparkle Motion's talent show performance, was a talent scout from ''Series/StarSearch''.
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