Yep, every stoner/loner/goth kid’s favorite movie has a bunch of facts that they probably didn’t know about!
So put on your bunny ears and let’s do this thing, boys and girls.
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1. Drew Barrymore Was A Driving Force Behind The Movie
While also playing the teacher, Drew Barrymore also produced the movie.
Writer and director Richard Kelly said that her involvement was probably the reason people were so comfortable working with a first time director.
2. The Film Flopped
Back when it came out in 2001 , it only made $500,000 of it’s 4.5 million dollar budget.
Since then, however, it’s become a cult classic and made $10 million in DVD sales.
3. It Was Seth Rogen’s First Movie
Oh yeah, I bet you forgot that stoner icon Seth Rogen was in this movie. That means the first line he ever said in a film was “I like your boobs”.
Fitting.
4. Frank The Rabbit
Ever wonder why Frank was a rabbit? Did you think it was a reference to Harvey , that Jimmy Stewart movie?
Nope! Robert Kelly got the idea from the rabbit protagonist in Watership Down .
5. Patrick Swayze Was Heavily Involved As Well
Not to the degree of Barrymore, but he let them film on his ranch and he used some of his own ’80s clothes for his character’s infomercial.
In fact, it’s said his character was a parody of the ’80s in general.
6. Maggie Gyllenhaal Wasn’t Always Elizabeth
While it should make sense to cast Maggie Gyllenhaal as Jake Gyllenhaal’s sister, she wasn’t Robert Kelly’s first choice.
However, after seeing her in Cecil B. DeMented , he decided to go with her.
7. Vince Vaughn Was Almost Donnie
Yeah, it’s hard to picture the then 31-year-old Vince Vaughn as Donnie Darko and the reason we didn’t is that Vince agreed with that sentiment.
He thought he was too old to play a 16-year-old.
8. Not Even Donnie Knows What The Movie Is About
Jake Gyllenhaal , the man who played Donnie, has admitted that he doesn’t even know how to interpret the ending of the movie.
Heck, he doesn’t even understand what the movie was about!
9. Mark Wahlberg Was Also Almost Donnie
He met with writer/director Robert Kelly and they discussed the possibility of Wahlberg getting the role.
Wahlberg almost had it, but he insisted that Donnie have a lisp. So Robert Kelly said no.
10. The ‘Future Blobs’ Came From John Madden
Apparently, Robert Kelly was up late one night getting stoned when he saw John Madden draw lines on his screen where the players were about to go.
That’s where the idea for the future blob came.
11. Jason Schwartzman Was Almost Donnie
Jeez! There are a lot of “almost Donnies” in this movie!
Yes, good ol’ Jason Schwartzman was almost the titular character, but eventually had to back out due to scheduling conflicts.
Jason Schwartzman Was Almost Donnie (CONT)
Because he felt bad about backing out, Jason Schwartzman sent his uncle, a little known director called Francis Ford Coppola, to meet with Robert Kelly.
Kelly described it as “a once in a lifetime meeting”. I’ll say!
12. The Smurfs Talk
So everyone remembers that talk Donnie and his friends had about the Smurfs engaging in sexual behavior, right?
Well, they were also supposed to be shooting at a Smurf doll while doing it.
The Smurfs Talk (CONT)
So Robert Kelly went to Peyo, the creator of The Smurfs, to get permission.
Not only did they get permission for the Smurf doll, but they also got Peyo’s blessing to talk about the Smurfs’ sexuality.
