'Donnie Darko' Becomes Mexico Box-Office Hit 25 Years
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- "Donnie Darko" reached Mexican theaters for the first time 25 years after its 2001 Sundance premiere through Alondra Camacho's Avena Cine, which secured exhibition rights via the American Genre Film Archive and partnered with Film Tank producer Edgar San Juan.
- Cinépolis hosted the release across 43 of its Mexican locations plus 26 independent venues, and the film expanded to 36 additional screens in Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, and Costa Rica.
- Since its April 16 launch the film has grossed MXN $2.3 million (~$132,000 USD), repeatedly entering Mexico's box office top 10 while competing against 2025 tentpoles including "The Devil Wears Prada 2," "The Super Mario Galaxy Movie," and "Mortal Kombat 2."
- Filmmaker Isaac Ezban moderated a masterclass with Richard Kelly at Cinépolis Oasis Coyoacán on April 6, where Kelly said he was "enormously grateful" that younger Mexican audiences are embracing the theatrical experience.
- Only six restored films reached Mexican screens throughout 2025 before "Donnie Darko" — including "Lost Highway," "The Lovers on the Bridge," and "Memories of Underdevelopment" — most limited to the Cineteca Nacional and a handful of Mexico City independent venues.
- Avena Cine is already preparing its next repertory release, Sarah Jacobson's 1997 indie "Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore," for Mexican theaters later this year.
- Kelly told IndieWire he hopes the Mexican success demonstrates that "this kind of longevity really matters," noting his films generate large ancillary revenue that "is not publicly reported" — and that he "just need[s] that first greenlight" for his next project.
Why it matters: In Mexico — where only six restored films reached commercial screens in 2025 — Avena Cine's small-budget release outperformed expectations against major 2025 tentpoles. Kelly is explicitly using the momentum to push for a greenlight on his next project, telling IndieWire he 'just need[s] that first greenlight' and hopes the success 'bodes well for all of the films I intend to make.'
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