The sci-fi film has since produced a handful of household names in Hollywood, including a then unknown Jake Gyllenhaal, Seth Rogen and Ashley Tisdale!
Click through the slideshow to see what the cast is up to today!
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Jake Gyllenhaal (Donnie Darko)
Since portraying the titular character, the -year-old actor has become one of the most successful actors in Hollywood thanks to hit films such as The Day After Tomorrow, End of Watch and Brokeback Mountain, which earned him an Oscar nomination. He will next be starring in the movie Nocturnal Animals alongside Amy Adams.
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Jena Malone (Gretchen Ross)
After playing Donnie Darko's love interest in the cult classic, the brunette beauty has had a varied career, starring in everything from Pride and Prejudice to Hunger Games. Today, the 31-year-old is a mom to son Ode Mountain and recently appeared in the blockbuster Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
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Seth Rogen (Ricky Danforth)
It's hard to remember that the Knocked Up actor made a cameo in the 2001 film! Up next for the comedic actor: Zeroville, alongside James Franco and Megan Fox.
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Maggie Gyllenhaal (Elizabeth Darko)
Acting alongside her little brother, it was not much of a stretch for the Hollywood beauty to portray Elizabeth Darko. While the duo has yet to reconnect on-screen, Maggie continues to act and will appear in the upcoming TV series Deuce alongside James Franco next year.
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Jolene Purdy (Cherita Chen)
If Jolene Purdy looks familiar (besides Donnie's infamous "Everything is going to be better for you" face grab) it's because she is one of the newest inmates on Orange is the New Black!
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Drew Barrymore (Karen Pomeroy)
Fun fact: Drew was also an executive producer of the movie! You will soon be able to watch the now mother-of-two in the upcoming television show Santa Clarita Diet.
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Noah Wyle (Kenneth Monnitoff)
The ER star appeared as Prof. Monnitoff in the sci-fi film, and has since made his return to television, appearing in The Librarians.
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Ashley Tisdale (Kim)
It's easy to miss the former Disney star's role as the "Dorky girl" in the movie, but since then the 31-year-old has blossomed into a triple threat thanks to High School Musical and her music career. Up next: the animated film Charming, where she will voice Cinderella.
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Holmes Osborne (Eddie Darko)
The veteran actor was the quintessential dad in Donnie Darko! Fast forward 15 years, and you can catch him in the upcoming film, Rules Don't Apply alongside Warren Beatty and Lily Collins.
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Daveigh Chase (Samantha Darko)
The former child star is all grown up, and today the 25-year-old can be seen in the horror movie Jack Goes Home along with Twilight actress Nikki Reed and OITNB star Natasha Lyonne.
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Mary McDonnell (Rose Darko)
Since portraying the matriarch, the 64-year-old has been a mainstay on your television screen, appearing in hit shows Grey's Anatomy, Battlestar Galactica and The Closer. She is currently starring in the spinoff Major Crimes.
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Patrick Swayze (Jim Cunningham)
Sadly, the iconic actor passed away in 2009 at the age of 57 from pancreatic cancer.