Donnie Darko is the definition of a cult film—people either find it brilliant or insufferable, and both camps have valid points. It's genuinely imaginative and intellectually ambitious in ways that most teen movies never attempt. The time-travel philosophy, the eerie atmosphere, and Gyllenhaal's performance make it memorable.

But this is absolutely not for kids or even younger teens. It's dark, disturbing, and deals with serious mental illness in ways that can be unsettling. The giant rabbit Frank has given people nightmares. The tone is relentlessly bleak.

For the right 17-year-old who's into weird, artsy cinema and can handle heavy themes, this could be a formative film. For everyone else, it's either too dark, too confusing, or too pretentious. It's also showing its age—the early 2000s indie aesthetic feels dated now, though the 1988 setting helps.

If your older teen is ready for challenging, dark cinema and you're prepared for some intense conversations afterward, go for it. Otherwise, wait.