Maps of Movies

Donnie Darko (2001)

Where Donnie Darko says it takes place, and where it was really shot.

A Virginia suburb that is really Long Beach, Santa Monica and a mountain highway

Scenes and places

Donnie wakes on a dark road (1988)

Donnie sleepwalks out of his house, led by a mysterious voice. On the road he meets Frank, a figure in a monstrous rabbit costume, who tells him the world will end in 28 days.

Set in A road in a Virginia suburb — The road where Donnie meets Frank on the night of October 2, 1988.

A mountain highway stands in for a Virginia suburb.

Filmed at Angeles Crest Highway — Where the opening scene of Donnie waking up was shot, at sunrise. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The golf course morning (1988)

Donnie wakes up on a golf course the next morning, with no idea how he got there. He goes home to find that a jet engine has crashed into his bedroom.

Set in A golf course in the Virginia suburb — Where Donnie wakes up after the night with Frank.

The film's Virginia course was shot at a real club in Long Beach.

The Darko house and the jet engine (1988)

Donnie's family home is cordoned off, and an FAA investigator tells his parents the engine's origin is unknown. Elizabeth tells him the investigators cannot say where it came from.

Set in The Darko family house — The suburban house where the jet engine lands in Donnie's bedroom.

Coordinates are the neighbourhood, not the exact house.

Filmed at Country Club Drive house, Los Cerritos, Long Beach — Most of the film was shot in Long Beach; a house on Country Club Drive is listed as a location. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Middlesex High School (1988)

Donnie keeps seeing Frank and asks his science teacher about time travel. At school he clashes with gym teacher Kitty Farmer over her "attitude lessons".

Set in Middlesex High School — Donnie's school, where the science teacher, the gym teacher and Gretchen are.

A Jesuit school in Los Angeles stands in for the Virginia school.

Filmed at Loyola High School, Los Angeles — The school scenes were shot here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

The movie theater date (1988)

Donnie takes Gretchen to the movies. She falls asleep, and Frank shows himself to Donnie as a teenager with a hollow, bleeding eye.

Set in A movie theater — Where Donnie and Gretchen go on a date.

Santa Monica's Aero supplies the marquee; the interior is not documented.

Filmed at Aero Theatre, Santa Monica — Only the theatre marquee was shot here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Jim Cunningham's house (1988)

Frank convinces Donnie to burn down the house of motivational speaker Jim Cunningham, while Gretchen is at the theatre. The fire exposes a secret about Cunningham.

Set in Jim Cunningham's house — The home of the motivational speaker whose address Donnie finds.

Filmed at Leonie Pray House, Long Beach — Listed as the house used as Cunningham's home. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there:

Grandma Death's house (1988)

Donnie goes looking for Roberta Sparrow, the former science teacher known to local teenagers as Grandma Death, whose book on time travel he has been reading.

Set in Roberta Sparrow's house and road — The home of the woman known as Grandma Death.

No filming location found in the sources.

Characters

• Donnie Darko — A troubled teenager who sleepwalks and sees a figure in a rabbit costume.