Donnie Darko- This is the main character in the movie and the entire movie is tied around him. He is a sleepwalker and has emotional problems.

Gretchen Ross- This is Donnie's girlfriend. She has a dad that is insane and stabbed her mom 4 times in the chest.

Frank- He is one of the most important characters in this movie. He saves Donnies life from the jet plane engine that fell on his room. He also shows him the whole time travel thing.

Mrs. Farmer- This is one of the chacters  that you love to hate. There is only one word I can think of to describe her.

Jim Cunningham- He is the bad guy in this movie. He is exposed in the kiddie porn thing when Donnie burns down his house. He is also the person who runs the whole love and fear thing.