Santa Clarita Diet and the 10 top Drew Barrymore performances so far
By Reed Gaudens
9. Riding in Cars with Boys
Original release date: Riding in Cars with Boys premiered in theaters on Oct. 19, 2001.
Box office earnings: The film struggled to find its footing at the box office, making only $35.7 million worldwide against a budget of $48 million.
Critical acclaim: Riding in Cars with Boys also received middling reception from critics, topping out at a 49% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Largely, critics were split on the execution of the storytelling, which mixed various themes and genres. Barrymore’s multi-decade-spanning performance also received mixed reviews.
About the role: Drew Barrymore steps into the true story of Beverly “Bev” Donofrio in Riding in Cars with Boys, which follows the young writer through many seasons of her life. Beginning with her formative years at 15, Bev comes of age in the 1960s as she gets pregnant with her son.
Over the years, Bev’s experiences as a mother and writer lead her to have a unique personal journey to make something of herself despite having resentments for how her story began.
Why it’s the best: Because Barrymore has such an extensive and impressive filmography, you could feature any number of her movie performances (including her debut in E.T.). But there’s something about her role in Riding in Cars with Boys that’s daring and imperfect.
She’s tasked with playing the same character at different ages and stages of her life, and the charm she brings to the hard-to-love character makes her all the more likable. Without a doubt, the period drama ranks as one of Barrymore’s most underrated movies.