What to know

critics consensus

Riding in Cars With Boys suffers from mixing grit and pathos with cuteness and comedy. Ironically, many critics found Zahn's character more compelling and three-dimensional than Barrymore's. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Riding in Cars With Boys Photos

View All Photos (37)

Movie Info

The fresh, funny, touching and true story of writer Beverly Donofrio (played by Drew Barrymore, who ages from 15 to 35 in the role), reveals her coming of age in the late 1960s and her whole life colored by an event that happened when she was 15. The events span more than two decades, as the young heroine experiences often-humorous, sometimes-irreverent, but certainly a unique personal journey to make something meaningful of her life.
  • Rating:
    PG-13 (Sexual Content|Drug Content|Thematic Elements)
  • Genre:
    comedy, drama
  • Original Language:
    English
  • Director:
    Penny Marshall
  • Producer:
    James L. Brooks, Laurence Mark, Richard Sakai, Julie Ansell, Sara Colleton
  • Writer:
    Morgan Ward
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     wide
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Box Office (Gross USA):
    $29.8M
  • Runtime:
  • Production Co:
    Flower Films, Parkway Productions, Gracie Films
  • Sound Mix:
    Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, SDDS, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    Flat (1.85:1)

Cast & Crew

Drew Barrymore
Beverly Donofrio
Steve Zahn
Ray Hasek
Brittany Murphy
Fay Forrester
Adam Garcia
Jason (Age 20)
Lorraine Bracco
Mrs. Donofrio
James Woods
Mr. Donofrio
Sara Gilbert
Tina
Desmond Harrington
Bobby
David Moscow
Lizard
Peter Facinelli
Tommy Butcher
Penny Marshall
Director
Beverly D'Onofrio
Writer (Book)
Morgan Ward
Writer
James L. Brooks
Producer
Laurence Mark
Producer
Richard Sakai
Producer
Julie Ansell
Producer
Morgan Ward
Executive Producer
Sara Colleton
Producer
Bridget Johnson
Executive Producer
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Riding in Cars With Boys

All Critics (109) | Top Critics (38) | Fresh (53) | Rotten (56)

View All Critic Reviews (109)

Audience Reviews for Riding in Cars With Boys

  • Nov 12, 2011
    A lot of what happens to you in life is chance. The other half is how it affects you.
    Juli R Super Reviewer
  • Mar 01, 2011
    I loved this! It was hilarious and touching. It had its sad moments, but it is one of my new favorites!
    Erin C Super Reviewer
  • Dec 28, 2010
    Barrymore doesn't look really convincing neither as a dreamy teenager nor as a frustrated 35-year-old mother who threw away her dream, and even though the movie develops its characters as complex people with real problems like those found in real life, the end is disappointing.
    Carlos M Super Reviewer
  • Mar 25, 2010
    Drew Barrymore plays Beverley Donofrio, who falls pregnant at 15 years of age and has her dreams of college and becoming a writer shattered. Her father is ashamed and angry with her so she reluctantly marries the baby's father, Raymond Hasek played by Steve Zahn after the attempt to throw herself down the stairs didn't work. Bev still desires to finish high school and attend college but she is forced to put those goals aside because Ray is a heroin junkie who messes up her life from the time she meets him until the time she lets him go. Great acting by Drew Barrymore and Steve Zahn who deliver incredibly realistic performances! All the supporting actors including Lorraine Bracco as Bev's mother, Brittany Murphy as best friend Fay and James Woods playing Bev's disappointed father give really good performances as well .
    Deb S Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Riding in Cars With Boys Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides