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Riding in Cars with Boys

  • 2001
  • PG-13
  • 2h 12m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
31K
YOUR RATING
Drew Barrymore in Riding in Cars with Boys (2001)
Theatrical Trailer from Sony Pictures
Play trailer2:25
8 Videos
37 Photos
BiographyComedyDrama

A single mother, with dreams of becoming a writer, has a son at the age of 15 in 1965, and goes through a failed marriage with the drug-addicted father.A single mother, with dreams of becoming a writer, has a son at the age of 15 in 1965, and goes through a failed marriage with the drug-addicted father.A single mother, with dreams of becoming a writer, has a son at the age of 15 in 1965, and goes through a failed marriage with the drug-addicted father.

  • Director
    • Penny Marshall
  • Writers
    • Beverly Donofrio
    • Morgan Ward
  • Stars
    • Drew Barrymore
    • Steve Zahn
    • Adam Garcia
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    31K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Penny Marshall
    • Writers
      • Beverly Donofrio
      • Morgan Ward
    • Stars
      • Drew Barrymore
      • Steve Zahn
      • Adam Garcia
    • 222User reviews
    • 69Critic reviews
    • 43Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Videos8

    Riding In Cars With Boys
    Trailer 2:25
    Riding In Cars With Boys
    Riding In Cars With Boys: What's One Bad Day?
    Clip 1:18
    Riding In Cars With Boys: What's One Bad Day?
    Riding In Cars With Boys: What's One Bad Day?
    Clip 1:18
    Riding In Cars With Boys: What's One Bad Day?
    Riding In Cars With Boys: A Mortal Sin
    Clip 0:59
    Riding In Cars With Boys: A Mortal Sin
    Riding In Cars With Boys: Close Your Eyes
    Clip 0:56
    Riding In Cars With Boys: Close Your Eyes
    Riding In Cars With Boys: Angry Housewife
    Clip 0:56
    Riding In Cars With Boys: Angry Housewife
    Riding In Cars With Boys: How Do I Look?
    Clip 0:56
    Riding In Cars With Boys: How Do I Look?

    Photos37

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    Top cast78

    Edit
    Drew Barrymore
    Drew Barrymore
    • Beverly Donofrio
    Steve Zahn
    Steve Zahn
    • Ray Hasek
    Adam Garcia
    Adam Garcia
    • Jason
    Brittany Murphy
    Brittany Murphy
    • Fay Forrester
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Mr. Leonard Donofrio
    Lorraine Bracco
    Lorraine Bracco
    • Mrs. Teresa Donofrio
    Rosie Perez
    Rosie Perez
    • Shirley Perro
    Sara Gilbert
    Sara Gilbert
    • Tina Barr
    Peter Facinelli
    Peter Facinelli
    • Tommy Butcher
    Mika Boorem
    Mika Boorem
    • Beverly Donofrio - Age 11
    Celine Ordioni
    • Janet Donofrio - Age 8
    • (as Celine Marget)
    Vincent Pastore
    Vincent Pastore
    • Uncle Lou
    Maryann Urbano
    • Aunt Ann
    Alissa Dean
    • Townie Girl #1
    Jessica Leshnower
    • Townie Girl #2
    Alexia Landeau
    Alexia Landeau
    • Jenny
    Kristin Proctor
    Kristin Proctor
    • Cindy
    Temple Brooks
    • Karen
    • Director
      • Penny Marshall
    • Writers
      • Beverly Donofrio
      • Morgan Ward
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews222

    6.531.4K
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    10

    Featured reviews

    movies2u

    A Funny Yet Sad Movie.

    This movie is about Beverly Donofrio (Drew Barrymore) who's life is messed up when she gets pregnant from Ray Hasek (Steve Zahn). Now, Bev's life is turned upside down. She tries to get through the hard time while her best friend Fay (Brittany Murphy) sticks by her side. Her mother (Lorraine Bracco) and Father (James Woods) are very disappointed in her, and now she has decided to marry Ray. Sit back and listen to Beverly tell the story of her troubled life, where she finally found peace.

    This was a great movie. It was really sad too. This was a good girl's movie, but also would be enjoyable to guys like me. I give Riding In Cars With Boys an 8 out of 10! :)
    8wndrboy2

    I like this beautiful rare movie about real American life.

    I'm a Chinese staying and traveling in U.S. Four years ago, I lived in Enterprise, Alabama for 7 months, and befriended with many "southerners". I know how a lot of ordinary Americans feel when they struggle in their lives every day -- sad, lost, and almost desperate. This is a country full of freedom and opportunities. But in reality, one bad move in this system usually is enough to ruin a person's life, leaving no way for coming back. Being knocked up in high school, dropping out, drug, drinking, gun, bad credit,lawsuits.... This is the side of U.S not mentioned often enough on TV or movies, and is real. I loved this movie and would like to see it again when I get a chance. 8 out of 10. Also recommend another loosely similar movie from France: "Dream Life of the Angels", with more remarkable performances and a more shocking story.
    SajeevaS

    I enjoyed this ride

    Based on the life of Beverly Donoforio, and the book with the same title,this movie was phenomenal. The 'feel good' feeling that this movie is gifted with, makes this movie a top notch drama/comedy.

    This will undoubtedly be Drew Barrymoe's greatest performances. Her performance as Beverly seemed as if she was just born to play it. The way her voice, sweetness and personality blended with the character, seemed as if Drew was playing herself and not Beverly. Brittany Murphy gives a solid performance as Faye- Beverly's best friend. This movie had a great cast including Steve Zahn- who was outstanding as Ray- Beverly's drug taking husband, Adam Garcia, Maggie Gyllenhaal, James Woods, and Peter Facinelli- who all gave unforgettable heart warming performances.

    The make up is also another reason for watching this- teenage,middle aged and older Beverly are all played by Drew, and it looks natural- it's same with Ray. The humour in this movie along with its drama, make this a must see for everyone. A good production.
    xorys

    Funny, touching, and full of the spark of life

    I put off watching this for a long while, until well after its release on video, because of the very mixed reviews it got and the perception that the content was drab and potentially preachy. Well I was wrong. This is an excellent movie, well worth the expenditure of two hours of anyone's time (well... unless maybe you've only got 24 hours to live, or something). Although the subject matter may sound dour, and certainly does deal with "kitchen sink" issues which can strangle the human spirit without even allowing it the luxury of looking heroic as it succumbs... still the film is about life, not about defeat, and the characters never lose an inner spark and humanity which makes us care about them, and like, or even love them by the time the movie finishes. It's funny and moving... and in a way which seems to have more to do with the way life is funny and moving than with movie conventions.
    7The_Wood

    Surprisingly Good 7/10

    Riding in Cars with Boys is definitely a step into a new direction for actress Drew Barrymore. Drew, in her most difficult role to date, tries and succeeds through the majority of the movie. There are times when she goes a little out of bounds, and becomes outrageous -- but for the most part, she nails the part.

    The film tells its story nicely, and has a strange and some-what heartbreaking ending. Steve Zahn is easily the high-point of this film. Zahn's character will be the one you think about the most when this film ends.

    Riding in Cars with Boys works on enough levels to make it worth seeing.

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    Related interests

    Ben Kingsley, Rohini Hattangadi, and Geraldine James in Gandhi (1982)
    Biography
    Will Ferrell in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)
    Comedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Drew Barrymore, who plays Adam Garcia's mother, is two years younger than him in real life.
    • Goofs
      A scene set in 1986 shows a Ryder truck displaying a web address.
    • Quotes

      Fay: Sometimes we love people so much that we have to be numb to it. Because if we actually felt how much we love them, it would kill us. That doesn't make you a bad person. It just means your heart's too big.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: The Last Castle/Dancing at the Blue Iguana/Waking Life/Riding in Cars with Boys/Intimacy/Focus (2001)
    • Soundtracks
      Dominick the Donkey
      Written by Wandra Merrell, Ray Allen and Sam Saltzberg

      Performed by Lou Monte

      Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment Co.

      By arrangement with Warner Special Products

      and Courtesy of EMI Records, Ltd.

      Under license from EMI-Capitol Music Special Markets

      Published by EMI Unart Music Corp. and Wanessa Music Publishing

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    FAQ20

    • How long is Riding in Cars with Boys?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 19, 2001 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Los chicos de mi vida
    • Filming locations
      • Bloomfield, New Jersey, USA(park scenes)
    • Production companies
      • Columbia Pictures
      • Gracie Films
      • Parkway Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $48,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $30,165,536
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $10,404,652
      • Oct 21, 2001
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,743,308
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 2h 12m(132 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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