The Greatest Drew Barrymore Movies Ever
From Child Star to Hollywood Icon
Discover the most iconic performances by Drew Barrymore, featuring her best work in romantic comedies, blockbusters, and cult classics.
About Drew Barrymore
In the high stakes landscape of Hollywood legacy, few figures carry the weight of a dynasty with as much grace and grit as Drew Barrymore. She exists as a rare bridge between the golden age of cinema and the chaotic energy of the digital era, having lived a thousand lives before reaching middle age. To watch her on screen is to witness a survivor who never lost her capacity for wonder, a quality that transformed her from a precocious child star into a formidable mogul. When she first enchanted the world as the pigtail wearing Gertie in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, she became the industry’s collective little sister. While many child actors falter under that intensity, she leveraged her early exposure into a radical kind of authenticity that audiences found impossible to resist.
By the mid nineties, she mastered the art of the cinematic reinvention. Her brief but iconic appearance in Scream changed the trajectory of the horror genre, signaling to viewers that no one, not even the biggest star on the poster, was safe. It was a bold move that showcased her lack of ego. She soon pivoted into the realm of the romantic lead, but infused it with a quirky, grounded realism that felt light years away from the polished perfection of her peers. Whether she was playing the undercover geek in Never Been Kissed or the amnesiac heartbreaker in 50 First Dates, she projected a warmth that made you believe she was rooting for you as much as you were rooting for her. She made the fairytale accessible, turning EverAfter into a feminist manifesto and Music and Lyrics into a masterclass in whimsical vulnerability.
Beyond her work in front of the lens, her eye for talent and narrative shift moved her into the producer’s chair, where she helped redefine the female action hero. With Charlie's Angels, she proved that high octane blockbusters could be fueled by sisterhood rather than just testosterone. She has always possessed a subversive streak, evident in her choice to support indie darlings like Donnie Darko or to step behind the camera to direct the roller derby anthem Whip It. Even in more somber fare like Riding in Cars with Boys or the tear jerking Miss You Already, she avoids the traps of melodrama, leaning instead into the messy, complicated realities of modern womanhood.
The public’s enduring affection for her stems from a sense of shared history. We have seen her face the fires of Firestarter and navigate the campy shadows of Batman Forever, yet she remains remarkably centered. She does not perform personality; she radiates it. This magnetism is what makes her recent transition into daytime talk such a natural fit. She treats every guest and every story with a level of radical empathy that feels subversive in a cynical age. She is the girl who grew up in the spotlight and decided to use that heat to keep everyone else warm. Even after four decades in the business, she remains the ultimate relatable icon, a woman who understands that the most brave thing you can be in Hollywood is yourself.
Bad Girls
1994Four former harlots try to leave the wild west (Colorado, to be exact) and head north to make a better life for themselves. Unfortunately someone from Cody's past won't let it happen that easily.
Going the Distance
2010Erin and Garrett are very much in love. When Erin moves to San Francisco to finish her journalism degree and Garrett stays behind in New York to work in the music industry, they gamely keep the romance alive with webcams and frequent-flyer miles. But just when it seems the lovers will soon be reunited, they each score a big break that could separate them for good.
Boys on the Side
1995After breaking up with her girlfriend, a nightclub singer, Jane, answers a personal ad from Robin, a real estate agent with AIDS, seeking a cross-country travel partner. On their journey from New York City to Los Angeles, the two stop by Pittsburgh to pick up Jane's friend Holly, who is trying to escape an abusive relationship. With three distinct personalities, the women must overcome their differences to help one another.
Fever Pitch
2005When Ben Wrightman, a young teacher, begins dating pretty businesswoman Lindsey Meeks, the two don't seem to have a lot of the same interests, but they fall in love, regardless. Their romance goes well until baseball season begins, and Lindsey soon realizes that Ben is completely obsessed with the Boston Red Sox. Though she tries to understand Ben's passionate team loyalty, eventually it threatens to end their otherwise happy relationship.
Big Miracle
2012A small-town news reporter and a Greenpeace volunteer enlist the help of rival superpowers to save three majestic gray whales trapped under the ice of the Arctic Circle.
Firestarter
1984Charlene "Charlie" McGee has the amazing ability to start fires with just a glance. Can her psychic power and the love of her father save her from the threatening government agency which wants to destroy her?
Television made him famous, but his biggest hits happened off screen. Television producer by day, CIA assassin by night, Chuck Barris was recruited by the CIA at the height of his TV career and trained to become a covert operative. Or so Barris said.
Never Been Kissed
1999Josie Geller, a baby-faced junior copywriter at the Chicago Sun-Times, must pose as a student at her former high school to research contemporary teenage culture. With the help of her brother, Rob, Josie infiltrates the inner circle of the most popular clique on campus. But she hits a major snag in her investigation -- not to mention her own failed love life -- when she falls for her dreamy English teacher, Sam Coulson.
Miss You Already
2015The friendship between two life-long girlfriends is put to the test when one starts a family and the other falls ill.
Batman Forever
1995Batman faces off against two foes: the schizophrenic, horribly scarred former District Attorney Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, and the Riddler, a disgruntled ex-Wayne Enterprises inventor seeking revenge against his former employer by unleashing his brain-sucking weapon on Gotham City's residents. As the caped crusader also copes with tortured memories of his parents' murder, he has a new romance, with psychologist Chase Meridian.
In the eccentric role of Sugar, she contributed to the neon-soaked camp of the Schumacher era with a stylized kitsch that showed her versatility. Though a smaller part, it captures Barrymore at a pivotal moment of her 90s resurgence, leaning into the flamboyant theatricality of the decade.
Charlie's Angels
2000The captivating crime-fighting trio who are masters of disguise, espionage and martial arts are back! When a devious mastermind embroils them in a plot to destroy individual privacy, the Angels, aided by their loyal sidekick Bosley, set out to bring down the bad guys. But when a terrible secret is revealed, it makes the Angels targets for assassination.
As the heart of this high-octane trio, Barrymore embraced a hyper-stylized femininity that felt both empowered and playful. This blockbuster turn marked her transition into a multimedia mogul, successfully blending her persona with a massive action franchise.
Whip It
2009In Bodeen, Texas, an indie-rock loving misfit finds a way of dealing with her small-town misery after she discovers a roller derby league in nearby Austin.
Stepping behind the camera for her directorial debut, Barrymore infused this roller derby tale with a raw, indie energy and an infectious sisterhood. Her supporting role as 'Smashley Simpson' reflects the punk-rock spirit and supportive mentorship she brought to this new phase of her professional life.
Riding in Cars with Boys
2001In 1965, a young woman with dreams of becoming a writer has a son at the age of 15 and struggles to make things work with the drug-addicted father.
Barrymore delivers a sprawling, transformative performance that tracks a young mother’s evolution from teen optimism to weary adulthood across several decades. It remains her most complex dramatic achievement, showcasing a range and emotional weight that often eludes her lighter studio fare.
50 First Dates
2004Henry is a player skilled at seducing women. But when this veterinarian meets Lucy, a girl with a quirky problem when it comes to total recall, he realizes it's possible to fall in love all over again…and again, and again. That's because the delightful Lucy has no short-term memory, so Henry must woo her day after day until he finally sweeps her off her feet.
Tasked with playing a character trapped in a perpetual reset, Barrymore brings a soulful vulnerability that prevents the high-concept premise from feeling like a hollow gimmick. She manages to make the audience fall for her character repeatedly, proving her specific mastery of the romantic comedy genre.
Donnie Darko
2001After narrowly escaping a bizarre accident, a troubled teenager is plagued by visions of a large bunny rabbit that manipulates him to commit a series of crimes.
Beyond her supporting turn as a dedicated teacher, this film serves as a monument to Barrymore's foresight as a producer who championed Kelly’s surreal vision when others wouldn't. Her presence gave this cult masterpiece the industry legitimacy it needed to find its audience.
Music and Lyrics
2007A washed-up '80s pop star gets a chance at a comeback when reigning pop diva Cora Corman invites him to write & record a duet with her, but there's a problem--Alex hasn't written a song in years; he's never written lyrics and he has to come up with a hit in a matter of days.
Her neurotic, rhythmic chemistry with Hugh Grant highlights a sharp comedic timing that often goes underappreciated in her later career work. Barrymore elevates the lighthearted material through a quirky, literate charm that anchors even the most saccharine moments.
EverAfter
1998Danielle, a vibrant young woman, was forced into servitude after the death of her father when she was a young girl. Danielle's stepmother, Rodmilla, is a heartless woman who forces Danielle to do the cooking and cleaning, while she tries to marry off the eldest of her two daughters to the prince. But Danielle's life takes a wonderful turn when, under the guise of a visiting royal, she meets the charming Prince Henry.
In this proto-feminist reimagining, Barrymore shed her wild-child image to embody a gritty, intellectual heroine who felt strikingly modern despite the period setting. The role solidified her status as a bankable romantic lead who could carry a film with grit rather than just whimsy.
Scream
1996A year after the murder of her mother, a teenage girl is terrorized by a masked killer who targets her and her friends by using scary movies as part of a deadly game.
By playing Casey Becker with such visceral, breathless terror, Barrymore subverted audience expectations and redefined the horror genre's rules in a single opening sequence. This brief but seismic role proved she possessed the star power to anchor a marketing campaign and then shock the world by exiting early.
Robbie, a local rock star turned wedding singer, is dumped on the day of his wedding. Meanwhile, waitress Julia finally sets a wedding date with her fiancée Glenn. When Julia and Robbie meet and hit it off, they find that things are more complicated than anybody thought.
Barrymore radiates a sun-drenched sincerity as Julia, grounding the film's neon nostalgia with a breathless, wide-eyed warmth. This role redefined her as the definitive romantic comedy lead of her generation, proving she could pivot from child star rebellion to a master of sugary, relatable charm. Her effortless chemistry with Sandler works because she plays the stakes with genuine heart rather than just winking at the camera.
An alien is left behind on Earth and saved by the 10-year-old Elliott who decides to keep him hidden in his home. While a task force hunts for the extra-terrestrial, Elliott, his brother, and his little sister Gertie form an emotional bond with their new friend, and try to help him find his way home.
Barrymore’s precocious naturalism as Gertie grounded Spielberg’s sci-fi spectacle in genuine human warmth, instantly transforming her into a generational icon. This performance established her as a child prodigy capable of stealing scenes from both seasoned actors and animatronic aliens.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about this list and SnakeDrafts
- Drew Barrymore shines in romantic comedies like The Wedding Singer, 50 First Dates, and Music and Lyrics, where her charming and relatable performances have captivated audiences and critics alike.
- Yes, Drew Barrymore starred in the iconic horror film Scream, which revitalized the slasher genre in the 1990s and showcased her versatility beyond romantic comedies and dramas.
- Riding in Cars with Boys and Miss You Already are excellent examples of Drew Barrymore's ability to handle complex emotional roles, demonstrating her depth as a dramatic actress.
- Indeed, Drew Barrymore made her directorial debut with Whip It, a critically acclaimed drama that highlights her talent behind the camera as well as in front of it.
- Drew Barrymore is memorable in films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and Donnie Darko, where fantasy elements are integral, offering unique and imaginative storytelling experiences.
- Yes, Charlie's Angels features Drew Barrymore leading a team of dynamic heroines in an action-packed and comedic adventure, showcasing her ability to carry high-energy roles.
- Firestarter, based on Stephen King's novel, provides a thriller experience set in the 1980s, highlighting Barrymore's early work in a science fiction-horror film.
