Whip It (2009)

Whip It follows 17-year-old Bliss Cavendar, a quiet, indie-rock–loving teen stuck in the small Texas town of Bodeen and suffocating under her mother’s obsession with turning her into a pageant queen. When Bliss discovers a flyer for an all-women roller derby league in nearby Austin, she sneaks off to try out, adopts the skater name Babe Ruthless, and finds a new family on the Hurl Scouts team. As she trains to become a lightning-fast jammer, Bliss has to hide her double life from her controlling mom, navigate a fledgling romance with a musician named Oliver, and survive the messy realities of friendship and rivalry—most notably with the star of the undefeated Holy Rollers. Seeing the movie, you’ll get a lively coming-of-age story that mixes high-energy, bruising derby action with warm humor and emotional payoff. The skating scenes are visceral and fun, the indie-rock soundtrack fuels the film’s rebellious tone, and the ensemble cast delivers both comic moments and earnest heart. The film balances raucous underdog sports thrills with quieter scenes about identity, family expectations, and growing up. Expect a feel-good, sometimes bittersweet ride: laughs, some romantic sparks, a few betrayals and reconciliations, and a satisfying climax where Bliss must choose who she really wants to be. Whip It is ultimately about finding agency, community, and the courage to crash through the roles other people try to assign you.

Actors: Elliot Page, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Wiig

Director: Drew Barrymore

Runtime: 111 min

Genres: Drama, Sport

68 /100 6.9 /10 6.8 /10