Whip It
A shy Texas teenager finds confidence, friendship, and self-definition after secretly joining Austin's fiercely spirited roller-derby league.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Moderate
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Mild
- witty
- warm
- exhilarated
- feel good weekend
- teen movie night
What critics said
Critics broadly found the familiar sports and coming-of-age formula predictable but elevated by energetic direction, strong performances, charm, and good-natured humor.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Bliss moves away from her mother's beauty-pageant expectations by embracing roller derby and defining herself on her own terms.
The Austin roller-derby league gives Bliss a space for athletic agency, solidarity, and confidence.
Brooke Cavendar sees pageants as Bliss's route to happiness while Bliss secretly pursues derby.
Bliss's transformation is shaped by the Austin league, its teams, personas, and collective camaraderie.
Films like Whip It, and why
Bend It Like Beckham
shared coming-of-age sports story, female friendship, self-discovery, and upbeat underdog energy
Billy Elliot
shared teenage outsider protagonist, family expectations, athletic ambition, and warm empowerment
The Edge of Seventeen
shared female friendship, rebellious adolescence, local subculture, and energetic comedy-drama tone
A League of Their Own
shared women-centered sports competition, ensemble camaraderie, and good-natured humor
Movie Details
- Director
- Drew Barrymore
- Release Date
- 2009-04-09
- Runtime
- 111 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (1161)
Cast
- Elliot Page
- Alia Shawkat
- Marcia Gay Harden
- Kristen Wiig
- Drew Barrymore
- Landon Pigg
- Juliette Lewis
- Zoë Bell
- Daniel Stern
- Eve
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Whip It about?
- A shy Texas teenager finds confidence, friendship, and self-definition after secretly joining Austin's fiercely spirited roller-derby league.
- What is Whip It like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Whip It as brisk, its intensity as moderate and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is Whip It violent?
- Only mildly. Ember rates the violence in Whip It as mild.
- What did critics think of Whip It?
- Critics broadly found the familiar sports and coming-of-age formula predictable but elevated by energetic direction, strong performances, charm, and good-natured humor.
- Which films are like Whip It?
- Films with a similar feel include Bend It Like Beckham, Billy Elliot, The Edge of Seventeen, and A League of Their Own.
- How long is Whip It?
- Whip It runs 111 minutes.
- Where can I watch Whip It?
- In United States, Whip It is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
