# Never Been Kissed
**Never Been Kissed** (Japanese release title: 25年目のキス) is a 1999 American romantic comedy directed by Raja Gosnell, in which [Drew Barrymore](https://www.edgepedia.org/drew-barrymore) plays Josie Geller, a 25-year-old [Chicago Sun-Times](https://www.edgepedia.org/chicago-sun-times) copy editor who goes undercover as a high school student to research contemporary teenage culture for a first-person article.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) • [2](https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0409/p15s2.html) The film was released on April 9, 1999, runs 107 minutes, and carries a PG-13 rating.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | April 9, 1999; Los Angeles and New York openings that week; 107 minutes; PG-13[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) |
| Director and writers | Raja Gosnell; screenplay by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) |
| Production | Fox 2000 Pictures, distributed by Twentieth Century Fox; producers Sandy Isaac and Nancy Juvonen; copyright registered to Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation on April 6, 1999[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) • [3](https://www.copyrightencyclopedia.com/never-been-kissed-words-and-music-charles-r-grean-and-cy/) |
| Lead cast | Drew Barrymore (Josie Geller), David Arquette (Rob Geller), Michael Vartan (Sam Coulson), Leelee Sobieski (Aldys), Jeremy Jordan (Guy Perkins)[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) |
| Barrymore's role | Her first film produced under her company Flower Films; she also served as executive producer[4](https://www.wildaboutmovies.com/features/drew-barrymore-interview-with-tim-nasson-for-never-been-kissed/) |
| Critical scores | 56% on the Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer (91 reviews) and 69% on the audience Popcornmeter (250,000+ ratings)[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_been_kissed) |
| Music and crew | Original score by David Newman; cinematography by Alex Nepomniaschy; costume design by Mona May[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) |
## Spoilers
### Plot and premise
Josie Geller is a talented copy editor at the Chicago Sun-Times who wants to become a reporter. Her first assignment sends her undercover at a local high school to report on today's teenagers, a prospect that terrifies her because her own adolescence was spent as an unpopular, ridiculed student.[6](https://watch.afi.com/movie/never-been-kissed) • [2](https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0409/p15s2.html) With help from her brother Rob ([David Arquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-arquette)), she infiltrates the popular clique, and she falls for her English teacher, Sam Coulson ([Michael Vartan](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-vartan)), complicating both the investigation and her love life.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_been_kissed) [The Christian Science Monitor](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-christian-science-monitor)'s review described the setup as an offbeat assignment that lets her show off her nose for news while forcing her to relive her high school years.[2](https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0409/p15s2.html)
## Production
The screenplay by Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein was written as a [work made for hire](https://www.edgepedia.org/work-made-for-hire) for Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, and the copyright records list the motion picture as directed by Raja Gosnell.[3](https://www.copyrightencyclopedia.com/never-been-kissed-words-and-music-charles-r-grean-and-cy/) The film was produced by [Fox 2000 Pictures](https://www.edgepedia.org/fox-2000-pictures) with Sandy Isaac and Nancy Juvonen as producers.[1](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED) For Barrymore, it was the first film produced under Flower Films, the production company she co-ran with Nancy Juvonen; in a 1999 interview she said the other producers appreciated the story and realized it needed to be told on screen.[4](https://www.wildaboutmovies.com/features/drew-barrymore-interview-with-tim-nasson-for-never-been-kissed/)
The supporting cast includes [Molly Shannon](https://www.edgepedia.org/molly-shannon), John C. Reilly, and [Jessica Alba](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessica-alba) in the full credits list.[6](https://watch.afi.com/movie/never-been-kissed) David Newman composed the original score, and the crew included choreographer Marguerite Pomerhn Derricks and costume designer Mona May.[6](https://watch.afi.com/movie/never-been-kissed)
## Marketing and reception
The film arrived during a crowded 1999 season for youth-oriented movies; a Los Angeles Times industry piece counted 13 teen films released in the first months of that year. Fox deliberately avoided marketing it in teen terms, with a studio spokesperson saying, "We think it's a movie for older and younger women." The same piece noted that Barrymore, then 24, brought in an older audience without turning off younger viewers, citing her recent run of [Ever After](https://www.edgepedia.org/ever-after) and [The Wedding Singer](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-wedding-singer).[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-21-ca-29367-story.html)
**Critical response.** On Rotten Tomatoes the film holds a 56% Tomatometer from 91 reviews, with a critics consensus that Barrymore's effervescent charm is almost enough to forgive the silly storyline; the audience Popcornmeter stands at 69% from more than 250,000 ratings.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_been_kissed) Roger Ebert, the Chicago Sun-Times critic, gave it 3 out of 4 stars, writing that the screenplay is contrived and not blindingly original but that Barrymore illuminates it with sunniness and creates a lovable character, and he grouped her with a real star whose personality is the real subject of the story.[8](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/never-been-kissed-1999) Metacritic's sampled reviews ranged from a Variety notice calling it a likable romantic comedy with an engaging premise and strong cast to a Film Threat review describing a tug of war between Barrymore's charm and the script's stupidity.[9](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/never-been-kissed/critic-reviews/) The Christian Science Monitor praised the colorful camera work and funny dialogue while noting that much of the humor is youth-centered enough that older viewers may miss the point.[2](https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0409/p15s2.html)
## Later assessment
Retrospective commentary has focused on the teacher-student romance. A 2024 Rotten Tomatoes-listed review called Barrymore and Vartan's chemistry strong while noting the student-teacher romance never sat well.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_been_kissed) Common Sense Media's parents' guide flags the uncomfortable relationships between teens and twentysomethings pretending to be teens, and between a teacher and a girl he believes to be a teen, while also describing an upbeat comedy with themes of self-respect and self-acceptance.[10](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/never-been-kissed) The film continues to appear on retrospective lists of 1990s movies and romantic comedies.[11](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g22520389/best-90s-movies/)
## References
1. [Never Been Kissed (1999), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/61251-NEVER-BEEN-KISSED)
2. [David Sterritt, "Teen screen: Funny 'Kissed'; no 'Go'", The Christian Science Monitor, April 9, 1999](https://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0409/p15s2.html)
3. [Never been kissed; motion picture & screenplay, Copyright Encyclopedia (US copyright record V3434D225)](https://www.copyrightencyclopedia.com/never-been-kissed-words-and-music-charles-r-grean-and-cy/)
4. [Tim Nasson, "Drew Barrymore Interview with Tim Nasson for Never Been Kissed", Wild About Movies, April 10, 1999](https://www.wildaboutmovies.com/features/drew-barrymore-interview-with-tim-nasson-for-never-been-kissed/)
5. [Never Been Kissed, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/never_been_kissed)
6. [Never Been Kissed, American Film Institute (watch.afi.com)](https://watch.afi.com/movie/never-been-kissed)
7. ["Pop Quiz: How Can a Teen Movie Be a Wide-Appeal Hit?", Los Angeles Times, April 21, 1999](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-21-ca-29367-story.html)
8. [Roger Ebert, "Never Been Kissed" review, Chicago Sun-Times, 1999](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/never-been-kissed-1999)
9. [Never Been Kissed critic reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/movie/never-been-kissed/critic-reviews/)
10. [Never Been Kissed, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/never-been-kissed)
11. [The 93 Best '90s Movies That Have Become Modern Classics, Marie Claire](https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/g22520389/best-90s-movies/)
---
*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Films and standalone screen works › Individual films by title and year › Comedy and romantic films (individual works) › Comedies of 1995 to 1999 › Black and satirical comedies › Released in 1999*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 3, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license