Review published 26th September 2026
Watch the official trailer.
Plot Synopsis
For six consecutive years, the Rancho Carne High School cheerleading squad known as The Toros have taken home the national championship. With former captain “Big Red” graduating, leadership of the squad is handed over to the enthusiastic yet nervous Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst), who is determined to continue the team’s winning legacy. However, what initially appears to be a straightforward path towards another championship quickly becomes far more complicated when Torrance discovers a shocking secret about the routines that helped make The Toros so successful in the first place.
As Torrance attempts to lead her squad through a difficult season, she forms a friendship with newcomer Missy (Eliza Dushku), while also coming face to face with The Clovers, a rival cheerleading team led by the determined and passionate Isis (Gabrielle Union). With the championship approaching, Torrance and The Toros find themselves under massive pressure as they attempt to prove themselves through their own talent and hard work.
More Than Just a Cheerleading Movie
When I first walked into the cinema to see Bring It On back in 2000, I can’t say I was especially excited. The marketing heavily focused on cheerleading, something that held very little interest for me at the time. However, what surprised me then, and still surprises me today on rewatch, is how much fun the film actually is. While Bring It On certainly embraces the teen comedy formula, it offers considerably more substance than many people might expect. At its heart, the film is about integrity, accountability and leadership. Torrance finds herself dealing with mistakes she didn’t personally make, yet she accepts responsibility and works hard to make things right. Watching her struggle through difficult decisions and attempt to rebuild trust forms the emotional core of the film and makes her an extremely likeable lead. The film also explores themes surrounding taking credit for the work of others, and more than two decades later those ideas remain surprisingly relevant. What makes the story particularly effective is that it never presents the conflict in simplistic terms. Instead, both sides have understandable motivations, and by the time the championship arrives it becomes very easy to find yourself rooting for both teams to succeed.
The Toros vs The Clovers
One of the film’s greatest strengths is the way it handles The Clovers. Most films would have simply turned them into villains but Bring It On treats them fairly and gives audiences good reason to support them. Their frustrations are understandable and their desire to finally receive recognition for their hard work creates some of the film’s strongest and most compelling conflict. Gabrielle Union is a major reason why The Clovers work so well. As Isis, she delivers confidence, determination and strength throughout the film. She feels like a fighter who refuses to back down, constantly standing up for what she believes is fair and right. Union elevates what could have been a much smaller role and helps make Isis one of the film’s most memorable characters. By the time the competition reaches its conclusion, it becomes difficult not to cheer for both teams. Each squad has their own reasons to succeed, making the rivalry surprisingly engaging and emotionally satisfying.
Performances
Kirsten Dunst easily delivers my favourite performance of the film. Torrance is an incredibly likeable protagonist because she genuinely wants to do the right thing. She is determined to become a good leader, willing to make difficult decisions and committed to correcting mistakes that she never personally created. Dunst brings plenty of charm and energy to the role, making it easy to invest in Torrance’s journey from beginning to end. Gabrielle Union is equally impressive as Isis, bringing authority and passion to every scene she appears in. Eliza Dushku also provides strong support as Missy, the newcomer whose presence helps push the story forward. Outside the main cast, Ian Roberts deserves special mention as choreographer Sparky Polastri. Called in to help create a brand-new routine for The Toros, Sparky’s harsh teaching methods and explosive personality has many of the film’s funniest moments.
Cheerleading, Comedy & Soundtrack
Despite having no real interest in cheerleading myself, I found the competition aspect surprisingly entertaining. The choreography is energetic, the routines are well presented and the final competition sequences are particularly impressive. While the basic structure may share some familiar elements with traditional sports movies, the character-driven approach helps the film feel fresher than many of its rivals. The comedy remains enjoyable too. While I wouldn’t describe the film as laugh-out-loud funny throughout, it is consistently amusing and its humour still holds up reasonably well today. The cheerleading try-outs provide several entertaining moments, while everything involving Sparky Polastri remains a highlight. Adding even more energy to the film is a fantastic soundtrack packed with memorable songs. It’s the kind of soundtrack that perfectly captures the early 2000s atmosphere and helps maintain the film’s lively pace from start to finish.
Negatives
My biggest issue with Bring It On remains the romance subplot involving Jesse Bradford’s character. While Bradford is perfectly serviceable in the role, the character never feels particularly important to the overall story. Much of his purpose is simply to act as Torrance’s love interest and emotional supporter, making the relationship feel somewhat forced and unnecessary. There are also a handful of crude jokes and sexual references that haven’t aged particularly well. While they don’t hurt the film greatly, they were among the few moments during this rewatch that felt noticeably dated. Looking back at the film twenty-six years later, there are also occasional moments where certain plot details don’t hold up under close scrutiny. Questions such as where the school staff are during some of the film’s major events become harder to ignore as an adult viewer, although these are relatively minor complaints in the grand scheme of things.
Final Verdict
Overall, Bring It On remains a highly enjoyable teen comedy that continues to hold up remarkably well. What could have been a simple film about cheerleading instead delivers an entertaining story about leadership, honesty, accountability and earning success the right way. Supported by strong performances from Kirsten Dunst, Gabrielle Union and Eliza Dushku, alongside energetic competition sequences, memorable humour and a fantastic soundtrack, the film offers far more than its premise initially suggests. The rivalry between The Toros and The Clovers remains engaging, the themes remain relevant and the championship finale provides a genuinely satisfying payoff. Much like 10 Things I Hate About You and Can’t Hardly Wait, Bring It On captures a certain era of teen cinema while still remaining entertaining for modern audiences. If you think Bring It On is simply a film about cheerleading, you may be surprised to discover it’s actually a clever, funny and surprisingly thoughtful coming-of-age comedy hidden behind the pom-poms.
Bring It On (2000) will be Available on 4K UHD from September 30th thanks to Imprint Films!
About the Reviewer
Peter Walkden
Film writer and curator with a deep passion for cinema, genre filmmaking, and physical media. Exploring new releases, cult favourites, and overlooked films, with a strong focus on atmosphere, storytelling, and the theatrical experience.
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