Bring It On is a 2000 American teen cheerleading comedy film directed by Peyton Reed and written by Jessica Bendinger. The film stars Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford, and Gabrielle Union. It was the first of the Bring It On film series and was followed by six direct-to-video sequels, none of which contain any of the original cast members: Bring It On Again (2004), which shared producers with the original, Bring It On: All or Nothing (2006), Bring It On: In It to Win It (2007), Bring It On: Fight to the Finish (2009), Bring It On: Worldwide Cheersmack (2017), and Bring It On: Cheer or Die (2022). The plot of the film centers around a team's preparation for and participation in cheerleading competitions.
Bring It On was released in theaters in the North America on August 25, 2000. Bring It On earned a worldwide gross of approximately $90 million. Since its release, the film has become a cult classic.
Plot[]
Torrance Shipman is a senior at Rancho Carne High School in San Diego. Her boyfriend, Aaron, is at college, and her cheerleading squad, the Toros, is aiming for a sixth consecutive national title. Torrance is elected to replace the team captain, "Big Red", after Red graduates. Soon, however, teammate Carver is injured and can not compete with her broken leg. Torrance holds an audition for Carver's replacement, and gains Missy Pantone, a gymnast transferred from Los Angeles to the school for senior year with her twin brother Cliff. In a side-plot, Torrance flirts with Cliff. While watching the Toros practice, Missy recognizes their routines from a rival squad that her previous high school used to compete against. After accusing Torrance of lying and stealing the routine, she learns from Torrance's reaction she was unaware. Missy drives Torrance to her hometown of Los Angeles; they watch an African American and Latino/Hispanic team, the East Compton Clovers, perform routines identical to theirs. Isis, the Clovers' team captain, angrily confronts the two. Torrance learns "Big Red" videotaped the Clovers' practice, and stole their routines. On the ride home, Torrance confesses to Missy she believes she is cursed after dropping the Spirit Stick at cheer camp.
Isis informs Torrance of her plans to defeat the Toros at the regional and national championships. The Clovers never attended because they couldn't afford the fees. After Torrance tells the Toros about the routines, the team votes in favor of using the current routine to win; Torrance reluctantly agrees. At the Toros' next home game, Isis and her teammates perform the Toros' routine in front of the whole school, humiliating them. The Toros realize they have to learn a different routine. In desperation, they employ a professional choreographer named Sparky Polastri to provide one, as suggested by Aaron. But, at the Regionals, the team scheduled immediately before the Toros performs the routine they practiced. Torrance speaks to a competition official, and learns Polastri provided the routine to other California squads. As the defending champions, the Toros are granted their place in Nationals, but Torrance is warned a new routine will be expected. Torrance, crushed by her failure to lead the squad successfully, considers quitting.
Cliff encourages and supports her, intensifying their growing attraction. Aaron says she is not leadership material, and recommends she step down from her position, selling her out to Torrance's rivals, Courtney and Whitney. After Cliff sees Torrance and Aaron together, he severs his friendship with Torrance, to her distress. But her confidence is re-newed by Cliff's encouragement, and she convinces her unhappy squad to create an innovative new routine instead, as the original routine was stolen from an all black cheer squad. She dumps Aaron, but Cliff refuses to forgive her. Meanwhile, the Clovers are unable to compete at Nationals due to financial problems. This prompts Torrance to get her dad's company to sponsor the Clovers, but Isis rejects the funding, and gets her team to Nationals by appealing to a talk show host. In the finals, the Toros place second, due to the fact they change the routine so they do not rip off another cheer squad, the Clovers win. However, after the Nationals, Torrance and Isis respect each other. Cliff forgives Torrance as they share a romantic kiss.
Cast[]
- Kirsten Dunst as Torrance Shipman
- Eliza Dushku as Missy Pantone
- Jesse Bradford as Cliff Pantone
- Gabrielle Union as Isis
- Clare Kramer as Courtney
- Nicole Bilderback as Whitney
- Tsianina Joelson as Darcy
- Rini Bell as Kasey
- Nathan West as Jan
- Huntley Ritter as Les
- Shamari Fears as Lava
- Natina Reed as Jenelope
- Brandi Williams as LaFred
- Richard Hillman as Aaron
- Lindsay Sloane as "Big Red"
- Bianca Kajlich as Carver
- Paige Inman as Jessica
- Holmes Osborne as Bruce Shipman
- Sherry Hursey as Christine Shipman
- Cody McMains as Justin Shipman
- Ian Roberts as Sparky Polastri
- Ryan Drummond as Theatre Boy
- Peyton Reed cameos as a mime.