Netflix's Cheer Is the Tip of the Iceberg When It Comes to Cheerleading Movies and TV

It’s the gold standard for cheerleading movies. The rivalry between two cheer squads kicks into high gear when one of them discovers their routines were stolen by a former captain from a different squad, and now they’re out to take back their crown.

Watch Bring It On on Amazon.

The Bring It On franchise has churned out a seemingly infinite number of spinoffs and sequels, but this one, starring Hayden Panettiere, is probably the most memorable. Panettiere plays a cheerleader who transfers to a new school and is recruited to join their cheer squad, but struggles to meet their high standards as they prepare to face off against her old team.

Watch Bring It On: All or Nothing on Amazon.

A pair of high school football players are bored by the idea of yet another summer football camp, so they get a bright idea: try out for cheer camp so they can hang out with cheerleaders instead. Raunchy hijinks ensue, but they get a lot more than they bargained for when they arrive, discovering that cheer isn’t just about short costumes and chants.

Watch Fired Up! on Amazon.

Cheerleading is a backdrop for this dark, satirical comedy that tells the story of a popular cheerleader whose parents think she’s a lesbian and send her to conversion camp. Instead, the camp actually opens her eyes to her sexuality, thanks to a rebellious lesbian she meets there.

Watch But I’m a Cheerleader on Amazon.

Sugar & Spice is about cheerleading . . . but also about bank robbery. The 2001 teen film is a cult hit, residing in the same dark comedy vein as Jawbreaker and Drop Dead Gorgeous. You won’t see a ton of stunts, but you will get some clever dialogue and debunked myths about cheerleaders.

Watch Sugar & Spice on Amazon.

A largely Latina cheer squad gets a new coach in the form of a Juilliard-trained former dancer turned biology teacher. The very different experiences and styles of the coach and her students lead to conflict, and they have to work together to lift the squad up and ensure its future.

Watch Gotta Kick It Up on Disney+.

The short-lived CW comedy followed a college student who loses her scholarship and tries out for the university’s cheer team to make ends meet instead. Once she’s on the team, she dives headfirst into the hilarious, high-stakes world of competitive cheer and her new teammates’ drama.

Watch Hellcats on CW Seed.