Netflix’s Cheer is a docuseries that was released in 2020 and follows the talented athletes that make up the Navarro College competitive cheerleading squad. After it was released, this series caught the attention of just about everyone and had us all in the cheer spirit. The documentary showcases the high stakes world of competitive cheerleading as they face practice, injuries, and intense competition in preparation to win a national title.
If you already finished Cheer and you’re disappointed that there aren’t more episodes to binge watch and enjoy, then don’t worry! Even though Cheer only had six episodes in the first season, there are a lot of other movies and TV shows that focus on cheerleading.
Sugar & Spice (2001)
Sugar & Spice was released in 2001 and is a different type of high stakes cheerleading movie. While Cheer focuses on the intense nature of competitive cheerleading, this movie focuses on the lives of a cheer squad as they get into a completely unique kind of intense situation.
This comedic film follows the captain of a cheer squad who finds herself in a sticky situation when she gets pregnant and kicked out of her home. To try to help her, the rest of the members of her cheer squad decide to take matters into their own hands by robbing a bank.
Gotta Kick It Up! (2002)
Is there a classic Disney Channel Original Movie for every situation? It sure seems like it. Gotta Kick It Up! was released in 2002 and is a great feel-good cheerleading movie for if you’re feeling a little nostalgic and want to see Superstore star America Ferrera in the early days of her career.
Technically, the girls in this movie are on a dance team, not part of a cheerleading squad. However, the vibes are still there and this is a good example of early-2000s Disney Channel movies. In it, a newcomer to a Southern California middle school is appointed the coach of a dance team and the members are reluctant to listen to her due to cultural and behavioral differences.
Jennifer’s Body (2009)
Jennifer’s Body is a comedic horror movie that was released in 2009 and stars Megan Fox as Jennifer and Amanda Seyfried as her best friend, Needy. Needy is a little bit of an outcast, but that hasn’t stood in the way of her friendship with cheerleader and it girl, Jennifer.
One night, after a concert at a bar in their hometown goes horribly wrong, Jennifer becomes the unwilling victim of a sacrifice performed by the band that was performing. Jennifer’s behavior begins to change and Needy becomes determined to figure out what’s going on before it’s too late.
Poms (2019)
Most cheerleading movies are focused on high school or college squads. If you’re looking for one that’s a little different and centers on a completely different type of cheer squad, the 2019 film Poms might be just what you’re looking for.
In this movie, Diane Keaton plays a woman named Martha, who is an introvert that recently moved to a retirement community that has a whole variety of different types of activities. As she starts to become more extroverted through the friendships she makes, she decides to start a cheer squad in their community.
Bring It On (2000)
What list of cheerleading movies would be complete without mentioning Bring It On? This movie was released in 2000 and stars Kirsten Dunst as Torrance, the new captain of her cheer squad. Being a senior and the captain of the squad should be the best year of her life, but when one of her squad members gets injured, things get complicated.
They’re forced to hold tryouts to find a replacement and that replacement comes in the form of a new girl who doesn’t fit the part. When it also gets revealed that all their routines were stolen from another school, Torrance is forced to get creative.
Zombies (2018)
Zombies is a Disney Channel original movie that was released in 2018. This heartfelt musical is based in a world in which being a zombie isn’t something out of a horror movie - it’s the reality for a large portion of the community. The zombies wear special devices called Z-Bands that stop them from craving brains and are more or less normal people.
Despite this, zombies and humans live completely separate lives and the zombies are shunned by humans. After the zombie students are transferred from their separate school to the human one, a zombie football player and a human cheerleader begin a forbidden relationship.
Heathers (1988)
Heathers is a dark comedy that was released in 1988 and stars Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The movie follows Veronica, one of the members of a clique of popular girls at her school - three of whom are named Heather. Veronica’s disapproval of her friends’ mean girl behavior comes to the forefront of her mind after she falls for a new student named J.D.
Veronica’s life changes after she realizes that J.D.’s problems with some of the other students at school go way deeper than she had initially thought. The movie takes the typical “popular girl” trope of cheerleading movies to a whole new level.
All Cheerleaders Die (2013)
All Cheerleaders Die is a comedic horror movie that was released in 2013. The movie is a remake of the 2001 film by the same name and initially premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Caitlin Stasey stars in this movie as Mäddy Killian, a high school student who lost her best friend as a child in a cheerleading accident. Mäddy confuses her friends when she announces that she has joined the cheer squad, something they never would have expected her to do. But, it becomes clear that Mäddy actually joined to get revenge on a football player. Unfortunately, this plan has to change when a supernatural force starts targeting the cheerleaders.
I Love You, Beth Cooper (2009)
I Love You, Beth Cooper was released in 2009 and stars Hayden Panettiere as Beth Cooper, a cheerleader, and the most popular girl at her school.
After her nerdy classmate, Denis, accidentally professes his love to Beth during his graduation speech, he feels mortified. But, much to his surprise, he might not have a reason to be because Beth shows up at his house later and asks him to hang out. Unfortunately for Denis, Beth brought some personal drama with her.
Fired Up! (2009)
Fired Up! is a comedic cheerleading movie that was released in 2009. It follows a pair of best friends and high school students who are supposed to be going to football camp over the summer, but seriously don’t want to go. Their summer starts to look up when they hatch a different plan: enroll in cheerleading camp instead.
The two of them head to cheerleading camp and think that they’ve got it made when they find themselves surrounded by competitive cheerleaders. But, when one of them falls for a cheerleader who sees right through their scheme, things get complicated.
