By now it seems that everyone has tuned into CHEER, the Netflix documentary series that follows a group of incredible, impressive cheerleaders at Navarro College in Texas. The show doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of the sport, as many people get hurt while practicing — especially when trying to execute a perfect pyramid.
Since there are only six episodes so far, when people are done with the series and itching for more, there are some other pop culture favorites to check out. Keep reading to find out 10 TV shows and movies that fans of CHEER should watch.
Bring It On (2000)
Of course, fans of CHEER should take a trip down memory lane and re-watch Bring It On. People can’t help but mention the two together since they are both about cheerleading, and it’s interesting to watch a charming comedic movie and compare it to the grittier reality show.
The story of two cheerleading teams going up against each other is always going to be a classic, and the 2000 film will always be a favorite in the same camp as Mean Girls, Clueless, and other movies from the same genre.
Cheer Squad (2016)
Another reality show about cheerleaders, Cheer Squad is much more light-hearted than CHEER but is still worth watching for fans who want more content about this sport. There are 10 episodes in its first and only season, so it’ll be a quick binge-watch.
The series follows a Canadian team called the Great White Sharks. Like CHEER, the episodes show the team (based in Cambridge, Ontario) competing and trying their best. It doesn’t look like there are going to be any more episodes of Cheer Squad, but this season will be enjoyable to watch.
Dare Me (2019 - )
Dare Me, the TV drama that is also about cheerleading, started airing on USA Today in December 2019. The show is based on the book by Megan Abbott and is a great way to get your cheerleading fix, albeit in a fictional and much darker form, if you’re a big fan of CHEER.
There’s so much drama on a reality show about cheerleaders since the sport is all about competition, so it’s pretty easy to see that Dare Me will grip viewers too.
Last Chance U (2016 - )
Netflix has another realistic documentary series called Last Chance U, which became available for streaming in July 2016. There have been four seasons so far and the show is about football players at East Mississippi Community College.
This show is basically CHEER but about football, and it’s shot in the same raw, “fly on the wall” style of filmmaking. It’s not glossy and that’s why it’s so good.
Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
With an amazing cast of talented actors and superb storytelling, Friday Night Lights is a popular TV drama that spotlights Texas high school football. Since the show also features cheerleaders, including one of the main characters Lyla Garrity (Minka Kelly), it’s a good show for fans of CHEER to watch if they haven’t already — or re-watch because it’s just that good.
It’ll be easy to get caught up in the personal drama between the characters and the passion that everyone has for football. By the time viewers have seen a few episodes, they’ll be cheering “Texas forever” and “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose” along with the rest of the Dillon, Texas residents.
Make It or Break It (2009-2012)
For those who want a TV drama to get into, Make It or Break It is a good option. It aired for three seasons from 2009 until 2012 and told the story of teenagers who are phenomenal at gymnastics.
Since the show focuses on young adults working hard to be the best at their sport of choice, this has a lot in common with CHEER. There is a lot of family drama in the series, along with tons of conflict between the main characters, so it’s a show that will be tough to stop watching.
All-American (2018- )
Interested in sports? Check out All-American, a TV drama currently airing on the CW. There have been two seasons so far and there will be a third one as well.
The show follows Spencer James (Daniel Ezra) as a talented football player who starts attending Beverly Hills High. Spencer’s home isn’t as ritzy as Beverly Hills so there’s some drama surrounding that. The show is inspired by the life of Spencer Paysinger, who experienced the same thing.
Death Of A Cheerleader (1994)
This Lifetime film was released in 1994 and also called A Friend To Die For. (It also got a remake in 2019.) The original film stars Tori Spelling as a cheerleader named Stacey Lockwood who is murdered, so it’s much darker than some of the others on this list. The story is inspired by true events.
This movie brings to light the question of how badly some people want to be popular and well-liked cheerleaders, which is an important theme to think about, although it doesn’t often get quite as dark and disturbing as this real-life story.
The Secret Lives Of Cheerleaders (2019)
Another Lifetime movie, this one came out in 2019 and stars Denise Richards as the mother of as Ava (Savannah May), a sweet girl who joins the cheerleading squad and quickly finds out that there are more rules than she thought there would be. The girl in charge, Katrina (Alexandria DeBerry), will stop at nothing to make sure that this is the greatest squad ever and she has some disturbing methods to get there.
This movie will appeal to those looking for a fun and entertaining story that also talks about popularity.
Glee (2009-2015)
While Glee is known for its musical numbers, the TV series also features several characters who are cheerleaders, such as Quinn (Dianna Agron), Santana (Naya Rivera), and Brittany (Heather Morris). They’re often seen wearing their uniforms.
The cheerleaders are a big part of the plot as Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch), their coach, wants Quinn to become part of the glee club in order to destroy it. Quinn is also dating Finn (Cory Monteith) at the beginning of the show, causing tension between her and Rachel (Lea Michele).
