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With the Super Bowl less than a week away, we’re getting everything ready: the snacks, the party, and of course, the movies. While a bunch of people go for football movies, so many people are missing out on a super versatile sub-genre of film: cheerleader films.
You see, when you pop in a football movie, you kind of know how it’s going to go. But when cheerleaders are involved, you have no idea what’s to come. Think about it: we get horror flicks like Jennifer’s Body and Death of a Cheerleader. Then there are ones that talk about bigger parts of our identities, like But I’m a Cheerleader. And, of course, there are classics like Bring It On that never go out of style (after all, this is not a democracy, it’s a cheerocracy).
No matter what cheerleader film you end up picking, you know it’s going to be a wild ride; which is exactly what we’re looking for ahead of the long-awaited event.
Check out the very best cheerleading movies and TV shows to watch before the Super Bowl on Feb 12, below!
‘Bring It On!’ (2000)
Probably the ultimate cheerleading movie of all time is the 2000 teen classic Bring It On. Starring Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union as opposing cheer captains, Dunst’s team realizes they’ve been using stolen routines, so they have to think of something new before the national championships.
‘But I’m a Cheerleader’ (1999)
Starring Natasha Lyonne and Clea DuVall, But Im a Cheerleader is a comedy that follows a picture-perfect cheerleader who’s sent to a sexual reorientation camp after she starts to realize she has feelings for women.
‘Bring It On: All or Nothing’ (2006)
While not all of the Bring It On sequels were created equal, we do have to mention Bring It On: All or Nothing, starring Hayden Panettiere and Solange Knowles, a fun, spirited romp.
‘Man of the House’ (2005)
Man of the Houseis all about a Texas Ranger who goes undercover as an assistant coach at the University of Texas. Why? To protect a group of college cheerleaders who witnessed a murder. Safe to say, it gets wild.
‘Jennifer’s Body’ (2009)
If you’re more of a horror movie fan, then you can’t go wrong with the 2009 cult-classic Jennifer’s Body. Starring Megan Fox as Jennifer Check, she begins her journey as a normal high school cheerleader who ends up a man-eating demon.
‘Hellcats’ (2010-2011)
Despite only lasting one season, the show Hellcats revolves around the world of college cheerleaders, specifically Marti (Aly Michalka), who lost her scholarship and has to be a part of the legendary team to make her dreams come true.
‘Death of a Cheerleader’ (1994)
Death of a Cheerleader is a creepy made-for-TV film based on the true story of Bernadette Protti, a jealous high school student who murdered Kirsten Costas, a popular cheerleader.
‘The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders’ (2019)
Yet another suspense-filled cheerleader story, but you know we love it. Starring Denise Richards and Savannah May, The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders follows a transfer student who wants to become a cheerleader, but the head cheerleader will do anything to keep everyone away from the spotlight.
‘Heroes’ (2006-2010)
Hayden Panettiere returned as the Queen of cheerleaders for the starring role of Claire Bennet in Heroes. However, she’s no normal teenager. She realizes she has regenerative abilities, and along with others who discover their powers, they have to save the world multiple times from catastrophe.
‘Fired Up!’ (2009)
Fired Up is a tale as old as time: a comedic journey featuring two popular guys in high school ditching football camp for cheerleader camp. Let’s just say, they get a lot more than they bargained for.
‘Sugar & Spice’ (2001)
Starring Marley Shelton and Marla Sokoloff, Sugar and Spice is all about a cheerleader who gets pregnant by the star quarterback. She and her team decide to start a crime ring to keep up their lifestyle.
‘The Replacements’ (2000)
Starring Keanu Reeves and Brooke Langton, The Replacements follows a team during a football strike when the owners hire substitute players. It’s actually based on the 1987 NFL strike, and they really did put a comedic spin on it all.
‘The Swinging Cheerleaders’ (1974)
If you’re looking for a good throwback, look no further than The Swinging Cheerleaders. It’s all about how a college journalist infiltrates the campus’ cheerleading squad to write about female exploitation. However, they get more than they bargain for and find an even bigger conspiracy.
‘Just One of the Girls’ (1993)
Starring Corey Haim and Nicole Eggert, the direct-to-TV film Just One of the Girls is about a teen who tries to disguise himself as a girl to get away from the bully, and ends up on the cheerleading squad.
‘Cheerleaders Beach Party’ (1978)
Cheerleaders Beach Party is a musical comedy about a group of cheerleaders who work together to keep their team’s star football players on their side.
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