In 2000, Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union starred in the cult cheerleading classic, Bring It On. The movie focused on two rivalry cheerleading squads, stolen cheer routines, and the battle of squads in a national tournament. It's been almost 22 years since the movie was released, but fans of the film were reminded of how much they loved it after Netflix released the documentary Cheer.
Looking back at the movie's success, there are a handful of things that fans didn't know about the film or its actors. From the actors attending cheer camp to prepare for filming to iconic scenes that almost didn't make the cut in the editing process, Bring It On is chock full of behind-the-scenes secrets.
The Opening Number (That All Fans Know) Almost Didn't Make The Cut
Some of the most repeated quotes throughout Bring It On come from the opening scene. In the scene, each cheerleader introduces themselves in a quirky way in front of the entire school. It's cheeky and a touch inappropriate, but pokes fun of the squad.
Shockingly, this moment almost didn't happen. Jessica Bendinger, a writer on Bring It On, told The Huffington Post that she vouched for the opening scene when others wanted it cut. “I was like, ‘If you cut this cheer, then it’s just a dumb movie! Who cares?’ You need to let everybody know your tongue is in your cheek. There needs to be self-awareness," she said.
Kirsten Dunst Vs. Marley Shelton
A year after Bring It On came out, a movie based on bank-robbing cheerleaders came out called Sugar and Spice. Ironically, both films were in production at the same time.
According to Insider, Marley Shelton was offered the role of Torrance after Dunst said she wasn't interested. But Shelton dropped out of the film once she was offered a role in Sugar and Spice. When she left, Dunst had a change of heart and took her place, making Bring It On one of Dunst's best movies.
The Brushing Teeth Scene Almost Didn't Happen
In the film, Torrance is in need of new cheerleaders for the Toros who know how to do stunts. She knew newbie Missy Pantone would make a great cheerleader but needed to convince her. Along the way, the two became friends and Torrance became close with Missy's brother, Cliff. With a crush forming between the two, a sweet moment was shared when the two were brushing their teeth at the same time at the Pantone residence. It was a small moment, but a giddy one that those in new relationships can relate to. However, this almost didn't happen.
The director, Peyton Reed, told Buzzfeed, "The toothbrush thing just came about because we had to figure out where they could come into contact." Running into each other in the bathroom was the most realistic at a sleepover.
All The Actors Went To Cheer Camp For Four Weeks
Bring It On is a very physical movie that required all the main characters to be in shape, know how to dance, and even have cheer experience. When it came to the cheers (without the tumbling), the actors were required to do their own stunts.
Nicole Bilderback (Whitney) told Bustle that she had to prepare a cheer of her own for the audition and once she was offered the role, everyone had to attend cheer camp for four weeks. "So we had to learn the pyramids; we had to build up strength for that. We had to learn all the tosses. We learned all that stuff. So it was eight hours a day, and we'd get a lunch break. It was tough. It was a lot of work," she said.
'Bring It On' Was Supposed To Be A Documentary
Bring It On became a #1 movie in the box office when it came out, however, it wasn't supposed to be a movie at first. Jessica Bendinger, a screenwriter for Bring It On, told BuzzFeed that the idea was originally meant for an MTV documentary called Cheer Fever. The documentary would follow different squads as they competed in competitive cheerleading. Bendinger said the idea fell flat and called it "dense," which is where the idea for a movie came about.
An Alternate Ending That Could Have Led To A Sequel
At the end of the movie, the Clovers came out on top as the best cheer squad, with the Toros coming in second place. Newfound respect and friendship came between Torrance and Isis (Gabrielle Union) and the film ended with both squads dancing to "Hey Mickey" by Toni Basil.
According to MTV, an alternate ending was originally supposed to take place, and by the sounds of it, the alternate ending would have been better than the original. According to the director, Peyton Reed, he said, "I remember shooting at UCLA. I think it was a post-credit scene where you see Kirsten and you see Gabrielle and they’re in college now. They’re going to the same college, and they are on the same cheerleading squad." The idea of Torrance and Isis on the same squad in a new school would have been a great setup for a sequel.
Torrance's Iconic Bedroom Scene
When Torrance and Cliff begin to fall for each other, he creates a mixtape of songs for her — including one that he wrote for her. While the songs play, Torrance begins to dance along on her bed in her pajamas. It was an unforgettable moment for teen romances in the 2000s.
According to Insider, the film choreographed most moments but didn't want this scene scripted. The director wanted Dunst to dance freely and be herself to add some realism to the moment.
There's Way More Than Just One 'Bring It On' Film
Due to the success of Bring It On, a sequel, Bring It On: Again, was soon created. The only issue is that it didn't have the same actors or director. Shortly after that, Bring It On: All or Nothing starring Hayden Panettiere and Solange Knowles was released. Later, three more continuations were added to the classic. The sequels didn't necessarily connect to the original movie and they didn't have the same success either. Most recently, Syfy announced they were releasing a horror-themed version to the franchise called, Bring It On: Halloween in 2022.
The Two Squads Had Different Choreographers To Have Some Separation Between Groups
In the film, Torro's captain, Big Red, is leaving and she elects Torrance as the squad's new captain. It's not until Torrance becomes the leader that she realizes Big Red stole all of their groundbreaking choreography from a school in East Compton, the Clovers.
To show some separation between the Clovers and the Toros, Insider noted that production hired two choreographers for both squads. The director told BuzzFeed, "When Hi-Hat choreographed 'Brr, It's Cold In Here' for the Clovers, Anne had a great time choreographing the really stiff, white-girl version for the Toros."
Kirsten Dunst Related To Torrance
Kirsten Dunst did a fantastic job portraying the bubbly and dedicated cheerleader, which is why it became one of Dunst's best roles. And as it turns out, it's because Dunst felt connected to Torrance in more ways than one. In an interview with Gotham Magazine, Kirsten said that she was Torrance. "When I was 16 and did 'Bring It On.' I was that girl. It was like me being in high school as myself. It wasn't a stretch at all." She also noted that she too was a cheerleader in school, as was her best friend.