August 2000 was a weird time for movies. You had big-budget experiments like The Cell and aging action stars in Space Cowboys battling for the top spot. Then, this $11 million teen comedy about pom-poms and high-school rivalries dropped and just... stayed there. It stayed at number one for two weeks straight. Honestly, if you look back at Kirsten Dunst in Bring It On, it’s easy to see why. She wasn't just playing a perky cheerleader; she was playing a girl whose entire moral compass gets shattered by a stolen routine.
Most people remember the "spirit fingers" or the "brrr, it's cold in here" chant. But the movie is actually a lot smarter than the marketing let on. It’s basically a case study in white privilege and cultural appropriation, served with a side of glitter. Kirsten Dunst brought this weirdly perfect mix of bossy dismissiveness and genuine "oh crap" realization to the role of Torrance Shipman. She made us root for a girl who was technically the beneficiary of years of theft.
The Casting That Almost Didn’t Happen
It’s hard to imagine anyone else as Torrance. She’s the heart of the Toros. But get this: Dunst actually turned the role down at first. She was coming off "serious" stuff like The Virgin Suicides and Interview with a Vampire. A cheerleading flick felt like a step back. Marley Shelton was actually the second choice, but she went off to do Sugar & Spice instead.
Thankfully, Dunst changed her mind. She realized that playing the "it girl" required more than just a smile. It required a savage wrinkle of the nose and the ability to say lines like "Missy’s the poo, so take a big whiff" without sounding like a total dork.
She wasn't the only one who almost missed out. James Franco and Jason Schwartzman both auditioned for Cliff Pantone. Imagine James Franco trying to pull off that toothbrushing scene. No way. Jesse Bradford got it, and he brought that "I'm too cool for this but I like you" energy that made the romance actually feel real.
Why the Toros vs. Clovers Rivalry Matters Now
If you watch Kirsten Dunst in Bring It On today, the racial dynamics hit a lot harder. The movie doesn't hide the fact that the Toros—the wealthy, suburban, predominantly white team—won five national championships using routines stolen from the East Compton Clovers.
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Isis, played by Gabrielle Union, is the literal queen of the film. She isn't a "villain" for being angry. She's a leader who has been robbed. When Torrance tries to "fix" it by sending the Clovers a check from her dad’s company, Isis rips it up.
It’s a brutal, necessary moment.
"You wanna make it right? Then when you go to Nationals... bring it."
That line changed the whole vibe. It wasn't about charity. It was about equity. The Clovers didn't need a handout; they needed the playing field to be level so they could win on their own merits. And spoiler: they did. The Toros come in second. In a typical teen movie, the "hero" always wins. Here? The hero learns that being second with your own work is better than being first with someone else’s.
The "Cheer-ocracy" Behind the Scenes
Filming wasn't just hair flips and chanting. The cast went through a "cheer camp" that was basically a boot camp. They were doing their own stunts, mostly. If you see them falling or sweating, it’s probably because they were actually exhausted.
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- The Budget: Only $11 million. It looked way more expensive because of the energy.
- The Box Office: It grossed over $90 million worldwide. That’s a massive win for a movie people thought was "just for girls."
- The Script: Jessica Bendinger wrote it based on her own experiences. She knew the world was cutthroat.
The movie also dealt with things like homophobia (the jocks faking a "loser sneeze" at Cliff) and the sexualization of cheerleading. It poked fun at its own vapidity while also respecting the athleticism required.
That Famous Toothbrushing Scene
We have to talk about the subtext. Or the lack of it. The scene where Torrance and Cliff brush their teeth together is one of the most iconic moments in teen cinema. It’s completely silent. It’s just two people trying to be "casual" while their brains are screaming.
Dunst has said in interviews that Sofia Coppola’s influence—who told her she loved her "imperfect" teeth—gave her the confidence to just be herself in these big Hollywood roles. She refused to get veneers for Spider-Man later on because of that. You see that confidence in Torrance. She’s not a plastic doll; she’s a girl who is obsessed with winning but has a conscience that won't let her sleep.
Is a Sequel Ever Coming?
People have been asking about a "legacy sequel" for years. Gabrielle Union is totally down. She’s been vocal about developing something for ages. Kirsten Dunst? She’s a bit more hesitant. Recently, she’s been saying we should "leave good things where they are."
She’s 43 now. She’s doing A24 films like Civil War and getting Oscar nods for The Power of the Dog. Does she really want to put on the pleated skirt again? Probably not. She’s joked about being a coach, but honestly, the original is so lightning-in-a-bottle that a reboot might just feel like "diet prozac," as Missy would say.
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Actionable Insights for Fans and Creators
If you're looking to capture that same "Bring It On" energy in your own life or content, here's the takeaway:
- Audit your "originality": Like the Toros, we often take shortcuts. Real success comes from building your own routines, even if you come in second.
- Acknowledge your privilege: Torrance didn't know she was a "biter" until it was pointed out. Once she knew, she changed. That's the work.
- Lines matter: "Spirit fingers" works because it's specific. In your own writing or projects, avoid generic fluff. Use "spirit fingers" energy—be weird, be specific, and be bold.
- Watch the original again: Skip the direct-to-video sequels. Go back to the 2000 original. Look at the framing, the color palettes, and the way Dunst uses her face to convey "bossy but terrified." It’s a masterclass in comic timing.
The legacy of Kirsten Dunst in Bring It On isn't just about the cheers. It's about a moment in time where a teen movie actually had something to say about the world, and it said it while doing a full-extension stunt.
Where to Watch and Explore
The original film is frequently available on streaming platforms like Netflix or Hulu depending on your region, and the 25th-anniversary Blu-ray editions often include the "Spirit Fingers" making-of documentaries that are well worth a watch for any student of 2000s pop culture. If you're into the history of the sport, look into how the film actually led to a massive spike in competitive cheerleading participation across the US. It didn't just reflect the culture; it created it.
Check out the original soundtrack too. It’s a perfect time capsule of early 2000s pop and R&B, featuring Blaque (who played the Clovers) and that classic 95 South track. It’s the ultimate "get hyped" playlist for a reason.
If you’re a filmmaker, study Peyton Reed’s directing style here. Before he was doing Ant-Man, he was proving that you could take a "silly" premise and give it real cinematic weight. The editing in the final competition is tight, rhythmic, and tells a story without needing much dialogue. That’s how you "bring it."