By capturing the wonderful spectacle on the big screen, dance movies have been a popular genre since the birth of cinema, and continue to enrapture audiences today. Though the definition of a dance film has been stretched by the incorporation of other genre tropes, the typical dance movie has plenty of exquisite choreography and manages to tell a visual story through the art form. As dance itself has grown across the generations, so too has the dance movie by bringing in every type of the art form, from traditional ballet to break dancing and everything in between.
While many dance movies are skewered by critics for their abundant spectacle but thin plotting, some have transcended even the pickiest pundits to become beloved pieces of cinematic history. Though they have never fallen out of style, the popularity of dance films comes in waves, with certain decades and eras being hotbeds of new and exciting examples of the genre. Modern movies like Hustlershave completely reinvented the dance movie genre and injected the world of exotic dance with even more interesting storytelling possibilities.
15 You Got Served (2004)
You Got Served is available to stream on Prime Video and Tubi TV
The aughts were a boom period for dance films, especially as the world of hip-hop began to influence cinema in movies like You Got Served. David (Omarion) and Rico (Jarell Houston) dream of opening a recording studio and must compete in a dance competition to earn the cash. The plot of You Got Served merely served as window dressing for the high-quality dance sequences, and it was clear that the dance was supposed to be the central focus. The movie earned poor reviews but was a surprise box office sensation (via Box Office Mojo), and featured stellar dance-off scenes that completely stole the show.
14 Center Stage (2000)
Center Stage is available to stream on Hulu
Even as new dance art forms began influencing the movies in the 2000s, Center Stage arrived to tell a classic story with a classic style of dance. A large group of teen ballet dancers enroll in a prestigious academy and deal with the pitfalls of trying to make a career in the arts. Marking the big screen debut of Zoe Saldana as Eva, the film’s ensemble was what shined the brightest, and many actors were accomplished dancers in their own right. Despite its rather soapy storylines, Center Stage delivered ultra-realistic ballet performances and lightly touched on many real issues affecting dance professionals from body image to the grueling physical toll.
13 Step Up (2006)
Step Up is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, and Vudu
Many of Channing Tatum’s movies have involved dance, and Step Up was essentially the young actor’s breakout role that set the tone for his successful screen career. After getting caught vandalizing the theater of a prestigious performing arts school, Tyler (Tatum) is given the chance to dance for a scholarship there. Continuing the trend of hip-hop influence in dance movies of the 2000s, Step Up acts as a time capsule to the year 2006. While the plot was flimsy, it rarely got in the way of the exhilarating dancing. Step Up was popular enough to spawn several sequels and a TV series, though none matched the energy of the original.
12 Save The Last Dance (2001)
Save The Last Dance is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, and Vudu
Culture clashes are almost a cliche in movies today, but Save the Last Dance infused the theme with dance and found great success in the early days of the new millennium. A young interracial couple, Sara (Julia Stiles) and Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas) bond over their mutual love of dance and navigate their challenging relationship. The film explores the clash of cultures of the two protagonists through ballet vs hip-hop, contrasting their two upbringings and dance backgrounds. This unique fusion of dancing genres helped Save the Last Dance stand out, and the plot was a compelling addition to the strong dancing.
11 Flashdance (1983)
Flashdance is available to stream on Paramount+ and Hoopla
Though panned by critics, Flashdance has gone on to be a beloved piece of 1980s pop culture with a soundtrack that is still popular in the 21st century. While working in a steel mill by day, Alex (Jennifer Beals) dances by night and tries to overcome her fear of failure by getting accepted into a prestigious dance academy. Most remembered for the water dance sequence that has been frequently recreated, Flashdance also brought the dance movie into the ’80s with plenty of glam and over-the-top cheese. The film snagged an Oscar nomination for its soundtrack, and it is better remembered for its atmosphere than its dancing.
10 How She Move (2007)
How She Move is available to stream on Pluto TV
Step dancing and hip-hop-inspired dance movies had begun to take on a disingenuous air as the 2000s wore on, but How She Move reinvigorated the subgenre. After the death of her sister, Raya (Rutina Wesley) is forced to move back to her old neighborhood where she rediscovers her love of dance. Eschewing the flashiness of other dance movies, How She Move approached its dance sequences in a more realistic manner, which perfectly accentuated the thoughtful plot. Ultimately, dance movies are about joy, and How She Move discovered its joy via Raya’s love of expression through dance.
9 Bring It On (2000)
Bring It On is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, YouTube, and Vudu
While receiving mixed reviews when it first came out, Bring It On has since become a cult classic due to its intelligent satire and elaborate cheer-squad routines. A respected high school cheer squad is in shambles when it is discovered that Torrance (Kirsten Dunst) stole the routine from another high school. Often considered the first true “cheerleading film”, Bring It On made a convincing case for cheer as an art form while also exploring a hilarious story about race and class. Unlike so many other early aughts movies, Bring It On still holds up because of its biting wit and genuine care for its subject matter.
8 Footloose (1984)
Footloose is available to stream on Max
The ’80s was another heyday for dance movies, and Footloose was a big reason for their massive comeback during the decade. Big city teen Ren (Kevin Bacon) moves to a conservative small town where rock music and dancing are forbidden and inspires a teenage rebellion. Playful and campy, Footloose didn’t skimp on its dance sequences either, and the entire thing was helped along by the Oscar-nominated songs from Kenny Loggins and Deniece Williams that have since become ’80s pop standards. Footloose continued Bacon’s meteoric rise to stardom while simultaneously putting the fun back in the dance movie craze.
7 Saturday Night Fever (1977)
Saturday Night Fever is available to stream on Prime Video, Fubo TV, Paramount+, and MGM+
Saturday Night Fever was a movie that captured the essence of the 1970s disco era while skewering it as well. Unambitious Tony (Travolta) spends his nights dancing at local discos as the world moves around him at breakneck speed. The film combines all the elements of a classic dance movie while feeling remarkably like a documentary, dealing with poignant issues like pre-AIDS sexual mores and societal disillusionment of the decade. Travolta earned an Oscar nomination and the movie is a symbol of the ’70s, though it’s problematic due to its handling of sexual assault. Ironically, the film is viewed much rosier in hindsight, though its themes are far from groovy.
6 West Side Story (1961)
West Side Story is available to stream on The Roku Channel, Hoopla, Tubi TV, Pluto TV, and Freevee
Based on the successful 1957 Broadway musical, the 1961 film version of West Side Story managed to deliver the same thrills and drama as the stage performance. Tony (Richard Beymer) falls for Maria (Natalie Wood) though they both come from opposite sides of a brutal turf war between the Sharks and the Jets. Dance is just one part of the larger picture in West Side Story, but the choreography tells a story just like the music and dialogue. The film’s classic story is accentuated by a heaping helping of Hollywood charm, and it won 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director.
5 Hustlers (2019)
Hustlers is available to buy or rent on Apple TV, Prime Video, Vudu, and Redbox
Even as other dance art forms like hip-hop, cheer, and step became accepted sub-genres in dance movies, it took a film like Hustlers to normalize the world of stripping. Dancing to make ends meet, Destiny (Constance Wu) meets seasoned vet Ramona (Jennifer Lopez) who teaches her how to extract the most money from their wealthy clientele. The Hustlers true story was just as compelling as the movie’s fictional narrative, and it captured the cathartic and empowering essence of sticking it to Wall Street as the 2008 financial crisis loomed. Also, Hustlers prominently featured stripping but was never demeaning to the art form and its real-life performers.
4 The Magic Mike Franchise (2012, 2015, 2023)
The Magic Mike franchise is available to stream on Netflix and Max
On the surface, Magic Mike and its sequels appeared to be just a copious display of Hollywood beefcakes, but the films actually delivered a compelling and rich narrative. By day, Mike (Channing Tatum) works odd jobs to earn money while performing as a stripper at night. Director Steven Soderbergh’s colorful visuals accentuated the dance sequences, and the story explored ideas like artistic passion and the social stigma around exotic dance as an art form. The Magic Mike trilogy continued to pay off those ideas while never skimping on showing off stripping in all its various forms.
3 Singin’ In The Rain (1952)
Singin’ in the Rain is available to stream on Max
Singin’ in the Rain is a prime example of the escapist musical comedy genre, and was directed, choreographed, and starred silver screen legend, Gene Kelly. The film follows three performers (Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald O’Connor) during Hollywood’s transformative years of the late 1920s, when “talkies” shook up the industry. Highlighted by breathtaking dance scenes like the rain-soaked “Singin’ in the Rain” sequence, the film was so much more than a dance showcase and delivered humor and heart in equal measure. Transcending its dance movie label, Singin’ in the Rain is also one of Hollywood’s most beloved musicals.
2 Grease (1978)
Grease is available to stream on Max
After the success of Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta starred in Grease, a film that injected a bit of fun into 1970s dance movies. In the 1950s, proper student Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) sparks an unlikely romance with greaser Danny Zuko (Travolta). Grease hearkened back to the teenage romantic musicals of the 1950s, with its nostalgic plot and catchy dance numbers. The success of the film came from its ability to lean into the clichés of the ’50s teen drama while being self-aware of the silliness of its plot and humorous character tropes. The choreography stole the show, and the soundtrack to Grease is still a popular go-to.
1 Dirty Dancing (1987)
Dirty Dancing is available to stream on Sling TV
The nostalgia of the ’80s was on full display in Dirty Dancing, and the film’s timeless energy has given it life decades after its release. Set in the 1960s, the film follows Frances (Jennifer Grey) who falls for a mysterious dancer named Johnny (Patrick Swayze) while vacationing with her family at a resort. Taking advantage of the real-life skills of its stars, Dirty Dancing delivered dance sequences that were more realistic than most ’80s dance movies. Like many films of the decade, the music of Dirty Dancing lived on after its initial release with the original song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” even winning an Academy Award.
