Backspot

Play trailer

2:16

Backspot

2024

1h 32m

Drama

Sports

Play Trailer

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

87%

Tomatometer

52 Reviews

62%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Ratings

An ambitious cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad and its demanding head coach (Evan Rachel Wood). With a competition looming, Riley must navigate her drive with her crippling anxiety as one wrong move will bring her crashing to the ground.

Critics Consensus

An outstanding showcase for Devery Jacobs, Backspot is front of the line as an insightful and thrilling sports drama.

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Amy Nicholson

FilmWeek (LAist)

06/15/2024

Waterson has a really good eye for capturing details for these characters. There are relationships within this film that feel real, and a lot that goes unspoken that feels natural.

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Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya

Autostraddle

06/03/2024

A visceral and dynamic sports film so centered on girlhood in ways that feel exciting and original, but a lot of that work is done by the directing more than the script itself. Regardless, it’s a striking entry into the queerleading canon...

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Lisa Kennedy

New York Times

05/31/2024

Its early execution strains and wobbles some, but “Backspot” sticks its landing.

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Peter Gray

The AU Review

10/07/2024

3.5/5

This is a cautionary tale that warns of the extremes of dedication, whilst proving a love letter to the art of cheerleading and the zeal it requires.

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Rubén Rosario

MiamiArtZine

09/16/2024

At 93 minutes, it flies by. Your nerves might be more than a bit frazzled by the time it loosens its grip...

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Christie Cronan

Common Sense Media

08/26/2024

This queer coming-of-age cheerleading drama is a viscerally dynamic teen sports film that tackles complex themes of mental health, relationships, and ambition with a healthier perspective than many previous movies about cheerleading.

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Steve D

@RT35616104 09/15/2024

Lumbering with a weird documentary like direction that is distracting

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Paige L

@RT37969955 06/03/2024

One of the most well made movies and intense viewing experiences I’ve ever witnessed

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Wrenzies T

@RT85529843 06/02/2024

Crazy good film with crazy good acting and crazy good montages.

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Lucas P

@RT77683584 06/02/2024

Kick ass cheerleading film. A must watch.

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M M

@RT37401815 06/02/2024

This movie was intense and the subject matter fresh. I enjoyed the story and the characters.

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Freya P

@RT32481631 06/01/2024

I recently just saw a showing of Backspot in theatres and I was kind of shocked on what the plot was. This isn’t your average cheer movie, and it deals with a lot of serious themes like OCD. The cheer shown in the movie is done well, although I wish they would have specified what level their team was. Overall a fairly good movie, but if your expecting a happy and silly movie to take your kids to, I do not recommend😬

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D.W. Waterson

Director

Devery Jacobs

Riley

Evan Rachel Wood

Eileen McNamara

Shannyn Sossamon

Tracy

Kudakwashe Rutendo

Amanda

Thomas Antony Olajide

Devon

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Backspot: Trailer 1

2:16

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Synopsis

An ambitious cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) faces both new adversity and the increased drive for perfection and triumph when she and her girlfriend are selected for an all-star cheer squad and its demanding head coach (Evan Rachel Wood). With a competition looming, Riley must navigate her drive with her crippling anxiety as one wrong move will bring her crashing to the ground.

Director: D.W. Waterson
Producer: Alona Metzer, D.W. Waterson, Devery Jacobs, Martin Katz
Screenwriter: Joanne Sarazen
Distributor: XYZ Films
Production Co: Pageboy Productions, Crave, Téléfilm Canada, Ontario Creates, Prospero Pictures, Night Is Y
Genre: Drama, Sports
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): May 31, 2024, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): May 31, 2024
Runtime: 1h 32m