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Step Up

Play trailer Poster for Step Up PG-13 2006 1h 38m Musical Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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22% Tomatometer 105 Reviews 83% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) has been in and out of trouble for most of his life and after finding himself before the judge again, he is sentenced to 200 hours of community service mopping floors at the Maryland School of the Arts. He quickly catches the eye of Nora (Jenna Dewan), a gifted ballet student, who is trying to use hip-hop moves with her classical routines. After some initial hesitation, Nora convinces Tyler to help her with her dance routines and the sparks fly.

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Step Up

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Critics Consensus

This trite teen romance has too little plot and not enough dancing.

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Critics Reviews

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Anna Smith Empire Magazine 11/30/2006
2/5
It's the usual case of great dancing, bad acting and even worse dialogue in this very guilty pleasure for fans of the genre. Go to Full Review
Philip French Guardian 10/28/2006
This is a cliche-ridden movie by people to whom formula is clearly mother's milk. Go to Full Review
Stella Papamichael BBC.com 10/24/2006
2/5
Debut director Anne Fletcher fails to put a new spin on umpteen romantic hoofers. Go to Full Review
Jana Monji Age of the Geek 08/13/2021
4/5
Step Up 3D is a great showcase for some of today's best dance talents and one of the best examples of 3D technology adding to a film's impact. Go to Full Review
Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com 09/24/2020
2.0/4.0
There's a definite fan base for this type of film, but it won't be those who demand a strong plot. Go to Full Review
Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 07/16/2020
3/5
What Step Up lacks in the originality stakes is more than covered by the come-hither chemistry of its majorly attractive leads, Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Ozlem D. @ozlemdavis 4d Love this movie!! I highly recommend watching it with your teenagers. It still holds up and lands. See more Mike R. @MikeRotcherts1 Apr 12 Captivated by first scene with busty principal. Tyler’s (Channing Tatum) rough edges give the film a gritty perspective as a white man who battles racism growing up in the hood. The lady dancer (Nora) wows with her versatility in adopting Tyler’s street style and swagger. The dancing is too hot to handle, I was sweating and I live rural Michigan and it’s December. **spoiler alert** Don’t let the negative reviews fool you, this movie is true to the Baltimore underground dance scene and adds a drive by shooting for authenticity. The subplots involving the family drama of single parents rang true as a person who grew up in a violent and abusive household that forbid dancing. The soundtrack perfectly juxtaposes the elegance of classical dance and the head bobbing beats birthed in the ghetto. If I could give this movie 10 stars I would, I showed my son this movie and he has not stopped trying to moonwalk. He 32 and lives in the attic above me so it’s hard to sleep. See more Barbora S @RT88446617 Mar 28 I absolutely don’t understand why this film has such poor ratings when, in my opinion, it’s one of the best dance movies of all time. It perfectly captures the era when hip hop and street dance were at their peak. Channing Tatum moves like a king—he’s absolutely fantastic. Jenna Dewan is incredibly charming and an absolutely perfect dancer. The plot is great, the music is amazing, and the choreography is beautiful. It’s one of my all-time favorite films, and I truly don’t understand why it isn’t more appreciated. You may prefer Dirty Dancing or Saturday Night Fever—no one is taking that away from you—but for me, this film authentically reflects a specific era and style, and I honestly have nothing to criticize, even in the way it’s filmed. See more Bri B. @bri_rates_movies_06 Jan 24 Watched this movie with my friends for the very first time and was greatly disappointed… The acting was poor. The costumes sucked, and the plot line was fitting to too many harsh stereotypes. To watch this movie again would be a waste of time and an utter nightmare.. See more Garrett B @garrettbowman Nov 12 Demonstrating versatility of CT while making joke of people like me. See more Naz B @Baz.Act Sep 29 One Scene Can Carry the Weight of an Entire Story Every story has moments we never forget. They’re the ones that stay with us long after the credits roll, the scenes that hold all the emotion, conflict, and passion of the entire film in just a few minutes. For young performers and storytellers, learning to create that kind of powerful moment is one of the most important lessons. The movie Step Up is a perfect example. While the film is filled with music, dance, and drama, it’s the big dance moments that carry the emotional weight of the story. In those performances, the characters’ struggles, relationships and dreams collide into a single unforgettable scene. That’s why audiences remember them. For parents raising creative kids, this lesson is essential: help your child see that storytelling isn’t about cramming in endless scenes, but about finding the one or two moments that matter most. Why One Scene Matters More Than Many It’s easy for young creators to believe that the more scenes they add, the stronger their story will be. But sometimes less really is more. One well-crafted scene can say what twenty smaller ones cannot. Think of it like a song. A single chorus, repeated at just the right time, can stay in someone’s head for years. In the same way, a single moment of vulnerability, triumph, or transformation can carry the meaning of an entire story. For an audience, that’s what lingers. They may forget the details of the plot, but they’ll remember the scene that made them laugh, cry, or hold their breath. Lessons from Step Up In Step Up, dance isn’t just performance, it’s storytelling. The climactic routines are more than choreography; they’re where the characters’ emotions peak. Conflict, passion, and growth are expressed in movement rather than dialogue. Those scenes work because they concentrate everything the audience needs to feel into one powerful moment. The dances don’t just entertain, they reveal character, resolve tension and deliver transformation. This is a lesson every young filmmaker, writer, or actor can take to heart: a single scene can carry the emotional core of the entire story. How Young Creatives Can Practice Powerful Moments Helping a young performer or storyteller focus on building one strong scene can sharpen their craft. Here are some ways to guide them: 1. Ask the big question. What is the emotional climax of the story? Is it a moment of loss, victory, or realization? Encourage your child to center their work around that point. 2. Keep it visual. Strong scenes often show rather than tell. In Step Up, the dances reveal everything we need to know about the characters. Ask your child: how can you show emotion without words? 3. Focus on conflict. Tension is what makes a scene unforgettable. Encourage them to include stakes, something to win or lose in that moment. 4. Use rhythm and pacing. Just like dance, powerful scenes rely on timing. The buildup before the moment, and the silence or pause after, are just as important as the action itself. 5. Rehearse for impact. Instead of spreading energy thin across many scenes, suggest they rehearse one moment deeply, experimenting with delivery, expression, and movement. The Parent’s Role As parents, the best way to support is to shift focus from quantity to quality. It’s natural for a young creative to want to produce more,  more lines, more videos, more chapters. But sometimes reminding them that one great scene can be more powerful than ten average ones helps them slow down and think deeply. Here are some ways you can encourage this mindset: • Be the audience. After watching their performance, share honestly which scene or moment stayed with you the most. • Ask reflective questions. “What did you want me to feel here?” or “What moment matters most to your story?” • Celebrate depth. Praise the effort they put into building a strong scene, not just finishing quickly. • Make comparisons. Watch movies like Step Up together and pause at the big moments. Talk about why those scenes matter and how they hold the story together. Less Is More The temptation to keep adding scenes is strong, especially when a child is bursting with ideas. But storytelling, like dance, isn’t about quantity. It’s about rhythm, focus, and impact. Step Up teaches us that one performance can hold the heart of the entire film. For young artists, the same is true: one carefully crafted scene can capture emotion, conflict, and meaning in a way that lingers with audiences long after the story ends. So remind your child: don’t chase endless scenes. Focus on building one powerful moment. That’s the scene people will remember. See more Read all reviews
Step Up

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Movie Info

Synopsis Tyler Gage (Channing Tatum) has been in and out of trouble for most of his life and after finding himself before the judge again, he is sentenced to 200 hours of community service mopping floors at the Maryland School of the Arts. He quickly catches the eye of Nora (Jenna Dewan), a gifted ballet student, who is trying to use hip-hop moves with her classical routines. After some initial hesitation, Nora convinces Tyler to help her with her dance routines and the sparks fly.
Director
Anne Fletcher
Producer
Erik Feig, Jennifer Gibgot, Adam Shankman, Patrick Wachsberger
Screenwriter
Duane Adler, Melissa Rosenberg
Distributor
Buena Vista
Production Co
Summit Entertainment, Eketahuna LLC
Rating
PG-13 (Innuendo|Brief Violence|Thematic Elements)
Genre
Musical, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 11, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 23, 2015
Box Office (Gross USA)
$65.3M
Runtime
1h 38m