‘Bring It On’ turns 20: Brr, it’s cold in here! The 20 best lines for the movie’s anniversary
“Bring It On” is still bringing it 20 years later.
The tale of two competing cheerleading teams that propelled the topic of cultural appropriation to the big screen remains as relevant as it ever was.
The Kardashian-Jenner clan has been at the receiving end of multiple accusations of appropriation, from Kim’s Kimono Solutionwear to Kendall’s cornrows. Katy Perry dressed up like a geisha, Karlie Kloss donned a Native American headdress and Marc Jacobs came under fire for having his white models wear dreadlocks.
While the teen movie’s normalization of sexual assault and fat-shaming can be cringeworthy viewed through a modern lens, its depiction of racial tensions is still accurate.
Toros cheerleading captain Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst) is mortified to learn her team’s championship-winning routines aren’t originals. Rival captain Isis (Gabrielle Union) tells her the Toros have been stealing from the Clovers’ Black cheerleaders for years. Though the two seemingly make up at the end, it isn’t before Torrance tries to remedy her white privilege through trial and error.
Aside from giving viewers an important lesson on race relations,“Bring It On” also provided some iconic one-liners, quotes and zingers that have stood the test of time.
To celebrate the cheerleading movie’s 20th anniversary, we’re sharing our favorite quotes from the film.
1.“This is not a democracy, it’s a cheerocracy.” – Torrance Shipman (Kirsten Dunst)
Torrance spent all of one day as captain of the cheer team and is telling everyone to look at her, because she’s the captain now.
2.“She puts the whore in horrifying.” – Courtney (Clare Kramer)
Courtney and Whitney exchanged jabs about Big Red and singlehandedly opened our eyes to how spelling really works.
3. “I’m wanted, I’m hot, I’m everything you’re not. I’m pretty, I’m cool, I dominate this school. Who am I? Just guess, guys wanna touch my chest, I’m rockin’, I smile, and many think I’m vile.” – Rancho Carne cheerleaders
The opening cheer that has become a staple in practically every 2000 teen’s vocabulary. If you didn’t randomly say this out loud, what were you even doing in the early aughts?
4. “You ripped off those cheers … Your trophies are (BS) and you’re a sad (expletive) liar.” – Missy Pantone (Eliza Dushku)
Missy turned Torrance’s world upside down with these words. It was at this moment that she would find out that the Rancho Carne cheerleaders were performing stolen routines. OMG.
5. “Were the ethnic festivities to your liking today?” – Lava (Shamari Fears)
Lava read Torrance and Missy for filth when they came to watch the Compton Clovers’ cheer performance. You see, at this point, the Clovers were used to Big Red attending their shows and recording their routines to take back to the Rancho Carne Toros. And Lava was all the way fed up with the culture vultures.
6. “Brr, it’s cold in here, I said there must be some Toros in the atmosphere? I know you didn’t think a white girl made that (expletive) up.” –Isis (Gabrielle Union)
When Torrance swears she didn’t know they were performing stolen routines, Isis utters the comeback heard around the world. Not only did she come for the Toros’ lack of creativity, but she also dragged every other culture appropriator out there.
7. “Every time we get some here, y’all come trying to steal it, putting this blond hair on it and calling it something different.” – Isis
Cultural appropriation can seem difficult to understand at times, but our good sis Isis summed it up in one sentence.
8. “We learned that routine fair and square. We logged the man hours, don’t punish the squad for Big Red’s mistake. This isn’t about cheating, this is about winning.” – Courtney
Courtney justifying cultural appropriation (because it’s not like she did anything wrong) speaks volumes on white privilege.
9.“Smile. … Don’t smile.” – Sparky (Ian Roberts)
Sparky did not come to play with the savagery. He came to teach the Toros a thing or two about dance, but he also obliterated every ounce of self-confidence in the cheerleaders with a single retort.
10. “These are not spirit fingers, THESE are spirit fingers!” – Sparky
We know you know. If it wasn’t for Sparky, we would not have spirit fingers.
11. “You want to make it right? Then when you go to Nationals, bring it. Don’t slack off because you feel sorry for us. That way when we beat you, we’ll know it’s because we’re better.” – Isis
Torrance attempts to remedy the tension between the Clovers and the Toros by giving the Clovers a check to help them make it to Nationals. Isis rips up the check and tells Torrance they don’t need her sympathy and to just show out at Nationals. Too often Black people have been told they only made it into universities or gotten jobs because of a quota. Isis let it be known that they would win Nationals simply because they were good enough.
12. “We just understand each other, that’s all.” – Isis
Isis says this when Lava questions the Clovers captain’s friendly banter with Torrance. Despite their differences and rocky start, there is common ground between them.
13. “Ever since I handed the reins over to you, you’ve run my squad into the ground. If I made any mistakes at being a team leader, it wasn’t borrowing cheers, it was announcing you as my successor.” –Big Red (Lindsay Sloane)
Big Red said the biggest mistake was appointing Torrance captain – and not her cultural appropriation scandal. Not sure we can agree, but whatever helps Big Red sleep at night.
14. “Can we just beat these Buffys down so I can go home? I’m on curfew, girl.” – Jenelope (Natina Reed)
Jenelope delivered this threat when the Clovers confronted Missy and Torrance after the two watched their routine. Excuse us, we are still dying laughing.
15. “If you don’t have it yet, you don’t have it!” – Missy
Missy was yelling at a team practicing their routine for Nationals late into the night, but her words can really be applied to anything in life.
16. “It’ll be just like high school, only better.” – Aaron (Richard Hillman)
How Aaron described college still makes us laugh to this day.
17. “We’d be doing them a favor. Then they could feel good about sending Raggedy Ann up here to jack us for our cheers.” – Isis
Isis choosing to not fight Missy and Torrance while simultaneously insulting Big Red is a burn we’ll never be able to recover from.
18. “Missy’s the poo, so take a big whiff.” – Torrance
We want someone to advocate this hard for us. Courtney and Whitney weren’t here for Missy making the cheer squad, but Torrance went hard for her friend.
19. “The Clash? … It’s a British punk band, circa 1977 to 1983-ish, original lineup anyway.” – Cliff (Jesse Bradford)
Cliff was sporting a T-shirt with a photo of The Clash on it and Torrance asked him if the photo was of his band. Him explaining who The Clash is without judgment is exactly why we stan Cliff.
20. “You been touched by an angel, girl!” – Jenelope
Jenelope letting Missy and Torrance know they’ve been spared by a higher being is the energy we were all looking for. In conclusion: “Next time you come up here trying to steal our routines, you won’t be so lucky.”
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