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Drumline

Play trailer Poster for Drumline PG-13 2002 1h 58m Comedy Drama Music Play Trailer Watchlist
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81% Tomatometer 86 Reviews 70% Popcornmeter 250,000+ Ratings
Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, "Drumline" is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band's drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world before realizing that it takes a more than talent to reach the top.
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Drumline

Drumline

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Critics Consensus

Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow Common Sense Media 12/22/2010
4/5
Outstanding cast, great message, strong language. Go to Full Review Sara Michelle Fetters MovieFreak.com 06/19/2003
3/4
The joy of the movie is in the getting there, and Drumline gets so much of the little stuff right that the denouement ends up being nothing less than rousing. Go to Full Review Charles Taylor Salon.com 01/10/2003
Charles Stone III is a craftsman with brains and taste, an instinctive sense of where to put the camera and the discipline not to belabor scenes. Go to Full Review Justin Brown Medium Popcorn 07/02/2023
1/5
The main protagonist is incredibly unlikeable and the plot is mindless. I didn't care about any of the characters. Go to Full Review Brandon Collins Medium Popcorn 07/02/2023
3/5
As questionable as Nick Cannon's character is, this is still entertaining. The drumming scenes were fantastic. Go to Full Review Nick Rogers Midwest Film Journal 09/25/2010
3.5/4
True bandos can see themselves in this exuberant, charismatic and lovingly accurate college marching-band movie that faked no flavor while staying in step with themes of instruction, character and respect. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Jeremy W. @reliablecritic 1d WORTHY WATCH! Love this movie. Nick Cannon 100% delivered on this movie. I’d go out of my way to watch this movie again. 🙌🏻 See more thiago s @Thiagostone Nov 21 Filme fraco, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são fracas, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom See more Branden V @FlashGordon12183 Oct 30 I was marching snare in high school I loved it and when I watched this movie with my dad it felt like I was there again See more Jace E @thefilmguy 05/21/2025 The drumming was pretty cool... Yeah... That's about it. Best Character: Dr. Lee Best Quote: "You're the best, Devon! But when we're on the field, nobody hears you! They hear the band." - Sean Best Scene: Two in Front See more Michael W @mawilps 02/01/2025 This music movie was pretty good. Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Leonard Roberts, Orlando Jones, and the rest of the cast did a pretty good job in this movie. The story of the movie was kind of entertaining and dramatic. It's about showing people what you're made of. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you might enjoy it. It wasn't as great as I thought it would be, but it wasn't terrible. See more Theo S @RT04497554 02/23/2024 Filled with impressive drumming, good music and an interesting enough plot to keep most entertained. See more Read all reviews
Drumline

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Stone III

Director

Nick Cannon

Devon

Zoe Saldaña

Laila

Orlando Jones

Dr. Lee

Leonard Roberts

Sean

GQ

Jayson

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Drumline

Orlando Jones portrays Dr. Lee, the demanding and dedicated director of a university show-style marching band. Orlando Jones (left) instructs Nick Cannon on what it takes to be part of a college marching band drumline, in DRUMLINE. The drumline takes aim at the competition during the Big Southern Classic. Sean (Leonard Roberts, left) and Devon (Nick Cannon, center) and the rest of the drumline compete at the Big Southern Classic. The rivalry between drumline leader Sean (Leonard Roberts, left) and fledgling drummer Devon (Nick Cannon) threatens both their careers. Devon (Nick Cannon, left) and bandmate Ernest (GQ) enjoy some downtime. Devon (Nick Cannon) strikes up a romance with upperclassman Laila (Zoë Saldana). Orlando Jones portrays Dr. Lee, the demanding and dedicated director of a university show-style marching band. Nick Cannon stars as Devon Miles, a gifted drummer who is determined to shine on a university show-style marching band drumline. Orlando Jones portrays Dr. Lee, the demanding and dedicated director of a university show-style marching band. View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, "Drumline" is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band's drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world before realizing that it takes a more than talent to reach the top.
Director
Charles Stone III
Producer
Wendy Finerman, Timothy M. Bourne, Jody Gerson
Screenwriter
Shawn Schepps, Shawn Schepps, Tina Gordon
Distributor
20th Century Fox de Argentina [ar], 20th Century Fox of Germany, Fox, 20th Century Fox
Production Co
Fox 2000 Pictures, Wendy Finerman Productions
Rating
PG-13 (Language|Innuendo)
Genre
Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 13, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$56.4M
Runtime
1h 58m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, DTS, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Scope (2.35:1)