Save the Last Dance

Play trailer

Save the Last Dance

PG-13

2001

1h 48m

Romance

Comedy

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

54%

Tomatometer

98 Reviews

59%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Sara moves from a small Midwestern town to the south side of Chicago when her mother dies in a car accident, and must live with her father. She soon falls for an African American teenager at her new high school, and he has less than an idyllic past. They share a love for dance (ballet and hip hop respectively) and together they tackle the problems that go with an interracial relationship.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

This teen romance flick feels like a predictable rehashing of other movies.

Read Critics Reviews

Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

12/28/2010

2/5

Formulaic teen romance with an MTV spin.

Go to Full Review

Time Out

06/24/2006

As teen melodrama, well, Carter's film is what it is; but for such a mainstream black-consciousness movie, at least it doesn't shy from addressing some touchy issues about masculinity, parenthood, and black attitudes to whites.

Go to Full Review

Kimberley Jones

Austin Chronicle

03/10/2003

2.5/5

To the film's credit, it tries, and while it never really sings, it does deliver the dance.

Go to Full Review

Tatiana Albandos

Medium Popcorn

02/10/2022

3/5

This is a reflection of the early 2000s. If this was released now it would have been a mess but it does what it's supposed to, which is to give us fun dance scenes and slightly over-the-top performances. It's a decent film.

Go to Full Review

Tony Black

Cultural Conversation

02/08/2021

3/5

A hip, hopeful MTV romance.

Go to Full Review

Leigh Paatsch

Herald Sun (Australia)

10/02/2020

3/5

A solid dance-themed movie, with acting of a slightly higher calibre than the genre usually demands.

Go to Full Review

Read all reviews

Blake- N

@PBSAniDom Jun 1

Save the Last Dance is a very decent romantic film that blends romance, drama, and dance into an enjoyable package. It may not reinvent the genre, but it tells its story with enough heart to keep viewers invested from beginning to end. One of the film's strengths is the chemistry between the lead characters. Their relationship develops naturally, and the movie does a good job balancing emotional moments with lighter scenes. The dance sequences also add energy and help give the film its own identity. The supporting cast contributes well, and the soundtrack helps create a memorable early-2000s atmosphere. While some plot points are predictable, the film remains engaging thanks to its likable characters and sincere approach. Overall, Save the Last Dance is a solid romantic drama that succeeds because of its charm, music, and emotional core. It isn't perfect, but it's an easy film to enjoy and revisit. I'd rate it a 7/10.

See more

Travis S.

@Ghostarereal2025 Nov 28

Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas are a dream team. Nostalgia to the max with this one. 24 years later and it’s still a charmer.

See more

Junk T

@RT42716028 06/06/2025

Awesome movie, back when movies were good. I'm just an old 40 year old now but it's one of my favorites 😍.

See more

thiago s

@Thiagostone 04/11/2025

Filme bacana para bacaninha, o roteiro é bacaninha, as cenas são bacanas, a história é mais ou menos, o elenco é bacaninha, e metade do elenco ajudou a melhorar o filme, os personagens são bacaninhas, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, e os coadjuvantes do filme, ajudam muito bem, e com tudo isso, eu recomendo esse filme.

See more

Ember B

@RT98276233 02/21/2025

I love classic movie of this. i highly recommended.

See more

Joshua m

@Flameon 02/15/2025

Good acting, ballet and music. It does have some clichés which is hard to overlook but overall I enjoyed the film.

See more

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

POST RATING

Thomas Carter

Director

Julia Stiles

Sara Johnson

Sean Patrick Thomas

Derek Reynolds

Kerry Washington

Chenille Reynolds

Fredro Starr

Malakai

Terry Kinney

Roy

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - The Big Audition

2:13

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - Let's Just Walk Away

1:47

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - It Ain't Over

2:12

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - Maybe We Should Cool It

2:09

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - I Don't Hate You, I Miss Her

1:58

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - Brady Bunch in the Club

1:44

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - Truman Capote Debate

2:12

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - I Was Dancing While She Was Dying

2:00

Save the Last Dance: Official Clip - Lesson One

2:13

View more videos

The Bread, My Sweet

54%

75%

The Bread, My Sweet

Watchlist

How to Deal

27%

64%

How to Deal

Watchlist

Brown Sugar

66%

90%

Brown Sugar

Watchlist

Elizabethtown

27%

66%

Elizabethtown

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Elizabethtown

Picture Perfect

44%

37%

Picture Perfect

Watchlist

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

New on Prime Video and Freevee in September 2022

Total Recall: It’s a Dance Dance Revolution

Mary Elizabeth Winstead Set to "Make It Happen" In Burlesque Flick

View more photos

Synopsis

Sara moves from a small Midwestern town to the south side of Chicago when her mother dies in a car accident, and must live with her father. She soon falls for an African American teenager at her new high school, and he has less than an idyllic past. They share a love for dance (ballet and hip hop respectively) and together they tackle the problems that go with an interracial relationship.

Director: Thomas Carter
Producer: Robert W. Cort, David Madden
Screenwriter: Duane Adler, Duane Adler, Cheryl Edwards
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
Production Co: MTV Films, Paramount Pictures International, Cort/Madden Productions
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 12, 2001, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Aug 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $91.0M
Runtime: 1h 48m
Sound Mix: Dolby SR, DTS, Dolby Stereo, Surround, Dolby A, Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)