| Director | Peyton Reed |
|---|---|
| Genre | comedy film, teen film |
| Runtime | 98 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $11 million |
| Box office | $90.5 million |
Cheerleader Torrance Shipman is a senior at Rancho Carne High School in San Diego. Her boyfriend, Aaron, is at college at Cal State Dominguez Hills, and her cheerleading squad, the Toros, is aiming for a sixth consecutive national title. Torrance is elected team captain after her highly successful predecessor "Big Red" graduates. In her first practice as captain, one of her teammates, Carver, is injured and must sit out the season. Missy Pantone, a skilled gymnast who transferred from Los Angeles with her brother, Cliff, replaces her.
Missy accuses the Toros of plagiarizing their cheers and takes Torrance to L.A. to watch the routine of the rival East Compton Clovers. Isis, their captain, confronts them and confirms Big Red videotaped and adopted the Clovers' routines for the Toros. Lacking funds to compete in previous years, the Clovers vow to beat the Toros in the national competition. Torrance worries she is cursed after dropping the Spirit Stick, traditionally never supposed to touch the ground, during a dare at summer cheer camp. Torrance and Cliff develop a mutual attraction as Aaron becomes more distant.
Torrance confesses to the Toros about the stolen routines, and they vote to use the current routine, but Isis and her teammates mock it at the next home game, humiliating them. The team raises money via a car wash and hires choreographer Sparky Polastri, who puts the team on a diet and mistreats them. At Regionals, another team performs the new routine Sparky taught the Toros. Officials explain to Torrance that their choreographer provided the same routine for six other teams. Because of this misunderstanding (and as defending champions), the Toros are granted a place in the national competition in Daytona Beach. Big Red questions Torrance's leadership. After Torrance fires Big Red, she begins to doubt herself.
Aaron recommends Torrance step down as captain and considers selling her out to her team rivals Courtney and Whitney. When Cliff sees Torrance and Aaron together kissing, he severs his friendship with her. Torrance breaks up with Aaron (especially after discovering he had been cheating on her), draws on Cliff's past encouragement, and finds inspiration in a mixtape he made for her. When the Toros learn the Clovers lack the money to attend nationals, Torrance asks her father's company to sponsor the team. Isis refuses, and the Clovers obtain the funds by writing a local talk show host.
The Toros and the Clovers reach the finals, and Cliff appears unexpectedly to cheer them on. The Clovers emerge victorious, with the Toros coming in second. The two squads depart with newfound respect for each other. Isis compliments Torrance's leadership, and Torrance admits the Clovers deserved their victory. As the Toros celebrate another successful season, Cliff and Torrance share a kiss.