| Director | Chris Stokes |
|---|---|
| Genre | drama film, musical film, teen film |
| Runtime | 95 min |
| Country | United States |
| Budget | $8 million |
| Box office | $50.6 million |
In Los Angeles, California, Elgin Smith III and his best friend David lead their promising dance crew (which consists of fellow dancers Rico, Rashaan, and Sonny) in street dancing battles at a warehouse owned by the battles' host Mr. Rad. Rico mentors a young aspiring dancer named Teshawn Miller, dubbed as the crew's mascot "Lil Saint". David and Elgin finance the battles by operating as runners for a drug lord named Emerald. One day, Wade, a wealthy white dancer from Orange County, challenges them for $5,000. Later, the duo discuss the challenge with the crew; they will put up the whole $5,000, and if victorious, they will split $3,000, with the others splitting the remaining $2,000. Sonny insists on dividing the $5,000 evenly, but the others feel that Elgin and David put up the money and therefore deserve most of the profits.
While Elgin, David and their crew are playing basketball, Wade and his best friend Max approach them, surprised that Elgin accepted their challenge. When Wade and Max mockingly demand it occur that night, Elgin pridefully accepts and borrows the remaining $1,500 from his grandmother to supplement his and David's $3,500. A few minutes after David and Elgin arrive at the venue, Sonny arrives but then sides with Wade's crew, shocking the duo. A brawl occurs after the duo realize that Sonny taught their own routine to Wade's team, which victoriously takes over Mr. Rad’s warehouse.
Openly discussing their loss on the basketball court, Elgin and David are approached by a rival dancer named Vick, who asks to join their crew as his had disbanded after repeated losses. David departs for a date with Elgin's sister Liyah, a medical student, informing Elgin that he will meet him separately before they visit Emerald for extra shifts. During the date, David's friends incessantly call him, irritating Liyah. Emerald tasks Elgin to deliver a batch of drugs with David, but Liyah turns off David's phone before he can answer Elgin's call; local thugs ambush Elgin and steal Emerald's money, leaving him hospitalized, disappointing Emerald and infuriating David.
Separating, David and Elgin form their own crews. Rico neutrally tells both about the "Big Bounce", a $50,000 dance competition sponsored by MTV, which will allow the winning crew to perform in a Lil' Kim video and also allow Elgin to pay back Emerald and his grandmother. Attempts to help Elgin and David reconcile, particularly by Liyah and Rico, fail as Elgin repeatedly refuses to listen to reason, exhausting David. Later on, Emerald and his guards confront Elgin, warning him that he will become permanently crippled unless he returns the money to Emerald within a few weeks.
Many crews, including Wade's, impress the judges in the qualifying rounds of the Big Bounce. Meanwhile, Liyah discloses David and Elgin's problems to Mr. Rad, who reveals that his friend, an off-duty LAPD officer named Mr. Chuck, will handle Emerald and explains that the duo must resolve their issues to avoid further defeat. Meanwhile, David's crew is eliminated after two slip-ups, while Elgin's crew proceeds to the finals. While Liyah and David are discussing his elimination in a diner, Rashann rushes in, revealing that Lil' Saint was fatally wounded in a drive-by shooting. The next day, Rico suggests that Elgin reunite the crew to honor Lil' Saint. David arrives shortly afterwards, but explains that they must compete with their initial crews without adding members.
The Big Bounce finals, hosted by Wade Robson and Lil' Kim, features multiple crews performing their routines. When Elgin's crew (renamed "The Lil' Saints") and Wade's crew tie for the win, Lil' Kim declares a head-to-head battle competition with no rules, effectively allowing others to join the battling crews. David asks to join Elgin's crew; despite Elgin's initial refusal, Rico stresses David's importance, and Elgin forgivingly invites him. Inspired by their namesake, the Lil' Saints win after receiving the crowd's loudest approval. After Elgin accepts David and Liyah as a couple, Wade and Max confront them, insisting they just got lucky. David retorts, "Y'all just mad, 'cause today, you suckas got served." As the crowd chants "served", Wade and Max depart and David and Elgin celebrate their $50,000 check with their friends and family.