Save the Last Dance (2001)

53% of critics liked it
(97 reviews)
63% of users liked it
(30,393,524 ratings)

In this romantic drama, two teenagers in love struggle to look past their differences. After the unexpected death of her mother, Sarah Johnson (Julia Stiles) moves to Chicago to live with her father. Knowing no one at her new school and not at home in a gritty, inner-city high school, Sarah has… More In this romantic drama, two teenagers in love struggle to look past their differences. After the unexpected death of her mother, Sarah Johnson (Julia Stiles) moves to Chicago to live with her father. Knowing no one at her new school and not at home in a gritty, inner-city high school, Sarah has trouble adjusting, but she soon becomes friends with Derek (Sean Patrick Thomas), who has talent and street smarts but a checkered past. Sarah was an avid student of ballet before her mother's death sidelined her studies, while Derek has some serious hip-hop moves, and their mutual love of dance leads their friendship into something deeper. However, since Sarah is white and Derek is black, they have more to contend with than the average high school couple; Sarah gets static from Nikki (Bianca Lawson), Derek's former girlfriend, while Derek has to deal with his friend Malakai (Fredro Starr), who is still deep in the thug life Derek is trying to avoid. Save the Last Dance was directed by Thomas Carter, who previously examined the sociopolitical side of dancing in Swing Kids. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG-13, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: Thomas Carter (II)
Written By: Duane Adler, Cheryl Edwards
Genres: Drama, Romance

In Theaters: Jan 12, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Jun 19, 2001
Studio: Paramount Pictures

Critic Reviews

Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail
A refreshingly friendly view of a romance between people of different pigmentation, an area where more respectable pictures still wimp out.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
Whatever happened to wanting to dance simply because it's fun?
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone
Stiles and Thomas supply what this movie needs most: a heartbeat.
Susan Stark, Detroit News
It pays knowing respect not only to high school social politics, but also to racial politics among today's young people.
Glenn Giffin, Denver Post
The intent is a feel-good film, sort of an American version of Billy Elliot and I didn't believe a minute of it.
David Germain, Associated Press
Squanders nice performances by Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas by confining them and the supporting cast to cookie-cutter roles and hackneyed inner-city subplots.
Nell Minow, Common Sense Media
Formulaic teen romance with an MTV spin.
, Time Out
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.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
Ultimately, this talented twosome [Stiles and Thomas] can only do so much with a script that continually lets them down at about every turn.
Susannah Breslin, Film Threat
Performances throughout are solidly decent.
Eugene Novikov, Film Blather
It's not courageous enough to deviate from the teen movie formula more than a smidgeon.
Jim Shelby, Palo Alto Weekly
Sara's got a sense of humor about how very uncool she is, and she proves to be a game girl.
Kimberley Jones, Austin Chronicle
To the film's credit, it tries, and while it never really sings, it does deliver the dance.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Tries to squeeze in a few too many plot elements into too short a time.
John R. McEwen, Film Quips Online
Stiles and Thomas redeem this film over and over. And the dancing is fun to watch, too.
Matthew Turner, ViewLondon
Likeable teen romance that overcomes its inevitable predictability thanks to its talented cast and its avoidance of both clichés and syrupy sentimentality.
Jean Lowerison, San Diego Metropolitan
Carter has given us a pleasant enough, if not especially original film.
Ralph Brave, Sacramento News & Review
There are enough respectable social messages here.
James Sanford, Kalamazoo Gazette
If "Dance" stumbles into a few too many subplots and a couple of cliched characters along the way, it also makes some strong points about contemporary attitudes toward the idea of interracial romances.
Chuck Rudolph, Matinee Magazine
Told with a refreshing lack of sensationalism.

Read all 20 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bethany M

A classic dance film! The cast is amazing and the story is very realistic and truly heart wrenching that things like this really do go on in violent neighbourhoods in America.
Tim S

I try to forget I saw this rubbish.
♥Robyn

Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas make a perfect couple in this romantic movie containing happiness as well as problems and sadness.
Anthony L

Cliched, contradictory, stereotyped, contrived and boring. Absolute bile and worryingly popular among kids.
Jennifer D

A classic in it's own way.
Conner R

I just found this to be extremely predictable and cheesy. It was an obvious attempt at a modern fairytale, in which the main character pursues her dream. The acting is extremely bad and alarmingly moody. I just felt there was no reason to enjoy this movie.
EightThirty .

Its okay...It was cool at the time it was released but there are better dance movies now ^_^
Dean !

A very good film that mixes a lot of different ideas. Imagine a melting pot of Romeo & Juliet, Bring it on and Boyz n' the hood. It's a good story with a talented young cast and a great feel good film.
Candy R

Stupid teen flick.
Bobby H

Good plot, good soundtrack, good actors, good meaning = Great movie!
Leigh R

It was good... I love dancing and romance movies. :)
Nani V

Love the dancing.
Dean L

If this were an advert in the classified it would read, "SWF looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for SBM to teach her how to dance...and be a SBF as I am uncomfortable being me." This tale has been told over and over again. Some heart and cool dance steps… More
If this were an advert in the classified it would read, "SWF looking for love in all the wrong places. Looking for SBM to teach her how to dance...and be a SBF as I am uncomfortable being me." This tale has been told over and over again. Some heart and cool dance steps save this movie from being total cr@p, but it still falls shot in all the areas that matter.
Dean M

Fantastic and impressive hip-hop driven teen drama that deals with interracial romance and chasing your dreams.
danny d

terrible, watch step up instead
Jason S

Nothing too original about this one.
Sanjaya &

Great movie... Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas shows us great move in dance... Julia Stiles were great too while dancing for Juilliard audition.... And the music they have were great too... I love 'Crazy' song from K-CI & Jojo
Morgan S

not into the rap crap so kinda had for me to get into it
Cassandra M

bad bad bad double bad lol
Sophie B

not even 1 star! i got sooooooooo bored and fell into a DEEP sleep! how can ppl watch this!!!??