20 Underrated Movies From 2000 You've Probably Never Seen

Released: 25th August 2000 (US)

90s child star Kirsten Dunst spent the turn of the Millennium transitioning to becoming a serious adult actor with a series of teen roles. While her part in Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides (the beginning of a long and fruitful collaboration between director and star) might seem like the obvious pick of that bunch, it is this lighthearted cheerleading romp that most bears returning to.

A film that turned an $80 million profit and spawned no less than five sequels may not immediately appear an obvious contender for the "underrated" tag, but Bring It On only got muted reviews at the time and is today seen as more of a guilty pleasure or just something for teenage girls than a movie of genuine quality.

If Pitch Perfect can essentially steal your whole schtick, do it less engagingly and become a far bigger critical and commercial hit, then you probably count as an underrated gem.

Bring It On is lively, sassy and fun with a self-aware embrace of its sports competition cliches and Dunst as a thoroughly likeable lead. Its plot, in which the rich white high school cheerleading champions have been stealing their routines from an inner city predominantly black squad, give it just enough weight and relevance without overwhelming its upbeat energy.

Director Peyton Reed's gift for likeable comedy with a soft satire edge would ultimately land him the Ant-Man gig, but Bring It On is where he honed that skill.