Backspot

2023

1 hr. 33 min.

Drama

Sports

TRAILER

for Backspot: Trailer 1

List

79%

14 Reviews

Tomatometer

A driven cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) struggles to handle the pressure when she and her girlfriend are both selected for an elite cheer squad, in D.W. Waterson's feature directorial debut.

Read More

Read Less

There are no Verified Audience reviews for Backspot yet.

Post a rating

D.W. Waterson

Director

Devery Jacobs

Riley

Evan Rachel Wood

Eileen McNamara

Shannyn Sossamon

Actor

Kudakwashe Rutendo

Actor

Thomas Antony Olajide

Actor

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

55%

70%

Bleeding Love

TRAILER

for Bleeding Love

44%

%

Close to You

96%

90%

We Grown Now

TRAILER

for We Grown Now

93%

%

Creatura

100%

%

Smoking Tigers

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

11 Must-See Films at the Toronto International Film Festival

Backspot: Trailer 1

2:16

View more videos

View more photos

Shirley Li

The Atlantic

Competition, then, both excites and scares her, and the film’s greatest strength is how it conveys that turmoil. Riley’s entire identity is cheerleading. Being so passionate about something is beautiful, the film posits, and brutal too.

Sep 22, 2023

Full Review

Marya E. Gates

RogerEbert.com

Waterson’s visual technique matches Jacobs' fierce performance perfectly, augmenting her choices rather than distracting from them. Jacobs and Waterson are in the same perfect lockstep as the film's cheer squad itself.

Sep 15, 2023

Full Review

Kate Erbland

indieWire

“Backspot” won’t necessarily surprise its audience, but it will give them a new framework from which to consider who gets to lead their own sports drama.

Rated: B-

Sep 9, 2023

Full Review

Louisa Moore

Screen Zealots

While the story may not be particularly original, the film’s strength lies in its authentic portrayal of teenage life and the complexities of relationships both on and off the mat.

Apr 19, 2024

Full Review

Valerie Kalfrin

AWFJ.org

a portrait of a young athlete that doesn’t stick the landing.

Apr 1, 2024

Full Review

Alan French

Sunshine State Cineplex

Waterson keeps each element well-calibrated. Backspot is an excellent movie and will remain one of the best sports films in years.

Rated: 8/10

Mar 9, 2024

Full Review

Read all reviews

Synopsis

A driven cheerleader (Devery Jacobs) struggles to handle the pressure when she and her girlfriend are both selected for an elite cheer squad, in D.W. Waterson's feature directorial debut.

Director: D.W. Waterson
Executive Producer: Elliot Page, Matt Jordan Smith, J.C. Davidson, Katisha Shaw
Screenwriter: Joanne Sarazen
Genre: Drama, Sports
Original Language: English