Take the Lead

Play trailer

Take the Lead

PG-13

Released Apr 7, 2006

1h 57m

Musical

Drama

Play Trailer

Watchlist

Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

44%

Tomatometer

121 Reviews

77%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

When internationally renowned dancer Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) takes a teaching job in a New York City public school, he meets ridicule from the street-wise students, who scoff at the notion of ballroom dancing. Far from being discouraged, he melds their hip-hop moves with his classical style, helping them create a dance form and, in the process, becoming their mentor.

Watch on Fandango at Home

Stream Now

Critics Consensus

Banderas is charismatic in the lead, and the dance sequences are captivating, but the story is too familiar and predictable.

Read Critics Reviews

Nigel Andrews

Financial Times

Take the Lead, a dramatised retread of the hit documentary Mad Hot Ballroom, is so awful it defies describing.

Oct 7, 2018

Full Review

Marc Savlov

Austin Chronicle

Take the Lead offers few if any surprises to anyone who's seen either the aforementioned Breakin', Beat Street, or, most obvious of all, Dangerous Minds.

Rated: 2.5/5

May 6, 2006

Full Review

Anna Smith

Time Out

While their transformation is predictable, it's quietly enjoyable, and the teen angle opens the door to romance and gritty gang-war subplots.

May 6, 2006

Full Review

Richard Propes

TheIndependentCritic.com

A slightly above average film largely due to an unexpectedly heartwarming, inspired performance from Antonio Banderas.

Rated: 2.5/4.0

Sep 25, 2020

Full Review

Micheal Compton

Bowling Green Daily News

Take the Lead won't win any originality contests, but the new Antonio Banderas vehicle manages to work, thanks to a solid cast and some nice work by director Liz Friedlander.

Rated: B-

Nov 19, 2019

Full Review

Kam Williams

Upstage Magazine

Lean on Me meets Strictly Ballroom. Tough two-step replaces tough love.

Rated: 3.5/4

Jun 16, 2007

Full Review

Read all reviews

andrzej w

It may not be revolutionary or original but it has soul; Great performance from Antonio Banderas.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Between 2.5 and 3 stars. A too many times told story (white professor saves blacks boys), with a few clichés, but, anyway, it works in its style.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/25/23

Full Review

nilufer e

Probably because I have two left feet and no sense of rhythm I love movies about dancing. This one also had a good plot based on a real life story. The only dance scene Antonio Banderas had was to die for.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

steve d

Cute but somewhat forgettable. Antonio Banderas is a blast in it though.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Take the lead isn't so much a motion picture as it is a lesson in how to force-feed every aspect of cinema into a formula. There's not a lot I can say in defense of Take the Lead. It's a Hollywood product, likely designed primarily for the DVD market. In the interests of maximum appeal, it loses any potential hard edges, soft peddling tough issues that deserve to be shown in their full ugliness. I don't doubt that there's a good story to be found in Dulaine's experiences, but it's not told here. If the topic interests you, I suggest bypassing Take the Lead and renting Mad Hot Ballroom. Not only is it a better made film, but it features richer characters and is a lot more suspenseful. (Could have been better but for the lack of a story).

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Extremely predictable, but hey the dancing and soundtrack is damn good

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

11/23/19

Full Review

Read all reviews

Read More

Read Less

POST RATING

WRITE A REVIEW

EDIT REVIEW

Liz Friedlander

Director

Antonio Banderas

Pierre Dulaine

Rob Brown

Rock

Alfre Woodard

Augustine James

Yaya DaCosta

LaRhette

Lauren Collins

Caitlin

Step Up

22%

83%

Step Up

Watchlist

Stomp the Yard

27%

81%

Stomp the Yard

Watchlist

Dreamgirls

79%

71%

Dreamgirls

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Dreamgirls

Burlesque

37%

64%

Burlesque

Watchlist

Moulin Rouge

75%

89%

Moulin Rouge

Watchlist

TRAILER

for Moulin Rouge

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

Box Office Guru Preview: "Perfect Stranger" Heads A Crowded Field

Box Office Guru Preview: "Grindhouse" Prepares for Easter Carnage

Cast Your Vote in the Teen Choice Awards

View more photos

Synopsis

When internationally renowned dancer Pierre Dulaine (Antonio Banderas) takes a teaching job in a New York City public school, he meets ridicule from the street-wise students, who scoff at the notion of ballroom dancing. Far from being discouraged, he melds their hip-hop moves with his classical style, helping them create a dance form and, in the process, becoming their mentor.

Director: Liz Friedlander
Producer: Christopher Godsick, Michelle Grace, Diane Nabatoff
Screenwriter: Dianne Houston
Distributor: New Line Cinema
Production Co: Tiara Blue Films
Rating: PG-13 (Some Violence|Language|Thematic Material)
Genre: Musical, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Apr 7, 2006, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Apr 19, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $34.7M
Runtime: 1h 57m
Sound Mix: Dolby SRD, DTS, SDDS
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)

Most Popular at Home Now