stick it movie review

Movie Reviews

Tv/streaming, great movies, chaz's journal, contributors, black writers week, sentenced to gymnastics.

Now streaming on:

"Stick It" uses the story of a gymnast's comeback attempt as a backdrop for overwrought visual effects, music videos, sitcom dialogue and general pandering. The movie seems to fear that if it pauses long enough to actually be about gymnastics, the audience will grow restless. It often abandons realism, unless it is possible, which I doubt, that you can do a head-spin on a balance beam.

The movie stars Missy Peregrym as Haley, a once-promising gymnast who disqualified herself by walking away from Team USA during an important final match. She had her reasons for bailing out, but for now she's in disgrace. She spends her time back home in Plano, Texas, hanging out with teenage boys and doing insane stunts with bicycles and skateboards that involve rooftops and empty swimming pools. The cops give chase, and we get the obligatory scene where the mystery character takes off her helmet and lets down her hair, and -- gasp! -- it's a girl!

Haley did thousands of dollars in damage after crashing her bike through a window and is ordered by the judge to attend, on probation, the Vickerman Gymnastics Academy in Houston. This is a legendary establishment rumored to be producing "more injuries than champions." Vickerman, played by Jeff Bridges , is a sharp-talking iconoclast with an offhand manner, but then everyone in this movie speaks in a strange, stylized, enigmatic way, and their dialogue sounds like -- dialogue.

The story will be familiar to anyone who has ever seen a movie about a troubled athlete and a brilliant coach. It will also be familiar to anyone who has not. We have scenes in which the other students resent Haley for walking off Team USA, scenes where Haley rebels against Vickerman's discipline, scenes of injury and disappointment, moments of heartfelt revelation, some jealousy among the gymnasts and finally a comeback in which, we sense, Haley will probably not walk off the floor.

All of this is well enough made, although it appears to my untrained eye that some of the better gymnastics stunts are done with CGI effects. Jessica Bendinger , the writer and director, wrote the better " Bring It On " (2000), about competing cheerleading squads. Here she shows visual mastery but not visual judgment: She can do a lot of stuff that the movie doesn't really require, and it acts like a stylistic barrier between the audience and the emotions. With its stark red and white sets, Vickerman's looks more like a backdrop for an ad than like a working gymnasium. And the characters are rarely so spontaneous they can't find an epigrammatic way of expressing themselves. (By "epigrammatic," I mean smart-ass.).

I liked Missy Peregrym as Haley, in part because she doesn't fit the stereotype of women gymnasts as short and underfed. I shared her anger at bird-brained judges who discount a difficult trick because a bra strap is showing. Bridges does what he can with the Vickerman role, but is too good an actor to fit into such a shallow character. All through the movie, I kept thinking of Robert Towne's " Personal Best " (1982), with Mariel Hemingway as an athlete and Scott Glenn as her coach. That film has such honesty and integrity that "Stick It" seems childish by comparison.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

Now playing

The Watchers

Peyton robinson.

Tiger Stripes

Monica castillo.

Kinds of Kindness

Brian tallerico.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

Hummingbirds

Travis hopson, film credits.

Stick It (2006)

Rated PG-13 for crude remarks

103 minutes

Jeff Bridges as Burt Vickerman

Missy Peregrym as Haley Graham

Vanessa Lengies as Joanne

Tarah Paige as Tricia Skilken

Nikki SooHoo as Wei Wei

Maddy Curley as Mina

Kellan Lutz as Frank

John Patrick Amedori as Poot

Written and directed by

• Jessica Bendinger

Latest blog posts

Chaz Ebert Calls for Candidates and Elected Officials to Give a FECK and Pledge to Restore Civility to Political Discourse

Shelley Duvall’s Five Best Performances

Osgood Perkins Wants to Rattle You with Longlegs

The Gene Siskel Film Center Celebrates the First and Last of Famous Filmmakers with their Entrances & Exits Series

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Get the app
• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

How to Share Screen Time Rules with Relatives, Babysitters, and Other Caregivers

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

Common sense media reviewers.

Gymnasts fall short -- it's no Bring It On.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Competition drives adults to behave unfairly; coac

Film starts with bike/rider crashing through windo

Some shots of gymnast's mother's cleavage; close-u

References to (and acts of) farting; a couple of s

Product names on display at competitions include M

Drunk coaches and judges at a post-competition par

Parents need to know that the film includes some mild language, including adolescent girls talking back to adults (coaches and parents), as well as mouthing off to one another ("crap," piss," bitch," s-word, for examples). Movie opens with a girl on a bike crashing through a house window, which leads to her arrest …

Positive Messages

Competition drives adults to behave unfairly; coaches cheat clients for money; coaches sleep with parents; judges adhere to archaic rules; girls are cruel to one another; and in the end, girls teach adults lessons in creativity and working together.

Violence & Scariness

Film starts with bike/rider crashing through window, then picked up by cops for vandalism; some gymnastics tricks lead to falls and injuries (a couple of these treated as comedy).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Some shots of gymnast's mother's cleavage; close-ups of gymnasts' bottoms; discussion of a coach's affair with Haley's mother; mention of "boobs" (as in, what the gymnasts don't have); girls show bra straps at a competition to challenge rule that they can't; team member develops crush on a boy (chaste flirtation); boys wear gowns at department store during "at-the-mall" montage.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

References to (and acts of) farting; a couple of s-words and other minor curses; assorted colorful phrases and malapropisms.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Product names on display at competitions include Motorola, Yahoo, Luna, Energizer, Neutrogena, Nexcare; t-shirts feature brand names (Orange Crush) and band names (Bad Brains, Motorhead, Black Flag, etc.).

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Drunk coaches and judges at a post-competition party, drinks ordered at the bar.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the film includes some mild language, including adolescent girls talking back to adults (coaches and parents), as well as mouthing off to one another ("crap," piss," bitch," s-word, for examples). Movie opens with a girl on a bike crashing through a house window, which leads to her arrest (sirens, handcuffs). The film explores some mature themes in mostly satirical manner: lying, cheating, career-ending injury, jealousy, holding grudges, divorce, and rebellious teens. The movie features several close-up shots of gymnasts' bottoms, some scenes where gymnasts are injured (for example, a girl falls off a beam, writhes in pain, and the coach disdains her, creating a "comic" moment). Characters discuss a painful moment from the past when a girl learned her mother was sleeping with her coach, divorced parents fight. Adults at a party appear drunk. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (5)
• Kids say (15)

Based on 5 parent reviews

Fun movie. Positive messages out-weigh the language use

Good but bit much language, what's the story.

STICK IT follows Haley (Missy Peregrym), introduced as she crashes her bike through a house window, whereupon she's arrested. Haley's parents' divorce has been difficult, and she's doing her best to forget her own past in elite gymnastics. The onetime floor exercise star earned the enmity of her fellow competitors and coaches when she walked away from "the Worlds" two years earlier, and now, just when she thought she was out... they pull her back in! As punishment, Haley is sentenced to train with a disgraced coach, Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). Eventually, student and coach learn to appreciate one another's stubbornness, while bringing out each other's morality and compassion. While it's a good thing that Haley is now free of her at-wits-end dad, she now must decide whether to participate in a sport she sees as corrupt (full of petty tensions among competitors and archaic regulations prohibiting creativity). She does, of course, but along the way helps some of her teammates.

Is It Any Good?

Not so sharp or witty as it needs to be, Stick It features appealing performers and a too-little-too-late rousing finale. Revisiting themes better served by Bring It On , the film sets up a familiar tension between rebellion (via Haley) and conformity (the old-school, restrictive gymnastics establishment).

Haley's journey is hampered by awkward plotting, unnecessary characters, and some inexplicable editing. That said, the girls' flips and vaults are often dazzling, as are the film's superbright look and a couple of overlap-editing sequences, showing the routine of training as well as the hard work involved. But Jessica Bendinger's movie takes too long to get to the showdown/point and makes poor use of the ever-cool Bridges.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about "teenage rebellion": How can this typical situation be a healthy experience, offering opportunities for kids and adults to learn from each other? How does Haley's anger at her parents initially block her ability to work with her teammates and coach? How might gymnastics, which involves judges' subjective assessments, be changed to make it fairer for competitors?

Movie Details

• In theaters : April 28, 2006
• On DVD or streaming : September 19, 2006
• Cast : Jeff Bridges , Kellan Lutz , Missy Peregrym
• Director : Jessica Bendinger
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Buena Vista
• Genre : Comedy
• Run time : 105 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG-13
• MPAA explanation : some crude remarks
• Last updated : May 7, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Bring It On

But I'm a Cheerleader

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

After a run-in with the law, Haley is forced to return to the world from which she fled years ago. Enrolled in an elite gymnastics program run by the legendary Burt Vickerman, Haley's rebell... Read all After a run-in with the law, Haley is forced to return to the world from which she fled years ago. Enrolled in an elite gymnastics program run by the legendary Burt Vickerman, Haley's rebellious attitude slowly gives way to a team spirit. After a run-in with the law, Haley is forced to return to the world from which she fled years ago. Enrolled in an elite gymnastics program run by the legendary Burt Vickerman, Haley's rebellious attitude slowly gives way to a team spirit.

• Jessica Bendinger
• Missy Peregrym
• Jeff Bridges
• Vanessa Lengies
• 133 User reviews
• 84 Critic reviews
• 53 Metascore

Top cast 98

• Haley Graham

• Burt Vickerman

• Joanne Charis

• Wei Wei Yong

• Brice Graham

• Alice Graham

• Tricia Skilken

• Judge Westreich

• Mrs. Charis

• Officer Ferguson
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia 2008 Olympic gold medalist, Nastia Liukin , has a cameo in this film. She was 'chosen to win' the uneven bar competition.
• Goofs During the final meet if you look beyond the first three rows of spectators the stands are clearly filled with dummies to make the arena look full. It becomes obvious when the real people are clapping and cheering and the dummies remain immobile.

Haley Graham : [V.O] Gymnastics tells you 'no' all day long. It mocks you over and over again, telling you that you're an idiot. That you're crazy. If you like running full speed towards a stationary object, vault's for you. If you like peeling pieces of skin the size of quarters off your hands, bars is for you. Because the only thing more fun than rips, is when your rips get rips. It's super sexy. And floor? Are you serious? I mean, who doesn't wanna parade around in a leotard getting wedgies and doing dorky choreography? It's delicious. If you like falling, then gymnastics is the sport for you! You get to fall on your face, your ass, your back, your knees and your pride! Good thing I didn't like falling. I *loved* it!

• Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to remove a partial use of strong language ("Motherf....") in order to obtain a PG classification. An uncut 12A classification was available.
• Connections Featured in Missy Elliott: We Run This (2006)
• Soundtracks We Run This (Stick It Edit) Written by Missy Elliott (as Missy Elliott) and Jerry Lordan (as Jeremiah Lordan) Performed by Missy Elliott (as Missy Elliott) Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group By Arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing Contains a sample of "Apache" Performed by Sugarhill Gang Courtesy of Sugar Hill Records

User reviews 133

• grahamjonesjr
• Apr 28, 2006
• How long is Stick It? Powered by Alexa
• April 28, 2006 (United States)
• United States
• Fairfield, California, USA (Sweet Factory Solano)
• Touchstone Pictures
• Spyglass Entertainment
• Kaltenbach Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro
• $26,910,736
• $10,803,610
• Apr 30, 2006
• $31,976,848

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 43 minutes
• Dolby Digital

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed.

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 73% MaXXXine Link to MaXXXine
• 90% Kill Link to Kill
• 85% Remembering Gene Wilder Link to Remembering Gene Wilder

New TV Tonight

• 88% Sunny: Season 1
• 67% Exploding Kittens: Season 1
• 50% Sausage Party: Foodtopia: Season 1
• -- Vikings: Valhalla: Season 3
• -- Mastermind: To Think Like a Killer: Season 1
• -- The Serpent Queen: Season 2
• -- Me: Season 1
• -- The Bachelorette: Season 21
• -- Melissa Etheridge: I'm Not Broken: Season 1
• -- All American: Homecoming: Season 3

Most Popular TV on RT

• 80% Star Wars: The Acolyte: Season 1
• 100% Supacell: Season 1
• 93% The Boys: Season 4
• 88% The Bear: Season 3
• 76% Presumed Innocent: Season 1
• 90% House of the Dragon: Season 2
• 93% My Lady Jane: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• 95% We Are Lady Parts: Season 2 Link to We Are Lady Parts: Season 2
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

All Neon Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer

Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025

• Trending on RT
• Fly Me To The Moon
• Mission Impossible 8
• A24 Horror Movies

Stick It Reviews

As a shameless medley of Flashdance, Rocky, Busby Berkeley routines and hip-hop videos, Stick It is a glorious, over-the-top girl-power fantasy. It's also a thrilling insider look at the obsessive world of elite gymnastics.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 26, 2018

A message of competitive independence permeates debut director Jessica Bendinger's spunky movie about Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) a headstrong gymnast-disguised-as-rebel who learns to embrace her talents by way of careful coaching from Jeff Bridges.

Full Review | Original Score: B- | Apr 19, 2009

Like most sports movies, Stick It has a message: Unless they're equipped with loads of sass-back and a pile of band T-shirts that announce their hardcoreness, female gymnasts are really, really stupid.

Full Review | Mar 6, 2008

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Dec 7, 2007

A middle-aged white guy who's not a perv can actually enjoy the snappy dialogue, astounding athletics and solidly sentimental sports clichés.

Full Review | Feb 6, 2007

an essence of by-mistake-80s-homage is the only thing keeping this movie at the crust of the rest of made for TV teen flicks

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Jan 14, 2007

Stick It was not made for fat, bald guys in their mid-30s. So is it a big surprise that I didn't like the movie?

Full Review | Original Score: 1.5/5 | Nov 5, 2006

...sample line of dialogue: "I'm so sure I'm practically deodorant!"

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Oct 19, 2006

'This sport is a total joke!' fumes the spunky gymnast heroine of Stick It, a sentiment that will be shared by anyone who wastes their hard-earned on this silly teen comedy.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 17, 2006

Star Missy Peregrym shows more promise in her first feature, despite the fact that her teenage years are clearly behind her, and her charismatic screen presence enlivens an otherwise dull film.

Full Review | Oct 14, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 14, 2006

Missy Peregrym is a real find - she gives an energetic, funny and extremely physical performance, to the point where you feel exhausted just watching her.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 14, 2006

The script fights well against the cliche-ridden plot but this is very average all round.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Oct 13, 2006

Snappy dialog and some prickly satire give it an edge most of these youthful romps lack.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Oct 1, 2006

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/5 | Sep 23, 2006

This is a movie for fourteen-year-olds that feels like it's been written by one.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | Sep 18, 2006

Stick It is an enjoyable kids' film with a tough group of gals who have an appreciation for gymnastics and claim that what they do is harder than being a Navy SEAL.

Full Review | Original Score: 2.5/4 | Aug 24, 2006

Writer director Jessica Bendiger has in part differentiated the film by giving it an indie feel. But the storyline is misguided in that it suggests that bad sportsmanship is to be admired.

Full Review | Jun 13, 2006

For a film whose characters value authenticity and natural talent, it's ironic that Stick It's rebellious nature is more of a fashion statement than state of mind and its showstopping physical feats...are computer-aided.

Full Review | Original Score: C+ | May 15, 2006

Bridges maintains his dignity as best he can, but Peregrym fails to convince, either as a teenager or as a gymnast.

Full Review | Original Score: 1/5 | May 12, 2006

Notice: All forms on this website are temporarily down for maintenance. You will not be able to complete a form to request information or a resource. We apologize for any inconvenience and will reactivate the forms as soon as possible.

• DVD & Streaming
• Comedy , Drama , Sports

Content Caution

In Theaters

• Jeff Bridges as Burt Vickerman; Missy Peregrym as Haley Graham; Vanessa Lengies as Joanne Charis

Home Release Date

• Jessica Bendinger

Distributor

• Touchstone Pictures

Movie Review

Once every four years our collective attention is turned toward the muscular magic of the Olympic gymnast. She performs all manner of jumps, tumbles and twirls and then, in her vernacular, attempts to “stick it” (plant the landing with proper technique and no stumbles).

In the middle of that four-year cycle, Touchstone Pictures would have us turn our attention to fictional gymnast Haley Graham. Make that ex -gymnast. Haley’s done with gymnastics. Or at least she thinks she is. In her short, high-flying life, the rebellious teen has become adept at defying laws—both criminal and gravitational. And having forsaken the strict rules, rigorous judging and daunting discipline of elite gymnastics, she now hangs out with a pair of extreme dirt bike riders, eager to attempt any jump that no one else will dare.

During one such aerial stunt, Haley ends up smashing through an expensive plate glass window and is arrested for her efforts. Instead of jail time, the judge sentences her to gym time at a nearby gymnastics academy.

Coach Burt Vickerman, an embattled instructor who used to be a world-class competitor but who’s now considered second-string, runs the gym with a no-nonsense approach. After Haley grumbles and gripes about not wanting to be there, the coach lays it on the line for her. She can put in some effort, work toward the upcoming competition and earn her way free of her restitution debt—or go to jail. It’s a tough choice for Haley, but she reluctantly agrees to train and compete.

Naturally, her dishonorable reputation precedes her. (And she’s not just your gymnasium-variety rebel either; she abandoned her U.S. teammates in the middle of a World Championship meet two years previous.) Her welcome back is hardly warm.

Positive Elements

Everyone had assumed that Haley walked out on her teammates because she was a spoiled brat, angry over point deductions. That’s not why she did it. And when Coach Vickerman finds out the real reason, his attitude begins to soften toward Haley. Although it’s difficult for him to look past his own personal wounds, he works hard to support and mentor her. He gives her second and third and fourth chances to “come around,” and when she begins to do so, he puts a good word in for her to her sentencing judge. As is so often the case, his care for her starts to impact him in positive ways, too, as he begins to deal more truthfully with his students.

Eventually, as Haley adapts to her new support system, she makes efforts to open up to her new teammates and apologize to the people she hurt. Some former teammates rebuff her, but her efforts eventually bear fruit.

We also see the benefit of Haley’s recommitment to discipline. It’s painful, but with work she begins to run faster, jump higher and take the edges off sloppy moves. And although Haley’s two dirt biker buddies are portrayed as a couple of drooling delinquents (for comedic effect), they are also very supportive of Haley’s gymnastic abilities and stand up for their friend several times.

Sexual Content

There is a certain sensuality surrounding some of the camera angles used as we watch the girls practice and perform in skintight leotards (with close-ups of ripped abs and taut thighs). One series of up-close-and-personal shots show the girls applying a sticky spray to their backsides to keep their leotards from creeping up. Also, Haley’s habit of immersing herself in an ice-bath after her workouts gives the camera opportunity to watch her while she’s wearing nothing but sports undergarments.

Haley’s randy friends ogle the girls and make Wayne’s World -style comments about how “hot” they are. At a competition, they watch the girls jumping and say with a leer, “How did we not hear about this sport?”

The girls, meanwhile, blame their lack of romantic suitors on their small breast sizes. A key point in the film is made by the girls pulling their bra straps out from under their uniforms. While trying on prom dresses, the athletes take to doing gymnastic moves in the store, which reveal their underwear. Haley’s mom is seen in several low-cut, cleavage-baring outfits.

Violent Content

Girls fall—hard—while practicing and competing. At one point a girl crashes down onto the balance beam and crumples to the floor. (This is inappropriately played as comedy.) Similarly, Coach Vickerman is talked into showing the girls his moves on a trampoline. He bounces himself right into the hospital.

As mentioned, Haley crashes through a window while trick riding. A skateboarder wipes out in an empty swimming pool. Haley and Joanne nearly come to blows and the two have to be separated. A daydream of sorts shows girls pushing each other off the medal podium after a competition. The scene dissolves back into reality as a jealous judge pushes a girl down to claim the gold for himself.

Crude or Profane Language

Crude language and gymnastics tumble on the same mat here with the s-word getting exercised several times. Also making it into the gym: “a–“, “h—,” “d–n” and slang references to parts of the male and female anatomy. God’s name is exclaimed a handful of times; Jesus’ is used for swearing once or twice. Song lyrics include the f-word; producers mute most of it.

Drug and Alcohol Content

After exhausting, painful workouts, Haley begins to have dreams about a store filled with bottles of prescription painkillers. However, when she begins putting them in her basket, she sees that they have warning labels on them that say things like: “Will Cause Broken Neck.” Clearly, Stick It wants it to be known that drugs and athletics don’t mix.

As everyone is preparing for the big competition, coaches and judges gather at a party and all have some form of alcohol at hand. One female coach is obviously inebriated and puts “moves” on a male associate.

Other Negative Elements

Early on, we see a brief scene between Haley and her dad in her bedroom. It’s obvious that they haven’t been getting along and Haley has been acting out—her room looks like a graffiti-painted alley behind an inner-city bus station. He says to her, “You used to be such a good kid.” She retorts, “That’s interesting—you used to be such a good dad … guess we’re even.” Their relationship is never resolved.

In a similar parent-child scrape, Joanne and her mom go toe-to-toe over whether she’s allowed to go to prom. Recognizing for the first time that her mom is more interested in the Olympics than in her, Joanne refuses to follow her lead, and Mom literally and figuratively walks away from her daughter.

[ Spoiler Warning ] Stick It ‘s big finale is a public struggle between the athletes and the competition judges over their evaluation process. Furious that they have to live up to standards of perfection that are impossible to attain, the girls “stick it to the man” by picking their own winners and refusing to compete fairly. In doing so, they undermine the competition’s integrity, and the film’s final say-so on the subject intimates that conforming to a sport’s (parent’s, government’s, etc.) rules makes you a sell-out and a mindless “robot.”

In a comedic bit, a gymnastics judge is shown performing a floor routine. While doing so, his pants fall down around his ankles. One of Haley’s male friends clowns around in a prom dress. To prove she’s “living on the edge,” Haley wears T-shirts that advertise troublesome rock bands Black Flag, The Ramones and Motorhead.

Haley starts out as what Coach Vickerman calls a “rebel without applause.” But with time she actually rallies the whole squad to her side as they break gymnastic rules and rebel against authority. We’re repeatedly reminded that the authority in question (self-focused parents and hard-hearted judges) are deserving of what’s coming, but that doesn’t soften the blow Haley’s routine delivers. Holding this revolt up as heroic, and having Coach Vickerman (the only adult developed beyond one-and-a-half dimensions) support the choice, only serves to bolster the unfortunate Hollywood chestnut that adults are dumb, rules are for breaking and disobedience is not only fun but it is the only sure path to improvement or enlightenment.

To be fair, Stick It also turns out to be a story of second chances. Haley and Coach Vickerman are both wrestling with their own personal demons and are forced, begrudgingly, to have to deal with each other, too. This iron-sharpens-iron contact helps both of them break free from a self-imposed limbo they’ve been living in; he realizes that he can care about the girls and enjoy his coaching, and she finds a mentor who imparts support and encouragement.

Aesthetically, the movie is alternately silly and engagingly professional. Its obsession with grating catchphrases means audiences must endure such screenwriting gems as “I’m so sure, I’m practically deodorant” and “It’s not called gym nice tics!” But its gymnastic feats are performed by wonderfully gifted stunt-doubles and athletes. First-time director Jessica Bendinger, who wrote the film’s script (she also penned Aquamarine, First Daughter and Bring It On ), creates a world of young competitors that is both grueling (the strain, the injuries, the ice baths) and circus-like (odd Busby Berkeley routines). Talented gymnasts “stick it” in the gym while Bendinger has the actors they stand in for exercise the phrase’s other meaning. It’s a strange and curious mix that won’t win any medals—artistically or morally.

After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.

Latest Reviews

Fly Me to the Moon

To Kill a Mockingbird

Descendants: The Rise of Red

Weekly Reviews Straight to your Inbox!

<i>Review:</i> Girls may love it... guys definitely will.

I would describe the plot, but then, if you've seen the trailer, or for that matter if you've seen any sports movie ever, a synopsis would be redundancy bordering on laziness. To wit: Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) is a former gymnastics superstar gone to pasture who, when she runs afoul of the law, is given one last shot at redemption if, instead of juvenile detention, she attends an all-girls gymnastics school run by the legendary (but washed-up) coach Burt Vickerman (Jeff Bridges). Her problem is that she's disrespectful of authority and prone to risky maneuvers on the floor, which gets her noticed but leaves her inconsistent. (And gymnastics, we are told at least three or four times, is about consistency.) His problem is that he's had a number of students get injured and so has developed a cautious style that borders on some sort of phobia. So you can more or less see where it goes from there - she learns from him, he learns from her, and it all comes together at the big match at the end.

As I am not an eighteen-year old girl, it would of course be irresponsible of me to say that all teenage girls will love this movie. But I can say, with some certainty, that more than a few twenty-five year old boys will like it. Or at least they won't be embarrassed to have it in their DVD collections. Which is where it will sit for me. Right under the tin of Atlantic City saltwater taffy I brought from home.

3 out of 5 Stars, 6/10 Score

In This Article

Where to Watch

IGN Recommends

• Become a Critical Movie Critic
• Movie Review Archives

Movie Review: Stick It (2006)

• General Disdain
• Movie Reviews
• No responses
• --> May 8, 2006

Womans gymnastics. Can there be a sport where the competitors are in as good of shape? Volleyball, perhaps. Figure skating, that’s a possibilty too. But there can be no doubt that the only reason anyone watches the Olympics is to watch girls in peak physical condition do amazing things with their bodies. With that said, that was the only reason I could remotely find to watch Stick It .

Obviously, Stick It serves no purpose other than to showcase the above mentioned, just as “ D.E.B.S. ” (young spies) and “Bring It On” (young cheerleaders) did before. A propped up plot is built – a rough and tough delinquent (Missy Peregrym) is sentenced to a gymnastics school where she learns that not everyone is against her and that there is good in all people. Real original, eh? Like all movies of this type (see “Bring It On”) all the girls showcased in the film are attractive. All except for one ugly-ass Chinese broad. How a fat, ugly girl got cast into a part is beyond me. I suspect the casting directors felt sorry for her fugly ass. I know I felt like feeding her an ice cream cone. And whatever happened to Jeff Bridges? I had always thought he was a more accomplished actor. Apparently, he needed some extra spending cash.

Besides the objectification of women (as if I object, not), Stick It is completely unmemorable. I have no real recollection of anything that merits a worthy mention. The characters are completely uninteresting, and the whole concept of gymnasts tanking a world competition just to show solidarity may be the stupidest fucking thing I have ever heard. There is no fucking way girls who have been spending their entire lives (7 days a week, 15 hours a day) training for an Olympic opportunity would squander it.

There can be no doubt, however, that the movie delivers what it sets out to do. Could it have done a better job prancing around girls in leotards and skimpy clothing? Hell yes. But it does an adequate job of it. Guys without lives, who rely on movies to drum up their fantasies will have a field day. That means you sucker. Yeah you reading this review. That being the case, it still isn’t enough to make this movie overly watchable.

Tagged: coach , friends , gymnastics

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.

Movie Review: Ghosted (2023) Movie Review: Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020) Movie Review: Fantasy Island (2020) Movie Review: Snatched (2017) Movie Review: Horrible Bosses 2 (2014) Movie Review: ABCs of Death 2 (2014) Movie Review: Life After Beth (2014)

'Movie Review: Stick It (2006)' has no comments

Privacy Policy | About Us

 |  Log in

Gymnastics is about the only thing that keeps me interested in the summer Olympics anymore (sorry, but televised archery and water polo just don’t grab my attention). It requires tremendous strength and physical control but the rigid sport is also known for being psychologically demanding on its young participants. So, what do you do when the pressure gets to be too much and the rules begin to seem silly? Stick It suggests gymnasts use its title as a battle cry for what the coaches and judges should do with the pommel horse.

Haley Graham, a highly gifted young athlete, stunned the gymnastics community by mysteriously walking out on her team mates at the prestigious World Championship. Plunged into an unexplained life of rebellion, Haley became a frequent visitor to the juvenile detention center. Her problematic parents have reached their wits end (a short trip) and the judge offers Haley a choice: go to a military academy or return to gymnastics. Haley chooses the military academy so the judge wryly ships her off to gymnastics instead.

Haley’s new coach Burt Vickerman is better known for turning out injured gymnasts than championship competitors and his rough and tumble style quickly clashes with Haley’s authority issues. The two finally unlock horns when Burt agrees to get Haley trained for a competition where the prize money would be enough to pay off the restitution she owes the court.

What Burt doesn’t bargain for are the effects Haley’s boat rocking attitude has on the rest of his team and neither of them is prepared for what happens when Burt uncovers the reasons behind Haley’s strange championship walk-out and troubled past. With all that emotional tension unleashed, Vickerman and his team find themselves poised to turn the gymnastics world on its head (which is really hard to do since gymnasts spend a lot of their time upside down anyway).

Stick It writer Jessica Bendinger was responsible for the script behind the horrific Aquamarine and her writing for Bring It On gave the world of cheerleading the same teeny-pop shake up treatment she now lends to gymnastics. With that kind of abysmal history with teen movies I wasn’t expecting anything but fluff from this offering. Instead, I was stunned to find a completely different movie experience, one with witty humor, an engaging plot and believable teenage characters – for the first two thirds of the film anyway.

Somewhere around the time Burt is discovering Haley’s sad little secret, the movie shifts from enjoyable teen flick to a ridiculous, unbelievable and disappointing rock-our-world-through-rebellion brain fart. During a key championship event, one of Haley’s teammates gets a poor score for a perfect performance. The judge’s explanation: the competitor’s bra strap was showing, a violation of the rules. Like a bunch of brainwashed Spice Girl fans, everyone else in the competition launch a pointless and frivolous protest against the uptight judges. The movie’s entire finale abandons the solid foundation it began with and turns into a whiny complaint that gymnastics needs less form and precision and more freedom of expression and extreme sport characteristics. Look Bendinger, if there’s one sport that doesn’t need to be anymore extreme it’s gymnastics (it doesn’t get much more extreme than the iron cross). If you’re looking for an activity to shake up, try something that could actually use it like, say, shuffleboard.

On the flip side, Bendinger tackles Stick It as her first directorial effort and doesn’t do a bad job with it. The movie captures all the energy and intensity of the rigorous gymnastics world and the camera work for the actual performances is fun to watch. Jeff Bridges and Missy Peregrym are sharp as Burt and Haley and lend the teen flick some much needed dramatic cred, though I’m still tired of seeing 23 year olds playing the teenage lead roles. The supporting cast is spot on for a movie like this and their performances offer the kinds of juvenile humor (read plenty of trendy one liners, cross dressing and fart jokes) that keeps the teens in the audience laughing.

Bendinger is on the right track, having now written and directed a film that gets it almost 70% right. Still, she has a little further to go before she finds the formula for a teen chick movie that manages a powerful message without insulting everyone’s intelligence.

Zac Efron Banked On The Fact His De Niro Impression Would Be So Bad It Would Be Hilarious In Neighbors, But He Was Shocked By Dave Franco’s

Love, Simon Director Greg Berlanti Opens Up About Why The Film Remains Special To Him Years Later

How To Watch The Jetty Online And Stream Episodes Of BBC Crime Drama Miniseries Free From Anywhere

Most Popular

• 2 As House Of The Dragon Season 2 Foreshadows More Deaths, I'm Flashing Back To What The Finale Director Told Us About Dropping Early Clues
• 3 The Boys' Nathan Mitchell Talks Black Noir Puppet And Responds To My Theory About Its Gen V Connection
• 4 Zac Efron Banked On The Fact His De Niro Impression Would Be So Bad It Would Be Hilarious In Neighbors, But He Was Shocked By Dave Franco’s
• 5 I Watched The 7 New Bluey Minisodes And Ranked Them By How Relatable They Are To Me As A Parent

Stick It (2006)

Stream & Watch Stick It

Trailers & Clips

Cast & Crew

Featured news.

Movie Details

Similar movies.

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Directed by Jessica Bendinger

The world of competitive gymnastics is about to be turned on its head.

Haley is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush with the law, a judge sentences her to an elite gymnastics academy run by a legendary, hard-nosed coach. Once there, Haley's rebellious attitude wins her both friends and enemies.

Jeff Bridges Missy Peregrym Vanessa Lengies Jon Gries Gia Carides Julie Warner Maddy Curley Nikki SooHoo Kellan Lutz John Patrick Amedori Polly Holliday Mio Dzakula Svetlana Efremova Annie Corley Tim Daggett Bart Conner Tarah Paige Elfi Schlegel Brian Gattas Harrison Wills Calli Ryals Terri J. Vaughn Andrea Bendewald Nastia Liukin John Kapelos Carly Patterson Lee Garlington Corinne Reilly John Balma Show All… Emily Wagner Karine Mauffrey Ricky Trammell Rif Hutton Kandice Stroh

Director Director

Jessica Bendinger

Producers Producers

Gail Lyon Allison Burnett Liz Tigelaar

Writer Writer

Casting casting.

Carlyn Davis Gail Goldberg Kate Lacey

Editor Editor

Troy Takaki

Cinematography Cinematography

Daryn Okada

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Lars P. Winther

Executive Producers Exec. Producers

Roger Birnbaum David Crockett Derek Evans Jonathan Glickman Gary Barber

Production Design Production Design

Bruce Curtis

Art Direction Art Direction

Chris Cornwell

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Brana Rosenfeld

Stunts Stunts

Laura Albert Loyd Catlett Keith Campbell Mike Escamilla James M. Churchman Karine Mauffrey Gary Hymes Isabelle Severino Tim Storms

Composer Composer

Michael Simpson

Costume Design Costume Design

Carol Ramsey

Kaltenbach Pictures Spyglass Entertainment Touchstone Pictures

Germany USA

Releases by Date

21 apr 2006, 28 apr 2006, 15 jun 2006, 13 jul 2006, 28 jul 2006, 11 jan 2007, 27 oct 2006, releases by country.

• Theatrical PG
• Theatrical 0
• Theatrical 13
• Theatrical PG-13

105 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Marian ★★★★★ 5

this movie invented not only cinema but also lesbians

Review by Lucy ★★★★½ 6

holds the bronze 🥉 metal in my Movies That Made Me Gay list

Review by 🌻 lindsay 🌻 ★★★★ 6

Bra strap scene invented feminism

Review by indi ★★★½

shoutout to stick it  (2006) for inventing abs & being gay

Review by alex ★★★★★ 1

glad to see that all the reviews for this are just gay women losing their minds

Review by theshippingnews ★★★★

I can't believe they let the lead be so sporty-butch and not have a male love interest??

And her guy friend whom I thought the plot was going to set her up with ended up being gay??

We're so #blessed

Review by Vivian ★★★★½

anyone else like girls

Review by brook ★★★½ 1

wei wei doing the worm on the beam is the most iconic scene in cinematic history

Review by paige ★★★★½ 1

when this finally becomes the cult classic it was made to be it's all over for you hoes

Review by Talia ★★★★

early representation of the unbreakable bond between lesbians and himbos

Review by Joan ★★★★ 1

I'M FUCKING GAY

Review by minick

its not called gymNICEtics — its called gymGAYtics

Similar Films

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster, upgrade to remove ads.

Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account —for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example ), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!

Currently available on 1 streaming service.

Stick It (2006)

105min - English, Spanish, French

Watch similar movies on Apple TV+ for free

7 Days Free

Then $9.99 / month

Didn't find what you were looking for?

Let us notify you once it becomes available on more services.

We checked for updates on 250 streaming services on July 14, 2024 at 2:34:12 AM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Stick It streaming: where to watch online?

You can buy "Stick It" on Apple TV as download or rent it on Apple TV online.

Haley is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush with the law, a judge sentences her to an elite gymnastics academy run by a legendary, hard-nosed coach. Once there, Haley's rebellious attitude wins her both friends and enemies.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Popular movies coming soon

Upcoming Comedy movies

Find Family Movies, Movie Ratings and Movie Reviews

Stick It Parent Guide

From the outside, the world of gymnastics may appear to be one of poise, agility and grace under pressure. But from Haley Graham's (Missy Peregrym) point of view, it's full of unethical judges, domineering sports moms and nasty competitors. No wonder she has such an unruly attitude!

Release date April 20, 2006

Why is Stick It rated PG-13? The MPAA rated Stick It PG-13 for some crude remarks.

Get Content Details

The guide to our grades, parent movie review by kerry bennett.

Looking in from the outside, the world of gymnastics appears to be one of poise, agility and grace under pressure. But from Stick It ‘s point of view, it’s an arena full of unethical judges, domineering sports moms and nasty competitors. No wonder Haley Graham, the film’s protagonist, has such an unruly attitude.

Months earlier, Haley (Missy Peregrym) walked out on her team during the World’s Competition, causing them to forfeit the championship. Now she’s traded in her leotard for a trick bike and tears up the town with a couple of guy friends. That is until a stunt causes $14,000 worth of damage at a construction site and Haley, who’s had previous run-ins with the law, ends up in front of the judge. After her guilt is established, the penitence options are limited: go to jail or join Burt Vickerman’s gymnastic club.

Haley, however, isn’t blind to Burt’s tactics. And since the court visit hasn’t sweetened her personality by the time she shows up at camp, she is quick to call him on his scam. Spewing out caustic remarks aimed at the other team members, she also adamantly refuses to get involved with training until Burt gives her an opportunity to earn some restitution money by competing in an upcoming meet.

Her workout regime is intense and underscores the physical skills and stamina needed for the highly competitive sport. Falls, sprains, aches and painful injuries are par for the course. But these girls need more than calloused hands. They need a thick skin to deal with the vicious remarks from other entrants and the seemingly unjustified scores from judges.

In less than two hours, the script addresses the fallout of broken families, the strain of demanding routines and the pressure to perform in front of hundreds of spectators. It also protests the subjective nature of scoring artistic athletic events and the restraint on contestants to perform challenging and innovative moves.

Although the topics are relevant, Haley’s rebellious stance and constant glower make it difficult at times to warm up to her plight. Along with her attitude, other content concerns include infrequent profanities, scatological slang and vulgar comments with some mild sexual innuendo.

Appearances by real gymnasts Tim Daggett, Nastia Liukin, Bart Conner and others add to the realism of the film. But the abrasive interactions between contestants, their parents, and judges, only promote the less attractive side of balance beams, vaults and parallel bars. Unfortunately Stick It chalks up all the negatives surrounding gymnastics and leaves very little motivation for signing your kids up—either for the movie or the sport.

About author

Kerry Bennett

Stick it rating & content info.

Why is Stick It rated PG-13? Stick It is rated PG-13 by the MPAA for some crude remarks.

Dealing with two ineffective parents, Haley develops a defiant attitude toward rules, the law and all adults in general. However, she’s not the only one to pass nasty judgment. Other teens and adults make rude comments and gestures. Haley’s two guy friends make occasional sexual comments about females. Some adults drink at an evening event. Sports injuries are shown. The script also includes some depictions of flatulence, as well as homosexual and scatological comments.

Page last updated April 13, 2009

Stick It Parents' Guide

What are some of the psychological games the competitors play with each other? How does Joanne create disharmony among her own teammates? Why does competition sometimes promote this kind of behavior?

Who pays the restitution money for Haley? Do you think it is wise to let her off the hook for her behavior? How did the court judge react during Haley’s second visit? Why do you think she was so empathetic?

Who does Haley blame for her problems? What responsibility does she have in her life?

The most recent home video release of Stick It movie is September 18, 2006. Here are some details…

The DVD release of Stick It has bent over backward to include as many bonus extras as possible. They range from the silly—such as Buttaharas (bloopers and outtakes) and Skinny Fat (deleted scenes with two optional commentaries), to the musical—like Missy Elliott’s music video We Run This and the Jeannie Ortega (featuring Papoose) music video Crowded . Get into the headspace of the actors, director and filmmakers with the feature commentaries titled Read My Mind , or look at the realities of the depicted sport with Hard Corps (meet the real gymnasts who were stunt doubles for Stick It ), The Elites (see the gymnastics routines performed by some of the world’s best, with optional commentary) and The Judges’ Table (view the uneven bar routines in slow motion, with optional commentary). Audio tracks are available in English (Dolby Digital 5.1), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo) and Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), with subtitles in English, Spanish and French.

Related home video titles:

Two of this movie’s young actresses appeared in other teen flicks. Vanessa Lengies plays a role in A Perfect Man , the story of a teen (Hilary Duff) who’s trying to match up her single mother. Tarah Paige also stars with Hilary Duff in the modernized fairytale, A Cinderella Story . Ice Princess is another film that portrays the harrowing nature of competition.

Search for movies, TV shows, channels, sports teams, streaming services, apps, and devices.

Haley is a naturally gifted athlete but, with her social behavior, the teen seems intent on squandering her abilities. After a final brush with the law, a judge sentences her to an elite gymnastics academy run by a legendary, hard-nosed coach. Once there, Haley's rebellious attitude wins her both friends and enemies.

Stream Stick It Now

Movie trailer, where can you watch stick it online, suggested movies.

The Streamable uses the TMDb API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDb.

The Streamable uses JustWatch data but is not endorsed by JustWatch.

Movie Score

April 21, 2006,

Jessica Bendinger

Jeff Bridges, Missy Peregrym, Vanessa Lengies, Jon Gries, Gia Carides, Julie Warner

Comedy, Drama

DIRECTV STREAM Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $50 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for DIRECTV STREAM.

You will receive it ~2 weeks after you complete your first month of service.

Offer Terms

• Only valid for new DIRECTV STREAM subscribers.
• Only valid once per household.
• You must pay and maintain service for at least one month to be eligible.
• Purchase must be completed on the DIRECTV STREAM website.
• You’ll receive gift card 4-6 weeks after purchase (~2 weeks after your first month).
• Cannot be combined with any other promotion and won’t be eligible if you try to use a coupon code or cash back from another site.

Sling TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $25 Uber Eats Gift Card when you sign up for Sling TV.

• Only valid for new Sling TV subscribers to Sling Orange, Blue, or Sling Orange + Blue.
• You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Sling TV website.

Hulu Live TV Cash Back

Let us know your e-mail address to send your $35 Amazon Gift Card when you sign up for Hulu Live TV.

• Only valid for new Hulu Live TV subscribers.
• You must click from The Streamable and complete your purchase on the Hulu Live TV website.

"Growing Pains"

What You Need To Know:

(BB, C, Ro, Pa, LLL, V, S, M) Strong theistic, moral worldview with some redemptive elements promoting hard work, honesty, integrity, teamwork, forgiveness, discipline, self-sacrifice, plus some Romantic, emotional feelings are shown as predominant in decision-making in the beginning and pagan worldview elements present in world of gymnastics competition as people are above all concerned with their own progress and are willing to tell lies, frighten and manipulate others, if it will increase their chances of winning and strong emphasis on rebellion towards authority; 24 obscenities and 4 profanities; very minor violence as one girl is attacked and choked, although unhurt, a soda is thrown onto main character; light sexual references when hopes for a relationship with a girl that will include sex, and other sexual references are made; no nudity; no alcohol; no smoking; and, teenage rebellion against authority, lying and manipulation rebuked, and parents overtly push children to meet their own goals and needs, and thus neglecting the needs of the children.

More Detail:

STICK IT is a sports drama about a young girl named Haley who’s thrown into the middle of a horrendous divorce. Haley falls into delinquent behavior and shows intense rebellion and anger toward any and all authority.

A biking incident lands Haley in the hands of the juvenile authorities. Yet again, arrangements are made by her father to send her to a rigid and militaristic gymnastics academy run by a coach with a reputation for pushing his proteges into the hospital. Will Haley ever grow up and be able to use her gymnastic talent to her benefit?

STICK IT is fast paced and very easily holds the interest of most viewers. Jessica Bendinger, the writer and director, is incredibly gifted at depicting accurately the adolescent angst, and what happens to adolescent angst in the midst of trauma (divorce and subsequent behavioral inadequacy). Missy Peregrym, who plays Haley, does a masterful job and presents a very believable and engaging character. Jeff Bridges also does a great job of portraying a coach who is struggling with his own demons and working to resolve them. The relationship between Haley and Coach Vickerman is the “healing” relationship of the movie, as they each help one another grow into better, more honest, more real people.

STICK IT takes on the sport of gymnastics and the subjective way in which the gymnasts are judged. Haley narrates through parts of the movie that present a montage of gymnasts training and shows the danger and difficulty inherent in the sport itself and her attitude and hurt towards it. One such injustice is the triviality of deductions in points for routines that have minor “wardrobe malfunctions,” even if a perfect trick is perfectly landed.

The movie errs too much at times, however, on the side of rebellion. Its message seems to be rebel first and change if needed later. Also, there is really no positive parent in the movie. The movie shows parents pushing their children to be great and make it into the Olympics, but pushing them to sacrifice their own childhood and childhood experiences to do this. Haley’s mother and father are depicted as hopelessly selfish and uninvolved.

The only two adults shown in a positive light in STICK IT are Coach Vickerman and the judge. Coach Vickerman becomes a better person, but starts off as a coach who is mostly interested in securing money from parents and willing to lie to get it. He leaves a girl hurt following a trick. Rather than helping her up, he leaves her on the floor and directs another gymnast to prepare for the competition. The girl responds excitedly as her teammate struggles hurt on the floor. Eventually, Coach Vickerman learns that the girls need his encouragement and support. He also learns to let them know that they matter.

The judge shows consistency in her character and encourages Haley to rise above her circumstances and be an overcomer. Haley also has two friends who stand beside her throughout her experiences and encourage her to be the best she can be.

Ultimately, despite the rebellion in the movie, STICK IT has a strong moral worldview promoting hard work, honesty, integrity, teamwork, forgiveness, discipline, and self-sacrifice.

• 8 Things You Don’t Want to Forget When Traveling Abroad
• Chic Spaces: Interior Design Made Simple

Blu Tuesday: “Twister” and More

Movie review: “the mist”, movie review: “inside man”.

• Helpful Tips for Recovering From Soft Tissue Injuries
• What Is Safety Culture and How Can You Establish It?
• Fishing Competitions: How to Prepare and Win

Movie Review: “Stick It”

Following in the footsteps of the cheerleading comedy, the film’s female protagonist is not only independent, but she’s also a natural talent in her sport of choice. In this case, it’s the world of competitive gymnastics, but the rebellious Haley Graham (Missy Peregrym) hasn’t been a part of that world ever since she walked out on her teammates at the championships two years prior. After yet another run-in with the law, however, Haley is forced to return to the one place she thought she left forever, and a new coach (Jeff Bridges) who won’t let her give up as easily – both as an athlete and a person.

On the upside, “Stick It” has a great soundtrack (including Missy Elliot’s version of “We Run This”) and some mesmerizing kaleidoscopic dance sequences reminiscent of an old Busby Berkeley film. And while it may not equal Olympic gold, I’m pretty certain that was never their intention. You won’t find anything particularly great about “Stick It,” but at least you’ll have fun watching it.

2.5 / 5 Stars Starring: Missy Peregrym, Jeff Bridges, Nikki SooHoo, Maddy Curley Director: Jessica Bendinger

DVD Review:

The single-disc release of “Stick It” is packed with bonus features, including two audio commentaries (one with writer/director Jessica Bendinger and co-stars Missi Peregrym and Vanessa Lengies, and another with Bendinger and various crew) and eight deleted scenes. Also appearing on the DVD is a three-minute blooper reel, a short video montage of all the real gymnasts that appeared in the film (“Hard Corps”), the full gymnastic routines from Nastia Liukin and Isabella Severino, as well as two music videos (Missy Elliot’s “We Run This” and Jeanie Ortega’s “Crowded”).

About Author

Related Posts

More From Forbes

Kevin costner’s ‘horizon’ gets digital streaming release date.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

Kevin Costner in "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1."

Kevin Costner’s embattled Western Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 is taking a quick trip to digital streaming.

The first of Costner’s four planned Horizon chapters got off to a rough start in theaters on June 28, finishing at No. 3 at the domestic box office with $11 million in ticket sales.

Horizon tumbled out of the box office top five in its second weekend of release and made $5.4 million in theaters for a sixth place finish. To date, per The Numbers , Horizon has grossed $22.07 million in North American theaters and $1.16 million in international ticket sales for a worldwide tally of $23.3 million.

According to streaming tracker When to Stream , Horizon will debut on digital streaming via premium video on demand on July 16. The PVOD access will give viewers another option to see the film before Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 2 opens in theaters on August 16.

Like most PVOD releases, Horizon will be available for purchase or rent on several digital outlets including Prime Video and AppleTV+, VUDU and Google Play. Prime Video has the release date listed for July 15 at 9 p.m. PT, making it July 16 on the East Coast.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

The platform has Horizon listed for pre-order for $24.99, which is generally a reflection of a film’s digital purchase price. Typically, digital rental prices on PVOD are $5 less, so viewers can expect to rent Horizon for a 48-hour period for $19.99. The rental period doesn’t start until a viewer begins watching the rental.

How Was ‘Horizon’ Received By Critics?

Co-written and directed by Kevin Costner, Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1 recounts the expansion of the American West around the time of the Civil War.

The film also co-stars Costner as part of the film’s large ensemble cast, which also includes Sienna Miller, Sam Worthington, Jena Malone, Wase Chief, Danny Huston and Luke Wilson.

Rotten Tomatoes critics have collectively given Horizon a a 47% “rotten” rating based now on 123 reviews, while RT users have given the Western epic a 71% “fresh” Audience Score based on 1,000-plus verified user ratings.

Horizon’s production budget isn’t completely clear. Variety has reported that the film’s production budget was $100 million, while The Numbers said it is $50 million.

What is clear is that since Warner Bros. is only distributing the film, the Yellowstone star, per Variety , spent $38 million to help finance Horizon , and two private investors are covering the rest.

Variety also noted that Costner and his investors spent $30 million on Horizon’s prints and advertising budget.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions

Join The Conversation

One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to share your thoughts. 

Forbes Community Guidelines

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas and facts in a safe space.

In order to do so, please follow the posting rules in our site's  Terms of Service.   We've summarized some of those key rules below. Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will be rejected if we notice that it seems to contain:

• False or intentionally out-of-context or misleading information
• Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language or threats of any kind
• Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article's author
• Content that otherwise violates our site's  terms.

User accounts will be blocked if we notice or believe that users are engaged in:

• Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
• Racist, sexist, homophobic or other discriminatory comments
• Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk
• Actions that otherwise violate our site's  terms.

So, how can you be a power user?

• Stay on topic and share your insights
• Feel free to be clear and thoughtful to get your point across
• ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ to show your point of view.
• Protect your community.
• Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Please read the full list of posting rules found in our site's  Terms of Service.

• Tickets & Showtimes
• Trending on RT

• TV & Streaming Shows
• Essential Studio Collections
• Best & Popular

MaXXXine First Reviews: A Gnarly, Potent Satire with a Magnetic Mia Goth at Her Best

Critics say ti west's trilogy-capper is a stylized, nightarish vision of the '80s that benefits from an unflinching performance from its star, even if it doesn't quite stick the landing..

TAGGED AS: A24 , Horror , movies , Summer

Mia Goth returns as the title character in MaXXXine , the third installment of Ti West’ s hit horror trilogy involving a murderous adult film actress. This time, Maxine Minx has to deal with the threat of a real historical serial killer who terrorized Los Angeles in the 1980s: the Night Stalker. Following the acclaim of X (94%) and its prequel, Pearl (92%), does this sequel continue the critical success of the franchise? The first reviews of MaXXXine mostly say yes, though some are saying it’s still the lesser of the three. The main reason to see it remains Goth, who may deliver her best performance yet, while many reviews nevertheless agree that the movie falters in its climax.

Here’s what critics are saying about MaXXXine :

Is it as good as the first two movies?

West might have saved the best entry for last, with MaXXXine a neon-tinted Hollywood nightmare filled with ambition, cut-throat action, and an excellent depiction of the final girl. — Kat Hughes, THN

Ti West goes three for three. — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

Like its predecessors, X and Pearl , this is a gleeful dive into retro movie tropes with vivid period evocation, this time featuring a deluxe supporting cast. — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Vibrant in sleaze, satire, and shocking violence, MaXXXine was on the brink of being the best West and Goth have made yet. But a bungled ending leaves a sour taste. — Kristy Puchko, Mashable

MaXXXine [is] the least of the trilogy, [but] not a bad film in and of itself. — Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

It’s no Pearl . — Owen Gleiberman, Variety

MaXXXine is not as good as Pearl , but it is better than X . — Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

(Photo by ©A24)

Does it stand on its own?

One has to give tremendous kudos for West’s ability to create a film trilogy where each installment is so different from the last one, which means you don’t necessarily have to watch the other two movies before seeing this one. — Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

The best part is that newcomers can enjoy it as a standalone, but watching X and Pearl beforehand exponentially enhances the experience, creating a nearly perfect sequel. — Tatiana Hullender, Screen Rant

MaXXXine is as different to its predecessors as they are to one another. The constant reinvention of West’s work is to be commended with each film working as both a standalone project, as well as a cohesive whole. — Kat Hughes, THN

It takes a while for MaXXXine to start feeling like a direct sequel to X . This is, surprisingly, one of its strengths; it tries to stand on its own before reaching into the past. — Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

Does it honor old slasher movies?

West and cinematographer Eliot Rockett have worked tirelessly to create a movie that feels of the era, and the end result is a sultry and dirty delight. — Kat Hughes, THN

Pushing the showbiz homages further, West stages scenes on the Universal backlot and serves meta-exchanges about actors who got their starts in horror films. All this is fun, if slightly blatant in its nostalgia baiting. — James Mottram, Total Film

The trick is this. West wants to pay homage to their utter junkiness — and, at the same time, to make a version of one of them that’s ironically “good”… MaXXXine is a grisly exploitation thriller set between quotation marks, with an anachronistically empowered heroine at its center. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety

MaXXXine commits a bit too much to recreating the genre storytelling of the period… West has borrowed too much of the writing style of ‘80s slashers, which were not exactly known for being well-written. — Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

The movie is almost too much of a parody to work as a horror film in its own right. — Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network

(Photo by Justin Lubin/©A24)

How are the kills?

Gnarly. — BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm

It delivers some of the series’ most extreme kills. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire

There are testicles stomped on and heads exploded in scarlet-red, visceral detail. — Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

If you’ve come for the carnage — faces are branded, eyes are slashed, bodies crushed — then MaXXXine should satisfy your bloodlust. — James Mottram, Total Film

MaXXXine’ s one gnarly kill and its one instance of cartoonish violence aren’t nearly enough. — Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

What about the script?

West’s film is actually an abstract think-piece about women in cinema… MaXXXine has things to say about the objectification and humiliation of women in Hollywood, as actors and directors, and, alongside that, the belittling of horror as a genre too. — Damon Wise, Deadline Hollywood Daily

There’s humor in the use of famous landmarks, from strategic action unfolding around the Hollywood sign to a splashy premiere at Mann’s Chinese Theatre, as it was then known. — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Unfortunately, West’s storytelling is not as exciting here… It underwhelms, lacking the cleverness of the previous films. — Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

It’s more dramatically sterile, thanks to a story that quickly falls apart and mounting references that add up to very little (if anything at all). — Siddhant Adlakha, IGN Movies

Does it have a great soundtrack?

Nostalgists will eat up the soundtrack’s bangers, among them tracks by ZZ Top, New Order, Judas Priest and Kim Carnes, along with the indispensable synth-pop groove of Animotion’s “Obsession.” And Tyler Bates’ bone-chilling score helps ratchet up the suspense. — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

It is the soundtrack that cements MaXXXine as from the decade. Opening with ZZ Top’s “Gimme All Your Lovin”, and featuring Frankie Goes to Hollywood, John Parr, Kim Carnes, and Animotion, this soundtrack couldn’t be more authentically ‘80s. — Kat Hughes, THN

How is Mia Goth this time?

Goth is once more at the top of her game. — Kat Hughes, THN

MaXXXine is Goth’s most well-rounded performance yet, blending elements of her mesmeric X characters with the modern villainy she brought to Brandon Cronenberg’s Infinity Pool for a singular genre role. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire

She plays Maxine with a come-hither aggression that’s direct and compelling enough to let us wonder if Maxine could be hardcore porn’s hidden answer to Vivien Leigh. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Here, she takes the tender-hearted mania of Pearl and turns it colder, and more determined. As an actor, she’s very good at maintaining the separation between what she wants her audience to see and what she doesn’t. — Clarisse Loughrey, Independent

This is the Mia Goth show and fans wouldn’t have it any other way. She’s a magnetic presence who fortifies her command as a new breed of scream queen, tough enough to dish out punishment as well as receive it. — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

Watching her take center stage in this trilogy and grow from a promising up-and-comer to one of the all-time greats has been a thrill all on its own, but watching her take Maxine to ever greater highs of self-possessed ferocity is the kind of thing movies were made for. — Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

She is undeniable, unstoppable, and we should all consider ourselves lucky to even catch a random sighting of the formidable talent. — BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm

What about the rest of the cast?

The movie gets plenty of juice out of its ensemble cast. — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

MaXXXine boasts the strongest supporting cast of the trilogy… Giancarlo Esposito steals the show as Maxine’s cutthroat agent-lawyer Teddy Knight, and Elizabeth Debicki is an absolute vision as a no-nonsense director who is beyond done with the patriarchal playground of moviemaking. — BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm

Giancarlo Esposito is the biggest standout, and he’s clearly having the time of his life playing loyal-to-the-core agent Teddy Night, but Elizabeth Debicki’s director role gives her plenty to chew on as well. — Tatiana Hullender, Screen Rant

The film is almost stolen by the statuesque and charismatic Elizabeth Debicki in giant padded shoulders. — Peter Bradshaw, Guardian

In terms of the new characters, the real standout is Kevin Bacon as a sleazy private detective. — Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

Kevin Bacon… is on Wild Things level comedic gold. — Kat Hughes, THN

Does the movie stick the landing?

West uses the final leg of Maxine’s story to imagine how a final girl’s trauma might fracture into a (wildly entertaining) vitriolic spray of revenge. The result is an outrageous display of toxicity with a bubbly appeal. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire

The film’s last act is where things go a bit wonky… It may leave some viewers wanting because there has been so much proper build-up to a resolution that just doesn’t quite work. — Edward Douglas, The Weekend Warrior

Something gets lost as West and Goth hurtle toward a climax that feels undeserving of the movie that leads up to it. — Kristy Puchko, Mashable

The reveal of the killer’s identity is not only obvious but presented in a disappointingly straightforward way. — Dan Bayer, Next Best Picture

When we’re finally hit with the revelation of who the killer is, it’s supposed to be the Babylon heart of darkness. But instead, you just think, “Sorry, I’m not buying that for a moment.” — Owen Gleiberman, Variety

Will it leave us wanting more of the X movies?

If they make another movie in the series, I’d still be on board. — Chris Bumbray, JoBlo’s Movie Network

You might find yourself hoping we haven’t seen the last of [Maxine]. — David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter

At this point, we should all welcome as many movies as possible with Goth in the lead role. If Freddy, Jason, and Michael, are allowed massive franchises, no rule says we can’t have more of the X -factor. — BJ Colangelo, Slashfilm

Thumbnail image by ©A24 On an Apple device? Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Apple News .

Related News

The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025

Your Full List of All Upcoming Marvel Movies — With Key Details!

Twisters First Reviews: Thrilling, Immersive, and Surprisingly Full of Heart

Renewed and Cancelled TV Shows 2024

Movie & TV News

Featured on rt.

July 12, 2024

July 11, 2024

Top Headlines

• All Neon Movies, Ranked by Tomatometer –
• Best Horror Movies of 2024 Ranked – New Scary Movies to Watch –
• All Harrison Ford Movies Ranked by Tomatometer –
• Every Shrek Movie, Ranked by Tomatometer –
• 100 Best Movies on Tubi (July 2024) –
• All A24 Movies Ranked by Tomatometer –

• THE WEEK TV
• ENTERTAINMENT
• WEB STORIES
• JOBS & CAREER
• Home Home -->
• Review Review -->
• Movies Movies -->

'Indian 2' movie review: An extremely boring and painful affair that offers no takeaways

Shankar's decision to stick to the old template has backfired

“Why Indian 2?” It was among my first questions to director Shankar Shanmugam when I met him at his Chennai office a couple of days back. He immediately said that every time he came across a headline in the newspaper on bribes and corruption he had always felt that "Indian thatha" should come back to fight it once again.

The film opens with Chitra Aravind (Sidharth) and his team who run a YouTube channel called Barking Dogs. The channel creates satirical content and parodies against corrupt officials, politicians and those who swindle common man’s money.

When Chitra Aravind, Aarthi (Priya Bhavani Shankar) and Thambesh (Jagan) protest against the suicide of a teacher training student, they get arrested. Aravind’s girlfriend Disha (Rakul Preet Singh) comes to bail them out of jail and tells them nothing will change because of his corruption crusades. Aravind then trends a hashtag #ComeBackIndian on social media setting the stage for the entry of Senapathy, a very old varma kalai expert living in Taipei. 

The country has witnessed many corruption crusaders like Sidharth’s Barking Dogs. Many journalists and YouTube channels are doing this on social media these days. The long screenplay is too boring with a usual template. The first half is no different compared to the 1996 Indian . In fact Shankar, through Kamal Hassan in the first part spoke in detail against corruption. And years later, the country witnessed Anna Hazare's protests that led to the growth of yet another political party whose chief minister has now landed in jail, over alleged corruption charges.  In fact, as a journalist, even this writer has exposed many corrupt politicians.

Society is more polarised today, compared to 1996 and people have come a long way with social media. But the director still sticks to the old template - bribery, medical negligence, education fraud, bank fraud.

Indian 2 also makes a mockery of Ambani, Adani, Vijay Mallya and Legend Saravanan. While a businessman shits in a gold toilet, another purchases land on Mars and yet another makes a bejewelled tortoise crawl up in a woman’s navel. If they are all high-profile businessmen, a motel owner and a fisherwoman who cheat their customers are also brought to task in Indian 2 . And then there are corrupt officers - a woman registrar and a vigilance officer who take bribes. Of course, corrupt politicians and officers will have to be dealt with an iron hand. But it is very painful to watch on screen. 

In a cruise, Senapathy uses his Varma kalai and recites a Sanskrit shloka before punishing a businessman. After this, the man acts like a woman, his hand gestures are stereotypical. The homophobic act is very disturbing to watch. 

A few scenes, however, are gripping towards the end. But in the climax, Kamal rides a monocycle, making us run along with him for more than 15 minutes. Metro train goes into reverse gear, a police officer hangs from an under construction fly over, but Indian thaatha escapes. Indian 2 is extremely boring and painful, making the audience sit for more than two hours without any takeaway at the end. 

Unlike Indian , where AR Rahman made his own mark with melodies and background music, Anirudh doesn’t impress. As usual, Shankar’s grandeur stands out and so is Kamal Hassan’s make up making him look like a 100-year-old man. 

Yes, as Shankar told me during the interview, Senapathy is back again in his Indian 2 . But now I want to tell him that the audience will not accept the second edition of any film if it is not much more brilliant than the first instalment. Now, let us wait for the third edition of the movie to know awaits us next. That's right. Shankar and Kamal Haasan will be back with Indian 3!  

Movie: Indian 2

Director: Shankar Shanmugam

Cast: Kamal Haasan, Sidharth, Bobby Simha, Priya Bhavani Shankar, Nedumudi Venu, Vivek, Rahul Preet Singh, Samuthirakani and others. 

Music: Anirudh Ravichander

Rating: 2/5

• Kamal Haasan

Join our WhatsApp Channel to get the latest news, exclusives and videos on WhatsApp

World Population Day: These are the top 5 least populated countries

India versus Bharat: Is it all in the name or just a game?

Celebrating Shelley Duvall: Five iconic performances of 'The Shining' star that defined her career

Watch | From Kardashians to Priyanka Chopra, celebs arrive in Mumbai for Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant wedding

Editor's pick.

World Cup victory is Rohit's emphatic coming of age of his twisting, turning cricketing life

I don't think I ever left Kolkata: Anasuya Sengupta

What is click chemistry? Nobel winner Morten Meldal reveals how it revolutionised the field

Equity surge

*Articles appearing as INFOCUS/THE WEEK FOCUS are marketing initiatives

Early Prime Day Deals. Up to 55% off Amazon Devices.

Sorry, there was a problem.

Image Unavailable

• To view this video download Flash Player

We want you to know

To benefit from Wi-Fi 6, a compatible Wi-Fi 6 router, like the eero Pro 6, is required. Fire TV Stick 4K is also compatible with earlier wifi routers.

Dolby Atmos is only available on select streaming services when connected to compatible equipment.

Alexa Voice Remote includes 4 pre-programmed app buttons including Netflix and Prime Video; other two app buttons will vary.

To play Xbox games on Fire TV a Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required. Each sold separately.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K streaming device, more than 1.5 million movies and TV episodes, supports Wi-Fi 6, watch free & live TV

• Advanced 4K streaming - Elevate your entertainment with the next generation of our best-selling 4K stick, with improved streaming performance.
• Play Xbox games with no console required - Stream Forza Motorsport, Starfield, Palworld, and discover hundreds of other high-quality games directly on your Fire TV Stick 4K with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate via cloud gaming.
• Wi-Fi 6 support - Enjoy smooth 4K streaming, even when other devices are connected to your router.
• Cinematic experience - Watch in vibrant 4K Ultra HD with support for Dolby Vision, HDR10+, and immersive Dolby Atmos audio.
• Endless entertainment - Stream more than 1.5 million movies and TV episodes. Watch favorites from Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Max, and more. Subscription fees may apply.
• Stream for free - Access over 300,000 free movies and TV episodes from popular ad-supported streaming apps like Fire TV Channels, Amazon Freevee, Tubi, and Pluto TV.
• Enjoy MGM+ on us - Receive a 6-month subscription to MGM+, including access to thousands of Hollywood movies and original series with your Fire TV purchase. Terms apply.
• Alexa Voice Remote - Quickly find, launch, and control content with your voice. Get to your favorite apps with preset buttons, and control TV power and volume with one remote.
• Do more with your smart home - Control compatible devices like cameras, lights, and more with your remote. Press and ask Alexa to check the weather or dim the lights.
• Your device

Smart home devices for you

• Smart Lighting
• Security Cameras
• Plugs and outlets
• Smart locks
• Wifi and Networking

"Alexa, turn on the lights."

The next generation of our most popular 4K streaming stick

Upgrade your 4K streaming experience with Fire TV Stick 4K—now powered by a quad-core 1.7 GHz processor for faster app starts and more fluid navigation. It makes getting to the good stuff even easier—all for an affordable price.

An ultra-cinematic 4K experience

From playoffs to premieres, experience it all like you're there with support for cinematic 4K Ultra HD. Experience vivid color and brightness with support for Dolby Vision and HDR10+, immersive sound with Dolby Atmos, and smooth streaming with Wi-Fi 6. Add compatible Echo speakers for a complete Alexa Home Theater .

Wi-Fi 6 support

Dolby Vision.Atmos

Press and Ask Alexa

Enjoy smooth 4K streaming in your home

Our most popular streaming stick now supports Wi-Fi 6 for smooth 4K streaming, with less interference from other connected devices. To use Wi-Fi 6, you’ll need a compatible router like the eero Pro 6 . If you have a Wi-Fi 6E router, we recommend Fire TV Stick 4K Max . Fire TV Stick 4K works with earlier wifi routers, too.

Reduces network congestion for smoother video streaming across multiple devices.

Fast speeds

Enjoy fast speeds and low latency when streaming 4K content or playing games in the cloud.

Supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, so you can connect to the least-crowded frequency.

Searching made breezy

Now you can find movies by actor, plot, and even iconic quotes with Fire TV Search. Go from “no idea what to watch” to “no idea I’d love this so much” with access to 1.5 million movies and tv episodes.

“Alexa, show me action movies with car chases.”

Stream free movies, shows, and clips.

Power on and start watching a world of free entertainment through ad-supported streaming apps like YouTube, Amazon Freevee, Tubi, and Pluto TV. You can access over 300,000 movies and TV episodes without paying for subscriptions. And, the new Fire TV Channels hub brings you free news clips, sports highlights, music videos, movie trailers, cooking tips, comedy bits, gaming videos, and more.

From smart home control to smart living

Control compatible smart home devices right from your TV. You can press and ask Alexa to do things like show Live View Picture-in-Picture camera feeds without interrupting your show, check the weather, order a pizza, and stream music. And Fire TV is always getting smarter with new Alexa Skills and voice functionality. Learn more about compatible smart home devices.

“Alexa, show my nursery camera.”

Smart Camera

Simple to set up and use

Plug Fire TV Stick 4K directly into your HDMI input.

Attach power cable, and plug into wall outlet.

Pair remote with TV, connect to internet, and enjoy.

Designed for Sustainability

We measure this device's carbon footprint and look for opportunities to reduce its emissions at every stage of its life cycle.

See Fire TV Stick 4K fact sheet

Carbon Footprint

33kg CO 2 e total carbon emissions

Fire TV Stick and remote made from 22% recycled materials. 100% recyclable packaging (shipping packaging not included).

Low Power Mode reduces energy consumption when idle, except in certain situations . We also invest in renewable energy that, by 2025, will be equivalent to this device's electricity usage.

Trade-in and Recycle

Built to last. But when you're ready, you can trade-in or recycle your devices. Explore Amazon Second Chance .

Figures are for Fire TV Stick 4K, not including any variants or bundled accessories or devices.

Compare Fire TV Streaming Devices

Technical details

Fire tv stick 4k (2nd gen).

Alexa Voice Remote

Videos for this product

Click to play video

Should You Buy? Fire TV Stick 4K vs 4K Max with WiFi 6E #thisorthat

Should You Buy?

Features of the Amazon Fire Stick

Bridget Rhodes

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K

Shelly Hopkins

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K - Watch Before You Buy

The Product Lab

FireTV Stick - Watch before you buy it!

🟠🟢 LGJ Reviews 🟢🟠

Review of the Fire Tv Stick 4k

Don Wynn ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Should You Buy? Amazon 4K Fire TV Stick with WiFi 6

You should try this Amazon Fire TV Stick!

TryThisForThat

Fire Tv Stick 4k

Mrs Queenie Bee

Very user friendly! Great for travel too.

Megan Smith

Looking for specific info?

Customer reviews.

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers like the performance, remote control, and value of the digital device. They mention that it works as advertised, the remote control is easy to use, and that it's well worth the price. They appreciate the ease of setup, picture quality, and app download. That said, some complain about connectivity issues and quality.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers like the performance of the digital device. They mention that it works a lot faster, has super fast streaming, and is responsive. They also say that it performs as advertised, is convenient, and efficient. Customers also appreciate the support for Wi-Fi 6 and the smooth and uninterrupted streaming.

"...The performance of the Fire TV Stick 4K is top-notch. It’s fast and responsive, with no noticeable lag when streaming or navigating through apps...." Read more

"...you control your TV’s power and volume, making it convenient and efficient ...." Read more

"...the remote will only work on the power button and volume button. None of the other buttons work!..." Read more

"...With Wi-Fi 6 support, it ensures fast and reliable streaming in stunning 4K resolution...." Read more

Customers find the setup of the digital device to be easy. They say it walks them through the setup, the interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, and the menu and voice search feature are easy to understand. Customers also say it's a seamless way to interact with their TV without having to navigate through menus manually.

"...It’s a seamless way to interact with my TV without having to navigate through menus manually.The content selection is vast...." Read more

"...Voice Remote lets you control your TV’s power and volume, making it convenient and efficient...." Read more

"...Compact and user-friendly , it’s perfect for upgrading your home entertainment setup. Highly recommend!" Read more

"...Setting up the Fire Stick 4K was a breeze. It seamlessly connects to my TV , and the intuitive interface makes navigating through apps and content..." Read more

Customers find the digital device worth the price. They say it does the job for the price and saves them money. Some mention that it pays for itself after the first movie.

"...Overall, the Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is an excellent investment for anyone looking to upgrade their home entertainment system...." Read more

"...outstanding media streamer that offers impressive features at an affordable price . I’m glad I bought it! Here’s why it stands out:..." Read more

"...Despite minor limitations, it offers incredible value and enhances the viewing experience significantly. Highly recommended!" Read more

"...that makes this product a 5 star rating, is the price it is worth every penny ! If you’re trying to find your next smart tv investment this is it!" Read more

Customers are satisfied with the picture quality of the digital device. They mention that the picture is clear, crisp, and vibrant. The vivid 4K resolution brings every gory detail to life, making it an absolute delight. They also appreciate the 4K capability and the remote control that is visually updated. Overall, customers recommend the product for its stunning picture quality and 4K capabilities.

"...HDR10+ support ensure that the visuals are sharp, vibrant, and incredibly detailed . Watching movies and TV shows on my 4K TV has never looked better...." Read more

"...Here’s why it stands out:4K HDR Support: With 4K resolution and HDR10 , it delivers stunning picture quality for your favorite shows and..." Read more

"...With Wi-Fi 6 support, it ensures fast and reliable streaming in stunning 4K resolution ...." Read more

"...With its seamless performance, stunning picture quality , and extensive content selection, it's the ultimate streaming device for entertainment..." Read more

Customers like the app download of the Fire TV Stick 4K. They say that it improves the streaming experience, making streaming much easier. They also say that the additional apps you can add bring even more functionality to the device. Customers also appreciate the smooth and uninterrupted streaming, allowing them to surf and watch channels in real time.

"...Overall, the Fire TV Stick 4K is the best media streamer you can buy for under $50. Highly recommended! 📺🌟1. I am buying more for my other TVs!..." Read more

"...AI-powered Fire TV Search makes finding content quick and easy across various platforms ...." Read more

"...The remote has also been updated and will now pair directly with our tv to power it on and control the volume...." Read more

"...Overall:**The Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K is an excellent streaming device that delivers high-quality performance and a vast content library...." Read more

Customers like the remote control of the digital device. They say it's easy to use, has more functions than the old remote, and has additional buttons at the bottom for popular streaming platforms. Some say the remote tunes by voice command and that the advanced voice remote makes searching for content a breeze.

"...I can simply speak into the remote to search for shows, control playback , and even check the weather or my smart home devices...." Read more

"... Advanced Voice Remote : The Alexa Voice Remote lets you control your TV’s power and volume, making it convenient and efficient...." Read more

"...It offers seamless access to over 1.5 million movies and shows, including free and live TV options...." Read more

"...round, which makes it more difficult to hold and use, and also makes it less stable when you place it on a surface." Read more

Customers are mixed about the quality of the digital device. Some mention that the quality is excellent, providing plenty of video entertainment. They also say it's the ultimate streaming device for entertainment enthusiasts. However, some customers say that it does the job but they wear out in 3-4 years.

"...One of the standout features is the Alexa Voice Remote. It’s not only convenient but also highly responsive...." Read more

"...Compact and user-friendly, it’s perfect for upgrading your home entertainment setup . Highly recommend!" Read more

"...The only thing I don't like is my TV times out after a very short time and apparently there is not a single thing that can be done about it...." Read more

"...and extensive content selection, it's the ultimate streaming device for entertainment enthusiasts ." Read more

Customers are dissatisfied with the connectivity of the digital device. They mention that it has connectivity issues and lagging while playing videos. They also mention that the remote connectivity issues, and the hard to connect to the TV. Some customers also report that the app communication is horrible and the stick refuses to communicate with their smart TVs.

"...Now no connectivity on the new stick and the new remote works on the older stick in my bedroom. So one stick in one tv and two remotes working it...." Read more

"...Was slow and would have trouble connecting . This one works great it is fast and connects and stays connected" Read more

"...With Wi-Fi 6 support , it ensures fast and reliable streaming in stunning 4K resolution...." Read more

"...Our Samsung TV was supposed to be high quality but the app communication is horrible ...." Read more

Reviews with images

• Sort reviews by Top reviews Most recent Top reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. please try again later..

• About Amazon
• Investor Relations
• Amazon Devices
• Amazon Science
• Sell products on Amazon
• Sell on Amazon Business
• Sell apps on Amazon
• Become an Affiliate
• Advertise Your Products
• Self-Publish with Us
• Host an Amazon Hub
• › See More Make Money with Us
• Amazon Business Card
• Shop with Points
• Reload Your Balance
• Amazon Currency Converter
• Amazon and COVID-19
• Your Account
• Your Orders
• Shipping Rates & Policies
• Returns & Replacements
• Manage Your Content and Devices

• Conditions of Use
• Privacy Notice
• Consumer Health Data Privacy Disclosure
• Your Ads Privacy Choices

• Meta Quest 4
• Google Pixel 9
• Google Pixel 8a
• Apple Vision Pro 2
• Nintendo Switch 2
• Samsung Galaxy Ring
• Yellowstone Season 6
• Recall an Email in Outlook
• Stranger Things Season 5
• Audio / Video

Digital Trends may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site. Why trust us?

This Fire TV Stick is the most popular early Prime Day tech deal

When it comes to streaming devices , one of the most popular models on the market is the Amazon Fire TV Stick, which means Amazon deals are always on our radar. As a matter of fact, the Amazon Fire TV Stick is the best-selling electronics product on Amazon right now. That’s because you can purchase the traditional Amazon Fire TV Stick for only $18, 55% off. At full price, you’d need to spend $40 for this model, so you can walk away knowing you saved yourself around $20.  

Why you should buy the Amazon Fire TV Stick

The Amazon Fire TV Stick connects you to days upon weeks’ worth of entertainment by providing a gateway to some of the best streaming apps in the business. We’re talking platforms like Amazon Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, and many others. While resolution is capped at 1080p on this model, you’ll still get a powerful HD picture. Bonus if you’re connecting to a 4K TV, which should do a nice job of upscaling your Fire Stick picture.  

The included Alexa Voice Remote lets you control playback settings and volume levels. There’s even a handful of app shortcut buttons for popping open your favorite services without having to navigate the Fire TV OS. And the blue button at the top is used for Alexa voice commands. Use the smart assistant to search for movies and shows, control smart devices, play games, and more.

The Fire TV Stick is designed for plug-and-play connectivity, but if your TV is wall-mounted or has minimal clearance to work with, Amazon was kind enough to provide an HDMI extender in the box. As part of your new purchase, you’ll also get six free months of MGM+, another great streaming app that’s home to lots of movies and shows.  

Prime Day deals are abundant right now, and Amazon is always reliable when it comes to slam-dunk savings. That being said, we’re not sure how long this markdown will last, so we recommend buying before it’s too late. Take home the Amazon Fire TV Stick for only $18 when you buy through Amazon today. And if you’d prefer a different streaming device brand, be sure to check out some of the other Chromecast deals we’ve been tracking down.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Prime Day projector deals: from $65 to $3,000
• Prime Day AirPods deals: Buds for $60, Max for $360
• Best Buy Prime Day Sale: deals on TVs, headphones, appliances and more
• Best Walmart Prime Day deals: TVs and laptops cheaper than Amazon
• Best JBL Prime Day deals: headphones and Bluetooth speakers

Prime Day deals are in full swing and among them are some great Prime Day TV deals. This is great news if you're in the market for a big screen TV, as several 86-inch TV Prime Day deals are going on. Not many TV brands make an 86-inch TV, but LG does, and it's really showed up with some 86-inch TV deals this Prime Day. Read onward for a look at what we feel are the best 86-inch TV Prime Day deals, and if you aren't finding the right fit for your home theater don't miss out on all of the 75-inch TV Prime Day deals, 70-inch TV Prime Day deals, or 65-inch TV Prime Day deals going on. Best 86-inch TV Prime Day deal LG 86-inch 90 Series QNED Mini-LED 4K TV -- $3,300, was $3,700

If you want the best possible 86-inch TV that you can buy for Prime Day as you want to create a truly cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home, you can't go wrong with the 86-inch LG 90 Series QNED Mini-LED 4K TV. It packs LG's QNED technology that creates rich images with more lifelike colors, and Mini-LED backlighting for better black levels while minimizing halo effects. Further elevating the TV's output are Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, so you'll really feel like you're in the theaters when you're watching movies. You'll never run out of things to watch on the 86-inch LG 90 Series QNED Mini-LED 4K TV because in addition to the webOS 24 platform, through which you can access streaming shows, you'll also get more than 300 free channels across various genres through LG Channels.

All of the best TV brands offer numerous sizes for each of their TV models, and a 50-inch TV can make a great option if you have a small room with a lot of space for a new TV or a large room with a little bit of space for one. With all of the Prime Day deals taking place right now you can even save on a new 50-inch TV, as there are several discounted among the Prime Day TV deals. We've rounded them all up below, and we've even singled out our favorite 50-inch TV Prime Day deal. If you feel a larger TV may be best for you be sure to check out the 65-inch TV Prime Day deals, 70-inch TV Prime Day deals, 75-inch TV Prime Day deals, and 86-inch TV Prime Day deals as well. Best 50-inch TV Prime Day deal Insignia 50-inch F30 Series 4K TV -- $190, was $300

For an affordable option that's even cheaper for Prime Day, check out the 50-inch Insignia F30 Series 4K TV. Despite its low price, you'll still get 4K Ultra HD resolution for lifelike details and colors, High Dynamic Range for sharper contrast, and  DTS Studio Sound for immersive audio. The TV supports HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC connections with compatible soundbars, and VESA pattern 200 x 200 for easy and safe wall mounting. The 4K TV is also a smart TV that runs on Amazon's Fire TV, so you'll be able to watch all of the popular streaming shows, and it comes with an Alexa Voice Remote to let you use voice commands to search for content, control playback, and more with Amazon's Alexa.

With so many Prime Day deals happening right now, we’ve picked out some of our favorite LG TVs from Prime Day TV deals. That means scouring all the major retailers to find the best TV deals along with monitor deals, and much more. After all, LG makes a ton of different great products that are also on sale, including Prime Day soundbar deals and Prime Day monitor deals. Besides rounding up all the best LG Prime Day deals in one place, we’ve also taken a look at how you should choose LG deals this Prime Day. LG TV Prime Day deals LG is one of the best TV brands so you should definitely check out what’s available in the LG TV Prime Day deals happening right now. Whether you’re looking for a 4K TV or something more high-end from LG’s OLED selection, you’ll love these deals. If you can afford it, go with an OLED panel but LG's standard 4K TVs are still very good.

LG 50-inch UT75 4K webOS Tv -- LG 75-inch UQ70 4K webOS TV -- LG 55-inch 85 Series QNED 4K webOS TV -- LG 65-inch 85 Series QNED 4K webOS TV -- LG 65-inch C3 OLED evo 4K webOS TV --

• Action/Adventure
• Children's/Family
• Documentary/Reality
• Amazon Prime Video

More From Decider

R.I.P. Shannen Doherty: '90210' & 'Charmed' Actress Dead at 53

Bette Midler Tearfully Shuts Down Hoda Kotb's Questioning During Emotional...

Were Rats Scurrying Across The Screen In 'The Bachelorette' Season 21...

Netflix Basic Plan Discontinued: Is Netflix Getting Rid Of Its Cheapest...

Michael Strahan Returns To 'Good Morning America' After Two Weeks Off The...

'The Bear' Season 3 Review: Carmy Secures His Role as The Chairman of The...

R.I.P. Martin Mull: 'Clue' & 'Roseanne' Star Dead at 80

Every Kevin Costner Movie Is A Western (Even When They're Not)

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to copy URL

Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Oppenheimer’ on Peacock, Christopher Nolan’s Sprawling, Urgent Three-Hour Nuclear Biopic

Where to stream:.

• Oppenheimer

Happy Father’s Day: Your New King of the “Dad Movie” Is … Matt Damon!

‘peaky blinders’ lives cillian murphy will return as tommy shelby in ‘a peaky blinders film’ for netflix, emily blunt claims some on-screen kisses have made her want to throw up: “i’ve definitely not enjoyed some of it”, donald trump tries to blast “stupid jimmy kimmel” for his “horrendous performance” at the oscars – but mixes him up with al pacino.

Oppenheimer ( now streaming on Peacock , in addition to VOD services like Amazon Prime Video ) is an anomaly: A “prestige”/“auteur-driven” not-a-movie-but-a-Film that was a wild box office success. Christopher Nolan’s inventive bio of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the “father of the atomic bomb,” raked in $950 million worldwide in spite of being a talky three-hour drama that features only one explosion, but hey, that boom is a really, really big one. One wonders if the film would’ve been such a mighty financial success without the “Barbenheimer” phenomenon, which inspired people to flock to theaters for a Barbie / Oppenheimer cognitive-dissonance double-feature – or without the megahyped IMAX 70mm release, which amplified Nolan’s inspired visual presentation, the likes of which lesser directors would probably never consider applying to a historical biopic about a quantum-physics genius. Another component of the anomaly? This mega-big-screen Film works pretty damn well at home on our TVs, too. 

OPPENHEIMER : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: The first two images we see in Oppenheimer are rain and fire. Appropriately, the third is of Oppenheimer himself (Cillian Murphy), who embodies both. Not too long after this, once Nolan shifts from black and white to color, switches aspect ratios and establishes a few plot strands set in different decades – once Nolan does his Nolan thing, you might say – Oppenheimer sits down a university student to discuss how light functions as both wave and particle. “It’s paradoxical – and yet, it works,” Oppenheimer says, which is also a remarkably pithy, on-point description of the man himself. In the moments between these scenes, we see Oppenheimer as a young man and brilliant student in the mid-1920s; we meet Lewis Strauss in 1959 (Robert Downey Jr.) as he’s on the cusp of his Senate confirmation to President Eisenhower’s cabinet; we watch as Oppenheimer is subject to an antagonistic 1954 hearing over whether his government security clearance should be reinstated; and we see Strauss offer Oppenheimer a job, then get miffed when he believes Oppenheimer spoke poorly of him to Albert Einstein (Tom Conti). Cut into all of this are nearly abstract shots of lights, sparks, flares and stars. Oppenheimer is about to start a fire that no amount of rain will ever put out.

These myriad plotlines eventually almost settle down a little as Gen. Leslie Groves (Matt Damon) lures Oppenheimer away from his gig teaching quantum physics, and they get to the business of developing the atom bomb. Hitler’s cutting through Europe, and the Allies worry that he’s developing his own weapon of mass destruction; it’s Oppenheimer’s job to beat the Fuhrer to the punch. Groves enables him to build an entire town, dubbed Los Alamos, in the middle of the New Mexico desert where all the scientists and technicians can bring their families and dedicate all their time to the effort. Meanwhile, we flash back to how Oppenheimer met his wife Kitty (Emily Blunt), who struggles with depression and alcoholism, as well as how he met Jean Tatlock (Florence Pugh), his mistress (being with two partners at once is applying quantum mechanics to love, you know). The two women share one thing in common: membership in the U.S. Communist Party, and Oppenheimer’s fringe interest in such far-left politics will dog him for decades. To be fair, he seems more like a noncommittal sort when it comes to politics and women, more driven by an intellectual curiosity that rejects binary ideas.

Case in point: Is the atomic bomb good or bad? A deterrent or an accelerant? The weapon to end all war or inspire more war? Oppenheimer wrestles with the paradox, but can’t pin it to the mat. All the narratives roll forward: Oppenheimer’s hearing gets heated. Strauss’ confirmation gets heated, too. And as the Los Alamos project progresses, Oppenheimer and co. stare down the likelihood of the bomb creating a chain reaction that’ll set the atmosphere aflame, destroying the entire planet. What are the chances? “Near zero” is the answer, but that’s not zero, and perhaps it goes without saying that everyone would feel a lot better if it was zero; as history dictates, they soldier on anyway. Dozens of characters exchange dialogue with Murphy-as-Oppenheimer, and they’re played by Josh Hartnett, Dane DeHaan, Casey Affleck, Rami Malek, Kenneth Branagh, Benny Safdie, Jason Clarke, David Dastmalchian, Alden Ehrenreich, Macon Blair, Josh Peck, Jack Quaid, Olivia Thirlby and Gary Oldman as Harry Truman. Some of these characters feel the reverberations of that infamous bomb test in the New Mexico desert more than others, but it’s safe to say Oppenheimer felt them the most. 

What Movies Will It Remind You Of?: They’re two wildly different artists, I know, but Nolan’s Oppenheimer and Wes Anderson’s Asteroid City are both piercing and complex explorations of atomic-age existentialism. 

Performance Worth Watching: Oldman blatantly steals his only scene; between this and Fair Play , Ehrenreich has reasserted himself after facing some (not entirely deserving!) criticism for Solo: A Star Wars Story ; Pugh makes the absolute most of her limited screen time; Murphy is never anything less than fully committed; and is that Josh Hartnett, yes indeed that’s Josh Hartnett! But the performance we’ll carry with us the longest is Downey’s, whose memorably acerbic role as this story’s greasy-politics villain will likely make him an Oscar frontrunner.

Memorable Dialogue: The film’s most piercing bit is a moment in which Oldman’s Truman says nothing at all, only firing off a million-razorblades stare after this exchange:

Eisenhower: I hear you’re leaving Los Alamos. Whatcha gonna do with it? Oppenheimer: Give it back to the Indians.

Sex and Skin: A couple of medium-graphic sex scenes; near full-frontal Pugh. 

Our Take: As depicted here, Oppenheimer is not at all a Man of Certainty, which, in the mid-century context, makes him not much of a man at all. Real men are decisive and stick to their guns and double down and never, ever change their minds. You know the type. But those hombres anchor genre movies (Westerns, action flicks) and aren’t the subjects of complicated 180-minute biodramas that build and build and build and build to a nuclear explosion that’s so non-climactic, it’s followed by another entire hour of movie. Not that the kaboom isn’t memorable; it’s intense and awe-inspiring, rattling body and mind with its physicality and implications, and it’s the only thing that shakes Oppenheimer from his habit of being ideologically evasive.

Murphy is extraordinary at carrying this man’s multitudes: His take on Oppenheimer is that of a brilliant scientist who’s gifted at inspiring other bright minds to build upon his ideas, a man committed to telling the truth no matter what, and a deeply flawed human being. In Murphy’s performance you sense the struggle within Oppenheimer to tamp down emotions outside of his enthusiasm for pure scientific pursuits, but when politics muddy those pursuits, the emotion swells, cracking his facade. Is he a communist? Yes and no. Does he like being a husband and family man? Yes and no. Does he think the atomic bomb is the granddaddy of all ideological cans of worms? Yes, of course he does, and his attempt to compartmentalize his work in the lab from real-world implications is surely his greatest failure.

Believe it or not, Nolan’s storytelling here is crisp and economic, the narrative moving urgently thanks to Jennifer Lame’s brisk editing. Oppenheimer is as propulsive as dialogue-driven habitually time-hopping three-hour character studies get, an uneasy score and on-edge performances generating simmering tension up to and through the big detonation, and the subsequent fallout when Oppenheimer tries to split the hairs of fame and infamy, of guilt and righteousness. Nolan’s loop-de-looping screenplay mirrors the ethical curlicues Oppenheimer navigates throughout, and is packed with dialogue that feels elevated and pragmatic, dozens of sloganeering lines laced with double meanings at the service of a procedural underscored with the terrifying moral dilemmas of the Cold War and struggle existential metaphors involving black holes, dying stars, shattered atoms and things we struggle to comprehend and don’t want to think about. Sure, we might chuckle when Matt Damon all-caps bellows, “THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT F—ING THING IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD!” but we can’t argue that it’s not justified.

Oppenheimer gives us perhaps the year’s most horrifying sequence when the protagonist gives an unconvincing jingoistic speech to Los Alamos residents, and from his point of view, it’s a surrealistic nightmare, a booze-soaked quasi-religious scene of screaming, crying, laughing rapture. People stomp and clap and chant his name, for he’s the man who ended the war by inventing the bomb that killed hundreds of thousands of people. The chain reaction has started, and it feels like the beginning of the end. It’s the only time we see him speak a lie. 

Our Call: STREAM IT. Oppenheimer is an ambitious film (one of the most ambitious ever) about an ambitious project (also one of the most ambitious ever, for better or worse). Nolan blows up the traditional biopic and rebuilds it in thrilling, dynamic fashion.

John Serba is a freelance writer and film critic based in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• Christopher Nolan
• Peacock Premium
• Stream It Or Skip It

Bette Midler Tearfully Shuts Down Hoda Kotb's Questioning During Emotional 'Today' Interview: "Please Don't Make Me Cry"

When Will 'Power Book II: Ghost' Season 4, Episode 6 Premiere on Starz?

'Live': Mark Consuelos Asks Tyler Perry Why He And Kelly Ripa "Have Never Been" In One Of His Movies After Learning Two 'All My Children' Alum Are In His Latest Film

I Found The Chicago Tribune's Restaurant Review of "The Bear," The Windy City's Hottest New Eatery

'Live': Kelly Ripa Calls Out Mark Consuelos For Looking Right At Her While Discussing "Aging Skin"

Michael Douglas Stuns 'The View' By Revealing Catherine Zeta-Jones' Demand When She Beats Him In Golf: "Whip It Out"