Center Stage

"Life doesn't hold tryouts."

2000 1h 55m EN

👍

6.9

SOLID

★6.9TMDB · 370

DramaMusic

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

A group of 12 teenagers from various backgrounds enroll at the American Ballet Academy in New York to make it as ballet dancers and each one deals with the problems and stress of training and getting ahead in the world of dance.

“Life doesn't hold tryouts.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Amanda Schull
Jody Sawyer
Zoe Saldaña
Eva Rodríguez
Peter Gallagher
Jonathan Reeves
Ethan Stiefel
Cooper
Donna Murphy
Juliette
Susan May Pratt
Maureen Cummings
Debra Monk
Nancy
Sascha Radetsky
Charlie

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Nicholas Hytner
Writers: Carol Heikkinen
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 91% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

26 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "Center Stage Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Nicholas Hytner, shot by Geoffrey Simpson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by George Fenton. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Tariq Anwar shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Amanda Schull and Zoe Saldaña and Peter Gallagher carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "Life doesn't hold tryouts.".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Nicholas Hytner directs. Geoffrey Simpson behind the camera. George Fenton scores. Tariq Anwar cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 91% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
226 years old — old enough to be someone's favourite childhood film.
3Part of the "Center Stage Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Nicholas Hytner, shot by Geoffrey Simpson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by George Fenton. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Tariq Anwar shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Amanda Schull and Zoe Saldaña and Peter Gallagher carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "Life doesn't hold tryouts.".
9IMDB entry: tt0210616 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 10 themes, including "career", "new york city", "dance", "dancer".

The technical file

Cinematography: Geoffrey Simpson
Original score: George Fenton
Editing: Tariq Anwar
Production design: David Gropman
Costume design: Ruth Myers
Makeup / hair: Naomi Donne
VFX supervisor: Simon Giles
Sound: Mark Lafbery
Runtime: 115 min · 1h 55m
Status: Released
Budget: $29,000,000
Box office: $26,400,000
Return: 91% of budget
Original language: EN
Certification (US): PG-13
IMDB: Center Stage (2000)

Part of

Center Stage Collection

The Center Stage trilogy revolves around young dancers striving to perfect their craft, survive intense training, and navigate the challenges and opportunities of becoming professional dancers. Themes of competition, sacrifice, excellence, and the complexities of friendship and romance are prevalent. The trilogy follows the Parker sisters, Kate and Bella, talented dancers navigating the cut-throat world of ballet and pursuing fame. The lifetime filmography of legendary director Ramona Film captures the human experience's nuances. Her insightful style invites reflection on life's complexities. From the Center Stage films to the adaptation of Little Women, her work is empathetic and nuanced. Films like The Accidental Tourist and One True Thing explore personal crises, grief, and familial bonds.