This Friday, “Step Up,” the street dance franchise that just won’t stop, returns for its fifth entry, “Step Up: All In.”
The jury’s still out on how this one will fare with audiences, but one thing’s for sure: America loves its dance.
Take a trip down memory lane with one of these flicks — in no particular order, the 15 best dance movies Hollywood’s ever made.
‘Center Stage’ (2000)
Before there were Edward and Jacob, there were Charlie and Cooper. This teen drama has everything — romance! Sex! Backstage back-stabbing!
You can’t top the drama of finding out who makes it into a company, and that finale sequence has inspired legions of young choreographers to color outside the lines.
‘Step Up’ (2006)
Not only did the original “Step Up” give us Channing Tatum, it gave Channing Tatum a wife — co-star Jenna Dewan-Tatum. The dancing is great, but it’s made all the better as you see the two stars fall for each other for real.
‘Footloose’ (1984)
“Footloose” isn’t nearly as good as you remember, but ask anyone what their favorite dance movie is, and this is probably the one they’ll name — despite the limited amount of footwork in the film.
Blame the uber-charming Kevin Bacon, who teaches us all about the power of dance.
‘Shall We Dance’ (1937)
Yes we shall! This Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers team-up is one for the ages. Astaire plays a ballet dancer who falls for Rogers, a famous tapper.
There’s more to it than that, but all you need to know is that it culminates in this splashy finale.
‘Billy Elliot’ (2000)
Any male dancer — or anyone who’s ever dared to be different — could identify with 11-year-old Billy, who dreamed of becoming a ballet star, despite his conservative coal miner father’s protests.
‘Dirty Dancing’ (1987)
Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey brought the heat in this coming-of-age story that became a box-office smash. It’s basically impossible not to have the time of your life watching it (see what we did there?).
‘Black Swan’ (2010)
Who’d have thought a psycho thriller about a ballerina, complete with sapphic sex, would become a major Oscar player? Natalie Portman took home the gold for her haunting turn in Darren Aronofsky’s powerful film.
‘Flashdance’ (1983)
It was panned by the critics, but those who grew up in the ’80s have a special place in their hearts for the tale of a welder/bar dancer with big ballet dreams. No audition has ever topped this one.
‘Strictly Ballroom’ (1992)
Although Baz Luhrmann’s directorial debut is largely forgotten, this romantic comedy follows an Australian ballroom dancer stifled by the genre’s suffocating rules. Poignant stuff for us rule-breakers.
‘Happy Feet’ (2006)
Basically “Footloose” with penguins, “Happy Feet” brings some killer tap dance numbers courtesy of a heck of a lot of birds. When will you ever see that in real life?
‘Saturday Night Fever’ (1977)
There is not a person in the world who has not attempted John Travolta’s “Stayin’ Alive” number — and for that reason alone, this list wouldn’t be complete without it.
‘Swing Time’ (1936)
Another Astaire-Rogers pairing, “Swing Time” is widely considered one of their greatest works. Just try not to get swept up in this!
‘Breakin’’ (1984)
The original break dance movie has its flaws, but it laid the groundwork for the dance genre we know today, from the “Step Up” films to “Stomp The Yard” and “You Got Served.”
It also gifted us with the beginning of Ice-T’s illustrious acting career.
‘The Red Shoes’ (1948)
Adapting a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale, this classic tackles the age-old battle between career and love.
‘Magic Mike’ (2012)
OK, technically, this movie is about stripping. But in the midst of that stripping, there’s a whole lotta dancing! Channing Tatum’s moves are on full display, especially in one memorable routine to Ginuwine’s “Pony.” Now that’s art.