Save the Last Dance (2001)

A white midwestern girl moves to Chicago, where her new boyfriend is a black teen from the South Side with a rough, semi-criminal past.

Director:

Thomas Carter

Writers:

Duane Adler (story), Duane Adler (screenplay)

Stars:

Julia Stiles, Sean Patrick Thomas, Kerry Washington

6 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julia Stiles	...	Sara
Sean Patrick Thomas	...	Derek
Kerry Washington	...	Chenille
Fredro Starr	...	Malakai
Terry Kinney	...	Roy
Bianca Lawson	...	Nikki
Vince Green	...	Snookie
Garland Whitt	...	Kenny
Elisabeth Oas	...	Diggy
Artel Great	...	Arvel (as Artel Jarod Walker)
Cory Stewart	...	Lip
Jennifer Anglin	...	Glynn
Dorothy Martin	...	Momma Dean
Kim Tlusty	...	Lindsay
Felicia Fields	...	Woman on Train

Storyline

Sara wants to be a ballerina, but her dreams are cut short by the sudden death of her mother. She moves in with her father, who she has not seen for a long time. He lives on the other side of town, in a predominantly Black neighborhood. She gets transferred to a new school where she is one of the few White students there. She becomes friends with Chenille, and later, falls in love with Chenille's brother, Derek.

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Plot Keywords:

interracial romance | interracial relationship | slim attractive girl | visible midriff | slim waist | 

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Taglines:

The Only Person You Need To Be Is Yourself.

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Genres:

Drama | Music | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for violence, sexual content, language and brief drug references

Did You Know?

Trivia

Julia Stiles starred in O (2001) with Josh Hartnett the same year. Hartnett previously appeared in Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998). Sean Patrick Thomas later appeared in its sequel Halloween: Resurrection (2002).

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Goofs

In the break-up, Sara, seated, has a sweat spot on her sweater. After walking across the room, the spot has disappeared.

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Quotes

Chenille: Too many little boys thinkin' they thugs.

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Alternate Versions

The DVD features four deleted scenes:

• Record Store: A scene after the first night at Steps. Snook tries to talk a girl and gets shot down. He gives Derek the last copy of a CD. Sara shops for some hip-hop CDs and flirts with Derek.
• Jazz Club: Sara goes to see her father play.
• Chenille's Apartment: Kenny and Chenille argue about their son and talk about their relationship before the baby.
• Playground: Kenny and Chenille talk in a park.

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Connections

Spoofed in The Loud House: Singled Out/Brave the Last Dance (2020)

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Soundtracks

All or Nothing
by John Rhone, Ontario Haynes, Enchanteé Minor, Chante Frierson, Sherree Ford Payne (as Sherree Ford),
Latrelle (as Latrelle Simmons), and Arlene Aleese Simmons (as Aleese Simmons)
Performed by Athena Cage
Produced by Whole 9
Athena Cage performs courtesy of Priority Records

User Reviews

Um...what?

Yeah, the movie started like it actually may have a point to it. Then, after she went to that club (I don't even remember the name of it and I saw it three hours ago), it just went downhill. It was more of a fish-out-of-water kind of movie than a movie about dancing. It was so predictable, I was counting off the seconds from when they were about to kiss! The only good point was that Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas had such good chemistry and were so cute. Still, it didn't make up for a shallow plot, stereotypes and an idea that went nowhere.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 January 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Save the Last Dance

Filming Locations:

CTA Rail System, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$23,444,930, 14 January 2001

Gross USA:

$91,057,006

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$131,706,809

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cort/Madden Productions, MTV Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1