Mad Hot Ballroom
Seen it?2005 | 105 min | Documentary, Family
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (84% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it made about 19 times its budget, though it had almost no lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for families and the curious.
- The mood
- Feel-good, eye-opening.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 45 min.
- What might put you off
- Rated PG. Worth a look first if you have very young kids.
Eleven-year-old New York City public school kids journey into the world of ballroom dancing and reveal pieces of themselves and their world along the way. Told from their candid, sometimes humorous perspectives, these kids are transformed, from reluctant participants to determined competitors, from typical urban kids to "ladies and gentlemen," on their way to try to compete in the final citywide competition.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
84% on Rotten Tomatoes, 71 on Metacritic
- AudiencesNot counted
Not measured yet: not enough ratings
- AwardsNot counted
No major awards or nominations
- Box office & staying powerStrong
$9 million worldwide on a $500K budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactWeak
About 16K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Marilyn Agrelo
- Heather BermanSelf
- Emma Therese BiegackiSelf
- Eva CarrozzaSelf
- Evangelina CarrozzoSelf
- Paul DaggettSelf
- Graciela DanieleSelf - Final Competition Judge
- Pierre DulaineSelf - Organizer and MC of the Final Dance Competition
- Leslie FreuSelf - Teacher PS 112
- Tara Devon GallagherSelf
- Madeleine HackneySelf