Backspot

The plot follows two cheerleaders named Riley and Amanda as they navigate the world of competitive cheerleading.

• Devery Jacobs as Riley
• Evan Rachel Wood as Eileen McNamara
• Noa DiBerto as Rachel
• Kudakwashe Rutendo as Amanda
• Thomas Antony Olajide as Devon
• Oluniké Adeliyi as Denise
• Wendy Crewson as Suzanne
• Shannyn Sossamon as Tracy
• Adrianna Di Liello as Banigan
• Marlee Sansom as Laila

The project is produced by Page Boy Productions, Night is Y, and Prospero Pictures. It was written by Joanne Sarazen, based on a story by D. W. Waterson. Elliot Page, Matthew Jordan Smith, John Davidson, and Katisha Shaw executive produce, with Alona Metzer, Waterson, Jacobs, and Martin Katz as producers. In December 2023, XYZ Films had acquired the U.S., Australia and New Zealand distribution rights to the film.

In cheerleading, a backspotter acts as a support to the flyer during cheerleading stunts, which is referenced in the title of the project.

Casting

As well as producing the movie, Jacobs was announced as one of the leads of the film in October 2022. Newcomer Kudakwashe Rutendo was announced as the other lead in February 2023. Evan Rachel Wood was revealed to have joined the production in March 2023.

Filming

Principal photography began in Toronto in February 2023. It was reported by Collider that filming had wrapped in March 2023.

Backspot was released in the Canada and the United States on May 31, 2024.

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 87% of 52 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's consensus reads: "An outstanding showcase for Devery Jacobs, Backspot is front of the line as an insightful and thrilling sports drama."