Twenty-five years after Bring It On defined a generation, stars Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union have reunited for a new campaign, revealing to People the hilarious souvenirs they took from their anniversary celebrations and how the film’s spirit lives on in their lives as moms.
The rivalry between the Toros and the Clovers was legendary, but the real-life friendship between Kirsten Dunst and Gabrielle Union has proven to be the true enduring legacy of the 2000 cheerleading comedy Bring It On. A quarter-century after the film’s release, the two stars are reuniting, not for a sequel, but for Google Shopping’s new “Try On” feature, showcasing a chemistry that has only improved with time.
In an exclusive interview, the actresses opened up about their 25th-anniversary celebrations, the items they couldn’t resist taking home, and how the film continues to shape their lives in unexpected ways.
The Great Pom-Pom Heist
When the cast reunited for a screening at the Alamo Drafthouse earlier this year, it seems not all the spirit gear made it back to the studio. Dunst confessed, “After our reunion at the Alamo Drafthouse, I stole some of those pom poms! They were really legit, cool pom poms, so I brought them home to my kids and I did a cheer for them, which I would never do for anybody else.”
The actress, 43, is mom to sons Ennis, 7, and James, 4, who were apparently mesmerized by their mom’s hidden talents. “They were so impressed, enthralled. They were like, ‘Our mom is amazing,’” Dunst shared.
Union was quick to admit she was guilty of the same crime. Laughing, she said, “I’m glad that you admitted to stealing the poms first because I absolutely stole those poms. I can see them in Kaav’s room right now.” However, her daughter Kaavia, 7, was a tougher critic. “She was like, ‘I can do this better.’ Kaavia’s been in dance since she was 2, so she was like, ‘Sister, please, I don’t even know what you’re doing right now,’” Union recounted.
A Legacy That Cheers On
The film’s impact extends far beyond stolen memorabilia. For Dunst, Bring It On is now influencing her role as a parent. “We don’t have cheerleading at our school for the younger grades. So that’s how much Bring It On is in my life, is that I’m going to be part of helping the cheerleaders at our school now. I don’t know how good I’ll be, but yeah, that’s how it lives on. It’s living on so hard that now I’m part of the school program,” she revealed.
Reflecting on the surreal nature of the film’s lasting popularity, Union expressed a sense of joyful disbelief. “It feels good, but we’re all kind of like, ‘This is crazy. This is wild, but in the best possible way.’” She highlighted her ongoing connection with co-star Lindsay Sloane, whose children attend the same school. “When I see her, it’s always like we just crack up thinking about that little movie that we did that summer in San Diego and that people are still really enjoying it. It’s a trip, but it’s also giggle and gag-worthy still, 25 years later.”
Reuniting for a Y2K Fashion Moment
The catalyst for their latest get-together was a commercial for Google’s “Try On” feature, which allows shoppers to visualize clothing on themselves using AI. The spot captures Dunst and Union searching for the perfect New Year’s Eve looks, playfully slipping back into their competitive dynamic.
Dunst praised the project and her co-star, noting, “As a busy mom, I understand how it comes in handy. And [filming the commercial] was so fun! Gabby and I have a natural chemistry and it hasn’t changed, and you feel that. You feel the genuine respect and love for each other. I think people are going to be really pumped to see that we did something together again.”
Union echoed the sentiment, adding that their reunions have become more frequent this anniversary year. “It was a lot of fun and everyone’s like, ‘Do you guys ever see each other?’ And randomly this year, I’ve probably seen her more than I’ve seen her in years past. So it was fun to continue the family reunion and get to play and do something super fun and take it back 25 years to a more innocent time, but while still sort of exploring our love of fashion and our love of shopping. So it was fun, a lot of fun.”
Why This Reunion Matters Now
The enduring appeal of Bring It On lies in its perfect blend of sharp comedy, genuine heart, and a surprisingly insightful look at cultural appropriation and competition. The film was a launching pad for its young cast and has since become a cult classic, spawning a direct-to-video franchise but never replicating the magic of the original.
This reunion taps into a powerful wave of nostalgia for early 2000s culture, a trend that has dominated fashion and entertainment in recent years. Seeing Dunst and Union together again is more than a simple promotional stunt; it’s a validation of a film that audiences have cherished for decades. Their easy camaraderie proves that the spirit of Bring It On was never just about the cheers—it was about the connections forged both on and off the screen.
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