Drumline | Rotten Tomatoes (2025)

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Where to Watch Drumline What to Know Critics Reviews Audience Reviews My Rating Cast & Crew More Like This Photos Drumline

82%

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87 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

250,000+ Ratings

Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, "Drumline" is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band's drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world before realizing that it takes a more than talent to reach the top.

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Drumline

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Critics Consensus

Essentially a sports movie with drums, the energetic Drumline somehow manages to make the familiar seem fresh.

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Critics Reviews

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Nell Minow

Common Sense Media

Outstanding cast, great message, strong language.

Rated: 4/5

Dec 22, 2010

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Sara Michelle Fetters

MovieFreak.com

The joy of the movie is in the getting there, and Drumline gets so much of the little stuff right that the denouement ends up being nothing less than rousing.

Rated: 3/4

Jun 19, 2003

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Newsday

Rated: 3/4

May 28, 2003

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Justin Brown

Medium Popcorn

The main protagonist is incredibly unlikeable and the plot is mindless. I didn't care about any of the characters.

Rated: 1/5

Jul 2, 2023

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Brandon Collins

Medium Popcorn

As questionable as Nick Cannon's character is, this is still entertaining. The drumming scenes were fantastic.

Rated: 3/5

Jul 2, 2023

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Nick Rogers

Midwest Film Journal

True bandos can see themselves in this exuberant, charismatic and lovingly accurate college marching-band movie that faked no flavor while staying in step with themes of instruction, character and respect.

Rated: 3.5/4

Sep 25, 2010

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Audience Reviews

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Jace E The drumming was pretty cool... Yeah... That's about it.Best Character: Dr. LeeBest Quote: "You're the best, Devon! But when we're on the field, nobody hears you! They hear the band." - SeanBest Scene: Two in Front Rated 2.5/5 Stars • Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 05/21/25 Full Review Michael W This music movie was pretty good. Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana, Leonard Roberts, Orlando Jones, and the rest of the cast did a pretty good job in this movie. The story of the movie was kind of entertaining and dramatic. It's about showing people what you're made of. If you haven't seen this movie yet, you might enjoy it. It wasn't as great as I thought it would be, but it wasn't terrible. Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/01/25 Full Review Theo S Filled with impressive drumming, good music and an interesting enough plot to keep most entertained. Rated 3.5/5 Stars • Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/23/24 Full Review Rosana B oderiam ter investido mais no drama que na rebeldia sem causa de um jovem talentoso, mas mimado (nem tinha motivos para isso, já que fora abandonado pelo pai e criada por mãe solo) e sem limites, beirando o irresponsável, um filme bonitinho sobre bandas escolares e toda sua dedicação necessária para uma apresentação majestosa... Bonitinho... Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Same old story line with in different setting. Talented, cocky kid gets straightened out and makes good. This time it's a drummer in a college marching band instead of an athlete. Conflicts with authority, has a girlfriend and all the same trappings. In the end he straightens out and makes good. Who woulda guessed. Rated 2/5 Stars • Rated 2 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member I never rated this eh? Rated 3/5 Stars • Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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Cast & Crew

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Charles Stone III Director Nick Cannon Devon Zoe Saldaña Laila Orlando Jones Dr. Lee Leonard Roberts Sean GQ Jayson

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Drumline

Orlando Jones portrays Dr. Lee, the demanding and dedicated director of a university show-style marching band.

Orlando Jones (left) instructs Nick Cannon on what it takes to be part of a college marching band drumline, in DRUMLINE.

The drumline takes aim at the competition during the Big Southern Classic.

Sean (Leonard Roberts, left) and Devon (Nick Cannon, center) and the rest of the drumline compete at the Big Southern Classic.

The rivalry between drumline leader Sean (Leonard Roberts, left) and fledgling drummer Devon (Nick Cannon) threatens both their careers.

Devon (Nick Cannon, left) and bandmate Ernest (GQ) enjoy some downtime.

Devon (Nick Cannon) strikes up a romance with upperclassman Laila (Zoë Saldana).

Orlando Jones portrays Dr. Lee, the demanding and dedicated director of a university show-style marching band.

Nick Cannon stars as Devon Miles, a gifted drummer who is determined to shine on a university show-style marching band drumline.

Orlando Jones portrays Dr. Lee, the demanding and dedicated director of a university show-style marching band.

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Synopsis Set against the high-energy, high-stakes world of show-style marching bands, "Drumline" is a fish-out-of-water comedy about a talented street drummer from Harlem who enrolls in a Southern university, expecting to lead its marching band's drumline to victory. He initially flounders in his new world before realizing that it takes a more than talent to reach the top.

Director: Charles Stone III
Producer: Wendy Finerman, Timothy M. Bourne, Jody Gerson
Screenwriter: Shawn Schepps, Shawn Schepps, Tina Gordon
Distributor: 20th Century Fox of Germany, 20th Century Fox de Argentina [ar], 20th Century Fox, Fox
Production Co: Fox 2000 Pictures, Wendy Finerman Productions
Rating: PG-13 (Language|Innuendo)
Genre: Comedy, Drama, Music
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Dec 13, 2002, Wide
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA): $56.4M
Runtime: 1h 58m
Sound Mix: Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, DTS, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)