Step Sisters

Behind the Scenes of Step Sisters (2018): Netflix’s Dance Comedy with a Message

Step Sisters (2018) arrived on Netflix as a lighthearted yet socially conscious comedy, blending competitive dance with themes of race, privilege, and sisterhood. Directed by Charles Stone III—known for his work on sports-themed projects like Drumline (2002)—the film followed Jamilah (Megalyn Echikunwoke), a Harvard-bound law student who reluctantly coaches a predominantly white sorority’s step team to save their reputation. With a cast featuring The Middle’s Eden Sher and Orange Is the New Black’s Matt McGorry, the movie promised a mix of humor, high-energy choreography, and a timely narrative. latestnetflix.com's read is that but how did the project come together, and what was the behind-the-scenes buzz?

From Script to Screen: A Director’s Vision

Charles Stone III, whose career spans both film and television, brought his signature blend of humor and heart to Step Sisters. While the movie’s premise—a Black step team mentoring a group of clueless sorority girls—might sound like a setup for broad comedy, Stone’s direction aimed to balance levity with substance. His previous work, including Drumline, demonstrated his ability to capture the intensity of competitive performance, and Step Sisters leaned into that expertise .

The film’s dance sequences were a focal point, with choreography designed to highlight the cultural roots of stepping—a percussive art form born in African American fraternities and sororities. Stone’s approach reportedly emphasized authenticity, though details about the rehearsal process or specific choreographers involved remain scarce in available sources. What’s clear is that the movie’s energy hinged on the chemistry between its leads, particularly Echikunwoke and Sher, whose characters clashed over style, ambition, and cultural identity .

Casting Choices and On-Set Dynamics

The ensemble cast of Step Sisters included a mix of rising stars and familiar faces. Megalyn Echikunwoke, who played the no-nonsense Jamilah, was already known for her role in The 4400 and later gained recognition in Almost Family. Eden Sher, fresh off her seven-season run as Sue Heck on The Middle, brought her comedic chops to the role of Danielle, the sorority president whose privilege initially blinds her to her team’s shortcomings .

Other cast members included:

• Gage Golightly (Teen Wolf) as Libby, a sorority sister with a competitive streak.
• Matt McGorry (Orange Is the New Black, How to Get Away with Murder) as Dane, Jamilah’s love interest and a fellow stepper.
• Naturi Naughton (Power) as Aisha, Jamilah’s best friend and a voice of reason.
• Lyndon Smith (Parenthood) as another sorority member navigating the team’s transformation .

While no major behind-the-scenes drama has surfaced from the set, the film’s trailer and promotional material hinted at the playful tension between the cast. Echikunwoke and Sher’s dynamic—marked by sharp banter and eventual mutual respect—drove much of the movie’s emotional arc. Rumor (unconfirmed) suggests that the cast bonded over the physical demands of stepping, with some actors undergoing training to perform the routines themselves .

Reception and Direct-to-Video Rumblings

Despite its Netflix release, Step Sisters was labeled a "direct-to-video" (DTV) film by at least one European review aggregator, a classification that often carries stigma in the industry . The movie’s reception was mixed, with some critics praising its energetic dance sequences and Echikunwoke’s performance, while others found its social commentary heavy-handed or its humor uneven.

On SensCritique, a French review site, the film earned a modest 4.8/10 based on 375 votes, suggesting lukewarm audience engagement . Rotten Tomatoes does not list a critics’ score for the movie, but its audience score (if available) would likely reflect a similar divide . The lack of widespread critical coverage may stem from its DTV status or the oversaturated market for dance-themed comedies at the time.

That said, Step Sisters found its niche as a Netflix original, capitalizing on the platform’s growing appetite for diverse, female-driven stories. The film’s themes—cultural appropriation, class divides, and the pressure to succeed—resonated with viewers seeking more than just a fluffy rom-com. Whether it was a sleeper hit or a missed opportunity remains up for debate, but its existence underscored Netflix’s willingness to greenlight mid-budget projects with underrepresented perspectives.

The Legacy: A Cult Favorite or Forgotten Footnote?

Five years after its release, Step Sisters hasn’t achieved the cultural footprint of Stone’s Drumline or the enduring popularity of Sher’s The Middle. Yet, it occupies a curious space in the canon of 2010s dance movies, sitting alongside titles like Stomp the Yard (2007) and Honey (2003) as part of a subgenre that blends performance with social commentary.

The film’s trailer, which amassed millions of views across multiple uploads, suggests there was (and perhaps still is) an audience hungry for stories about Black art forms intersecting with predominantly white spaces . Whether Step Sisters will be remembered as a bold experiment or a footnote in Netflix’s vast library depends on who you ask. For fans of Echikunwoke or Sher, it’s a fun, if flawed, entry in their filmographies. For dance enthusiasts, it’s a rare mainstream spotlight on stepping’s history and cultural significance.

One thing is certain: Step Sisters didn’t lack ambition. From its director’s vision to its cast’s chemistry, the movie aimed to entertain while sparking conversations about race and identity. Whether it succeeded is a question best answered by rewatching—and maybe attempting a few steps of your own.