On the surface, stripper movies often seem like gimmicks that draw audiences in with promises of nudity and sex around every corner. Once you dive a little deeper, most of these films have interesting characters and intriguing stories balanced out by amazing dance scenes. TheMagic Mikefranchise is an excellent example of stripper movies done right — due in large part to the fact that it’s aSteven Soderbergh movie— and there are plenty of great moments throughout both installments in the series.
Magic Mikeintroduces titular protagonist Mike, played by the ever-entertainingChanning Tatum, as he attempts to fund his own small business by stripping at a nightclub. The sequelMagic Mike XXLshows the aftermath of his career: a few years after quitting the entertainment scene, he and his fellow Kings of Tampa decide to get in one last hurrah by performing at a stripping convention in South Carolina. There are countless hilarious, sweet, and real moments in the series. And with news thatHBO Max will produceMagic Mike’s Last Dance, here’s a look back at some of Channing Tatum’s best moments in theMagic Mikefilms.
Related:Here’s Everything We Know About Magic Mike’s Last Dance
7The Umbrella Dance Scene (It’s Raining Men)
This scene is tons of fun for several reasons. Mike leads his posse of dancers onstage in full trench coats and hats, which gives the whole performance a sultry, noir feel — the guys look like sex symbols that just walked off the set of Casablanca, and it’s an interesting change of pace. Once the umbrellas come out, the guys use them as props in a way that’s both hilarious and sexy! Mike does a phenomenal job leading the other strippers, and he takes center stage with some of hiscoolest dance moves yet.
6Convincing Paris to Let the Kings Perform
Throughout both films, we see Mike use his charm, good looks and smooth talk to achieve anything he sets out to do. When he faces off with Paris (Elizabeth Banks) at the stripping convention, the two are an even match; Paris gives him every reason his group can’t perform, and Mike comes back with every reason they should get a spot in the show. It’s an interesting dynamic of power, and Mike comes through to get his boys onstage. He’s not willing to back down and cost the guys their opportunity for one last hurrah, and it adds a bit of integrity to his character.
5The Original Pony Choreography
Of all of Channing Tatum’s dance routines in film, his first choreography to Ginuwine’s ‘Pony’ is the most fun to watch! The song is a smooth, sexy slow jam, but his moves are surprisingly high-energy and provide fantastic contrast. His jumps and turns are mesmerizing to watch, and there’s no feeling like that split-second of panic when he flips off the stage and into the audience. This dance is iconic to the series, and rightfully so.
4Pony, Revisited
We can’t talk about the first ‘Pony’ choreography without talking about the steamy follow-up! Tatum revisits his jam inMagic Mike XXL; we see him working in his shop several years after quitting the entertainment business, and the song comes on the radio. What follows is an incredible freestyle dance, and the way he uses his power tools as part of the performance lends to the improvised feel of it all. Mike is finally feeling himself again, and watching him come back to life is a joy. Plus, we get to see him add a chair to his routine, which is surprisingly uncommon in the films.
Related:Channing Tatum Says Magic Mike’s Last Dance is All About Dancing
3“Make Her Smile”
One of the sweetest moments in the franchise is thescene where Mike convinces fellow dancer Richieto make a young woman working in a gas station to smile. He’s not encouraging Richie to hit on or harass her — rather, Mike is reminding him that their job as male entertainers is to make women happy. The gang is watching through the window while Richie works his magic, and the way they cheer when the cashier finally cracks a smile is truly wholesome. It’s a sweet display of bromance and positive interaction between men and women that’s rare in stripper flicks.
2Walking the Beach With Brooke
What makes this scene special is that there’s no stripping going on. It’s just a normal conversation between Mike and love interest Brooke as the two walk along the shore at the beach. Brooke admits that she doesn’t understand the appeal of working as a stripper, and Mike responds with clarity that he has his reasons for enjoying it regardless of what other people think. It’s not magical, romantic or sexual, and the duo actually agrees to disagree on their views. In the middle of all the movie’s hypersexual themes, this is a nice human moment that rounds everything out. It also shows that couples aren’t always perfect just because they’re attractive.
When the guys find themselves in the audience at a drag show, Mike challenges them to get onstage and show how committed they are to their careers as performers. Mike leads the charge and kicks things off with his own fantastic spin on voguing, and he encourages the entire gang to get wild and have fun. Some of them grab props like feather boas, and Tobias caps it all off in a fruit basket head wrap and heels! They’re so entertaining that drag MC Tori Snatch tips them, and we’re sure the entire audience would have done the same.
