REVIEW: 'Best of the Best' universality breaks through cultural barriers

'Best of the Best' stars best friends played. by Priyanka Kedia, left, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan.

Step out onto the ledge with me, because we’re looking at a film that is absolutely bursting with color, rhythm, and pure collegiate energy! Netflix’s Best of the Best takes us right to the chaotic, high-stakes edge of the competitive South Asian collegiate dance circuit, and it is a total trip.

If you’re looking for a fresh lens on the modern diaspora experience, this movie delivers a front-row seat. Think Booksmart but turbocharged with a major dose of Bollywood fusion. 

Scrolling through Netflix's offerings, Best of the Best sneaked up on us with very little fanfare or advance PR reviews.

Directed by the brilliant Lena Khan (The Tiger Hunter and Disney+'s Flora & Ulysses).  and co-written by the powerhouse duo of Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, the film follows childhood besties Maya and Anjali as they dive headfirst into the cutthroat world of UCLA dance, specifically Bollywood-dance competitions. 

'Best of the Best' stars, from left: Maitreyi Ramakrishnan (“Never Have I Ever”), Hasan Minhaj (“Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj”) and Priyanka Kedia (“Everything To Me”). 

The movie completely nails the vibrant, hyper-focused youth culture of South Asian Americans—balancing massive ambitions, deep sisterhood, and the classic hustle of identity and family expectations. It’s funny, authentic, and spectacularly alive.

But does Best of the Best land the jump as pure entertainment for a massive, diverse audience? Absolutely, though it depends on what you're craving. We've seen the basic formula in other films (the Pitch Perfect franchise comes to mine.) so the outcome is perfectly predictable, but that is the appeal of the feature. It's familiar, but the additional masala makes it new.

Over on Rotten Tomatoes, critics are totally on board, giving it a sparkling 81% for its dazzling choreography and infectiously joyful chaos. General audiences are sitting a bit lower at 47%, mostly because underneath all those jaw-dropping, rhythmic dance numbers beats the heart of a classic, predictable college formula.

The key is one doesn't have to be South Asian to enjoy this coming-of-age feature that offers a glimpse into a community that largely does unnoticed by mainstream media and the non-Asian communities.

Still, from where I’m standing, that familiar storyline is exactly what makes it so universally accessible! The universal themes of friendship and following your passion mean anyone can grab some popcorn and enjoy the ride. If you love high-energy spectacle, dance, and a lot of heart, this one is well worth the watch.

FYI: The South Asian American dance competitions is real thing. See below:

Collegiate teams are the backbone of the South Asian dance circuit, especially across the Desi Dance Network (DDN) and the National Desi Dance League (NDDL). 

The primary intercollegiate South Asian dance competitions scheduled for the 2026–2027 season feature several prominent events:

2027 Collegiate Desi Dance Competitions

Competition	Date	Location / Venue	Styles / Focus
REVIVAL 2027	January 16, 2027	P.C. Ho Theatre, Scarborough, ON	Canada's largest collegiate & secondary circuit; features Bhangra, Bollywood, and Classical Fusion.
Aa Dekhen Zara (ADZ XVII)	February 6, 2027	Shannon Hall, Madison, WI	Massive South Asian Fusion collegiate bid competition run by UW-Madison students.
South Asian Showdown	February 2027	Northeast US (Boston, MA)	High-profile regional competitive showcase for top-tier collegiate Bollywood and Fusion teams.
Origins Dance Championship	April 2027	TBD Location	Premier national-level championship circuit strictly dedicated to intercollegiate Indian Classical dance teams.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.