The Coyote Ugly crew is back on the bar—at least for one night. Nearly 25 years after the 2000 cult favorite hit theaters, several key cast members reunited on Feb. 26, 2025 for a special screening and Q&A at the Aero Theatre in Santa Monica, California, celebrating the film’s upcoming anniversary while raising funds for Global Empowerment Mission’s L.A. wildfire relief.
According to Entertainment Weekly and ABC News, the in-person lineup included Tyra Banks, Maria Bello, Melanie Lynskey, Izabella Miko, and songwriter Diane Warren, with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and director David McNally also joining the event.
Those who couldn’t attend in person—Piper Perabo, Bridget Moynahan, and Adam Garcia—still took part virtually, underscoring that the reunion was designed to feel like a full-cast moment rather than a partial nostalgia lap.
The evening was spearheaded by Banks, who helped organize the fundraiser, and she later described the experience as “magical” and “wild.” E! News also noted the benefit carried extra personal weight for Banks, reporting the screening was arranged after she lost her own home amid the wildfires—making the gathering not just a celebration, but a tangible way to support a community in recovery.
If the event’s mission was serious, its vibe still honored Coyote Ugly’s mischievous spirit. Entertainment Weekly reported that guests even played a themed interactive game, inspired by the film’s signature anthem “Can’t Fight the Moonlight.” (Warren, who wrote multiple songs for the movie, penned “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” which was performed by LeAnn Rimes, who also makes a cameo in the film.)
What the reunion says about the film’s staying power—and what could come next
Released in 2000, Coyote Ugly follows Violet (Perabo), an aspiring songwriter who lands in New York and finds unexpected confidence—and found family—working at the rowdy, female-run bar. While the movie’s critical reception was mixed at the time, outlets like ABC News note that it has grown into a cult classic, fueled by the soundtrack, the fashion, and the fantasy of fearless reinvention under neon lights.
Part of what made the reunion resonate is that it wasn’t staged as a glossy, corporate anniversary stop. It doubled as a conversation about what the film demanded physically and emotionally—especially for the performers asked to train for high-energy bar choreography.
People reported that the cast swapped behind-the-scenes stories about intense rehearsals and on-set injuries, a reminder that the “can’t fight the moonlight” glamour came with real bruises.
And, inevitably, the reunion reopened the door to the question fans always ask: could the Coyotes return for real? In the wake of the anniversary event, E! News reported multiple cast members sounded open to revisiting the world—talking about the idea of a sequel with a tone that suggested it’s less a pipe dream than a possibility worth exploring.
Entertainment Weekly also pointed back to Banks’ past comments about conversations around bringing Coyote Ugly back in some form.
For now, the most meaningful takeaway might be the simplest one: the reunion proved the film still has a live wire connection to its audience—and that its cast can tap into that nostalgia while putting the spotlight on something bigger than a sing-along moment.
With a “wild” celebration already in the books and the 25th anniversary ahead, the Coyotes have reminded everyone why this movie keeps finding new life every time the chorus hits.
