Are The A Cappella Groups In 'Pitch Perfect' Real?

In case you somehow haven't heard, Pitch Perfect 2 hits theaters this weekend with new shenanigans, new Glee-style match-ups and covers, and more competitive a cappella showdowns. Elizabeth Banks, who plays snarky podcaster Gail, steps up as the director of the sequel, which brings back Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Anna Camp, Brittany Snow, Skylar Astin and more. But one thing that's different this time around is the actual talent infused in the film. If you're wondering if the a capella groups featured in Pitch Perfect 2 are real groups, then wonder no more. They absolutely are.

In Pitch Perfect 2, the Barden Bellas have tarnished their reputation and must gain it back by winning the World Championship of A Cappella. It's an international competition that brings together the top a cappella talent from around the world, and it's here that the producers of Pitch Perfect 2 enlisted the aide of real-life music groups. Pentatonix, The Filharmonic, Penn Masala, The Cantasticos and The Singboks all pop up in some capacity, contributing their musical talents before the Bellas take the stage.

If you like the Pitch Perfect franchise, chances are you enjoy a cappella and maybe even know of these names already. But for the rest of you, get to know some of the people at the forefront of this musical genre.

Pentatonix

Pentatonix is a group of five vocalists who formed in Texas back in 2011. They featured in the NBC reality talent show The Sing-Off, where they competed against other musical ensembles. They emerged as the winners of Season 3 and walked away with a contract with Sony Music. Since then, they've been dominating the world of a cappella and the digital landscape with their renditions of "Can't Hold Us," "I Need Your Love," "Radioactive" and more. Pentatonix represents Team Canada in Pitch Perfect 2.

Their "Evolution of Beyoncé" is quite possibly the best a cappella tribute online right now.

The Filharmonic

The Filharmonic is another Sing-Off success story. Though they didn't win their season, the all-male Filipino-American group made it to the semi-finals and went on to perform with the Sing-Off's national tour. They've also shared the stage with Linkin Park and the Black Eyed Peas. The six singers continue to work on their arrangements and music videos, and their rendition of Bruno Mars's "Uptown Funk" is still highly searched on YouTube.

Penn Masala

Penn Masala is an all-male group of vocalists who peg themselves as "the world's first and premier Hindi a cappella group." They perform a variety of music, but Bollywood is their jam. Much like how Pentatonix has an evolution of Beyonce, these guys have an evolution of Bollywood music that's pretty spectacular. But they also cover more popular songs, like "Tonight (I'm Lovin' You)."

The Cantasticos and The Singboks

The final two real-life a cappella groups featured in Pitch Perfect 2 don't have a large online presence, but they shouldn't be ignored. The Cantasticos is a group of all female vocalists, while The Singboks is a 10 person group. Together with the previously mentioned ensembles, they perform a cover of "Any Way You Want It," which opens the showdown at the World Championships of A Cappella.

Pitch Perfect 2 hits theaters with Thursday night screenings. Keep an eye and ear out for these groups.