Bold narratives in films aren’t always immediately rewarded with a positive critical or commercial response, and sometimes, it takes years before they’re given a widespread re-evaluation. Movies centered around sex and violence tend to be the ones wrapped up in such controversy most often. This is due to the thin line regarding how much explicit material is deemed to be too much.

The stronger the explicit nature of the films, the more likely they are to earn an NC-17 rating, which often only further submerges a film in controversy. Sometimes, the publicity gained from such controversy benefits the film in question because the audience’s interests are piqued, and there’s a natural desire to be part of the conversation.

However, at other times, bold narratives concerning sex in films are looked down upon by the public. These instances typically lead to a universal disinterest in the film most of the time, but it can also lead to the derailment of its leading star’s career, which is what happened with Paul Verhoeven’s Showgirls.

Showgirls Was Negatively Received When It Was Released

The Film Earned Negative Critical Reviews And Bombed At The Box Office

Showgirls follows Elizabeth Berkley’s Nomi to Las Vegas, where she does whatever it takes to achieve her dreams of being a showgirl. Despite its compelling premise and Berkley’s exciting pivot from being a sitcom star, Showgirls was widely panned by critics upon its release. Showgirls was heavily criticized for its sexual content, which many found to be exploitative rather than erotic.

The consensus among critics was that Showgirls failed to be compelling enough to be taken seriously as a gritty satire about the harsh reality of Las Vegas dancers. Nominated for over a dozen Golden Raspberry Awards in the years following its release, there were few redeeming qualities within Showgirls to be found at the time.

Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven has directed several American films throughout his career, including RoboCop and Total Recall. Verhoeven is known to infuse many of his films with satirical elements and provocative material, and like Showgirls, much of Verhoeven’s other work has been deemed controversial.

Verhoeven is no stranger to controversy surrounding his work, and while he certainly received a fair amount of backlash amid the negative response to Showgirls, no one involved in the film was as negatively impacted as Elizabeth Berkley.

Elizabeth Berkley’s Career Was Derailed By Showgirls’ Negative Response

Berkley’s Performance Was Overly Criticized

In addition to pointing out its narrative missteps, Showgirls‘ performances were also heavily criticized. Berkley’s performance in particular was seen as bizarre and inconsistent with the film’s tone. Berkley’s performance, while not without its flaws, was unfairly identified by many as the source of the movie’s shortcomings.

After portraying Jessie Spano in Saved by the Bell, Showgirls was seen as the next logical and mature step for Berkley as she moved forward in her career. However, the negative response to the film set the actress back. Following Showgirls‘ release, it was difficult for Berkley to find work, as many filmmakers were hesitant to work with her.

Director Paul Verhoeven Apologized For What Happened To Berkley’s Career

Verhoeven Has Repeatedly Acknowledged The Role He Played In Berkley’s Performance

In the years since its release, both Berkley and Verhoeven have been open about the trajectory of their careers following the negative response to Showgirls. While Verhoeven received a significant amount of criticism for the role he played in the film’s failure, the director has also acknowledged the far greater negative impact it had on Berkley’s career.

Verhoeven has since taken credit for Berkley’s eccentric performance, admitting that it was his idea, as he believed an over-the-top performance would tie in better with the film’s ending. Speaking about Berkley, Verhoeven has said, “If somebody has to be blamed, it should be me because I thought that it was interesting to portray somebody like that.” (via Far Out Magazine).

Through A Series Of Screenings, Audiences Formed A Connection With Showgirls

Showgirls has gone through critical re-evaluation in more recent years, but soon after its release, the film’s reputation started to turn the corner thanks to the regular viewings among the LGBTQ+ community. The attention-grabbing sexual acts and laughable flaws within Showgirls‘ script made for undeniably fun viewing parties that encouraged audiences to talk and sing during the screening.

Midnight screenings, like those organized for Showgirls, have elevated poorly received films to cult status many times before, most notably with The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Through a series of movie screenings, Showgirls‘ popularity grew, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the film’s distributor, took notice of the new attitude towards Showgirls and hosted screenings in major cities, hiring various drag performers as hosts.

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Though Showgirls‘ violent turn at the end of the film is still looked down upon, many critics and filmmakers have since softened their stance on the film overall. Showgirls, in some regards, is viewed today as a campy, satirical film whose exaggerated performances and amusing dialogue were intentional all along.

Recently, Showgirls celebrated its 30th anniversary with a screening in Los Angeles, in which Berkley made an appearance. Speaking to the crowd, Berkley addressed the LGBTQ+ community’s enduring love for the film, saying, “You guys saw me before anybody else saw me. You believed in me before anybody and you believed in this film and found yourself in Nomi.” (via Variety).

Sources: Far Out Magazine, Variety

Showgirls

Release Date

September 22, 1995

Runtime

131 Minutes

Director

Paul Verhoeven

Writers

Joe Eszterhas