Showgirls

Name: Showgirls
Genre: Drama
Released: September 22, 1995
Duration: 128 min
Rating: 25
Cast: Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, Kyle MacLachlan

1995

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 177 Ratings

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3.1	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 177 Ratings

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Showgirls

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Movie Details & Credits

MGM/UA Home Entertainment | Release Date: September 22, 1995 | NC-17

Starring: Elizabeth Berkley, Gina Gershon, Kyle MacLachlan

Summary: Seduction, passion and power struggles unfold as the creators of "Basic Instinct" blow the lid off the seemingly glamorous world of Las Vegas showdancing in this controversial film that stars Elizabeth Berkley. [MGM]

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Genre(s): Drama

Rating: NC-17

Runtime: 128 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Eric Henderson

Showgirls is truly one of the only ’90s films that treats pop culture as a vibrant field of social economics and cerebral pursuit, and not merely tomorrow’s nostalgia-masturbation fodder. Read full review

Stanley Kauffmann

What matters much more than the story or the Spicy Stuff is the dancing, the show-biz dancing. It's electric. Exciting. And there's lots of it. [23 Oct 1995]

Owen Gleiberman

As Nomi, Elizabeth Berkley has exactly two emotions -- hot and bothered -- but her party-doll blowsiness works for the picture. Read full review

Mick LaSalle

What's completely baffling is that everyone in the film thinks Nomi is one heck of a dancer, even though her one move -- throwing her arms out stiffly -- is straight out of "Dr. Strangelove." Read full review

James Berardinelli

This film is like a shiny, red apple that's rotten to the core -- despite slick direction and a glossy sheen, it reeks of decay. Showgirls isn't a good drama, a good thriller, or even good pornography. Read full review

Richard Corliss

Obscene level of incompetence, excessive inanity in the story line, gross negligence of the viewer's intelligence, a prurient interest in the quick buck. [2 Oct 1995]

Barbara Shulgasser

That Berkley cannot act is indisputable. But her dancing looks like a seizure. Read full review

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User Reviews

nhaler

Mar 11, 2013

I am first of all going to point out what everyone else so has failed to do. Which is, point out that this film is LOADED with feminist ideas. It's worth noting that the only positive review by an actual critic is also by a woman. Coincidence? My basic contention is that this film is merelyI am first of all going to point out what everyone else so has failed to do. Which is, point out that this film is LOADED with feminist ideas. It's worth noting that the only positive review by an actual critic is also by a woman. Coincidence? My basic contention is that this film is merely masquerading as a high-camp sexploitation "comedy" (I didn't find it that funny). Instead, I found myself mostly admiring the protagonist, and at the point where your sympathy begins to wane, the film skillfully manipulates you once again back into that position. In a sense, this woman is a precursor to Joss Whedon's relaunch of Buffy, only this girl is more vulnerable, 'damaged', real. Secondly, if this really were a "man's" film, would literally EVERY single man in it be a giant sleezing, exploitative, repulsive d-bag? There is literally not one straight man in the film who is not completely abhorrent. Chris Katan has a brief scene as one of the gay male dancers, and all he does is make fun of another guy for being chauvinistic. And never are any of them 'forgiven' or presented sympathetically for the viewer to redeem.
• People are making the mistake that this film is supposed to be 'erotic'. It's not about eros, it's about exploitation, especially male exploitation of women—but not for the film. You'll notice that all the breasts and sex in the film function not to titillate the viewer, but to illustrate that every single one of them are doing this for economic advantage and are part of an exchange process. The film's protagonist is struggling to stay above what is regarded socially as the lowest rung of this economic ladder, and her attempts to hold onto dignity and respect are almost microcosmic precursors to the Slutwalk movement which demands the same thing. Furthermore, as a Canadian viewing this film, I find it particularly ironic the continual condemnation by critics of the prevalent presence of breasts—which, here, are perfectly legal and uncontroversial. Already armed with this disposition, it was perfectly obvious that they aren't there for me, the viewer's enjoyment—they're there because these are women who are *working* in an environment which demands it, and this film is about the difficulty existing in such an environment. Now, I would never actually give this film a "10"—but I am, for the purposes of improving its Metacritic rating, which I think is quite low. Oh, and at 2hrs11min long, really: would a be that long? Think about it.… Expand

3 of 5 users found this helpful32

Haandy

Feb 8, 2022

NÃO ACEITO O FLOP E O MASSACRE DESSE FILME, INJUSTIÇADO MERECIA SER RECONHECIDO

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RandyC.

Sep 30, 2005

A masterpiece of high camp... i laughed the entire time.

2 of 2 users found this helpful

volcboy84

Sep 28, 2010

I am not comfortable calling Showgirls a bad film. I derive far too much enjoyment from its misguided attempt at drama to judge it so harshly. No, its not fair to call Showgirls bad, but I think â

1 of 3 users found this helpful12

walkereklaw

Dec 6, 2015

like driving past a car wreck on the highway, you can't look away. a guilty pleasure, perfect for those snow bound days. great for the whole family . . . especially the crazy ones.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

RD.

Sep 29, 2007

Not very erotic. I mean some scenes are very sexy like Elizabeth Berkeley's lap dance or her final French kiss with Gina Gershon. But the movie is not well acted and directed. Although, it is not that the movie has no redeeming qualities at all (infact, it is very unintentionally funny Not very erotic. I mean some scenes are very sexy like Elizabeth Berkeley's lap dance or her final French kiss with Gina Gershon. But the movie is not well acted and directed. Although, it is not that the movie has no redeeming qualities at all (infact, it is very unintentionally funny at times), but still a very bad movie.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful

Sam

Apr 6, 2006

It's gone beyond the well-loved "so bad it's good" bar and gone down to something much, much worse.

1 of 1 users found this helpful

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20	#20 Most Discussed Movie of 1995
6	#6 Most Shared Movie of 1995