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’sShowgirls.
Showgirls Was Negatively Received When It Was Released
The Film Earned Negative Critical Reviews And Bombed At The Box Office
Showgirlsfollows 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,Showgirlswas widely panned by critics upon its release.Showgirlswas heavily criticized for its sexual content, which many found to be exploitative rather than erotic.
The consensus among critics was thatShowgirlsfailed 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 withinShowgirlsto be found at the time.
Dutch filmmakerPaul Verhoeven has directed several American filmsthroughout his career, includingRoboCopandTotal Recall.Verhoeven is known to infuse many of his films with satirical elements and provocative material, and likeShowgirls, 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 toShowgirls, 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 bizarreand 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.
Showgirlswas seen as the next logical and mature step for Berkley as she moved forward in her career.
After portrayingJessie Spano inSaved by the Bell,Showgirlswas 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. FollowingShowgirls' 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 toShowgirls. 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.” (viaFar Out Magazine).
Showgirls Is Now A Cult Classic, Especially With The LGBTQ+ Community
Through A Series Of Screenings, Audiences Formed A Connection With Showgirls
Showgirlshas 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 withinShowgirls' script made for undeniably fun viewing partiesthat encouraged audiences to talk and sing during the screening.
Midnight screenings, like those organized forShowgirls, have elevated poorly received films to cult statusmany times before, most notably withThe 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 towardsShowgirlsand hosted screenings in major cities, hiring various drag performers as hosts.
ThoughShowgirls' 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,Showgirlscelebrated 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.” (viaVariety).
