FILM · 1995 · FRANCE
Showgirls
57 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Oct 2026
All facts (57)
- #001
When the film won at the 16th Annual RAZZIE Awards, Paul Verhoeven personally attended to accept the Worst Director and Worst Picture awards. He was the first director to come and accept the award.
- #002
Gina Gershon said that the close-ups of her and Elizabeth Berkley dancing nude in the club were shot on closed sets with only a small crew. For the wider shots, however, they had to dance nude for hours in front of a real audience of about 600 people. She said this was the largest group of people she had ever been naked in front of, and that not being shy was a good thing.
- #003
Elizabeth Berkley was paid only $100,000 to star in the film. A special V.I.P. Edition box set premiered in 2004, and she asked for $2,500 for an interview. They refused.
- #004
After the film was released, Elizabeth Berkley left her agency, and director Paul Verhoeven apologized to her for casting her in the film, which effectively ended her career: "In retrospect, Elizabeth may have regretted being so intensely involved in the film and so vulnerable to her critics, but when we made it we never had the feeling that this would happen." After the film later gained cult status, however, Berkley attended the 20th anniversary screening in 2015 and thanked fans for making it a cult favorite: "Whether this film is full of guilt, whether you've played 'Pin the Pasties on the Showgirl,' or whether Nomi's plight and her fight and struggle have become your own anthem in life, I hope this has comforted you."
- #005
The only scene the actors complained about being uncomfortable in was the one with the chimpanzees constantly staring at their bare breasts.
- #006
In 2015, Paul Verhoeven apologized to Elizabeth Berkley for the devastating effect the film had on her career: "Showgirls definitely ruined Elizabeth Berkley's career to a great extent. It made my life even harder, but not as much as Elizabeth's. Hollywood turned its back on her. If anyone is to blame, it should be me, because I thought it would be interesting to portray someone like that. I hoped the end of the film would explain why she behaved the way she did. When her drug convictions came out, that too turned out to be a big mistake. I asked Elizabeth to do all of this, to be tough and to behave this way, but since then people have been attacking her for it. I thought people would think she had a borderline personality, but it was because her character had a history of drug addiction, so I tried to express that through her audition as well. There was no problem with the nudity and she wanted the role, but at the time she wasn't well known enough and didn't fit the role, so we said no. I have complete respect for Charlize, but if she had been offered the role she probably would have been trampled the way they treated Elizabeth. I wish I had congratulated Charlize, because it would have been a terrible 20 years for her."
- #007
As of 2022, Showgirls is the highest-grossing NC-17 film of all time ($20,302,961), the most expensive NC-17 film ever made ($45 million production budget), and the only NC-17 film ever given wide distribution (it opened in 1,388 theaters).
- #008
Despite being a high-profile box-office bomb, the film remained quite profitable in the United States home video market, earning more than $100 million in video rental revenue and becoming one of MGM's 20 best-selling films of all time.
- #009
The rape scene and the subsequent refusal to punish those responsible for protecting the business interests of Las Vegas dignitaries are based on a true event that Joe Eszterhas learned of while working at Rolling Stone magazine.
- #010
Paul Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas conducted about fifty extensive interviews with real-life Las Vegas strippers, showgirls, producers, choreographers and casino owners, and incorporated parts of their stories, characters and language into the script to show how exploited strippers are in Las Vegas. When some of them later gave magazine interviews after the film's premiere, however, they completely reversed their stories, claiming the film did not accurately reflect their lives. Verhoeven is reported to have said it is still the most realistic film he has ever made about contemporary America.
- #011
Pamela Anderson, Angelina Jolie, Vanessa Marcil, Denise Richards and Charlize Theron auditioned for the role of Nomi Malone. Richards would go on to appear in Paul Verhoeven's next film, Starship Troopers (1997).
- #012
The producers wanted Madonna to play Cristal Conners and Drew Barrymore to play Nomi Malone. The name card on the mirror that Gaye lifts while showing Nomi her table in the dressing room even reads "Drew." It says Barrymore turned the film down because she was uncomfortable with the amount of nudity required.
- #013
Charlize Theron, a future Oscar winner, also auditioned for the role of Nomi when she had just taken her first steps into Hollywood. She told MTV News: "I think things fell through with the actress who did it (Elizabeth Berkley) and they reopened the film and restarted casting, and that's when I came in." She said that since she had posed nude several times as a model, she had no problem at all with a role involving that much nudity up front. She was also impressed by director Paul Verhoeven, saying: "You have to understand that at the time he had just discovered Sharon Stone and that he was a director. In a way, you sleep with the filmmaker. The other thing was that this was my second audition and I had never gone to acting school or anything like that, so I thought: 'If this is me paying my dues, damn it, I'll accept it. I don't expect everything to be handed to me on a silver platter.' I was ready to make my own way." Theron added that they really liked her audition, but they later worked out the deal with Berkley and ultimately cast her, thus dispelling an old rumor that Theron had been offered the lead but turned it down because of the content and then fired her manager because that was not the direction she wanted her career to take. In an interview with the New York Daily News, Verhoeven confirmed that Theron's audition was good and that she was happy to go nude, but that she was not well known enough at the time and they turned her down because she did not fit the role. He also admitted that Theron was lucky, because it probably could have ruined her career the way it did Berkley's. In an interview years later, Theron recalled running into Berkley about ten years after the film's release and discussing what might have been. Of Berkley's ability to laugh about her involvement in the film years later, Theron said: "She was really very classy about the whole thing." "She is one of the nicest, best people I think I have ever met."
- #014
A source once told Paul Verhoeven that Steven Spielberg wanted a copy of the film after the premiere. Spielberg reportedly stopped watching in the middle of the film, saying, "Sometimes I hate this town."
- #015
Jenny McCarthy-Wahlberg auditioned for the lead role and was in the running until it emerged that she could not dance.
- #016
Nomi's mispronunciation of "Versace" as "Versayce" was suggested by Elizabeth Berkley. Co-star Gina Gershon would later play fashion designer Donatella Versace in House of Versace (2013).
- #017
The name "Nomi Malone" comes from the nickname of Joe Eszterhas's wife, Naomi Eszterhas. He chose "Malone" because he thought Nomi was "alone" in the world.
- #018
In fact, the only interior scenes shot in Las Vegas are the first scenes in which Nomi plays the slot machines and appears at the Forum Shops/Spago in Caesar's Palace.
- #019
Director Paul Verhoeven made a then-unheard-of deal with the studio: from the outset he would have complete creative freedom to deliver an NC-17-rated film. Until then, the NC-17 rating had never been intentional and was always given after a film was submitted to the MPAA. The deal included Verhoeven giving up 70% of his $6 million salary and receiving the remaining 30% only if the film was successful.
- #020
There was considerable off-screen rivalry between Elizabeth Berkley and Gina Gershon, which Paul Verhoeven deliberately encouraged because it would help them better portray their on-screen fights.
- #021
A week before the film's premiere, writer Joe Eszterhas caused a small controversy during an interview in which he called on young people to use fake IDs to gain access to the NC-17-rated film.
- #022
When the film flopped in its opening weekend, writer Joe Eszterhas took the unprecedented step of placing an ad in Variety urging female moviegoers to see the film, not because it was semi-pornographic but because it highlighted the exploitation suffered by lap dancers. He attacked the studio for using cheap marketing gimmicks and for selling the film as a cheap sex movie with the slogan "Leave your restrictions at the door." Needless to say, this tactic did the film no good.
- #023
The "Los Angeles" highway sign at the end of the film hinted at a sequel that Paul Verhoeven and Joe Eszterhas had already planned under the working title "Bimbos: Nomi Does Hollywood," but it was cancelled when the film underperformed at the box office. The sequel would have followed Nomi to Hollywood and into the movie business, a field about which Eszterhas knew far more interesting stories.
- #024
In a 2013 interview, Paul Verhoeven revealed that the film was not one of his passion projects. In fact, he did not like Joe Eszterhas's first script and took the project in order to make 'Crusade,' based on a script by Walon Green and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, because Carolco Pictures was committed to making Cutthroat Island (1995) and could not finance 'Crusade' either, that project fell through. With Carolco already deeply in debt (10 million dollars had already been spent on the cancelled 'Crusade,' and Eszterhas had already been paid about 4 million dollars for the Showgirls script), Verhoeven felt morally obliged to make Showgirls as a personal favour to Mario Kassar to save Carolco from bankruptcy. Eszterhas's script was extensively rewritten, with its main inspiration being All About Eve (1950). Verhoeven intended it to be an exaggerated morality tale in which Las Vegas is a metaphor for hypocrisy and extortion, populated solely by immoral characters (except Molly (Gina Ravera)). But critics who saw the film as a simple depiction of American culture did not understand his satirical intentions. The rising costs of Cutthroat Island, combined with the box-office failure of both that film and Showgirls, made Carolco's bankruptcy inevitable. Although Verhoeven is pleased that the film has been reassessed more favourably over the years, he stated that he is proud of it regardless and that no one needs to defend it on his behalf.
- #025
When Nomi goes to the Goddess audition, the director says she looks like Pollyanna (1960). Near the end of the film, Zack reveals that her real name is Polly Ann, explaining why Nomi was so surprised when she was called Pollyanna.
- #026
Kyle MacLachlan used a stand-in.
- #027
Paul Verhoeven described 'Showgirls' as his most 'Fellini-like' film, praising its lush cinematography and colours. He also admitted that it lacked a dramatic drive and that it should have contained a suspense element in the form of a murder mystery.
- #028
The poster was inspired by "Sense," a photograph by the Czechoslovak photographer Tono Stano in which the model is brunette.
- #029
It was one of two films released in 1995 with an NC-17 rating. The other was Kids (1995). Unlike Showgirls, which was always intended to be NC-17, 'Kids' received that rating despite appealing the decision, though the producers ultimately decided not to make any cuts.
- #030
The song playing when Nomi is first seen dancing on stage at The Cheetah is Prince's '319' (a reference to the room number). At the end of the film, when she visits Cristal in her hospital room, the nurse tells Nomi that Cristal is in room 319.
- #031
The film is listed among the Ten Worst Films Ever Made in THE OFFICIAL RAZZIE MOVIE GUIDE, a book by Golden Raspberry Award founder John Wilson.
- #032
The idea for this script came to Joe Eszterhas while he was on holiday at his home in Maui, Hawaii. Based on the idea he scribbled on a napkin, he was given a 2 million dollar advance to write the script and received an additional 1.7 million dollars when the studio turned it into a film.
- #033
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Elizabeth Berkley came onto Paul Verhoeven's radar after she impressed producer Charles Evans during an audition held in a hotel room.
- #034
Toni Halliday, who contributed to the soundtrack, recalled: "I met Paul Verhoeven and he was very charismatic. He made me a fan of this terrible film and sold it to me as an intellectual commentary on the sex industry. I walked out after 45 minutes. Every time that woman came on screen, the screen closed."
- #035
Jennifer Lopez told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016 that the worst auditions of her career happened while she was competing for a role in this film. In another interview, she revealed that Paul Verhoeven asked her to take her top off so he could see her breasts. She refused.
- #036
With 13 nominations (one or more in all 11 categories of the 1996 awards), it broke the all-time RAZZIE Award record. Its seven "wins" made it the third most dishonoured film in RAZZIE history, alongside Battlefield Earth (2000) (I Know Who Killed Me (2007) later held the dubious distinction with eight "wins." That film was subsequently beaten by Jack and Jill (2011) with ten "wins.").
- #037
Joe Eszterhas placed a full-page ad in Variety calling the film a morality tale and condemning its marketing as "misguided," writing: "The film shows that dancers in Vegas are often victimized, humiliated, used, verbally and physically raped by the men who are the power centres of that world." Although that sentiment did little good at the time, before the 2017 #MeToo movement raised audience awareness of institutional sexual abuse and harassment of women, many critics described Showgirls as one of the few films to openly address misogyny in the entertainment industry. Along with its recognition for cult potential, its perception as a feminist statement may have contributed to its growing appreciation over the years.
- #038
The film was bound to have limited financial returns. In the mid-nineties, shopping malls contained large numbers of multiplexes. Under their rental agreements, many multiplexes were prohibited from showing "X", "NC-17" or "unrated" films.
- #039
In the original screenplay, Molly was described as a chubby white girl.
- #040
Sharon Stone, Sean Young, Daryl Hannah and Finola Hughes were considered for the role of Cristal Connors; Hughes is said to have turned down the script because she found it sexist.
- #041
Dylan McDermott turned down the role of Zack Carey.
- #042
Showgirls was turned into an off-Broadway musical. Rena Riffel, who appeared in the original film, performed in several shows.
- #043
When Elizabeth Berkley signed on to play Nomi Malone, a role nothing like Jessie Spano, she believed she was moving toward more serious acting work. Although the film was certainly not for Saved by the Bell viewers, Elizabeth quickly realized that appearing fully nude did not give her career the boost she had hoped for. She spent her stint on Dancing with the Stars regaining her confidence and personal strength, speaking about the anxiety she struggled with after feeling mocked for the film.
- #044
In 2000, the Golden Raspberry Awards added several extra categories to mark its 20th anniversary. Elizabeth Berkley was nominated for Worst Actress of the Century but lost to Madonna. She was also nominated for Worst New Star of the Decade and lost to Pauly Shore. The film, however, won Worst Picture of the Decade, beating out Hudson Hawk (1991) and The Postman (1997).
- #045
A sketch comedy show (2015) featuring Vin Diesel, Carl Reiner, Kobe Bryant, Iggy Azalea and Jennifer Hudson reunited the cast of Saved by the Bell (1989). During the sketch, a reference is made to Jessie's character one day becoming a stripper. This is clearly a joke about the fact that Elizabeth Berkley would go on to make this film after the series.
- #046
Paul Verhoeven initially accepted the project because he did not care for Joe Eszterhas's original screenplay. He had hoped instead to make a film about the Crusades with Arnold Schwarzenegger. That film was cancelled after the equally expensive Cutthroat Island (1995) had already been greenlit, and Verhoeven ultimately agreed to make Showgirls to save the studio from bankruptcy (which failed).
- #047
The film was initially expected to be a major box office success, like RoboCop (1987) and Basic Instinct (1992).
- #048
Nomi and Cristal drink "Cristal" champagne, and Cristal says she chose her stage name after the brand. Quentin Tarantino, who later heaped praise on the film, had included a conversation about "Cristal" champagne in his segment "The Man from Hollywood" from Four Rooms (1995), released the same year.
- #049
Paul Verhoeven deferred 70% of his $6 million directing fee, contingent on whether the film made a profit.
- #050
Along with RoboCop (1987), Total Recall (1990), Basic Instinct (1992), Starship Troopers (1997) and Hollow Man (2000), this film is part of six separate film series in which the first film of the respective series (directed by Paul Verhoeven) succeeded, but the related sequels/remakes (not directed by Verhoeven) either bombed at the box office or went straight to VHS/DVD. Although Showgirls was not an immediate hit, it eventually became very financially successful on VHS and DVD and even underwent significant critical reevaluation as a major cult film.
- #051
The song playing at the car when Jeff opens the door is "Vision Thing" by The Sisters of Mercy.
- #052
Had Madonna been cast as Cristal Conners, she would have reunited her with Kevin Alexander Stea, a dancer from her Blonde Ambition Tour.
- #053
Maria Ford was considered for the role of Penny.
- #054
Kyle MacLachlan and Robert Davi both provide voices in the Grand Theft Auto series. Kyle MacLachlan voices Donald Love in Grand Theft Auto III (2001), and Robert Davi voices Col Cortez in Grand Theft Auto: Vice City (2002).
- #055
Bobbie Phillips's first nude scene.
- #056
Ungela Brockman's first appearance.
- #057
Lin Tucci's first appearance.
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