showgirls

Showgirls is a 1995 American erotic drama film written, produced, and directed by Paul Verhoeven. It stars Elizabeth Berkley as Nomi Malone, a naïve showgirl who moves from Omaha to Las Vegas with the goal of becoming a top entertainer. The film also features cut‑scene performances by Stacy Keach, Corbin Bernsen, Susan Sarandon, and Kevin Nash. It was released on March 8, 1995, by TriStar Pictures.

The initial production phase involved cooperation from the Las Vegas entertainment industry, with many local establishments and performers approving the use of their settings and real‑life references. The movie’s soundtrack, curated by David Brandt and Rob bin Ross, includes original songs as well as contemporary pop, hip‑hop and dance tracks that were meant to reflect the club’s atmosphere.

Upon release, Showgirls received a wide range of negative critical reviews, citing its explicit sexual content, gratuitous violence, and perceived amateurish storytelling. Common criticisms mentioned its self‑aware sexual fetishism and lack of coherent narrative structure. Still, the film generated a cult following and is regarded by some scholars as an example of 1990s exploitation cinema. Some audience segments showed strong support for the film, especially among young adults. Following its initial reception, it achieved a degree of commercial success in the United States and internationally. The film has since been the subject of retrospectives on the influence of female performers and the depiction of eroticism in film.