Showgirls (1995)
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17% of critics liked it
(46 reviews) -
35% of users liked it
(55,682 ratings)
"I'm gonna dance," Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) insists in the opening scene of Showgirls, and dance she does. In this quasi-update of All About Eve, Nomi is a drifter whose sole ambition is to headline the "Goddess" topless dance show at the Stardust in Las Vegas. Of… More "I'm gonna dance," Nomi Malone (Elizabeth Berkley) insists in the opening scene of Showgirls, and dance she does. In this quasi-update of All About Eve, Nomi is a drifter whose sole ambition is to headline the "Goddess" topless dance show at the Stardust in Las Vegas. Of course, even Nomi must pay her dues, and she does so at the Cheetah, grinding poles and lap dancing her way to a future. Fortunately, her roommate, Molly, works at the Stardust and invites Nomi to see the show, where she meets Crystal Conners (Gina Gershon, in the Bette Davis role), with whom she immediately forms a love/hate relationship. Nomi soon learns what she must do to get ahead, and the rest of the film documents her cat-like crawl up the showgirl ladder of success. Directed by Paul Verhoeven, (Robocop, Basic Instinct, The Fourth Man), Showgirls was conceived as the first big-budget "adult" film since 1977's Caligula, and the first such production to wear the NC-17 rating; its failure at the box-office discouraged further attempts at large-scale adult productions. ~ Dylan Wilcox, Rovi
- Directed By
- Paul Verhoeven
- Written By
- Joe Eszterhas
- Genres
- Drama
- In Theaters
- Sep 22, 1995 Wide
- On DVD
- Apr 25, 2000
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Richard Corliss, TIME Magazine
Showgirls... is one of those delirious, hilarious botches that could be taught in film schools as a How Not To.
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Anthony Lane, New Yorker
Berkley's acting début is a joy, if you can call it acting: she jumps up and down a lot to indicate excitement.
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Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
One thing I'll say for Showgirls, it's educational. But sadly, it isn't much else.
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Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
The script -- a generic blend mixing the soap of All About Eve with the suds of Valley of the Dolls -- is replete with the clunkiest dialogue this side of Peyton Place.
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Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
A film of thunderous oafishness that gives adult subject matter the kind of bad name it does not need or deserve.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Elizabeth Berkley
as Nomi Malone
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Gina Gershon
as Cristal Connors
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Kyle MacLachlan
as Zack Carey
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Robert Davi
as Al Torres
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Alan Rachins
as Tony Moss
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William Shockley
as Andrew Carver
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Paul Bates
as Cheetah Bouncer
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Patrick Bristow
as Marty Jacobsen
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Lance Davis
as Bell Captain
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Maria Diaz
as Yoga Dancer
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Joan Foley
as Jail Matron
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Alexander Folk
as Booking Sergeant
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Irene Olga Lopez
as Personnel Woman
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Rick Marotta
as Long-Haired Drunk
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Jack McGee
as Jack the Stagehand
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Bobbie Phillips
as Dee
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Glenn Plummer
as James Smith
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Julie Pop
as Nurse
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Al Ruscio
as Mr. Karlman
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Kevin Stea
as Daryl
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Greg Travis
as Phil Newkirk
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Judette Warren
as Spelling Dancer
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Melissa Williams
as Julie
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Jim Wise
as Cheetah Loudmouth
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Jason Yribar
as Goddess Dancer
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Alexander Zale
as Doctor
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Fernando Celis
as Hector
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Madison Clarke
as Classes Dancer
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Chris Tedesco
as Jazz Combo
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Patrick Seymour
as Jazz Combo
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Rena Riffel
as Penny
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Michelle Johnston
as Gay Carpenter
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Gina Ravera
as Molly Abrams
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Lin Tucci
as Henrietta Bazoom
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Dewey Weber
as Jeff
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Jim Ishida
as Mr Okida
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Lisa Boyle
as Sonny
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Robert Dunn
as Chimp Trainer
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Carrie Ann Inaba
as Goddess Dancer

