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Showgirls

Showgirls is a 1995 erotic drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Showgirls is a 1995 erotic drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas. It stars Elizabeth Berkley as Nomi Malone, an ambitious woman who arrives in Las Vegas hoping to become a showgirl. The film was widely panned on release, became a box-office flop, and later developed a cult following.

Plot

The film centres on Nomi Malone, a young drifter who arrives in Las Vegas with ambitions of becoming a performer. As she moves from stripping toward the casino-show world, the story follows her rise and the conflicts around it.

Production and release

Showgirls was directed by Paul Verhoeven from a screenplay by Joe Eszterhas. Released in 1995, it was given an NC-17 rating and received a wide theatrical release, which was unusual for that rating.

Reception

Contemporary reviews were largely negative, and the film underperformed commercially, making it a box-office bomb. Despite that, it later found an audience on home video and developed a cult following.

Legacy

Showgirls is often discussed as a notorious flop that became a cult film. Later reassessments have framed it as camp or a cult classic, especially among some film fans and LGBTQ+ audiences. Related topics include Sofia Richie, Raquel Rodriguez, Sinners, and Happy Gilmore 2.

Key facts

  • Showgirls is a 1995 American film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas.
  • The story follows Nomi Malone, a young woman who goes to Las Vegas to pursue a career as a dancer and showgirl.
  • The film was the first and, as of the supplied sources, only NC-17 film to receive a wide theatrical release.
  • It was a box-office flop but later gained a cult reputation and is often discussed as a cult classic.
  • The film received multiple Golden Raspberry Awards and has frequently been ranked among the worst films ever made.
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Canadian context

Showgirls is a widely discussed cult film in Canadian film culture, and one supplied source notes a Quebec French title, Les Girls de Las Vegas.[7]

Frequently asked questions

What is Showgirls?
Showgirls is a 1995 American erotic drama film directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas.
Who stars in Showgirls?
The film stars Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Gina Ravera, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, and Alan Rachins.
What is Showgirls about?
It follows Nomi Malone, a woman who comes to Las Vegas hoping to succeed as a dancer and showgirl.
Was Showgirls successful when it was released?
No. The film was widely disliked by critics and performed poorly at the box office.
Did Showgirls become a cult film?
Yes. Although it was initially considered a flop, it later gained a cult following and is often described as a cult classic.
Why is Showgirls notable in film history?
It is widely cited as the first and only NC-17 film to receive a wide mainstream theatrical release, based on the supplied sources.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showgirls
    Supports: Basic film identification, director, writer, cast, and plot premise.
  2. Simple English Wikipedia — https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showgirls
    Supports: 1995 release, director, cast, Las Vegas setting, NC-17 wide release, critical failure, box-office flop, home video success, and cult status.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114436/
    Supports: Plot summary and release information.
  4. Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/Showgirls
    Supports: Critical reception, box-office flop, and later cult-classic/camp reputation.
  5. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/showgirls
    Supports: NC-17 rating, genre, release date, box-office gross, runtime, and synopsis.
  6. Wikipedia (French) — https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Showgirls
    Supports: Quebec French title 'Les Girls de Las Vegas'.