Showgirls

Watch Showgirls

"Leave your inhibitions at the door. The show is about to begin."
  • R
  • 1995
  • 2 hr 8 min
  • 5.1  (73,646)
  • 20

In 1995, the world was introduced to the edgy and provocative dance drama, Showgirls. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, the film follows the journey of a young woman named Nomi Malone (played by Elizabeth Berkley) as she claws her way through the seedy underbelly of Las Vegas to become a star showgirl. Nomi is a tough, street-smart drifter who arrives in Vegas with nothing but a suitcase and a dream. She quickly finds herself working as a stripper at a seedy club, but she has her sights set higher. When she meets Cristal Connors (played by Gina Gershon), the star dancer at the Stardust casino, Nomi becomes obsessed with surpassing her and becoming the queen of the Vegas stage.

Along the way, Nomi encounters a number of colorful and morally ambiguous characters, including Cristal's boyfriend, a sleazy talent agent named Zack Carey (played by Kyle MacLachlan), and a mysterious costume designer named Henrietta "Mama" Bazoom (played by Lin Tucci). As Nomi navigates the dangerous and cutthroat world of showbiz, she must learn to distinguish friend from foe and figure out who she can trust in a town full of backstabbers.

Despite its reputation as a bomb upon its initial release, Showgirls has gone on to become a cult classic and a beloved piece of pop culture history. The film is known for its over-the-top dance sequences, its outrageous plot twists, and its unapologetic portrayal of sex and nudity. But it's also earned a reputation for being a biting social commentary on the dark side of fame and the ways in which women are exploited in the entertainment industry.

At the center of the film is Elizabeth Berkley's unforgettable performance as Nomi Malone. Berkley, who was best known at the time for her role on the family-friendly sitcom Saved by the Bell, underwent a total transformation to bring Nomi to life. She shaved her head, lost weight, and worked tirelessly to perfect the film's complex dance numbers. Her portrayal of Nomi is intense, raw, and unapologetic, and it remains one of the most iconic performances of the 1990s.

Gina Gershon is equally memorable as Cristal Connors, the icy showgirl who serves as Nomi's main rival. Gershon brings a sly wit and a fierce intensity to the role, playing Cristal as both a ruthless competitor and an alluring sex symbol. Her scenes with Berkley crackle with tension, and the two actresses have a palpable chemistry that makes their characters' rivalry all the more compelling.

Kyle MacLachlan, meanwhile, is perfectly cast as the charming but manipulative Zack Carey. MacLachlan, who had previously worked with Verhoeven on the cult classic Blue Velvet, gives Zack a slimy charm that makes it all the more satisfying when Nomi eventually gets the upper hand.

But perhaps the most impressive thing about Showgirls is the way it manages to be both a guilty pleasure and a thoughtful piece of social commentary. On one hand, it's a gleefully trashy piece of entertainment, filled with outrageous plot twists and pulse-pounding dance numbers. On the other hand, it's a scathing indictment of the ways in which women are degraded and exploited in the entertainment industry. Verhoeven and Eszterhas use the glittering, over-the-top world of Vegas showbiz to explore the darker side of fame, and the result is a film that's equal parts entertaining and thought-provoking.

All in all, Showgirls is a film that's impossible to forget. Its unforgettable characters, over-the-top dance sequences, and biting social commentary have made it a cult classic and a beloved piece of pop culture history. If you're looking for a film that's both a guilty pleasure and a thoughtful examination of fame and power, look no further than Showgirls.

Showgirls is a 1995 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes. It has received poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.1 and a MetaScore of 20.

Showgirls
Description
Where to Watch Showgirls
Showgirls is available to watch free on Pluto TV, Tubi TV and Kanopy. It's also available to stream, download on demand at Amazon Prime and The Roku Channel. Some platforms allow you to rent Showgirls for a limited time or purchase the movie and download it to your device.
  • Release Date
    1995
  • MPAA Rating
    R
  • Runtime
    2 hr 8 min
  • Language
    English
  • IMDB Rating
    5.1  (73,646)
  • Metascore
    20
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