For those who weren’t around to experience the saga firsthand, “Showgirls” was a big deal for MGM. The NC-17 rating had been first implemented in 1990, but no major NC-17-rated hits had yet been made. Indeed, most home video outlets and retail stores (Blockbuster and Walmart specifically) refused to stock any movies with the rating, feeling it was more or less the same as pornography.
“Showgirls” was supposed to change all that. The film was to cost a sizable $45 million to make, and was to be a standard “All About Eve”-style showbiz drama, but set in the high-octane and clothes-less world of Las Vegas showgirls. The main villain, Cristal, would serve as a dark mirror to Nomi, the protagonist, and both would be nude frequently. Audiences were, of course, supposed to be titillated, but also mature about it, admitting that expensive dramas could be loaded with sex, but could also become big hits.Â
A 2018 article in The Hollywood Reporter talked about Madonna’s cursory involvement in the project. It seems that the casting directors reached out to Sharon Stone and Madonna to play Cristal, as both had recent experience in the erotic thriller genre. Stone refused, but Madonna showed a little interest. The “Body of Evidence” star said she would participate, but that the script needed to be completely re-written. The studio, however, had notoriously already paid Joe Eszterhas $2 million for his screenplay, so there was no way a rewrite would be warranted. Because of this, Madonna passed.Â
Gina Gershon was eventually cast as Cristal, and she did an exemplary job, bringing the kind of campy performance the film needed. She was cast opposite Elizabeth Berkley, who beat out Drew Barrymore, Jennifer Lopez, Denise Richards, Angelina Jolie, and Charlize Theron for the part. According to Verhoeven (in a 2015 interview), Berkley was the only one who could act, dance, and was comfortable with extensive nudity, and he certainly doesn’t blame her for the movie’s awful reception.
“Showgirls” received terrible reviews (it has a 23% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes), and only made back $37 million. The NC-17 rating, to this day, is still not considered commercially viable.