Showgirls, the controversial NC-17 movie produced and released by MGM/UA just made history. It became the first major film release in recent memory to earn less than one-half of its production cost back in box office revenue. The $44 million picture - not including a second $40 million spent in advertising and promotion - grossed a paltry $16 million after appearing on 1388 movie screens throughout America.
Promoters claimed that Showgirls was an "avant-garde art film with a powerful message." ABC critic, Joel Seigel more accurately characterized the controversial film as one that was so evil "it would give Sodom and Gomorrah a bad name." Seigel added that it may be the worst film he had ever seen.
Once the film proved to be a box office flop, not to mention a critical failure, everyone involved in the project began distancing him or herself from it. Even the writer/director pair, Joe Eszterhaus and Paul Verhoven publicly blamed each other for the decision to produce the movie with an NC-17 rating.
Other Hollywood studios watched MGM's experiment with great interest to see how American audiences would respond to pornographic movies appearing in mainstream neighborhood theaters. One studio head summarized the industry's observations when he said, "I don't think you're going to see anyone lining up to make NC-17 films," he said. "It's not good business."
A final blow came when Warner Brothers, which has an agreement to distribute MGM/UA films on home video, refused to handle the video version of Showgirls. According to Warner Home Video Executive Vice President, Jim Cardwell, "it is Warner Brothers' policy not to release NC-17 films."
Furthermore, Blockbuster Entertainment, who has always shunned NC-17 rated videos, confirmed that it will not carry Showgirls in any of its stores.
The demise of Showgirls proves a basic principal in the law of supply and demand. If a supplier makes something that does not sell, he learns quickly and painfully not to make anymore of that kind of product. It looks like - for the time being at least - Hollywood has learned that lesson. Let's pray that film makers possess long and vivid memories so they can avoid repeating these mistakes in the future.
Subscribe to our
FREE 
newsletter and quarterly
video list.
Dick Rolfe is Chairman of The Dove Foundation a nonprofit organization whose mission is to encourage and promote the creation, production and distribution of wholesome family entertainment. For more information about wholesome films and videos, write: 535 E. Fulton, Suite 1A, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or call (616)454-5024.
Return to our home page | Dick's bio | past columns
Updated by: Scott RolfeCopyright © 1995, The Dove Foundation. All rights reserved.