In 1995, Kyle MacLachlan made the worst movie of his career. He didn’t know until it was too late
Kyle MacLachlan says he did not realise how poorly *Showgirls* might turn out while filming the 1995 drama. He had been attracted by its provocative subject and director Paul Verhoeven, but was shocked when he watched the finished film and saw how it had come together.
The film follows a woman seeking success as a Las Vegas showgirl and became notorious for its sexual content and critical reception. Elizabeth Berkley won two Razzies for her performance, while MacLachlan was nominated for Worst Actor; some viewers later embraced the film as entertaining camp, though MacLachlan remained taken aback by it.
In short
- MacLachlan thought *Showgirls* seemed powerful while filming.
- The 1995 film was widely derided after release.
- Some audiences later valued its accidental camp appeal.
Explained simply
Showgirls is a 1995 drama set in Las Vegas, where a young woman tries to succeed as a dancer in the city’s revue shows. It was directed by Paul Verhoeven and starred Elizabeth Berkley and Kyle MacLachlan.
The film drew attention for its sexual content and was poorly received by many critics. Berkley won two Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, which recognise films and performances judged to be among the year’s worst; MacLachlan was nominated for Worst Actor. Some viewers later came to enjoy the film as camp, a term for work appreciated for its exaggerated style.