Berkley-Watch: Showgirls (1995) - w/ Elizabeth Berkley at the Paramount Theatre, Austin, TX - 10/09/2025

Watched:  10/09/2025

Format:  Paramount Theatre

Viewing:  I don't know, man

Director:  Verhoeven

I kinda knew going to see Showgirls (1995) in a theater in 2025 was going to kick-ass, no matter what.  There is a self-selected group of fans of this movie, and I guess I'm now part of this unruly mob.  

As (a) someone who crushed hard on Jessie Spano in high school and graduated with the Bayside High gang, and (b) who was a bit goggle-eyed that Berkley made her pivot into major motion pictures with Showgirls, (c) and who felt she got a raw deal from deeply ingrained misogyny of the 1990's (maybe I didn't feel that so much in 95', but it was a growing realization later.), and (d) has delighted in how Elizabeth Berkley seems to have embraced this thing that could have wrecked her...  

An idea I had that ultimately was part of what killed the PodCast was "I want to watch Showgirls with people and ask them what they think.  Over and over and over."  Because, truly, the movie is a mirror to the viewer and a Rorschach test.  While I have ideas about what I think it says about dreams, the American dream, showbiz dreams and what all of them cost (as well as plenty to say about sex and how it is offered and used as a commodity in entertainment) - that's me, man.  I wanted to sit down and have other folks work through the movie.  But to a person, when I suggested it, they said they would not do that.  And, so, my podcasting dreams were dashed.

Then, a short while ago, Berkley said she was coming to Austin of all places for her 30th Anniversary screening of the opus, and, yeah, buddy, I was in.

The grand Paramount Theatre of Austin, TX 

Yours Truly and AmyC

Ms. Berkley

Elizabeth Berkley came out before the movie with some prepared remarks, looked like $100 million bucks, and was an absolute delight.  She talked about her journey through the movie and the fall out for her career afterwards.  And, she discussed how she picked herself up again.  Great stuff.  

She really wanted the event to be something for the fans of the movie, and to make it special, and to that end, she:

• brought wardrobe from the movie
• was pretty dang candid about things
• taught a room full of people how to dance like Nomi
• really did land with her talk about resilience and staying true to yourself

Yup.  The Versayce dress and the red fringe number.

Once again, the Austin crowd did great in the Q&A.  Salute.  People asked both fun and probing questions, with the occasional shout out reminder that people were just happy to have Berkley in the room with a yelled "we love you!" and applause.

I don't go out like I used to, but this was the second event I've been at this year with a primarily LGBQT+ crowd, wherein I was a token straight dude in the audience.  And, y'all, if the Kylie show and this screening are any indication, LGBQT+ crowds are *better*.*  This thing started at an 11 and went up.  This wasn't just watching a movie, this was an audience talking to the movie while it unspooled.

I would definitely go back for another big-screen viewing.  I've seen the movie a few times, but you don't quite get the energy of the stage sequences the same way on your TV and if there aren't a few hundred folks shouting at the screen.  

And that crowd was great.  I've been to my share of movies where there's been an audience - including Re-Animator on Monday.  And still, as great as I think horror audiences are, and that crowd in particular was, it didn't quite have the ecstatic vibe of the Showgirls audience.  Folks had shown up to have themselves some fun, some dressing the part (I have not felt underdressed at a movie before, but here we are), and generally just blowing the roof off with enthusiasm.

There were high end cameras there, so *something* is happening with the footage, but I have no idea what.

I am feeling a full discussion coming on, because I *do* think the movie should be reconsidered.  The shock of what Verhoeven put on screen remains - that is a *lot* of casual nudity.  But we can deal with it better now to discuss what he's doing and why without just clutching pearls and being concerned for people who are *fine*.  If it's trashy... yeah.  This is a guy from Holland making a movie about America.  And what's more American than shoving all of your sin into one place in the desert that has no right to exist?  Where puritanical America went/ still goes to gamble, legally bang hookers, and generally get up to no good?  And it's basically a cash generator for anyone who wants to make a buck and doesn't care how they get it.

But, really, I just kind of want to salute Elizabeth Berkley for being super cool, and for bringing so much joy to Austin.  She truly did come to share some love for the folks who have embraced her movie.  I am very sure she felt the love reflected back to her.  Especially in the form of that multi-minute standing ovation.

Berkley has a new show coming soon produced by Ryan Murphy, and based who's in it, I'll be giving it a look-see.  

Anyway, it's always nice when your 1992 TV crush turns out to be pretty rad in person.

• Our Podcast Episode:  "Day Drinking the Movies with Showgirls"
• Our full photo and video album

*I also always have a great time at horror screenings like Re-Animator from the other day.  It's a different energy, but it's a lot of fun.