SHOWGIRLS (1995) MOVIE POSTER, AUSTRALIAN ONE SHEET, ELIZABETH BERKLEY
Size AU One Sheet (27" x 40")
SHOWGIRLS (1995) Movie Poster, Australian One Sheet, RARE, Starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, and Gina Gershon and Directed by Paul Verhoeven, is in Fine+ Condition. Movie Poster and Condition Condition: This...
SHOWGIRLS (1995) Movie Poster, Australian One Sheet, RARE, Starring Elizabeth Berkley, Kyle MacLachlan, and Gina Gershon and Directed by Paul Verhoeven, is in Fine+ Condition.
Movie Poster and Condition
Condition: This Australian One Sheet Movie Poster is RARE and we consider this poster to be in Fine+ condition with Fold lines shown, small pin holes in each of the cross folds, edgewear present on all sides, there is a small 5mm tear at the top of the poster and a flattened out dog ears on the right hand top and bottom of the poster. This Poster is currently stored folded and will be shipped in an acid free polyprop bag with acid free backing board."
This authentic Australian one sheet poster displays the characteristic features of a vintage cinema poster from the 1990s theatrical release. The fold lines are typical of one sheet posters distributed to Australian cinemas during this era, as they were folded for shipping and storage. Despite the minor wear consistent with its age and theatrical use, this poster remains a striking example of the original promotional material for one of the most controversial films of the decade. The bold graphics and distinctive design capture the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas showgirl culture that defined the film's visual identity.
Together with the poster you will receive a promotional leaflet which was given out as part of the promotion at the cinema.
Movie Synopsis
Showgirls is a provocative 1995 drama directed by the legendary Paul Verhoeven, known for his work on RoboCop, Total Recall, and Basic Instinct. Written by Joe Eszterhas, who penned the script for Basic Instinct, the film stars Elizabeth Berkley in a dramatic departure from her role as Jessie Spano in the television series Saved by the Bell. The cast also features Kyle MacLachlan, Gina Gershon, Glenn Plummer, Robert Davi, and Gina Ravera in a story that explores ambition, exploitation, and survival in the competitive world of Las Vegas entertainment.
The film follows Nomi Malone, a young drifter who arrives in Las Vegas with dreams of becoming a professional dancer. Starting as a stripper at the seedy Cheetah club, Nomi's raw talent and fierce determination catch the attention of Molly Abrams (Ravera), a costume designer for the extravagant show Goddess at the luxurious Stardust Casino. Through Molly, Nomi meets the show's star, Cristal Connors (Gershon), and the entertainment director Zack Carey (MacLachlan). As Nomi claws her way up from lap dancer to showgirl to headliner, she discovers that success in Las Vegas comes at a devastating personal cost.
Upon its theatrical release, Showgirls became one of the most infamous films in cinema history. It was the first NC-17 rated film to receive a wide theatrical release from a major studio, with United Artists distributing the controversial production. The film's explicit content and unflinching portrayal of the entertainment industry's darker aspects generated massive controversy and predominantly negative reviews from critics. It earned a record-breaking seven Golden Raspberry Awards, including Worst Picture and Worst Director, and was a significant box office disappointment, grossing only $20 million against its $45 million budget.
However, in the decades since its release, Showgirls has undergone a remarkable cultural rehabilitation. What was once dismissed as a camp disaster has been re-evaluated by film scholars, critics, and audiences as a misunderstood satire and a bold commentary on American capitalism, female ambition, and the exploitation inherent in entertainment industries. The film has developed a devoted cult following and is now regularly screened at midnight movie events and film festivals worldwide. Many contemporary critics have praised Verhoeven's subversive direction and the film's audacious approach to its subject matter, recognising it as a deliberate provocation rather than an accidental failure.
Elizabeth Berkley's fearless performance as Nomi has also been re-examined, with many now appreciating the physicality and commitment she brought to this challenging role. Gina Gershon's portrayal of the manipulative yet vulnerable Cristal Connors is frequently cited as one of the film's standout elements, delivering her lines with a knowing wink that suggested she understood exactly what kind of film she was making. The movie's choreography, designed by Marguerite Derricks, remains impressive in its ambition and execution, particularly the elaborate Goddess show sequences.
The Australian one sheet poster for Showgirls captures the film's glamorous yet dangerous atmosphere, with its striking visual design reflecting the neon-soaked aesthetic of Las Vegas nightlife. This original theatrical poster is a valuable piece of cinema memorabilia from one of the 1990s' most talked-about and debated films, representing a unique moment in Hollywood history when a major studio released an NC-17 film with widespread distribution and serious artistic ambitions.
To find out more about Showgirls (1995) click here to go to IMDB.com.
Special Notes
Images may have a small 'MPA' digital watermark and this does not appear on the poster. Posters are being held by magnets in the corners to take photographs, so you may see some magnet and shadows from the magnets in these areas. The magnets are not included in the sale of the item.
Postage, Insurance & Your Country Taxes
Postage costs are quoted for this item, include insurance up to AUD$100, but if you reside outside of Australia, the price does not include any import taxes/fees that you may be required to pay when the item reaches your borders. Please check with your local authorities for any additional taxes or fees. If you would like full insurance coverage for your purchase, please message me and I would be happy to quote the additional cost (estimate is AUD$2.50 p/AUD$100 or 2.5% of the item value, up to a maximum item value of AUD$5,000).
FAQ
At Movie Posters Australia, the love and conservation of movie posters comes first, and we like to share this passion. Our commitment to quality means we will provide high quality memorabilia to our customers. Posters are carefully chosen and authenticated to ensure originality and value. We want our customers to trust MPA, so we always try to be as open and transparent as we can, provide detailed condition information and images, to ensure customers are comfortable and confident in their purchase.
While the industry does have a few condition rating standards, there is no movie poster condition rating system that has become the accepted standard world wide. This unfortunately makes condition terms vary from movie poster dealer to movie poster dealer. Terms like Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, seem to be universal to most condition rating standards, but most standards still lack definition about what and how many flaws/defects/damage defines a specific condition level. For more information on how Movie Posters Australia grades the condition of its movie posters, daybills, lobby cards and other ephemera please see out Movie Poster Condition and Grading page.
In the early days of cinema, posters were primarily hand-drawn and printed in various sizes, often tailored to fit the available space in theaters or promotional areas. In the United States, the "One Sheet" size (some times called '1 Sheet' or '1SH' approximately 27" x 41", became the standard during the 1930s. This size was manageable for theater display and suited the needs of a growing film industry.
Different countries developed their own poster sizes and styles, which also changed sometimes over the decades, and were influenced by local preferences and practical considerations, like available paper sheet sizes and how many posters could be printed on one sheet.
In Australia, the most popular size, the Daybill, has evolved over the decades. Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order are:
- Long Daybills (15" x 40"), from 1920's to pre-WW2 or pre-1941, were printed two to a sheet, longer than current Daybill versions. There were size variances in width from 14.5" to 15" and in height from 39.5" to 40".
- War Time Daybill (10" x 30"), during WW2, for a short time to conserve paper during a war time shortage, four Daybills were printed on one sheet. Information from Press Sheets also referred to these War-Time sizes as "New Size Daybills".
- Post-War Daybill (13" x 30"), this 13" x 30" Post-War size carried through until the 1980's, but also varied in size from 13"-14" x 29.75"-30.25".
- Post-80's Daybill (33cm x 66cm, or 13" x 26"), over a few years in the late 80's, the size changed again to a metric 33cm x 66cm, although these have also varied from 32-33cm x 64.5-66cm. New sizes from the late 80's were created, sometimes called a Mini Daybill or Mini Poster, in 9" x 12", 11" x 17" and 13" x 20".
In the UK, the somewhat unique 'Quad' poster, measuring 30" x 40", became popular, offering a larger landscape format that allowed for more elaborate designs.
In Japan, movie poster sizes were smaller, such as the "B2" (20" x 28"), which suited the more compact living environment of larger cities, smaller advertising spaces, and unique aesthetic sensibilities.
The 1970s and 1980s, witnessed the rise of the "six-sheet" (81" x 81") format, reflecting a trend towards larger and more visually impactful advertising.
Overall, the variation in movie poster sizes across different countries and decades highlights the interplay between technological printing advancements, paper resource availability, paper sheet size changes, cultural preferences, and the evolving nature of movie marketing.
At Movie Posters Australia we tag each poster we sell with a 'size' and 'condition' description at the very top of the page for our customers to easily see. There may however be some slight variations to sizes by up one inch due to variations in production and guillotine methods by printers over the decades.