Kyle MacLachlan's Biggest Regret Is This 24%-Rated Cult Flop He Called "Horrible"

Thanks to his role as Agent Cooper in Twin Peaks, Kyle MacLachlan is an actor whose name is forever etched in TV history. However, even legends have moments in their careers they'd rather forget.

Kyle MacLachlan Said That He "Was Absolutely Gobsmacked" When He Saw 'Showgirls'

For MacLachlan, that moment was Showgirls, a Paul Verhoeven movie that grossed only $23 million at the box office despite its $45 million budget and won seven Golden Raspberry Awards.

The actor himself recalls that time with a shudder:

“It was about to premiere, I hadn't seen it yet, [...]. So I went to see it and… I was absolutely gobsmacked. I said, ‘This is horrible. Horrible!’ And it's a very slow, sinking feeling when you're watching the movie, and the first scene comes out, and you're like, ‘Oh, that's a really bad scene.’

But you say, ‘Well, that's OK, the next one'll be better.’ And you somehow try to convince yourself that it's going to get better… and it just gets worse.”

But, as they say, time heals all wounds. Today, Showgirls is a cult film and the subject of scholarly works. Filmmakers like Tarantino and Jarmusch adore it, and here's why.

What Is 'Showgirls' About?

Nomi is a young dancer with a switchblade in her purse who comes to Las Vegas to conquer show business. Fate brings her together with Molly, and Nomi starts at the bottom in strip clubs.

Her natural talent and predatory instincts quickly propel her to the next level. She joins the prestigious Stardust Club, where she meets the lead dancer, Cristal, and her boyfriend, Zack (played by Kyle MacLachlan), a powerful producer.

Nomi quickly rises to fame, but the world of show business proves to be no less dangerous than the streets.

'Showgirls' Have Undergone a Significant Shift in Public Perception Over the Past Thirty Years

At the time of its release, Showgirls was universally panned. Critics were outraged by its shamelessness, audiences, by its lack of a coherent plot. Screenwriter Joe Eszterhas even publicly repented for his outrageousness.

However, Paul Verhoeven himself seemed to know what he was doing. He was the only creator to show up at the Golden Raspberry Awards and accept the award with a smile.

For him, Showgirls was a deliberate trolling of consumer culture, where women are objects and sex is a commodity.

The dialogue, lifted from cheap soft-core porn, and the lingerie ad-like aesthetics served this purpose, but audiences didn't immediately grasp it. For decades, Tarantino and Jarmusch have championed Showgirls, which today boasts cult status.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Showgirls'?

• Showgirls has 24% from critics and 38% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 5.2/10.

• On Letterboxd, Showgirls scored 3.4/5.0.

Where to Watch 'Showgirls'?

Showgirls is available to buy or rent on Amazon Prime Video.