Elizabeth Berkley gets emotional at screening of cult classic 'Showgirls': 'Look at us now'

Elizabeth Berkley is taking an overdue bow for "Showgirls."

The “Saved by the Bell” actress, who played Las Vegas stripper Nomi Malone in the widely panned erotic thriller, reflected on the legacy of the ‘90s cult classic during a screening at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Wednesday.

Released in September 1995, the film was a critical and commercial failure, earning just $20 million against a $45 million budget and a measly 23% positive reviews on aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.

"I can't help but reflect in this moment of feeling your love and appreciation for this film," Berkley told fans at the screening, according to event footage shared on social media. "It's hard not to reflect back to fall of 1995, when the movie was met with such ridicule and the critics wrote such vitriol and personal attacks and I had my head handed to me on a national level and my heart wanted to know why."

Looking back at 'Showgirls':25 years later, is the erotic thriller still the worst movie ever made?

Over the years, "Showgirls" has gained a cult following: lovingly mocked and parodied at drag shows, midnight movie screenings and in an off-Broadway musical. The phenomenon around the film was explored in the 2019 documentary "You Don't Nomi."  

Berkley acknowledged this cinematic turn of the tide in her Academy Museum speech. "They thought it would just die on a video shelf at Blockbuster, but look at us now, darlin'," she said.

Upon its release, “Showgirls” received a record 13 Razzie Awards nominations and "won" seven, including worst picture, actress (Berkley) and screenplay (Joe Eszterhas).

Berkley, who said she pursued the role of Nomi "with my whole heart and soul," recalled her mother asking her agent if she might win an Academy Award for her performance in the film, which was helmed by director Paul Verhoeven. Verhoeven was coming off the success of 1992’s “Basic Instinct,” which earned a pair of Oscar nominations and made star Sharon Stone a household name.

"Sharon Stone had just become the biggest star in the world, and every girl in Hollywood had fought for this role. So, it was not a strange thing to ask,” Berkley said, before jokingly adding, “So tonight, I'd like to thank The Academy ... Museum.”

Berkley also thanked “Showgirls” fans for their unwavering support of the film, including an emotional shoutout to the film’s LGBTQ fanbase for its embrace of the campy flick.

“I’m so grateful that the film has found its way into your hearts, and especially the LGBTQ community who stood by the film,” a teary-eyed Berkley said. “You always believed, as did I, and for that I’m eternally grateful."

Contributing: Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY