“Striptease” is a drama film directed by Andrew Bergman and released in 1996. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen.
The movie follows Erin Grant (played by Demi Moore), a former FBI secretary who becomes a stripper to earn money for a custody battle over her daughter. Erin becomes embroiled in a dangerous world of politics and corruption when she catches the eye of a powerful congressman (played by Burt Reynolds), who becomes obsessed with her.
Despite the star power of its cast, “Striptease” received negative reviews from critics. The film’s uneven tone, weak screenplay, and unsympathetic characters were widely criticized, although some reviewers praised Demi Moore’s performance.
The film was a commercial disappointment, grossing just over $113 million worldwide against a reported budget of $50 million.
Cast
The main cast of “Striptease” includes:
- Demi Moore as Erin Grant
- Burt Reynolds as Congressman David Dilbeck
- Armand Assante as Lieutenant Al Garcia
- Ving Rhames as Shad
- Robert Patrick as Darrell Grant
- Paul Guilfoyle as Malcolm Moldovsky
- Rumer Willis as Angela Grant
- Robert Stanton as Erb Crandal
- Jerry Grayson as Orly
Several other actors also had minor roles or cameos in the film, including Dina Spybey, William Hill, and Stuart Pankin.
Production
“Striptease” was directed by Andrew Bergman and produced by Mike Lobell. The film was written by Bergman and was based on the novel of the same name by Carl Hiaasen.
Principal photography for the film took place in various locations throughout Florida, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale. The film’s budget was reported to be around $50 million.
The film’s iconic strip club scenes were choreographed by Los Angeles-based burlesque performer and choreographer Margaret “Margo” Mars. She also trained Demi Moore for the role of Erin Grant, teaching her how to dance, pole dance, and strip convincingly.
Despite the hype surrounding the film’s release, “Striptease” was a critical and commercial disappointment, receiving negative reviews and failing to recoup its production costs. The film’s uneven tone, weak screenplay, and unsympathetic characters were widely criticized, although some reviewers praised Demi Moore’s performance.
Reviews
“Striptease” received mostly negative reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a 12% approval rating based on 52 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The site’s critical consensus reads, “Vulgar, witless, and thuddingly unfunny, Striptease can only barely be counted as a comedy – and not much of a drama, either.” On Metacritic, the film has a score of 27 out of 100, indicating “generally unfavorable reviews.”
The film’s uneven tone, weak screenplay, and unsympathetic characters were widely criticized by reviewers. The film’s attempts at humor were also widely panned, with many reviewers calling the film vulgar and unfunny. However, some reviewers praised Demi Moore’s performance, calling it one of the few redeeming factors of the film.
Overall, “Striptease” was a critical and commercial disappointment, failing to recoup its production costs despite the star power of its cast.
Where are they now?
Here’s what some of the main cast members of “Striptease” have been up to since the movie’s release:
- Demi Moore has continued to act in films and television, including “G.I. Jane,” “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle,” and “Empire.” She has also published a memoir and has been involved in various philanthropic causes.
- Burt Reynolds passed away in 2018. Before his death, he continued to act in films and television, including “Boogie Nights,” “The Longest Yard,” and “Archer.”
- Armand Assante has continued to act in films and television, including “American Gangster,” “The Mambo Kings,” and “NCIS.” He has also done voice acting work for animated projects such as “Justice League” and “Hercules.”
- Ving Rhames has continued to act in films and television, including the “Mission: Impossible” franchise, “Pulp Fiction,” and “Dawn of the Dead.” He has also done voice acting work for animated projects such as “King of the Hill” and “Guardians of the Galaxy.”
- Robert Patrick has continued to act in films and television, including “Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” “The X-Files,” and “Scorpion.” He has also done voice acting work for animated projects such as “The Batman” and “The Unit.”
Overall, the cast of “Striptease” has continued to work in the entertainment industry, with some of them achieving great success in their careers.
Fun facts
Here are some fun facts about “Striptease”:
- The film was originally supposed to be directed by Mike Nichols, but he dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. Andrew Bergman was brought on as his replacement.
- Demi Moore’s body in the film was achieved through rigorous dieting and exercise. She reportedly spent six hours a day working out and ate a diet of lean protein and vegetables to achieve her toned physique.
- The film’s release was timed to coincide with the Fourth of July holiday weekend in 1996, in the hopes of drawing large crowds. However, it faced stiff competition from other summer blockbusters such as “Independence Day” and “Mission: Impossible.”
- Burt Reynolds, who played Congressman David Dilbeck in the film, was reportedly not the first choice for the role. Other actors who were considered included Al Pacino and Jack Nicholson.
- The film’s climactic scene, in which a massive inflatable alligator falls on top of the main character, was actually based on a real-life incident that occurred in Florida in 1994.
- The film’s soundtrack features several songs by alternative rock bands, including R.E.M., Chris Isaak, and Devo.
- To prepare for her role as a stripper, Demi Moore visited strip clubs in New York City and Las Vegas, where she reportedly spent time talking to dancers and observing their performances.
Box office
“Striptease” was a commercial disappointment, grossing just over $113 million worldwide against a reported budget of $50 million.
In the United States, the film grossed $33.1 million, making it the 45th-highest-grossing film of 1996. It opened at number four at the box office during its opening weekend, grossing just over $12 million.
Internationally, the film grossed $80 million. It performed particularly well in Japan, where it grossed over $15 million, and in Germany, where it grossed over $13 million.
Despite the hype surrounding the film’s release, “Striptease” failed to recoup its production costs and was considered a commercial disappointment.
