Story perspectives

Director Glad Charlize Theron Skipped ‘Showgirls’—Now Oscar Winner

4/28/2026

Summary

Theron Skips Showgirls

Charlize Theron was close to being cast as the lead in the film *Showgirls* but ultimately was not selected.
Director Paul Verhoeven later said he was glad he did not hire Theron for the movie.
*Showgirls* is widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made.
Theron subsequently starred in the acclaimed *Mad Max: Fury Road*, won an Oscar for *Monster*, and appeared in Netflix’s series *Apex*.

Summary

Theron Climbs

Apex tops Netflix’s worldwide viewership, leading charts in 93 countries and the United States.
Theron promoted the film by climbing a Times Square billboard built as a rock wall and performed a cliff-jump and free-solo climb.
Director Baltasar Kormákur said he crawled beside Theron because the drop was “hundreds of meters,” while Egerton consulted Anthony Hopkins, who warned him “don’t play evil,” shaping his performance.

History

Historical Context

In 1995, when Paul Verhoeven released Showgirls, studios faced doubled production costs—averaging $50.4 million—and a $90 million quarterly box-office drop, making star-driven flops especially risky. By 2024, Netflix leveraged global streaming growth, launching the Apex series starring Charlize Theron, which reached 150 million households worldwide. The shift shows how rising costs once punished risky cinema, while today data-rich platforms turn bold casting into worldwide hits.

1 of 3

Theron Skips Showgirls

Charlize Theron was close to being cast as the lead in the film *Showgirls* but ultimately was not selected.
Director Paul Verhoeven later said he was glad he did not hire Theron for the movie.
*Showgirls* is widely regarded as one of the worst films ever made.
Theron subsequently starred in the acclaimed *Mad Max: Fury Road*, won an Oscar for *Monster*, and appeared in Netflix’s series *Apex*.

1 / 3