The 18 Best Movies Featuring Strippers That Will Have You Making It Rain
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Society has had a fascination with stripping and strippers for a long time. Whether you go to clubs that feature exotic dancing or not, there's a real “forbidden fruit” mystique associated with them and the people who work there. Cinema has been reflecting that for decades, delivering movies where strippers play a central role. They've encompassed many genres and have told stories about both men and women in the profession
With so many titles to choose from, the question arises: What is the best movie that features strippers? It could be hard-hitting drama like Dancing at the Blue Iguana, a lightweight comedy like The Full Monty, or even a deranged camp classic like Showgirls. Whatever your preference, be sure to vote up the stripper-related movies that you think best capture the allure of the industry.
- 163 VOTESPhoto: MGM/UA Distribution Co.
What It's About: The ambitious Nomi (Elizabeth Berkley) comes to Las Vegas determined to fulfill her dream of becoming a top performer on the Vegas Strip. She lands a good gig at one of the city's swanky hotels, but finds herself in competition with leading showgirl Cristal (Gina Gershon). Nomi does everything in her power to unseat Cristal and assume her position as stripper queen - a position Cristal doesn't intend to give up without a fight.
Why It's Worth Watching: A notorious flop upon its release in 1995, Showgirls has gone on to become a certified camp classic. The overheated sexuality, melodramatic dialogue, lurid plot developments, and constant nudity are really fun if you're in the right frame of mind. No, this isn't a deep or even particularly intelligent movie about the lives of Vegas erotic dancers. It's pure trash, but it's amazing trash.
The Dance: Cristal headlines an outlandish group dance number set on a volcano. It's got pyrotechnics galore, along with suggestive movements and copious nudity. Nomi watches from the audience, visibly seduced by the display of eroticism unfolding in front of her.
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What It's About: Destiny (Constance Wu) is a young stripper who gets mentored by the more experienced Ramona (Jennifer Lopez). Among the lessons she learns is how to seduce the maximum amount of money from their clientele of Wall Street hotshots. When the stock market crashes and leaves the sex industry hurting, Ramona and Destiny head up a scheme to rip off the same stockbrokers and CEOs who caused the crash to happen. They're wildly successful - for a while.
Why It's Worth Watching: Hustlers is based on actual events that are absolutely fascinating. It's a great underdog story about a group of scrappy strippers who take down the people responsible for a major American financial crisis. Lopez gives a career-defining performance as Ramona. She's exceptionally easy on the eyes, too. There's lots of sexy stripping action, along with a fun supporting performance from singer Lizzo.
The Dance: Ramona does the hottest pole dance the world has ever seen, to the tune of Fiona Apple's “Criminal.” Guys in the audience throw money at her as she grinds and spins. Watching at home, you might be tempted to do the same thing, provided your TV screen doesn't get too fogged up.
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- 330 VOTES
Striptease
Photo: Columbia PicturesWhat It's About: Erin Grant (Demi Moore) loses custody of her daughter to her ex-husband. She's determined to get the girl back but can't afford the legal fees needed to fight. To earn fast money, she takes a job at a club called the Eager Beaver, where she quickly becomes a sensation. Her biggest fan is David Dilbeck (Burt Reynolds), a shady politician who stops at nothing to get what he wants. When he decides he wants her, Erin's life becomes significantly more complicated.
Why It's Worth Watching: Moore got herself in crazy shape for Striptease, a fact that was a major promotional point when the movie was released in 1996. Although she was a popular actress already, this marked the moment when she became a genuine sex symbol. Her performance and dedication to the role are impressive.
The Dance: Erin takes the stage in a man's suit and hat. She does some acrobatics and pole moves before slowly taking off pieces of the suit. When the men in the crowd are all hot and horny, Erin delivers the final move, ripping open the white dress shirt to reveal her full body. The guys go nuts.
- 437 VOTESPhoto: Miramax Films
What It's About: Bank robber Seth Gecko (George Clooney) and his brother Richie (Quentin Tarantino) are headed for the Mexican border. They take two hostages, a preacher named Jacob Fuller (Harvey Keitel) who's losing his faith, and his daughter Kate (Juliette Lewis). After making it across, they go to a strip club, only to find out it's filled with vampires.
Why It's Worth Watching: Tarantino, who wrote the screenplay, and director Robert Rodriguez set out to make a good old-fashioned grindhouse exploitation flick, and they succeeded. Especially cool is the way the movie starts off as a crime drama, then abruptly shifts into bloody, gory horror. The film has a sense of humor about itself, despite going full-tilt on the carnage. From Dusk Till Dawn is an incredibly wild ride.
The Dance: A barely clothed exotic dancer, played by Salma Hayek, does a steamy bump-and-grind routine with a giant snake draped around her neck. You'd have to be a complete moron not to realize what the snake is a metaphor for. As a finale, she sticks her foot in Richie's mouth, forcing him to drink the alcohol she's pouring down her leg. (Tarantino's obsession with women's feet arises yet again!) The performance is so hot that it would almost be worth getting attacked by a vampire just to see it.
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What It's About: Smalltown girl Ali (Christina Aguilera) comes to Hollywood in search of stardom. She lands a gig working at a burlesque club owned by Tess (Cher). The place is faltering and a shark named Marcus (Eric Dane) is hoping to swoop it up. Ali suggests that the girls should sing live onstage, rather than just lip-sync. She leads the charge to save the club.
Why It's Worth Watching: This one is only PG-13, so if you want a strip movie without full nudity and graphic sexual content, this is your best bet. The combination of Aguilera and Cher - two of the most powerful voices of their respective generations - is impossible to resist. The slick, high-energy production numbers are amazing to see.
The Dance: Dressed as sexy police officers, Ali and two other women carry out their routine. Her nemesis Nikki (Kristen Bell) yanks out the cords to the sound system, leaving them without music. The customers are enraged until Ali begins singing for real, her voice every bit as seductive as her outfit. The performance is saved because of her quick thinking and undeniable talent.
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What It's About: Former superstar pro wrestler “Randy the Ram” (Mickey Rourke) is now older and suffering health conditions from his profession. His doctor tells him his heart will explode if he doesn't stop wrestling, but the sport is in Randy's blood. His stripper friend Cassidy (Marisa Tomei) encourages him to devote some energy to repairing the relationship with his estranged daughter Stephanie (Evan Rachel Wood) instead of taking more beatings in the ring.
Why It's Worth Watching: The movie was a huge comeback vehicle for Rourke, who absolutely burns up the screen as Randy. He scored an Oscar nomination as best actor for his performance. Tomei was also nominated, in the best supporting actress category. Director Darren Aronofsky provides a stark, unflinching look behind the scenes of pro wrestling that's gripping, even if you don't care for the sport.
The Dance: Cassidy performs a pole dance striptease in a seedy-looking club. Rather than coming off as sexy - and in spite of Tomei's undeniable attractiveness - the performance feels a little sad and dirty. Whereas many films glamorize stripping, this one delivers a scene where it looks like a grind, which is a perfect choice for the often grim story.
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What It's About: Alice (Natalie Portman) is an American stripper living and working in London. She marries Dan (Jude Law), who later starts up a flirtation with Anna (Julia Roberts). Then he pretends to be Anna online and starts communicating with dermatologist Larry (Clive Owen). When Larry has a chance meeting with Anna, things get complicated for everyone.
Why It's Worth Watching: The stellar cast is a prime draw, especially since Portman and Owen were nominated for Oscars. Closer was directed by Mike Nichols, the legend behind The Graduate, Silkwood, and Working Girl. Anybody who loves movies would have a hard time ignoring that combination of stars and director.
The Dance: Larry and Alice meet in a private room at the strip club. He says, “Tell me something true.” She replies, “Lying is the most fun a girl can have without taking her clothes off.” He then demands that she get naked for his pleasure. Alice stands on top of the table, giving him a full-on view as she drops what little clothing she has on in the first place.
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What It's About: Small-time weed dealer David Clark (Jason Sudeikis) has a chance to erase his debt if he'll transport a stash across the Mexican border. His plan is to create the illusion of being a normal guy traveling with his family. To accomplish that, he convinces stripper Rose O'Reilly (Jennifer Aniston), homeless girl Casey Mathis (Emma Roberts), and goofball neighbor Kenny Rossmore (Will Poulter) to pretend to be his wife and children.
Why It's Worth Watching: There's genuine hilarity throughout this wacky, raunchy comedy. An awesome supporting cast includes Nick Offerman, Kathryn Hahn, and Ed Helms, among others. The movie was a major hit, thanks to its hooky premise and first-rate comedic performances.
The Dance: When the “family” is kidnapped by the cartel boss who owns the stolen cannabis they're transporting, they explain the ruse. He doesn't believe them. To prove they aren't a real family, Rose demonstrates her stripping skills in the repair shop where they're being held. The boss becomes significantly distracted by her half-naked body that she's able to turn on a stream vent right beside him, thereby allowing everyone to escape.
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What It's About: The stories of several different criminals, prostitutes, and lowlifes are told in this adaptation of Frank Miller's groundbreaking graphic novel. In one of them, Jessica Alba plays Nancy, a sultry stripper being pursued by a pervert and protected by a cop, John Hartigan (Bruce Willis), from her past. Hartigan wants to “rescue” her from a lifestyle he views as beneath her.
Why It's Worth Watching: An incredible all-star cast also includes Mickey Rourke, Elijah Wood, Rosario Dawson, Clive Owen, and Benicio del Toro. In replicating the look of Miller's book, director Robert Rodriguez delivers eye-popping black-and-white images splashed with strategic bursts of color. The stories that constitute the plot are all darkly thrilling.
The Dance: Nancy is onstage at a bar, clad in a sequined bra, tight leather chaps, a holster with a six-shooter in it, and cowgirl boots. She seductively twirls a lasso as she grinds to the music. Hartigan watches uncomfortably while the other men in the place visibly enjoy the show.
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What It's About: Zola (Taylour Paige) is a waitress who moonlights as a stripper. She meets another stripper, Stefani (Riley Keough), and accepts an invitation to join her and roommate X (Colman Domingo) on a trip to Florida. Once they get there, Zola realizes Stefani is a prostitute, X is her pimp, and both expect her to join them in business. All sorts of crazy, dangerous, and insane things happen from there.
Why It's Worth Watching: When it was released in 2020, the movie gained notoriety as being the first motion picture ever inspired by a Twitter thread. The tale is supposedly real. It's likely certain liberties were taken with the truth, but what's undeniable is that the constant string of surprising plot developments is impossible to look away from. Zola is sometimes hilarious, sometimes sordid, and always captivating.
The Dance: Zola does a pole dance - but not before cleaning and sanitizing the pole. After that, there's a lot of twerking, twirling, and doing splits. The spell is broken when a male in the audience sticks some cash in her G-string, telling her she looks “a lot like Whoopi Goldberg.” The comment visibly dismays her.
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What It's About: Welder Alex Owens (Jennifer Beals) supplements her income by doing sexy dances in a club at night. She strikes up a relationship with her boss, Nick Hurley (Michael Nouri), who encourages her to audition for a prestigious dance conservatory that would legitimize her talent and put her on a bigger, better stage.
Why It's Worth Watching: Plot is admittedly light in Flashdance, but it's a perfect encapsulation of how the explosion of MTV changed Hollywood. The movie is, in many respects, a string of music videos as opposed to a proper story. The songs are killer, though, and Jennifer Beals launched a fashion sensation with a torn off-the-shoulder sweatshirt she wears in one scene.
The Dance: In the film's signature sequence, Alex does a seductive dance with a chair. She leans back on it and pulls a cord, causing water to fall onto her from above. The rest of her sensuous dance is performed soaking wet, to the audience's great delight.
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What It's About: Single mom Diana Armstrong (LisaRaye McCoy) is trying to make a better life for herself and her child. She wants to go to college, and to earn tuition money, accepts a job at the Players Club, owned by fast-talking businessman Dolla Bill (Bernie Mac). Eventually, her cousin Ebony (Monica Calhoun) starts working there too. Diana tries to hold on to her job, keep an eye on Ebony, and deal with the occasionally less-than-considerate club patrons.
Why It's Worth Watching: The film was written and directed by Ice Cube. While it may not be the greatest motion picture ever made, Cube fills it with catchy rap/hip-hop tunes and gives the late, great Bernie Mac a prime showcase for his comedic talents. Fans of the Friday series will appreciate the similar tone. Jamie Foxx plays the club's DJ.
The Dance: Under her performing name of Diamond, Diana takes the stage in a pink dress that she slowly removes. The way Ice Cube shoots the scene - with close-ups and fades from one image to the next - captures the sexiness of the dance while also acknowledging the artistry and skill behind her performance. The crowd takes notice of Diana, as does the DJ, who fumbles with his vinyl while watching her.
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What It's About: Stripper Aubrey Fleming (Lindsay Lohan) is kidnapped by a psychopath who cuts off her hand and leg. After getting out from his clutches, she returns to her family claiming to be someone else altogether. The mystery of what happened to her and what her true identity is proves to be a complicated matter.
Why It's Worth Watching: If you're fascinated by trainwrecks, this is a must-see. The savagely reviewed film is a notorious turkey, thanks in part to its incoherent plotting. At the same time, it's so bad that it generates an amusing “I can't believe this is real!” vibe.
The Dance: While she's dancing half-naked, a guy in the audience hands Aubrey a cigarette. She rubs it seductively against her private area, then brings it to her mouth to take a puff. After she hands it back to the guy, he sniffs it, then takes a puff himself. It's difficult to tell if this bit is meant to make smoking look cool or off-putting, but it's hard to forget once it's hit your eyeballs.
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What It's About: This 2001 ensemble drama follows a bunch of different women who work at the titular strip club. Angel (Daryl Hannah) dreams of becoming a mother. Jasmine (Sandra Oh) loses her boyfriend after he sees her perform. Jo (Jennifer Tilly) is pregnant - a condition that threatens her employment.
Why It's Worth Watching: Dancing at the Blue Iguana spotlights a number of fine actresses. Whereas some movies glamorize the world of stripping at least partially, this one takes a grittier approach, portraying the hardships inherent in this line of work. It's a feel-bad film about exotic dancing, which sets it apart from the norm.
The Dance: Jasmine shakes what her mama gave her while her boyfriend watches from across the room. The camera stays trained on her face during the sequence, allowing viewers to see her pain as she realizes he's not as okay with it as he claimed to be. Even as she moves seductively, tears begin to stream down her face.
- 1534 VOTES
What It's About: Christina (Mia Kirshner) is the headliner at a sleek Canadian strip club. Her biggest fan is Francis (Bruce Greenwood), a tax auditor who fell into a deep depression after his daughter's murder. He regularly hires her for a private dance, to the dismay of the club's emcee - and Christina's ex-boyfriend - Eric (Elias Koteas). When Eric manipulates a situation to get Francis banned from the club, the auditor plots revenge in the form of murder.
Why It's Worth Watching: Director Atom Egoyan is known for intelligent films that delve into complex subject matter, and Exotica is no different. It deals with the theme of obsession, as well as the power sexuality can have over people when they're particularly vulnerable. This may be the smartest, most literate movie ever made about stripping. It has a 95% Tomatometer approval rating from critics at Rotten Tomatoes.
The Dance: To carry out his plan, Francis blackmails an exotic pet store owner, Thomas (Don McKellar), into visiting Christina at the club and trying to extract information from her while he listens via wiretap from his car. Great suspense is generated as she removes her trademark schoolgirl uniform for Thomas as he's seated at a table, pumping her for info.
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What It's About: After losing his job at a steel factory, Kaz (Robert Carlyle) is hurting for money. He comes up with the bright of idea of teaming with his equally financially strapped friends to form a male striptease group. None of them are even remotely what anyone would consider stripper material, age-wise or in terms of body type, but that doesn't stop them. Kaz thinks the key to their success will be going “the full monty,” which is to say, completely naked.
Why It's Worth Watching: This sleeper hit from 1997 is absolutely hilarious as it shows the ill-prepared men trying to transform themselves into studs. Underneath that is an unexpectedly touching tale of friendship and body positivity. The movie was nominated for best picture at the Academy Awards.
The Dance: The Full Monty's concluding scene finds Kaz and pals confidently doing their striptease routine to an audience of supportive wives, girlfriends, and neighbors. Their hesitation is gone, and they perform with enthusiasm. And yes, the final shot implies that they do indeed bare it all.
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- 1757 VOTESPhoto: Warner Bros. Pictures
What It's About: Former stripper Mike (Channing Tatum) now runs a furniture-making business in Florida. His former colleagues Big Dick Richie (Joe Manganiello) and Ken (Matt Bomer) convince him to come out of retirement and join them on a road trip to a stripper convention in Myrtle Beach. The guys devise all-new routines to perform, with the help of emcee Rome (Jada Pinkett Smith). Getting back into the job impacts Mike in ways he doesn't anticipate.
Why It's Worth Watching: Whereas the original Magic Mike was a dark character study, this sequel offers the kind of unexpurgated fun audiences didn't quite get the first time around. The stripping sequences are creatively choreographed, with a sense of humor in how they're conceived. For all the sensual dance moves, Magic Mike XXL also has a story about how Mike and friends have to figure out how to please themselves as much as they please the women in their audience.
The Dance: Big Dick Richie hilariously shows off his skills in a convenience store. Upon hearing the Backstreet Boys' “I Want It That Way” playing over the speakers, he attempts to get a reaction from the female clerk behind the counter. That involves humping a Pepsi cooler, pouring a bottle of water over himself, and lewdly gyrating on the floor after ripping his shirt off.
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- 1846 VOTES
Chocolate City
Photo: Freestyle ReleasingWhat It's About: Financially struggling Michael (Robert Ri'chard) is talked into taking part in an amateur night at a male strip club. He's sufficiently good at it to be rewarded with a job. Michael quickly becomes a club sensation. Nevertheless, he feels the need to keep his religious mother and his girlfriend from finding out how he's making a living.
Why It's Worth Watching: The movie has a notable cast that includes Vivica A. Fox, Carmen Electra, Tyson Beckford, and Michael Jai White. It offers some nice diversity by focusing on strip clubs owned, operated, staffed by, and catering to African Americans.
The Dance: One of Michael's colleagues, Pharoah (played by singer Ginuwine), does his routine while the rowdy female audience hurls dollar bills at him. He sticks the money down the front of his pants as he furiously gyrates. The song Pharaoh is dancing to is “Pony” by… Ginuwine.
