'Magic Mike' Vs. 'Showgirls': A Stripper Movie Showdown

Both Showgirls and Magic Mike are set in the glamorous world of stripping, and both film's lead characters yearn for something more meaningful. Still, if Steven Soderbergh can do for male strippers what he did for high-end call girls in The Girlfriend Experience, it can't be that bad, right?

Let's take a look at how Showgirls and Magic Mike measure up to each other so far.

Showgirls

Premise: The $45 million bomb tells the unremarkable story of a drifter (Elizabeth Berkley) who moves to Vegas and takes a job as a stripper. Determined to make the leap to esteemed showgirl, she must learn the ins and outs of the cutthroat dance biz. Widely regarded as one of the worst films of all time.

Awfulness Factor: It may be argued that the 1995 film has some of the worst dialogue ever to make its way onto celluloid. Add terrible acting and a nonsensical plot to the mix and you've got a trifecta of failure.

Most Cringeworthy Line: I'm not a whore. I'm a dancer.

Redeeming Aspects:  Just because Showgirls is terrible doesn't mean it isn't entertaining. Over the years, the film has gained a kind of respect for dominating the so-bad-it's-good film genre. Entertainment Weekly listed it as one of the top cult films of all time. Though the film flopped at the box office, it earned $100 million from video rentals.

Sad But True: The film holds the record for the most Razzie Award (the mock award ceremony that honors the worst films of the year) nominations in history. It was nominated for a whopping ten Razzies, including Worst Actress and Worst Movie in 1996.

Magic Mike

Premise: A male stripper (Channing Tatum) teaches a younger male stripper (Alex Pettyfer) how to be a better stripper. Got it?

Awfulness Factor: The film's subplot focuses on Magic Mike's attempts to become a serious furniture designer -- seriously. This turns what should be a guilty pleasure flick into an eye-rolling one. Based on the 2½-minute trailer alone, it's clear that the film is packed with laughable performances and even worse dialogue. That's not a good sign.

Most Cringeworthy Line:  You don't have anything sharp I can stick myself with, do you? Because I do!  Finally, dialogue in a stripper movie that can rival a Merchant-Ivory production.

Redeeming Aspects:  It stars some of the hottest actors in Hollywood, including Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello.

Sad But True: The film is based on Tatum's own experiences as an exotic dancer in Tampa, Fla.