Critical Reaction
54 opened at #4 in its opening weekend (8/28-30) with $6,611,532 behind Blade, There's Something About Mary, and Saving Private Ryan.
The studio cut of the film received almost universally middling-to-poor reviews and was a box office disappointment, grossing $16 million on an estimated budget of $13 million. Top-billed Myers, in his first serious dramatic role —having first garnered fame through comedy—garnered some of the film's only positive word-of-mouth. That generated brief buzz that his performance would land him among those nominated for an Academy Award (though he ultimately was not nominated). Many critics were particularly disappointed with the film's fictional characters and storyline, believing that Studio 54's notorious, real-life past should have been explored more in detail and with better realism. Critical response to the Director's cut, which has gained a fair amount of cult status, is positive.
The film currently holds a 13% 'Rotten' rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Poor plot development and slow pacing keep 54 from capturing the energy of its legendary namesake."
The film was nominated for two Razzie Awards, including Worst Actor for Ryan Phillippe and Worst Supporting Actress for Ellen Albertini Dow.
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