54 attempts to capture the electric and hedonistic energy of the legendary Studio 54 nightclub, but is best understood through the prism of its troubled production and ultimate redemption. Directed by Mark Christopher, the film centers on Shane O’Shea (Ryan Phillippe), a Jersey boy who leaves his mundane life behind to become a busboy at the world’s most exclusive club.
He is immediately swept into the orbit of its owner, the flamboyant and mercurial Steve Rubell (Mike Myers), and a cast of characters living on the edge of the disco dream.
As Shane navigates this glittering new world of Studio 54, his relationships with his fellow staff members and patrons deepen. He forms a bond with his best friend and busboy colleague Greg Randazzo (Breckin Meyer), a complex relationship with coat check girl Anita Randazzo (Selma Hayek), Greg’s girlfriend as well as an aspiring singer-songwriter, and Julie Black (Neve Campbell), a soap opera star with dreams of being on the silver screen.
Studio 54’s allure also brings him into contact with a host of celebrities and regulars.
The film’s plot follows Shane’s ascent at Studio 54, as he finds himself pulled into Rubell’s inner circle, all while the club’s facade begins to crack under the pressure of drugs, crime, and excess.
Sela Ward, Lauren Hutton, Michael York and Mark Ruffalo also appear in notable supporting roles.
Neve Campbell in 54 (Photo/Miramax Films)
Reception for 54
54 grossed $6.4 million on its opening weekend, finishing in fourth place at the box office.
The film would gross $16.8 million in its theatrical run.
Legacy for the film on Studio 54
Upon its theatrical release, 54 was a critical and commercial disappointment after the studio extensively re-edited the director’s vision, cutting out key subplots.
This censored version was seen as a hollow and sanitized take on the Studio 54 story and the film’s true legacy was not cemented until 2015, when Christopher’s original director’s cut was restored and released to critical praise. This director’s cut, with its more complex characters and themes of sexuality and friendship, finally fulfilled the film’s initial promise, transforming it from a failed mainstream movie into a respected cult classic.
