Year: 1996
Runtime: 115 min
Language: English
Director: Andrew Bergman
A determined single mother, Erin Grant, takes a job as an exotic dancer to earn enough money to regain custody of her daughter. Her new profession plunges her into a dangerous world of secrets, lies, and unexpected alliances. Erin finds herself caught between a supportive friend and a formidable opponent, all while struggling to reclaim her life and the future of her child. The journey tests her resolve and forces her to confront difficult choices.
Warning: spoilers below!
Haven’t seen Striptease yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!
Read the complete plot breakdown of Striptease (1996), including all key story events, major twists, and the ending explained in detail. Discover what really happened—and what it all means.
Former FBI secretary Erin Grant faces a devastating loss when she loses custody of her young daughter, Angela, to her ex-husband Darrell, a criminal whose drug addiction cost Erin her job. Determined to reclaim her daughter, Erin turns to an unexpected profession — stripping at the Eager Beaver, a Miami strip club. After eight weeks of working there, she must raise a daunting $15,000 within six weeks to fund her appeal for custody.
Meanwhile, Darrell has relocated without notifying Erin and is exploiting Angela to pilfer medical supplies from a hospital, selling them on the black market. Erin, seeking information about Darrell’s whereabouts, turns to his brother Rita for answers. A bouncer at the club named Shad keeps a protective eye on Erin as she navigates this dangerous world.
The situation takes a twist when Congressman David Dilbeck](/actor/burt-reynolds) finds himself captivated by Erin during his visit to the club. A fellow patron named Jerry, aware of Dilbeck’s secret indulgences, devises a scheme to manipulate the congressman into assisting Erin with her custody battle. However, Dilbeck is entangled in a web of powerful connections, including Malcolm Moldowsky, and anyone who poses a potential threat to his re-election is swiftly silenced.
Alan Mordecai, Shad’s lawyer, possesses incriminating photographs of Dilbeck from a night of debauchery at the Eager Beaver and is eager to blackmail him. At the same time, police officer Al Garcia discovers Jerry’s body has been tampered with, leading him to Erin, who shares her desperate circumstances. Erin appeals to Al to have Darrell removed as an informant, but their plans are thwarted when the judge presiding over Erin’s case suffers a heart attack, delaying her appeal for six months.
Through determination, Erin manages to locate and retrieve Angela from Darrell’s negligent care, having learned his whereabouts from stolen mail. Alan confronts Dilbeck with the scandalous photo, while Erin’s connection to the congressman deepens as he invites her for private dances, expressing a desire for a romantic relationship despite his staff’s reservations. Malcolm threatens Erin, warning her of the potential consequences if she exposes Dilbeck’s secrets, especially regarding Angela’s custody.
With the stakes escalating and bodies dropping, Erin and Al begin to connect the dots, suspecting Dilbeck’s involvement in the growing list of murders. In a bold move, Erin hatches a plan to bring the congressman to justice. However, unaware that Malcolm is aware of her history, Erin agrees to another private show, sans Al or Shad. When Darrell intervenes in a drunken state, Erin takes advantage of the distraction to elicit a confession from Dilbeck regarding the murders, securing Darrell’s agreement to relinquish custody of Angela.
As tensions peak with Malcolm approaching, Al arrives just in time to prevent a disaster. In the end, Erin successfully regains full custody of Angela, leaves her life as a stripper behind, and is reinstated in the FBI, while Darrell faces the consequences of his criminal actions, returning to prison where he belongs.
Last Updated: October 27, 2024 at 21:59
Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.
Ordinary people pushed to extreme acts in a dangerous, corrupt world.If you enjoyed Striptease, you'll appreciate these movies where characters take extreme risks in a dangerous underworld. Discover similar high-stakes dramas and thrillers about ordinary people pushed to their limits by blackmail, crime, and personal desperation.
These narratives typically begin with a sympathetic protagonist facing an impossible, high-stakes problem, such as saving a loved one or securing their future. To solve it, they must enter a dangerous, morally compromised world they would normally avoid, leading to a fast-paced series of escalating conflicts with corrupt antagonists.
Movies in this thread are united by their core premise of a desperate protagonist's moral compromise, a gritty and corrupt setting, and a consistently high-intensity, fast-paced plot driven by external threats and high personal stakes.
Protective mothers facing overwhelming dangers to save their children.For viewers who liked the protective mother storyline in Striptease, this section highlights movies with similar themes of maternal sacrifice. Explore other intense dramas and thrillers where a mother's love is tested by crime, custody battles, and life-threatening dangers.
The narrative follows a mother whose child is endangered, either through external threats like crime or systemic challenges like a custody battle. The plot is defined by her proactive, often risky, actions to overcome these obstacles, creating a heavy emotional journey where her resolve and resourcefulness are constantly tested.
These films are grouped by their powerful focus on a mother's protective journey, the heavy emotional weight of child endangerment, and the blend of intense thriller elements with deep dramatic resonance.
Don't stop at just watching — explore Striptease in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Striptease is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.
Track the full timeline of Striptease with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.
Discover the characters, locations, and core themes that shape Striptease. Get insights into symbolic elements, setting significance, and deeper narrative meaning — ideal for thematic analysis and movie breakdowns.
Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Striptease that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.
Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Striptease: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.
Discover movies like Striptease that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.
Striptease (1996) Scene-by-Scene Movie Timeline
Striptease (1996) Movie Characters, Themes & Settings
Striptease (1996) Spoiler-Free Summary & Key Flow
Movies Like Striptease – Similar Titles You’ll Enjoy
Hustlers (2019) Film Overview & Timeline
Exotica (1995) Full Summary & Key Details
Afternoon Delight (2013) Detailed Story Recap
Strippers (2000) Complete Plot Breakdown
Lap Dance (2014) Movie Recap & Themes
Stripped Down (2011) Film Overview & Timeline
Top Stripper (1982) Full Movie Breakdown
Stripped to Kill (1987) Spoiler-Packed Plot Recap
Stripper Academy (2007) Movie Recap & Themes
Stripshow (1996) Ending Explained & Film Insights
The Stripper (1963) Full Movie Breakdown
Sunset Strip (1993) Ending Explained & Film Insights
Stripper Wives (1999) Detailed Story Recap
Stripped Naked (2009) Complete Plot Breakdown
Portrait of a Stripper (1979) Detailed Story Recap