Erotic thrillers lose steam on big screen

The last time “Basic Instinct” man-eater Catherine Tramell prowled the big screen, the studio erotic thriller was hitting boxoffice heights. The first “Instinct” took the top spot when it debuted in 1992, with an opening weekend of $15.1 million, the equivalent of $20.45 million in today’s dollars. By comparison, “Basic Instinct 2” limped into 10th place upon its arrival this weekend, grossing just $3.2 million. In the years between the two films, a string of high-profile flops, including MGM’s “Body of Evidence,” United Artists’ “Showgirls” and Paramount Pictures’ “Jade,” have all contributed to the cooling off of the erotic thriller, a genre that had once sizzled at the boxoffice. (Tatiana Siegel) Story courtesy of Hollywod Reporter