Editing Paul Verhoeven

{{Short description|Dutch filmmaker (born 1938)}}
{{Other people|Paul Verhoeven}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| honorific_prefix   = 
| image              = Paul Verhoeven Cannes 2016.jpg
| caption            = Verhoeven in 2016
| name               = Paul Verhoeven
| honorific_suffix   = 
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1938|07|18|df=y}}
| birth_place        = [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| death_cause        = 
| resting_place      = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Film director|screenwriter|producer}}
| education          = [[Gymnasium Haganum]]
| alma_mater         = [[Leiden University]]
| known for          = {{hlist|''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]''|''[[Soldier of Orange]]''|''[[RoboCop]]''|''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]''|''[[Basic Instinct]]''|''[[Showgirls]]''|''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''|''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]''}}
| spouse             = {{marriage|Martine Tours|1967}}
| children           = 2
| awards             = [[#Awards and nominations|See below]]
}}

'''Paul Verhoeven''' ({{IPA|nl|ˈpʌul vərˈɦuvə(n)|lang}}; born 18 July 1938) is a Dutch filmmaker, who has worked variously in the Netherlands, the United States, and in France.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |last=Walters |first=Ben |date=3 February 2017 |title=Paul Verhoeven: cinema's mischievous satirist is more vital than ever |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/filmblog/2017/feb/03/paul-verhoeven-mischievous-satire-elle |accessdate=18 February 2024 |work=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref> He is known for directing [[genre films]] with strong [[Satire|satirical]] elements, often featuring graphic violence and/or sexual content.<ref name=":0" /> Many of his films are considered provocative, and were controversial when released.<ref name=":0" />

After receiving attention for the TV series ''[[Floris (TV series)|Floris]]'' in his native Netherlands, Verhoeven's breakthrough film was the romantic drama ''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]'' (1973), starring frequent collaborator [[Rutger Hauer]], which received an [[Academy Awards|Oscar]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign-Language Film|Best Foreign-Language Film]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Turks fruit |url=https://www.filmfestival.nl/publiek/films/turks-fruit |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Netherlands Film Festival]] |access-date=3 February 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215165226/https://www.filmfestival.nl/publiek/films/turks-fruit |archive-date=15 February 2016 |language=nl}}</ref> He later directed successful Dutch films including the period film ''[[Keetje Tippel]]'' (1975), the [[World War II]] film ''[[Soldier of Orange]]'' (1977), the adolescent drama ''[[Spetters]]'' (1980) and the [[Gerard Reve]]-adapating psychological thriller ''[[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|The Fourth Man]]'' (1983). 

In 1985, Verhoeven made his first Hollywood film ''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]'' and later had a successful career in the United States, directing science fiction films such as ''[[RoboCop]]'' (1987), ''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]'' (1990), ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]'' (1997) and ''[[Hollow Man]]'' (2000), as well as the erotic thriller ''[[Basic Instinct]]'' (1992). He also directed the 1995 film ''[[Showgirls]],'' which was critically panned on initial release but has developed a [[cult classic|cult following]] and undergone critical re-evaluation.<ref name="web.archive.org">{{cite web |last=Wood |first=Jennifer |date=22 September 2015 |title=Showgirls': Paul Verhoeven on the Greatest Stripper Movie Ever Made |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/showgirls-paul-verhoeven-on-the-greatest-stripper-movie-ever-made-54740/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611131729/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/showgirls-paul-verhoeven-on-the-greatest-stripper-movie-ever-made-54740/ |archive-date=11 June 2020 |access-date=30 August 2021 |publisher=Rollingstone.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Rochlin |first=Margy |date=25 May 2008 |title=Step by Step, the Showgirl Must Go On |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/25/arts/dance/25roch.html |access-date=3 March 2009 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=How Showgirls exposed the rot of our misogynistic culture |url=https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200714-how-showgirls-told-the-truth-about-americas-foul-misogyny}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=22 September 2020 |title='Showgirls' is Absurd, Problematic, and Famously Bad. 25 Years Later It's a Hate-Watch Classic |url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/a34100271/showgirls-25th-anniversary-essay-so-bad-its-good/}}</ref>

Verhoeven later returned to Europe, making the Dutch war film ''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]'' (2006), French psychological thriller ''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]'' (2016) and the religious drama ''[[Benedetta (film)|Benedetta]]'' (2021), all receiving positive reviews. ''Black Book'' and ''Elle'' were both nominated for [[BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language]] and ''Elle'' won [[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film]] and [[César Award for Best Film]]. ''Black Book'' was also voted by the Dutch public, in 2008, as the best Dutch film ever made.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cinema.nl/artikelen/4084816/zwartboek-beste-film-aller-tijden |title=Zwartboek beste film aller tijden |trans-title=Black Book: best film of all time |language=nl |work=Cinema.nl |date=3 October 2008 |access-date=25 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720164057/http://www.cinema.nl/artikelen/4084816/zwartboek-beste-film-aller-tijden |archive-date=20 July 2011}}</ref> Verhoeven's films have received a total of nine [[Academy Award]] nominations, mainly for editing and effects.

==Early life==
Paul Verhoeven was born in [[Amsterdam]] on 18 July 1938,<ref>{{cite encyclopedia|url = https://www.britannica.com/biography/Paul-Verhoeven|title = Paul Verhoeven|encyclopedia = [[Encyclopædia Britannica]]|last = Bauer|first = Pat|accessdate = 18 February 2024}}</ref> the son of a schoolteacher, Wim Verhoeven, and a [[hatmaker]], Nel van Schaardenburg. Despite what is sometimes reported, he is not related to German filmmaker [[Michael Verhoeven]], whose own father was also named [[Paul Verhoeven (German director)|Paul Verhoeven]]. 

In 1943, the family moved to [[The Hague]], the location of the German headquarters in the Netherlands during [[World War II]]. The Verhoeven house was near a German military base with [[V-weapons|V1- and V2-rocket launchers]], which was repeatedly bombed by Allied forces. Their neighbours' house was hit and Verhoeven's parents were almost killed [[Bombing of the Bezuidenhout|when bombs fell on a street crossing]]. From this period, Verhoeven mentioned in interviews, he remembers images of violence, burning houses, dead bodies on the street, and continuous danger. As a small child, he experienced the war as an exciting adventure, and has compared himself with the character Bill Rowan in ''[[Hope and Glory (film)|Hope and Glory]]'' (1987).<ref name="oorlog">{{cite web |last=Testelmans |first=Rob |title=Een beetje oorlog, best spannend|url=http://www.ethesis.net/verhoeven/verhoeven_deel_1.htm |trans-title=A little war, quite exciting |work=De cinema van Paul Verhoeven: voorbij de controverse |year=2003 |access-date=17 October 2006 |language=nl}}</ref>

Verhoeven's father became headteacher at the Van Heutszschool in The Hague, and Paul attended this school.<ref>{{cite web |last=Scheers |first=Rob van |title=Paul Verhoeven als het zoontje van het schoolhoofd |url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/gs-b4369cb2 |website=de Volkskrant |date=20 September 2016 |access-date=23 December 2020 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> Sometimes the two watched informative films at home with the school's [[film projector]]. 

Verhoeven and his father went ten times to see ''[[The War of the Worlds (1953 film)|The War of the Worlds]]'' (1953). Verhoeven was a fan of the Dutch comic ''[[Dick Bos]]''. The character Dick Bos is a private detective who fights crime using [[jujutsu]]. Verhoeven liked comic drawing; he created ''The Killer'', a character in a detailed story of revenge. Other fiction he liked included ''[[Frankenstein]]'' and the [[Edgar Rice Burroughs]] [[Barsoom]] series.<ref name="oorlog"/>

Verhoeven attended public secondary school [[Gymnasium Haganum]] in The Hague. Later, beginning in 1955, he studied at [[Leiden University]]. He graduated with a [[doctorandus]] (MSc) with a double major, in [[mathematics]] and [[physics]].<ref>{{cite web |title=What's new? |url=http://www.paulverhoeven.net/index2.asp |work=paulverhoeven.net |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090220013620/http://www.paulverhoeven.net/index2.asp |archive-date=20 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Paul Verhoeven profile |url=http://www.wiskundemeisjes.nl/20060913/paul-verhoeven |work=Wiskundemeisjes.nl |access-date=3 February 2017 |language=nl}}</ref>

==Career==

===Short films and TV series (1960–1969)===
Verhoeven made his first film ''Één hagedis teveel'' ("''One Lizard Too Many''") for the anniversary of his [[Student Corps|students' corps]] in 1960.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/TopFilms/Verhoeven/RegiseurVerhoeven.asp |title=Paul Verhoeven: Biography |work=gonemovies.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129125642/http://www.gonemovies.com/WWW/TopFilms/Verhoeven/RegiseurVerhoeven.asp |archive-date=29 January 2007 |access-date=3 February 2017 |url-status=usurped |language=nl}}</ref> In his last years at university Verhoeven also attended classes at the [[Netherlands Film and Television Academy|Netherlands Film Academy]]. After this he made three more short films: ''Nothing Special'' (1961), ''The Hitchhikers'' (1962) and ''Let's Have a Party'' (1963).

Verhoeven has not professionally used his mathematics and physics degree, opting instead to invest his energies in a career in film. After his studies, he entered the [[Royal Dutch Navy]] as a conscript. He made the documentary ''Het Korps Mariniers'' ("''The Marine Corps''", 1965), which won the French 'Golden Sun' award for military films.<ref name="oorlog"/>

[[File:Floris1968Verhoeven3.png|thumb|Verhoeven on the set of ''Floris'' (1968)]] 
When he left the Navy, Verhoeven took his skills to Dutch television. First, he made a documentary about [[Anton Mussert]] titled ''Mussert'' (1968). His first major success was the 1969 television series ''[[Floris (TV series)|Floris]]'', starring [[Rutger Hauer]] in the title role. The concept of ''Floris'' was inspired by foreign series such as ''[[Ivanhoe (1958 TV series)|Ivanhoe]]'' and ''[[Thierry La Fronde]]''.

===First feature films (1969–1983)===
Verhoeven's first feature film ''[[Business Is Business (1971 film)|Business Is Business]]'' was released in 1971 and was not well received. His first national success came in 1973 with ''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]'', starring Rutger Hauer and [[Monique van de Ven]]. Based on a novel by bestselling Dutch author [[Jan Wolkers]], ''Turkish Delight'' tells the passionate love story of an artist and a young liberal girl from a conservative background. It received an [[Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]] in 1974. In 1999, the film won a [[Golden Calf (award)|Golden Calf]] for Best Dutch Film of the Century. ''[[Katie Tippel]]'' (1975) again featured Hauer and van de Ven, but it did not match the success of ''Turkish Delight''.

[[File:V.l.n.r. Jeroen Krabbé, regisseur Paul Verhoeven en Renée Soutendijk, Bestanddeelnr 932-5420.jpg|thumb|Verhoeven (center) in 1983]]

Verhoeven built on his reputation and achieved international success with the [[Golden Globe]]-nominated ''[[Soldier of Orange]]'' (1977),<ref>{{cite web |title=Winners & Nominees: Soldier of Orange |url=http://www.hfpa.org/browse/film/24971 |work=Hollywood Foreign Press Association |year=1980 |access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> starring Rutger Hauer and [[Jeroen Krabbé]]. Based on a true story about the Dutch resistance in [[World War II]], it was written by [[Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema]]. ''Soldier of Orange'' received the 1979 LA Film Critics Award for best foreign-language film, and it was also nominated for a Golden Globe in 1980.

In 1980, Verhoeven made ''[[Spetters]]'' with [[Renée Soutendijk]] and Rutger Hauer. The story is sometimes compared to ''[[Saturday Night Fever]]'', but it has more explicit violence and sexuality (in this case also homosexuality), which are sometimes seen as the director's trademarks. ''[[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|The Fourth Man]]'' (1983) is a horror film starring Jeroen Krabbé and Renée Soutendijk. It was written by [[Gerard Soeteman]] from a novel by the Dutch writer [[Gerard Reve]], and was Verhoeven's last Dutch production until ''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]'' (2006).
[[File:Verhoeven, Soutendijk, Krabbé and Houwer during the motion picture The Fourth Man, 1983.jpg|thumb|Verhoeven with actors [[Renée Soutendijk]] and [[Jeroen Krabbé]] and his longtime producer [[Rob Houwer]] during [[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|''The Fourth Man'']], the LA Film Critics Association Award Winner of 1984]]
''[[The Seattle Times]]'' praised Verhoeven by saying he "often appears to be a one-man Dutch movie industry".<ref>{{cite news |last=Hartl |first=John |title='The Fourth Man' is occult thriller that holds suspense |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=7 June 1985 |page=22}}</ref> ''[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]'' called Verhoeven "a busy bee whose movies pollinate the festival circuit".<ref>{{cite news |last=Elliott |first=David |title='The Fourth Man' is half-baked film |newspaper=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]] |date=20 July 1984}}</ref>

===Filmmaking in the United States (1983–2000)===
Gerard Soeteman also wrote the script for Verhoeven's first English-language film, ''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]'' (1985), which starred [[Rutger Hauer]] and [[Jennifer Jason Leigh]]. Verhoeven moved to Hollywood for a wider range of opportunities in filmmaking. Working in the U.S., he made a serious change in style, directing big-budget, violent, special-effects-heavy hits ''RoboCop'' (1987) and ''Total Recall'' (1990)⁠ — each of which won an [[Academy Special Achievement Award]]: ''[[RoboCop]]'' for Sound Effects Editing and ''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]'' for Visual Effects.

[[File:Basic Instinct Cannes 1992.jpg|thumb|right|Presentation of ''[[Basic Instinct]]'' at the [[1992 Cannes Film Festival]]. Left to right: [[Jeanne Tripplehorn]], [[Michael Douglas]], Martine Tours (Verhoeven's wife), Verhoeven, [[Sharon Stone]] and [[Mario Kassar]].]]

Verhoeven followed those successes with ''[[Basic Instinct]]'' (1992), an erotic thriller. The film's most notorious scene shows [[Sharon Stone]]'s character in a police interrogation, where she uncrosses her legs, briefly revealing her vulva (she does not wear underwear underneath her skirt). The film received two Academy Award nominations, for Film Editing and for Original Music, and was the ninth-highest-grossing film of the year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1993/B?qt-honorees=1#block-quicktabs-honorees |title=1993 Nominees (B) |work=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>

During this time, Verhoeven also worked on creating an historical epic based around the [[Crusades]] that would have starred [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]. It went into pre-production in 1993, but a year later the studio backing it, [[Carolco Pictures|Carolco]], pulled funding for the project. Verhoeven would continue to discuss it throughout the 1990s.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brew |first=Simon |title=The 7 films that Arnold Schwarzenegger never made |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/14094/the-7-films-that-arnold-schwarzenegger-never-made |website=[[Den of Geek]] |date=3 March 2009 |access-date=25 October 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Vigilla |first=Hubert |title=From Hell: Paul Verhoeven/Arnold Schwarzenegger's Crusade |url=https://www.flixist.com/from-hell-paul-verhoeven-arnold-schwarzenegger-s-crusade-207103.phtml |website=Flixist |date=29 February 2012 |access-date=25 October 2019 |archive-date=25 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191025170518/https://www.flixist.com/from-hell-paul-verhoeven-arnold-schwarzenegger-s-crusade-207103.phtml |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last=Yakir |first=Dan |title=Starship Instincts |url=https://archive.org/details/starlog_magazine-223/page/n33 |journal=[[Starlog]] |issue=223 |pages=34–35 |date=February 1996 |via=[[Internet Archive]]}}</ref>

Verhoeven's next film was the poorly received, [[NC-17]]-rated ''[[Showgirls]]'' (1995), about a stripper in [[Las Vegas]] trying to make a career as a showgirl. It won seven [[1995 Golden Raspberry Awards|Golden Raspberry Awards]], including Worst Film and Worst Director; Verhoeven became the first director to accept his award in person. To date, he is one of the few people to have [[List of people who have accepted Golden Raspberry Awards|accepted their Golden Raspberry awards]] in person, and the first to directly attend the ceremony to receive it. ''Showgirls'' enjoyed a large amount of success on the [[home video]] market, generating more than $100&nbsp;million from video rentals,<ref>{{cite magazine |title='Showgirls': Paul Verhoeven on Greatest Stripper Movie Ever |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/showgirls-paul-verhoeven-on-the-greatest-stripper-movie-ever-made-54740/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=22 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200611131729/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/showgirls-paul-verhoeven-on-the-greatest-stripper-movie-ever-made-54740/ |archive-date=11 June 2020}}</ref> and became one of [[Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer|MGM]]'s top twenty all-time bestsellers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mgm.com/title_title.php?title_star=SHOWGRLS |title=Showgirls DVD |work=MGM |date=28 April 2007 |access-date=25 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428172642/http://www.mgm.com/title_title.php?title_star=SHOWGRLS |archive-date=28 April 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

After ''Basic Instinct'' and ''Showgirls'', Verhoeven returned to the science fiction genre, utilizing the graphic violence and special-effects tropes that had marked his earlier films, making ''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]'' (1997), loosely based on the novel of the same name by [[Robert A. Heinlein]],<ref name="gemsbok">{{cite web |last=Podgorski |first=Daniel |title=Poking Fun at Militarism: How Paul Verhoeven's Cult Classic ''Starship Troopers'' Willfully Discards Robert Heinlein's Novel |url=http://thegemsbok.com/art-reviews-and-articles/thursday-theater-starship-troopers-paul-verhoeven-robert-heinlein/ |website=The Gemsbok |date=4 February 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016}}</ref> as well as ''[[Hollow Man]]'' (2000). Each film received an Academy Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. He also served as an executive producer on an animated TV series called ''[[Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles]]'', which was based on the movie and novel of ''Starship Troopers''.<ref name=Perlmutter>{{cite book |last1=Perlmutter |first1=David |title=The Encyclopedia of American Animated Television Shows |date=2018 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-1538103739 |pages=518–519}}</ref> The series only ran for a single season, from August 1999 until April 2000.

===Return to Europe (2006–2021)===
After about twenty years of working and living in the United States, Verhoeven returned to the Netherlands for the shooting of a new film. Together with his screenwriter [[Gerard Soeteman]], Verhoeven made ''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]'' (2006). The director was hailed by the host of the [[Netherlands Film Festival]] with the words "The return of a hero".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfestival.nl/index.php?id=591 |title=Gala van de Nederlandse Film |work=filmfestival.nl |date=6 October 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070104232431/http://www.filmfestival.nl/index.php?id=591 |archive-date=4 January 2007 |access-date=17 October 2006 |language=nl}}</ref> ''Black Book'' won six [[Golden Calf (award)|Golden Calves]] at this festival, including Best Director.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.filmfestival.nl/index.php?id=122&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=163&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=103&cHash=80798b911c |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312070151/http://www.filmfestival.nl/index.php?id=122&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=163&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=103&cHash=80798b911c |url-status=dead |archive-date=12 March 2007 |title=Winnaars Gouden Kalveren 2006 |date=6 October 2006 |access-date=17 October 2006}}</ref> When the shooting of ''Black Book'' was delayed due to financial issues, there was speculation about a new production. ''[[Beast of Bataan]]'' had been announced, but once the shooting for ''Black Book'' resumed, the other film was not made.

[[File:Paul Verhoeven International Jury Berlinale 2017.jpg|thumb|left|Verhoeven at press conference at [[Berlinale 2017]]]]
Verhoeven was knighted in the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.omroepwest.nl/nieuws/27-04-2007/paul-verhoeven-geridderd-den-haag |title=Paul Verhoeven geridderd in Den Haag |work=Omroep West |date=27 April 2007 |access-date=12 February 2015 |language=nl}}</ref>

Since ''Black Book'', Verhoeven has been connected to a large number of projects, but in the first decade after his return, none came to fruition. Some of those titles were produced with other directors at the helm, such as ''[[The Paperboy (2012 film)|The Paperboy]]''. In 2016, however, Verhoeven followed ''Black Book'' by directing a French film: ''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]'', an adaptation of a novel by [[Philippe Djian]]. A psychological thriller in which [[Isabelle Huppert]] plays a rape victim, ''Elle'' was selected for the Official Competition at the Cannes International Film Festival, where it obtained very favourable reviews.

In December 2016, it was announced that Verhoeven would be the president of the jury for the [[67th Berlin International Film Festival]], scheduled to take place in February 2017.<ref name="Berlin2017">{{cite web |url=https://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html |title=Jury President of the Berlinale 2017: Paul Verhoeven |work=Berlinale |access-date=9 December 2016 |archive-date=13 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213193955/https://www.berlinale.de/en/das_festival/preise_und_juries/preise_internationale_jury/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In April 2017, it was announced that filming of ''[[Benedetta (film)|Benedetta]]'', his next French film, would begin in August of the same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/film/global/paul-verhoeven-approaches-blessed-virgin-with-elle-star-virginie-efira-1202399023/|title=Paul Verhoeven to Direct 'Blessed Virgin,' Based on True Story of Lesbian Nun|first1=Robert|last1=Mitchell|date=26 April 2017|work=Variety}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ecrannoir.fr/blog/blog/2018/03/06/virginie-efira-retourne-chez-paul-verhoeven/|title=Virginie Efira retourne chez Paul Verhoeven|publisher=Le Blog d'Ecran Noir}}</ref> It is a biopic about the life of [[Benedetta Carlini]], portrayed by ''Elle'' co-star [[Virginie Efira]], and is an adaptation of the non-fiction book ''[[Immodest Acts: The Life of a Lesbian Nun in Renaissance Italy]]'' by [[Judith C. Brown]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Virginie Efira en Sainte Vierge pour le prochain Paul Verhoeven|url=http://www.allocine.fr/article/fichearticle_gen_carticle=18663523.html|date=26 April 2017|work=[[Allociné]]|access-date=22 March 2018|language=fr}}.</ref> In May 2018, it was announced that [[Charlotte Rampling]] would play a key supporting role.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/charlotte-rampling-set-to-join-paul-verhoevens-erotic-thriller-blessed-virgin-1202380019/|title=Charlotte Rampling Set To Join Paul Verhoeven's Erotic Thriller 'Blessed Virgin'|first1=Andreas|last1=Wiseman|date=1 May 2018|work=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[2021 Cannes Film Festival]] in competition for the [[Palme d'Or]].<ref name=Lachasse>{{cite web|last1=Lachasse|first1=Jérôme|title=Festival de Cannes: un film déjà sélectionné pour l'édition 2021|url=https://people.bfmtv.com/cinema/festival-de-cannes-un-film-deja-selectionne-pour-l-edition-2021-1926898.html|website=[[BFMTV]]|date=4 June 2020|trans-title=Cannes Festival: a film already selected for the 2021 edition|language=French}}</ref>
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===Return to filmmaking in the United States (2022–present)===
Verhoeven is currently preparing his next film, ''Young Sinner'', which reunites him with ''[[RoboCop]]'' screenwriter [[Edward Neumeier]]. An erotic political thriller, it is set in Washington DC and is about a "young staffer who works for a powerful Senator [and] is drawn into a web of international intrigue and danger."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2021/film/global/paul-verhoeven-young-sinner-edward-neumeier-1235128023|title=Paul Verhoeven Reteams With 'RoboCop' Writer for Women-Led Erotic Thriller 'Young Sinner'|last=Keslassy|first=Elsa|date=7 December 2021|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=4 May 2022}}</ref> Verhoeven hoped to begin shooting ''Young Sinner'' in 2024,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zilko |first1=Christian |title=Paul Verhoeven 'Wouldn't Hesitate' to Make Another Blockbuster |url=https://www.indiewire.com/news/general-news/paul-verhoeven-new-blockbuster-1234940841/ |website=IndieWire |date=6 January 2024 |access-date=30 March 2024}}</ref> but in November of that year, he was still trying to secure financing. 
<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.worldofreel.com/blog/2024/7/1/verhoeven|title=Paul Verhoeven's ‘Young Sinner' Still Looking for Financing [Updated]|last=Ruimy|first=Jordan|date=25 November 2024|website=[[World Of Reel]]|access-date=11 March 2024}}</ref>

===Unrealized projects===
{{main article|Paul Verhoeven's unrealized projects}}

==Other activities==
Verhoeven was a member of the [[Jesus Seminar]],<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.westarinstitute.org/membership/westar-fellows/fellows-directory/paul-verhoeven/ |title=Meet the Westar Fellows: Paul Verhoeven |work=westarinstitute.org |access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref> and he was the only member who does not have a degree in [[biblical studies]].<ref name="dutchpressrelease">{{cite web |url=http://www.katholieknederland.nl/actualiteit/2005/detail_objectID571964_FJaar2005.html |title=Paul Verhoeven schrijft boek over Jezus |trans-title=Paul Verhoeven writes book about Jesus |work=Katholiek Nederland |date=3 September 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070311174119/http://www.katholieknederland.nl/actualiteit/2005/detail_objectID571964_FJaar2005.html |archive-date=11 March 2007 |language=nl}}</ref> He graduated with a degree in mathematics and physics from the University of Leiden.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hakkenes |first=Emiel |url=http://meer.trouw.nl/nieuws-en-debat/verhoeven-niet-echt-zeer-geleerd |title=Verhoeven is niet echt zeer geleerd |work=[[Trouw]] |date=24 October 2008 |quote=Zijn academische titel zou Verhoeven behaald hebben aan de Universiteit Leiden. Maar is hij wel gepromoveerd? "Dan zouden wij een proefschrift van hem moeten hebben", zegt een woordvoerder van de universiteit. "Dat is niet het geval." English translation: Verhoeven would have received his academic degree at the University of Leiden. But did he receive a doctor's degree? "Then we should have a dissertation", says a spokesperson of the university. "This is not the case."}}</ref><ref name="senses">{{cite web |url=http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/verhoeven/ |title=Paul Verhoeven |first=Dan |last=Shaw |date=January 2003 |work=Senses of Cinema |access-date=28 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117150942/http://www.sensesofcinema.com/contents/directors/03/verhoeven.html |archive-date=17 November 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> Since he is not a professional biblical [[exegete]], his membership in the Jesus Seminar has occasionally been cited by opponents of the Seminar as a sign that this group is less scholarly than it claims. For example, [[Luke Timothy Johnson]] criticizes the Jesus Seminar's methods on [[Biblical criticism|exegetical grounds]], and also criticizes what he perceives to be a dependence on the theatrical and an attempt to manipulate the mainstream media. He singles out Verhoeven as a key player in the media activities of the Jesus Seminar.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Real Jesus |first=Luke Timothy |last=Johnson |author-link=Luke Timothy Johnson |publisher=HarperSanFrancisco |year=1996 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/realjesusmisg000john/page/15 15]–16 |isbn=978-0-0606-4166-5 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/realjesusmisg000john }}</ref> On the other hand, some Jesus Seminar members were unhappy with Verhoeven's portrayal of Jesus as an [[Eschatology|eschatological]] [[prophet]].<ref>{{cite journal |first=Charlotte |last=Allen |title=Away with the Manger |journal=Lingua Franca |date=February 1995 |page=27}}</ref>

In 2007, Verhoeven wrote the book ''Jesus of Nazareth'' ({{langx|nl|Jezus van Nazaret}}) about the life of Jesus of Nazareth.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bijleveldbooks.nl/html/fondslijst.html |title=Fondslijst Uitgeverij Bijleveld |work=bijleveldbooks.nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312042424/http://www.bijleveldbooks.nl/html/fondslijst.html |archive-date=12 March 2007 |language=nl}}</ref> The book reviews the ideas of Jesus of [[Nazareth]] and the alleged corruption of these same ideas over the last 2,000 years. Co-written with Verhoeven's biographer Rob Van Scheers, the book is the culmination of the research Verhoeven conducted in preparation for ''Jesus: The Man'', a motion picture about the life of Christ.<ref name="dutchpressrelease"/> The book tells about the Jewish uprising against Roman rule and characterizes Jesus as a radical political activist, downplaying any supernatural events and miracles as unproved or unprovable. ''Jesus of Nazareth: A Realistic Portrait'' was released in September 2008 in Dutch, and was published in English in May 2010 by [[Seven Stories Press]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sevenstories.com/books/3241-jesus-of-nazareth |title=Jesus of Nazareth by Paul Verhoeven |work=Seven Stories Press |access-date=3 February 2017}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In 1967, Verhoeven married Martine Tours, with whom he has two daughters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Korte biografie en documentaire over filmregiseur en Bezuidenhouter Paul Verhoeven {{!}} Bezuidenhout |url=https://bezuidenhout.nl/korte-biografie-en-documentaire-over-filmregiseur-en-bezuidenhouter-paul-verhoeven/ |access-date=2025-04-26 |website=bezuidenhout.nl}}</ref>

==Filmography==

=== Short films ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
|1959
| ''Cups of Coffee''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1960
| ''One Lizard Too Many''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1961
| ''Nothing Special''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1962
| ''The Hitchhikers''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1963
| ''Let's Have a Party''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1965
| ''The Marine Corps''
|{{yes}}
|
|Short documentary
|-
| 1971
| ''The Wrestler''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|2012
|''[[Entertainment Experience|Tricked]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|}

=== Feature films ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Director
! Writer
! Notes
|-
|1971
| ''[[Business Is Business (1971 film)|Business Is Business]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|Feature directorial debut
|-
|1973
| ''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1975
| ''[[Keetje Tippel]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1977
| ''[[Soldier of Orange]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|1980
| ''[[Spetters]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1983
|''[[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|The Fourth Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1985
|''[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|Flesh and Blood]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|First American film
|-
|1987
|''[[RoboCop]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1990
|''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1992
|''[[Basic Instinct]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1995
|''[[Showgirls (film)|Showgirls]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|1997
|''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|2000
|''[[Hollow Man]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|2006
|''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|-
|2016
|''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|-
|2021
|''[[Benedetta (film)|Benedetta]]''
|{{yes}}
|{{yes}}
|
|}

=== Television ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Film
! Director
! Writer
!Executive<br>Producer
! Notes
|-
|1969
|''[[Floris (TV series)|Floris]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|12 episodes
|-
|1970
|''Portret van [[Anton Adriaan Mussert]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|Television documentary
|-
|1981
| ''[[All Things Pass]]''
|{{yes}}
|
|
|Television film
|-
|1986
|[[The Hitchhiker (TV series)|''The Hitchhiker'']]
|{{yes}}
|
|
|Episode: "Last Scene"
|-
|1999-2000
|[[Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles|''Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles'']]
|
|
|{{yes}}
|39 episodes
|}

== Awards and nominations ==
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!Award
! Year
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
|[[Academy Awards]]
|1973
|[[Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]
|''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[British Academy Film Awards]]
|2006
| rowspan="2" |[[BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language|Best Film Not in the English Language]]
|''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|2016
|''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Cahiers du Cinéma]]
|2016
| rowspan="2" |[[Cahiers du Cinéma's Annual Top 10 Lists|Annual Top 10 Lists]]
|''Elle''
|{{partial|2nd place}}
|-
|2021
|''[[Benedetta (film)|Benedetta]]''
|{{partial|10th place}}
|-
|[[CEC Awards]]
|2017
|Best Foreign Film
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[César Awards]]
| rowspan="2" |2016
|[[César Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| rowspan="2" |''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[César Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[David di Donatello]]
|2018
|Best European Film
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Daytime Emmy Awards]]
|2001
|Outstanding Special Class Animated Program
|[[Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles|''Roughnecks: Starship Troopers Chronicles'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[European Film Awards]]
|2007
| rowspan="2" |Best European Film
|''Black Book''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
| rowspan="2" |''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best European Director
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Fotogramas de Plata]]
|2017
|Best Foreign Film
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[French Syndicate of Cinema Critics]]
|2017
|Best Film
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Gaudí Awards]]
|2017
|Best European Film
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Golden Globe Awards]]
|1977
| rowspan="2" |[[Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]
|''[[Soldier of Orange]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|2016
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Golden Raspberry Awards]]
|1995
|[[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director|Worst Director]]
|''[[Showgirls (film)|Showgirls]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Goya Awards]]
|2017
|[[Goya Award for Best European Film|Best European Film]]
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Grande Prêmio do Cinema Brasileiro]]
|2017
|Best Foreign-Language Film
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Hugo Award]]
|1988
| rowspan="3" |[[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation|Best Dramatic Presentation]]
|''[[RoboCop]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1991
|''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1998
|''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Lumière Awards]]
| rowspan="2" |2017
|[[Lumière Award for Best Film|Best Film]]
| rowspan="2" |''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Lumière Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]]
|1979
| rowspan="2" |[[Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Foreign Language Film|Best Foreign Language Film]]
|[[Soldier of Orange|''Soldier of Orange'']]
|{{won}}
|-
|1984
|[[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|''The Fourth Man'']]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Rembrandt Award|Rembrandt Awards]]
|2007
|Best Film
|''Black Book''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[San Diego Film Critics Society]]
|2007
|Best Original Screenplay
|''Black Book''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Sant Jordi Awards]]
|2017
|Best Foreign Film
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Saturn Awards]]
|1987
| rowspan="4" |[[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]]
|''RoboCop''
|{{won}}
|-
|1990
|''Total Recall''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1992
|''Basic Instinct''
|{{nom}}
|-
|1997
|''Starship Troopers''
|{{nom}}
|}

=== Film festivals ===
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!Festival
! Year
! Category
! Nominated work
! Result
|-
|[[BFI London Film Festival]]
|2016
|Official Competition
|[[Elle (film)|''Elle'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4" |[[Cannes Film Festival]]
|1992
| rowspan="3" |[[Palme d'Or]]
|''[[Basic Instinct]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|2016
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2021
| rowspan="2" |''[[Benedetta (film)|Benedetta]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Queer Palm]]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Cartagena Film Festival]]
|2017
|Best Film
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Chicago International Film Festival]]
|1983
|Gold Hugo
|[[The Fourth Man (1983 film)|''The Fourth Man'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Fantasporto]]
|1986
|Best Film
|[[Flesh and Blood (1985 film)|''Flesh and Blood'']]
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[Film by the Sea]]
|2011
|Grand Director Award
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Imagine Film Festival]]
|2002
|Lifetime Achievement Award
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Locarno Film Festival]]
|1964
|Prize of the Ecumenical Jury
|''Feest!''
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2000
|Audience Award
|[[Hollow Man|''Hollow Man'']]
|{{won}}
|-
|Leopard of Honor
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Melbourne International Film Festival]]
|2016
|People's Choice Award
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="5" |[[Netherlands Film Festival]]
|1985
|Best Director of a Feature Film
|''Flesh and Blood''
|{{won}}
|-
|1992
|Dutch Culture Award
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
|1999
|Dutch Film of the Century
|[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|''Turkish Delight'']]
|{{won}}
|-
|2000
|Grolsch Film Award
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
|2006
|Best Director of a Feature Film
|''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Palm Springs International Film Festival]]
|2017
|Best Foreign Language Film
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[San Sebastián International Film Festival]]
|2016
|Audience Award
|''Elle''
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |2021
|RTVE-Otra Mirada Award
| rowspan="2" |''Benedetta''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Film
|{{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="3" |[[Sitges Film Festival]]
| rowspan="2" |1987
|Best Film
| rowspan="2" |''[[RoboCop]]''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Best Director
|{{won}}
|-
|2006
|Honorary Grand Prize
|{{N/A}}
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Toronto International Film Festival]]
|1983
|[[Toronto International Film Festival International Critics' Prizes|International Critics' Prize]]
|''The Fourth Man''
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Trieste Film Festival]]
|2018
|Best Film
|''Elle''
|{{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2" |[[Venice Film Festival]]
| rowspan="2" |2006
|[[Golden Lion]]
| rowspan="2" |''Black Book''
|{{nom}}
|-
|Young Cinema Award
|{{won}}
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+ List of awards and nominations received by Verhoeven's films
|-
! rowspan="2" | Year
! rowspan="2" | Title
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160" | Academy Awards
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160" | BAFTA Awards
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160" | Golden Globe Awards
! colspan="2" style="text-align:center;" width="160" | César Awards
|-
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
! Nominations
! Wins
|-
|1974
|''[[Turkish Delight (1973 film)|Turkish Delight]]''
| align="center" |1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|1980
|''[[Soldier of Orange]]''
|
|
|
|
| align="center" |1
|
| align="center" |1
|
|-
|1988
|''[[RoboCop]]''
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |1
| align="center" |2
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|1990
|''[[Total Recall (1990 film)|Total Recall]]''
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|1993
|''[[Basic Instinct]]''
| align="center" |2
|
|
|
| align="center" |2
|
|
|
|-
|1998
|''[[Starship Troopers (film)|Starship Troopers]]''
| align="center" |1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Hollow Man]]''
| align="center" |1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|2007
|''[[Black Book (film)|Black Book]]''
|
|
| align="center" |1
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|2017
|''[[Elle (film)|Elle]]''
| align="center" |1
|
| align="center" |1
|
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |2
| align="center" |11
| align="center" |2
|-
|2021
|''[[Benedetta (film)|Benedetta]]''
|
|
|
|
|
|
| align="center" |1
|
|-
! colspan="2" |'''Total'''
! align="center" |12
! align="center" |2
! align="center" |5
! align="center" |
! align="center" |5
! align="center" |2
! align="center" |13
! align="center" |2
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.virtual-history.com/movie/person/3364/paul-verhoeven|title=Literature on Paul Verhoeven|work=virtual-history.com}}

{{Paul Verhoeven}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Paul Verhoeven
|list =
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director}}
{{Lumières Award for Best Director}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Verhoeven, Paul}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
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