Shane, played by Ryan Phillippe, is a young man from New Jersey who is disenchanted with his mundane life and yearns for something more exciting. He decides to leave his hometown and move to New York City, where he hopes to make it big. His first stop is Studio 54, the hottest nightclub in the city, where he sets his sights on getting in.
At the club, Shane catches the eye of Steve Rubell, played by Mike Myers, the owner and co-founder of Studio 54. Rubell is impressed by Shane's good looks and charm, and offers him a job as a bartender at the club. Shane is ecstatic and quickly settles into his new role, serving drinks and rubbing shoulders with the rich, famous, and notorious patrons of Studio 54.
As Shane becomes more immersed in the world of Studio 54, he begins to see the darker side of the club's lifestyle. Drug use and excess are rampant among the staff and clients, and Shane finds himself caught up in the hedonistic party scene. He also becomes involved in a love triangle with his coworker, Greg, played by Breckin Meyer, and Greg's girlfriend, Anita, played by Salma Hayek.
As the party rages on, Shane realizes that Studio 54 is headed for a downfall. Rubell's financial problems, drug use, and legal woes eventually lead to the club's closure. Shane is left to make sense of the wild and turbulent experiences he had while working at Studio 54, and to come to terms with the reality of the lifestyle he thought he wanted.
54 is a drama film directed by Mark Christopher, released in 1998. It is loosely based on the real-life history of Studio 54, a popular nightclub in New York City in the 1970s. The film received mixed reviews, but is remembered for its accurate portrayal of the wild and extravagant party culture of the time.
