The cinematic sphere has witnessed its share of contentious content since the release of the infamous 'Basic Instinct' in 1992. Recently, Michael Douglas revisited the film's grand debut at the Cannes Film Festival, sharing vivid memories of the viewers' startling reactions to the on-screen material.

'Basic Instinct' built its narrative around Catherine Tramell, portrayed by Sharon Stone, who found herself as a murder suspect entangled in a series of intense sexual encounters with Michael Douglas's character, Nick Curran.

On the occasion of the film's premiere, Douglas and the rest of the cast experienced a palpable sense of disquiet. Recollecting his experience to Variety, he admitted the enormity of the sexually explicit scenes displayed on the Grand Palais' massive screen took many by surprise. The unusually subdued dinner that followed the screening left the impression that everyone was still coming to terms with the movie.

Among the scenes that sparked controversy was an infamous interrogation sequence where Stone's character casually uncrosses her legs, revealing her lack of undergarments to the room full of officials. The film's explicit nature initially prompted the MPAA to consider giving it an NC-17 rating, only to later revise it to an R rating at the studio's insistence.

Despite its initial shock value, 'Basic Instinct' was no stranger to success. It made an impressive entrance at number one on the American box office and received critical acclaim. Furthermore, Stone's electrifying performance in the film secured her a nomination for a Golden Globe award.