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Growing up, you probably heard about porn via the vague, incredibly uncomfortable phrase "sex movie." But sex movies can be substantive, too. And, really, they don't even have to be overtly pornographic. Good movies about sex have been around for ages. You just have to know where to turn to on your television when you're looking for something a bit spicier than your nightly fare.
Gone are the days of overtly pornographic films masquerading as "dramas." (Those are also on this list, but we can be elevated too.) Sex is a complicated action to depict on film because at its most passionate, it embodies so many more emotions than just being hornt up.
What lies below is a mix of both the overt and the subtle: sometimes a good film about sex never even features a sex scene. It's all in the build up. The allure. The power of the secret. And then, you know, sometimes it's just a good ol' raunchy flick. Take a peek at this list, with sexiness depicted in all types of ways—kink, romance, escape, and thrill. The best is when it's a few of those things at once.
Call Me By Your Name
Call Me By Your Name tracks a steamy summer between Elio, a curious seventeen-year-old, and Oliver, a doctoral student interning with Elio’s father. As the weeks go by, Elio and Oliver find themselves inexplicably drawn to each other. Their journey is a romantic, albeit heartbreaking, journey of self-discovery.
Good Luck to You, Leo Grande
In Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, Emma Thompson stars as Nancy Stokes, a widow who hires a young escort named Leo Grande. After ending an unfulfilling marriage, Nancy dreams of exploring her sexual desires—but as she gets to know Leo, she uncovers far more than she anticipated.
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Lady Chatterley’s Lover is based on the 1928 novel of the same name. The film follows a woman who embarks on an affair after her marriage falls apart. It’s a simple premise, but the fallout is as complex as it gets.
Disobedience
In Disobedience, Rachel Weisz stars as Ronit Krushka, a photographer who travels home to London after her father dies. While back in town, she runs into her former best friend and crush, Esti. Years earlier, the women were shunned for their attraction toward one another—and their reunion sparks a passionate affair.
Deadly Illusions
Deadly Illusions follows the life of Mary Morrison, a novelist and mother. When Mary finds herself struggling to write her next book, she hires a nanny named Grace to take care of her children. Things become complicated, though, when Mary becomes inexplicably drawn to their new caretaker.
365 Days
In 365, Massimo, a member of the Sicilian Mafia, kidnaps a woman whm he becomes infatuated with. He then insists they spend 365 days together to fall in love. Somehow, it all works out!
Really Love
Really Love follows an unexpected romance between a painter and a law student. Though they come from two different worlds, the duo forms a quick and passionate bond. Sometimes, opposites really do attract, huh?
In the Realm of the Senses
To be frank, this borders on legit porn. That might be because it's a Japanese art film that is... mostly porn. But it counts as a classic nonetheless. Hinging on the relationship of a hotelier and his new employee as World War II dawns on the world, let's just say... they like each other. A lot.
Don't Look Now
This one doubles as a thriller for the ages. There's something deeply intimate about the sex scene shared between Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie in a way that you simply don't see in film anymore. (It's also a nice break from a very intense movie.)
The Devil's Advocate
Psychological thrillers are some of the sexiest films in the library. This one, starring a young Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron is no exception.
Sylvie's Love
Tessa Thompson wows in this film from 2020 (one of the few good things to come out of it, right?). Set across multiple years, Sylvie (Thompson) develops feeling for a saxophonist hired to work for her father, but even after a summer fling, the feeling of romance doesn't subside.
Titanic
Ok, this is more about one scene in particular, but damn if that scene didn't define a generation of youths. With the mark of a pencil, the placement of a necklace, and the unforgettable line: Draw me like one of your French girls, Titanic cements itself as one of the sexiest films of all time, if for nothing else than that hand smacking against a foggy window.
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Queen and Slim
Extremely heavy in subject matter, the core of Queen and Slim is a beautiful, raw romance that exists between the titular characters, played by Jodie Turner-Smith and Daniel Kaluuya. As sensual as it is heartbreaking, a first date turns into a road trip like none other before.
The Graduate
It's an O.G. risque selection. Starring a young Dustin Hoffman, Anne Bancroft, and William Daniels (Mr. Feeny!!), the 1967 film follows a recent college school grad who is being plagued with the ever-existential question: What are you doing with your life? Turns out, the answer in this case is being seduced by an older woman. What emerges is a May-December romance that would alter pop culture forever.
Burlesque
Sort of silly? Yes. Well-acted? Not so much. Campy? All day long, baby. Burlesque isn't prestige film, but it's entered near-cult status as the movie-musical featuring Cher and Christina Aguilera. But beyond its above the title stars, the film offers a steamy look into the lives of Ali, an up and coming burlesque artist with a (predictably) bombastic voice. Pair her incredible physique with love interest Cam Gigandet's? Good gracious.
Malcolm & Marie
Sam Levinson directs this sultry, visceral black and white film about a couple whose relationship is tested following a night out. Zendaya and John David Washington star in the film and their chemistry is nothing short of electric.
God's Own Country
When people think of The Gay Love Story™, Brokeback Mountain comes to mind, but the oft-overlooked God's Own Country is a just-as-good, if not superior, story about a farmer whose unfulfilling life leads to a series of sexual trysts and drinking. That is, until one day when a Romanian migrant farmer comes into his life and reshapes the world he'd given up on.
Basic Instinct
It was the leg crossing, uncrossing, and recrossing that raised eyebrows around the world. Sharon Stone's iconic role in Basic Instinct has the grit and gravitas to keep the film in distinguished territory while also highlighting just how sexy a thriller can be.
Molly's Game
The best genre of sexual films are those that have little to do with sex at all. Based on a true story, Molly's Game follows Jessica Chastain in the titular role as the savvy, sexy ringleader of one of the most powerful illegal poker rings in history.
Velvet Buzzsaw
A bit of pansexuality? Art? Jake Gyllenhaal wearing little to no clothing? Yes, that's a cocktail for a sexy film. Granted, it's also a horror film, but when you pair that with a little bit of satire, the scary nature of Velvet Buzzsaw has all the ingredients of subtle steaminess.
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