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Forget your typical “Netflix and Chill”; if you and your boo have agreed to a movie night, why not screen a steamy flick with hot sex scenes to inspire some new moves in the bedroom? Sure, you could always watch another episode of Outlander, but there are plenty of films that pack a similarly smokin’-hot punch.
We challenge you to turn on a sexy film and watch it all the way through with the intention of finding erotic inspiration (either for partnered or solo sex). Think of it like an extended session of foreplay: The racy viewing material will build anticipation, making your eventual romp in the bedroom all the more satisfying.
Viewing a sexy movie is also a great date night idea for couples in long-distance relationships. Imagine watching those NSFW scenes in tandem while in separate locations, discussing exxxactly what got you hot and bothered, and then — well, you get the idea.
To spare you time (and some dodgy Google search results), we compiled a list of racy movies with intimate scenes guaranteed to get your mind going. The films on this list reflect the many different kinds of love out there, including lesbian, gay, and queer relationships. Heads-up, though: You’re probably going to need a cold shower after poring over these titles.
And if these flicks aren’t enough to “get you there,” there’s always femme-friendly porn. We’ve done that research for you too!
A version of this story was published October 2017. This story was updated in March 2024.
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‘Poor Things’
Emma Stone plays Bella, a woman brought back to life by a scientist. Her newfound freedom means running off with a lawyer and exploring her sexual awakening. From discovering masturbation to enjoying orgasms over and over again, Poor Things is all about the power of women’s pleasure wrapped in a very quirky package.
‘Magic Mike XXL’
Bypass the first film (really, it’s fine) and steer straight for this skin-tillating striptease sequel that’s a loveletter to the female gaze and platonic friendships between painfully attractive men. The cast is even more diverse, the women are empowered, the men are empowering and that last scene will legit make you want to do dirty things.
‘Siberia’
I am an unapologetic shill for intimate, sensual Keanu Reeves scenes. I maintain that Speed had absolutely no business being as charming, flirty and sexy as it was (and is). So when I heard through the Keanu grapevine that there was a new-ish film (shot between John Wick films) that had some unbearably hot scenes between Keanu and Romanian actress Ana Ularu, I had to watch.
As, like, a movie with a plot and a story, I have no comment — but for the sex scenes, I have many comments. They’re intimate and tactile and make great use of Keanu’s aura of deeply loving and respecting women.
‘Brokeback Mountain’
There’s a reason the forbidden love affair between two cowboys is still so iconic. Well, there are multiple reasons: the cowboys are played by Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal, their chemistry is off the charts, their love scenes are rough and hot, and the movie overall is quietly spectacular (if you’re here for, you know, the plot).
‘Mr. & Mrs. Smith’
This is the 2005 movie that started the tabloid-generated love triangle between Brad Pitt, Jennifer Aniston, and Angelina Jolie. Pitt and Jolie play a bored married couple, who are also assassins assigned to kill each other — and their chemistry is off the charts. The electricity builds to a climatic gun showdown that becomes a heated match in the bedroom. Their coupling didn’t work out in real life, but,oh boy, it was magical on-screen!
‘Body Heat’
They don’t call it Body Heat for nothing! This neo-noir erotica thriller takes place during a swampy Florida heat wave as a lawyer and the wife of a business tycoon begin a truly steamy affair.
‘Blue Valentine’
It’s hard watching a movie about a crumbling marriage, but Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams’ oral sex scene in Blue Valentine was so raw and real that Weinstein Co. had to fight its NC-17 rating. Even Gosling was proud of his work, telling The Guardian in 2011, “The sex felt real – it wasn’t sexy or ‘a sex scene’, and that’s why we got into trouble. “You shouldn’t be penalized for doing a good job.” You can’t argue with that!
‘9-1/2 Weeks’
Blindfolds, ice, food… this erotically charged drama about a brief (hence the nine-and-a-half weeks) affair between an art gallery employee and Wall Street broker will inspire you to experiment with props, toys and sensations that maybe weren’t on your radar.
‘Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love’
A sexy historical romance, Kama Sutra delivers pretty much what the title implies: sex served many different ways. Set in 16th-century India, it also offers a compelling storyline if you’re into that sort of thing.
‘Saltburn’
Saltburn is horny from start to finish, so of course, it needs to be on this list. Barry Keoghan’s character finds himself knocking out one sex taboo at a time — from period oral sex to drinking semen from a bathtub. It all climaxes with an unbelievable graveyard humping that we won’t spoil. If you’re looking to get your freak on — this is the movie for you.
‘Wild Things’
The ending to this steamy thriller may just go down in history as one of the biggest plot twists in cinematic history. And one of the hottest. *Wink-wink, nudge-nudge*
‘Original Sin’
If you think an erotic thriller starring Angelina Jolie, Antonio Banderas and Thomas Jane sounds almost too hot to handle, you’d be right. The bedroom scenes in this 2001 film are blazin’.
‘A Fantastic Woman’
How about a sex scene in an Oscar-winning film? A Fantastic Woman, which won the Acadamy Award for Best International Picture in 2017, follows a Chilean trans woman, Marina, whose partner unexpectedly dies. It’s touching but also very hot, including one scene where Marina passionately kisses a man before undressing and… we won’t spoil the rest.
‘Eyes Wide Shut’
Then-real-life husband and wife Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman dove into this erotic Stanley Kubrick film about a secret world of sex and orgies. Basically, it’s a mind-fuck that will make you want to, well, you know.
‘Savages’
Admittedly, this 2012 film is more crime thriller than bedroom thrills… but, still. The steamy scenes shared by Blake Lively and co-stars Taylor Kitsch and Aaron Taylor-Johnson will make you so damn thirsty you won’t care.
‘Basic Instinct’
Watch this neo-noir erotic thriller starring Michael Douglas and Sharon Stone once and you’ll instantly understand why it has a cult following. Some of the scenes will straight-up make you blush but also give you some inspo for taking charge in bed.
‘Bound’
When you need to amp up the adventure between the sheets, try the 1996 neo-noir thriller Bound. Starring Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon, it will make you want to embrace your edginess.
‘Secretary’
Think of this 2002 film starring Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader as the grittier, less glitzy predecessor of Fifty Shades of Grey. If you’re intrigued by BDSM but find Fifty Shades too campy, give Secretary a shot.
‘Don’t Worry Darling’
The most talked-about movie of 2022 was marketed heavily on its sex scenes between protagonists Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles). The scenes are definitely hot, with an emphasis on female orgasm that is (still) not seen enough in film — but if you watch the movie in full, you’ll see that why a major plot twist ultimately raised questions about consent between the movie’s characters.
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’
Say what you will about the books and their depiction of Dom/sub dynamics, but the chemistry between Anastasia and Christian does a decent job of making the pulse race. If full-blown BDSM isn’t your thing, perhaps the film will inspire you to explore a bit of role-play. (But remember to do research and negotiate before playing around with anything too intense!)
‘Unfaithful’
True, this movie ends kind of tragically. But, damn, the stolen erotic moments shared by Diane Lane’s character and her dreamy younger lover (the always sexy Olivier Martinez) are worth any lingering darkness after.
‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
Set against the visually stimulating background of Spain, this movie explores a love triangle between two American women (Penelope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson) and handsome artist Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem). What more could you ask for?
‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’
Put two people as hot as Channing Tatum and Salma Hayek in the same scene together and sparks are bound to fly. Their opening scenes prove that, as Hayek’s character, Maxandra, receives a somewhat illicit, extremely hot private dance from Mike in her living room. There’s also some extremely hot stripping-in-the-rain scenes. We recommend.
‘Monday’
American ex-pats Micky (Sebastian Stan) and Chloe (Denise Gough) strike up a steamy, whirlwind romance in scenic Greece in this 2021 flick.
” price=”$40 per month” sponsored=”false” narrativ=”include” button_type=”default”/]‘Desert Hearts’
This 1986 classic from lesbian auteur Donna Deitch is a slow burn, but the deliciously sensual intimacy between lovers Vivian (Helen Shaver) and Cay (Patricia Charbonneau) is well worth the wait.
‘Disobedience’
This 2017 drama follows Ronit (Academy Award winner Rachel Weisz), an ex-Orthodox Jewish woman whose forbidden love affair with her childhood best friend, Esti (Rachel McAdams), is rekindled when she returns to the religious community that shunned her. To make things even more complicated, Esti is now married to their mutual friend, Dovid (Alessandro Nivola).
The stakes of Ronit and Esti’s illicit romance make for some incredibly hot viewing. Also, who knew spit could be that sexy?
‘Below Her Mouth’
PRIDE.com dubbed Below Her Mouth one of the “most erotic lesbian films ever made,” and for good reason. The movie depicts an unexpected love affair between Jasmine (Natalie Krill) and Dallas (Erika Linder). Their off-the-charts chemistry prompts Jasmine to blow up her relationship with her fiancé. Drama!
‘Carol’
This 2015 film has a cult following among sapphic viewers, who can’t get enough of Cate Blanchett’s confident, sexy portrayal of its titular character. It takes place in the 1950s, so the stakes of Carol’s lesbian (and extramarital) affair with younger, doe-eyed Therese (Rooney Mara) are frighteningly high. That naturally leads to even steamier sex.
‘Ghost’
Ghost was a surprise hit in 1990, thanks to the heat generated by Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze in the sexiest pottery scene you have ever witnessed. The heart-wrenching twist is that Swayze’s character is murdered, but his beautiful spirit sticks around to warn Moore of the impending danger via a psychic, played by Whoopi Goldberg. The movie will have you ugly crying, but you will also be looking into pottery classes for your next date night!
‘Out of Sight’
People don’t talk enough about the steamy love scene in the 1998 film, Out of Sight, with Jennifer Lopez and George Clooney, and we don’t know why. The love scene moves slowly in the best way possibly — from the teasing talk to the sultry way their clothes come off piece by piece before there’s any action. This crime comedy will have you on a slow burn all night.
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