Filmmakers have often chosen to specifically make sex movies. Not all of them have been successful, but some did manage to make an impact with their films. The impact that they made may not have always without its share of controversies. And from those controversies emerged a healthy discussion around sex and portrayal of sex onscreen. Today, we are going to list down 12 best films about sex that in some way or the other managed to register itself in the cinematic discourse. Not all of the below films can be considered as great, but nevertheless these managed to change the history in their own little way.
Here is the list of top movies based on sex that changed the history of cinema. If you are interested, good luck finding these sex movies on Netflix.
12. Love (2015)
Gasper Noe’s erotic 3D venture follows the lives of three eligible bachelors with a perennial penchant for adventures. ‘Love’ is one of those sex movies that might be labeled as taking advantage of creative liberty. But on close observation, you might notice why Noe chose to make the film with graphic sex scenes. The titillating drama opens up with a racy and sensual threesome amongst a pair of experienced ex-lovers, Murphy and Electra, and a fledgling novice exchange student from Denmark, Omi. The film ruffled feathers when it was premiered at Cannes.
11. The Brown Bunny (2003)
The infamy that environed the lead actress of the movie was baffling. An A-list star at the time, Chloe Sevigny had her imminent acting career ruined because of some really controversial scenes in the movie ‘The Brown Bunny’. An uncensored and undiluted scene of Chloe performing fellatio on Vincent Gallo, the writer, producer, and director of the movie, who also starred in it, sent shockwaves through the industry. What made the issue more disturbing, was Gallo’s open confession of his obsession with Chloe, and his subsequent statement that he wouldn’t have done the movie if Chloe wouldn’t have been a part of it.
10. 9 Songs (2004)
A passion for live music unites two longing souls to embark on a journey of simulated intercourse and oral sex. Sounds weird right? Well, because it purely is. Coming from the land of vestigial traditions and the Royal Queen, ‘9 Songs’ is a film that expectedly landed itself into controversies when it released. The visceral representation of the physical expression of love between the leads is refreshing and distinctive.
9. Belle de Jour (1967)
Catherine Deneuve stars as a wealthy but bored newlywed, eager to taste life to the fullest. She seemingly gets her wish early in the film when she is kidnapped, tied to a tree, and whipped. It turns out that this is only a daydream, but her subsequent visits to a neighboring brothel, where she offers her services, certainly seem to be real. Overall the film is a delicate but passionate study of erotica. Roger Ebert called the film “possibly the best-known erotic film of modern times, perhaps the best.” One of the great sex movies.
8. Secretary (2002)
A young woman, recently released from a mental hospital, gets a job as a secretary to a demanding lawyer, where their employer-employee relationship turns into a twisted sexual relationship: a sadomasochistic one. Sadomasochism provides the backdrop for a very unusual erotic romantic drama. The film isn’t for everyone but it does have some funny and weird moments in equal measure. Maggie Gyllenhaal shines in a bold performance.
7. Blue is the Warmest Color (2013)
‘Blue Is The Warmest Colour’ is a coming-of-age tale of Adele, an introverted high-school girl who discovers and explores her sexuality through Emma, an aspiring artist whose hair is the warmest shade of blue. But this film takes a more tender yet raw, passionate but not-too schmaltzy approach at telling its story. But it isn’t an indulgent film bringing only a unique gay relationship to light nor is it an ode to “coming out” with stockpiled clichés of “being different.” It shows how an interaction with a person, any person. can have a truly provocative impact. ‘Blue Is The Warmest Colour’ is a touching ode to blossoming love, fiery passion and same-sex relationships.
6. 9½ Weeks (1986)
The title refers to the duration of the relationship between self-absorbed Wall Street banker John (Mickey Rourke) and divorced art gallery owner Elizabeth (Kim Basinger). An arresting, sexy, provocative, and compelling erotic drama about relationships, dark sides to human beings, and exploring new sexual pleasures. It’s everything that Fifty Shades of Gray could have been. Even though ‘9½ Weeks’ flopped when it first released, since then it has acquired a cult following.
5. Basic Instinct (1992)
A violent, suspended police detective investigates a brutal murder, in which a manipulative and seductive woman could be involved. ‘Basic Instinct’ is famous for Sharon Stone’s leg-crossing scene, but that doesn’t mean that the film itself is not good. Without going too overboard, let’s just say that the film keeps you hooked till its climax (that’s masterfully left open-ended). And yes it is still regarded as one of the iconic sex movies.
4. Nymphomaniac (2013)
Lars von Trier furthered his vague and alluring body of work with this European art-film. And heavens turned upside down, when he signed Shia LaBeouf as his eccentric star. The two-part, five-hour long film is a vivid exploration of self-discovery, capitalistic greed, and the addicted nymphomaniacs. The embellished venture of the film’s interchanging leads into uncharted territory of sex addiction and subsequent finding of love is a treat to watch.
3. Last Tango in Paris (1972)
Paul (Marlon Brando), a middle-aged American, comes to Paris when his estranged wife commits suicide. Chancing to meet young Frenchwoman Jeanne (Maria Schneider), Paul enters into a sadomasochistic, carnal relationship with her. The sexual content in ‘Last Tango in Paris’ is uncomfortably explicit (the infamous “butter scene” is unforgettable). The combination of Brando’s acting, Bertolucci’s direction, Vittorio Storaro’s cinematography, and Gato Barbieri’s music create an exquisitely erotic piece of art.
2. Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Perhaps there can’t be a more sickening and disturbing movie on misanthropy than ‘Salò’, which even surpasses the greatest extreme pornographic acts of sodomy, coprophagia and orgies combined. While flaying, leashing, anal intercourses, fondling, victimisation and objectification of men and women is ubiquitous in the movie, what is extremely disturbing is the questionable sanity of the filmmakers or the conjurers of ‘Salò’. How could a rational person even think of this? Nevertheless, watching a group of nine young men and women sodomised, mutilated, forced-fed with faeces, humiliated, tortured and killed is next to impossible. A film that is as much controversial as it is a memorable piece of cinematic art.
1. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Of course, a Kubrick film tops this list. But there is no denying that ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ has a fair amount of eroticism in it. While the film surely has themes that are complex in nature, it has a thrilling element of surprise where as audiences we don’t know what to expect next. It’s dream-like narrative fueled by stunning visual detail, a bravura performance from Nicole Kidman and a masterful use of Ligeti’s music, lend the film the ability to compel the audience to get lost in it, and believe me is it hard to recover. Cinema never remained the same.
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